Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 c. mashed ripe banana (1 medium banana)
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. butter, softened
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 lg egg
1 1/4 c. all purpose flour
2 c. old fashioned oats
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350
Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl & beat with mixer
Add egg, beat again
Add in flour, oats, baking soda & salt; beat with mixer until well blended
Add chocolate chips & mix together

Drop batter by large tablespoonfuls onto baking sheet that has been sprayed with Pam
Bake until slightly golden on top
Should make 24-30 cookies

Recipe from Cooking Light magazine...with a few minor "tweaks".
Weight watchers points = 2 to 2.5 depending on how large the cookies

Merry Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

2009

I've always been a fan of the family letters we receive at Christmas with updates on all our friends & family near and far. I knew I wanted to try my hand at one for our family this year, but knew it would not be complete in time to include with Christmas cards, so I'm adding to our blog for you to read in your own time.

2009 has been a wild ride for the Snow family! Dusty & I have our hands full with two very active little boys; Cooper who is now 2 and Mason who recently celebrated his 1st birthday. While they may resemble each other in looks, they could not be more different in personality!

Cooper continues to be our "all boy", outgoing, joyful, full of life & energy little guy. He has mastered the art of talking and will repeat any (and all) things that he hears. He talks from the time he wakes up to the time he falls asleep! He's also recently learned how to sing, and to our surprise, knows many songs word for word. Jingle Bells, Rock-a-bye baby, and I've been working on the railroad are just a few of his favorites. :)

Mason was born with a laid back approach to life; very easy going and quiet. He's very much a "mama's boy" which I rather enjoy. His sweet disposition will win your heart! He's learning to talk now and has a hand full of words including ball (his favorite), down, uh oh, more, baci (paci), and bath. He's not walking on his own, but getting very close, and he certainly doesn't let that keep him from getting around.

Dusty is still a Supervisor with UPS and has nearly survived yet another peak season. I assumed a new role with High Point Bank when I returned from maternity leave in February as the Retail Operations Office; a role I feel was custom made just for me!

We were able to enjoy another summer vacation at Topsail in August with the Jarrell/Langford family and look forward to rejoining the entire Jarrell clan in July of 2010 after a 3 year absence. We have been lucky enough to make several trips to see "Mawmaw & Pawpaw" (John & Linda) in Kinston and Grandma & Grandpa (Merle & Connie) just a few miles down the road in Greensboro. Both boys love spending time with their grandparents, and we love being close enough to make sure that happens often.

We have been truely blessed this year with a happy & healthy family, wonderful friends, and the love of our two amazing little boys. We look forward to 2010 and the adventures it will bring!

We wish you a very Merry Christmas, a joyous New Year, and all the happiness you deserve!

All our love,
Dusty, Deanna, Cooper & Mason

Cooper's ABCs

The ABCs according to Cooper...just keep in mind that he's only 1 1/2!

PS. In order to get him to go along with this I told him we were making a picture for Mawmaw. This will make sense when you watch...

Ol' McCooper Had a Farm

I guess we've officially become parents now that we're showing off our son's knowledge of animal noises...but it's too cute not to. So enjoy a laugh on us...

Daddy's Shoes & Apple Juice

Make sure the volume is turned up for this one...

March 2009

Two clean little boys!

Cooper loves to "hold" Mason, but Mason isn't so sure about the whole thing.

G.I. Mason:

"Bubbles"

Mason playing & talking

A glimps into our everyday...

Bath time...which the boys both LOVE

Riding in the car...this can be interesting and I can't tell you how many times I've ended up in the back seat to console one or the other...or both!

Mr. Smiley:

Mr. Sleepy:

(This is from when he was sick with a stomach flu and just passed out right in the middle of the living room floor smack in the middle of all his toys.)

Two very happy little boys!

Catching up with Cooper & Mason

My boys...

Cooper who is now 17 months old

&

Mason who is 3 months old

What sweet little blessings I've been given!

Just like my big brother, I love bath time...probably because it's quickly followed with food!

Speaking of food...I like to "help" mommy make dinner.

Or wear dinner...

Hey, this use to be mine! Let's see if I still fit.

My angle boy, mellow & laid back just taking in life.

Mason @ 2 Months Old

January 2009

I stole mommy's hat...

Look who's smiling now!

Peek-a-boo with Cooper

Just like daddy:

Cooper Gets Down

Cooper has some serious moves when it comes to dancing & I finally caught it on video. Watch carefully...you'll see that in addition to clapping he tries to snap his fingers and even throws in a little bit of the chicken dance (flapping his wings).

Dancing With the Stars here we come!

Cooper Loves His Little Brother

Mason Oliver Snow - November 26, 2008

This is the good life...

A rare moment when I'm actually awake!

Me & my big brother


This thing is WAY to big for me!

Only a few hours old

Our Last Weekend as a Family of Three

When you can't find the toy you're looking for, just climb in and go fo it!

Bundled up & went to the park - my favorite thing to do!

Discovered a tree...

Ran like crazy...

Down the slide with daddy...

Hey, can anyone hear me?

Swingin

...still swingin'

I LOVE TO SWING!

Mommy made chocolate chip pancakes, which turns out I really like!

Show me your muscles

Okay, so we've managed to teach our son lots of valuable, important things in his 14 short months...but this is not one of them. This was just for fun! Enjoy!!!

Cooper's 1st Birthday

Riding the train with Mommy

Cupcakes make me smile!

The Snowmen - Travis, Merle & Dusty

Grandma feeding me cotton candy...something only a grandma would do :)

Aunt Bobbie & Grandma Snow

Me & Grandma Snow

Me, Mommy & Mason riding the train

Opening presents with Daddy

Me & Emma - One of my many girlfriends. (Gosh it's hard being this cute!)

Triple trouble; RJ, Jane & Gracie

Treva & Oliva

GG & Alan (Great Grandma Snow)

Nick & Chris (Dusty's cousins)

And finally...

This is me piggin' out on my birthday cupcake: