Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup shortening

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

1 12-oz package (2 cups) semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.  In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.  Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt.  Beat until mixture is combined, scraping sides of bowl.  Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined.  Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer.  Stir in remaining flour.  Stir in chocolate chips. 

2. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake for 8 to 9 minutes or until edges are light brown.  Let cool before eating.  Bring some to Sarah on Wednesday or Sunday. 

So, my parents have this AWESOME backyard game that I feel I need to share with you.

We call it Norwegian Golf, and it is played like this:

Set-Up:

There are two ‘ladders’ on either side of the yard, made out of PVC pipe.  There are three rungs, each about 12-18 inches apart, and about 2 1/2 - 3 feet wide. Also, you’ll need four pieces of rope or cable.  You’ll have to drill and hole in some golf balls and tie them onto either side of the rope, so that it ends up about 12 inches long.  You can buy a set, or make it yourself!  

Now, to play:

Each team has two people.  One person on the team stands by one ladder, and the other person stands by the other ladder.  Then, the first player tosses two of the golf ball-rope-things to the other ladder.  If it catches on the bottom rung, it’s worth one point.  The middle rung is worth two, and the top rung is worth three.  Then, the second person throws his golf-ball-rope-thing.  If the second player’s rope lands on the same rung as the first player’s, then those points are cancelled out for both teams.  Now, the two players on this side of the yard get to toss the golf ball-ropes back.  The team who scored highest during the last toss throws first. 

Anything goes.  Bounces count.  If the golf ball falls off, or gets knocked off a rung, the points are gone. 

How to win:

The first team to 21 wins.  However, if your team goes over 21, you fall back down to 11 points. 

Good Luck!!

I am challenging you to spend at least 30 minutes this week writing.  This writing is just for you–like journaling.  It’s not for anyone else to see.  It’s not for practice, it’s not to improve your writing skills.  It’s simply a something that I enjoy doing, and I think you may enjoy doing as well!

1. Write down your goals for the rest of the year.

2. The school year is coming to a close.  Write about how this past year went.  What stuff did you learn? ( I know you learned something!)

3.  Who are your friends? Write about each of them and what they mean to you.

4.  Write some of your prayers down.  A bonus is you can write more when they are answered!

5.  Write a story!  If you can’t think of anything, try this: Write a story that is as boring as you can possibly make it!

6. What changes have you noticed in yourself? Have you grown as a person in the past year? Write about it!

7.  Where do you see God in your life?

8. Write a movie review for the last movie you saw.

9. Write a script for your own TV show. 

10.  Write an alternate ending to a book or movie you like.

11.   Write some song lyrics.

12. Write your biography up to this point.

13.  Write your biography as you want it to be from this point on. 

14.  Describe something–your personality, your style, your house, whatever. 

15.  Write down your dreams, literally.  When you wake up in the morning, write down everything you remember what what you dreamt.  I read that by doing this consistantly, you will begin to remember more and more of your dreams!  And, believe it or not, you dream every night! 

Happy Writing!

Applebee’s

Buffalo Wild Wings

Dairy Queen Brazier

Firken and Friar

Fuddrucker’s

La Salsa

Little Anthony’s Diner

Mama’s Pizza 

Nico’s

Old Chicago

Olive Garden

Outback

Panda Express

Quizno’s

Texas Roadhouse