Patriotic Cake Batter Cookies

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Tomorrow is my church's Memorial Day Picnic and I was really sure what I was going to make for it. I wanted to make cookies for sure, but didn't want to make the same old Chocolate Chip cookies I always make. So I decided to experiment a little on the Cake Batter Cookie recipe I found on Pintrest. I have to say, they turned out really good and made the house smell really YUMMY!!! So here is the recipe for each different color cookie.

Ingredients:

1 (18.25 oz) box of White Cake Mix

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 c. Vegetable Oil

Red, White & Blue Sprinkles

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C.)

2. In medium bowl, stir together the cake mix, baking powder and sprinkles. Add eggs and oil, then mix until well blended. (I used my hands to really mix it well, it seemed to work better.)

3. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto cooking sprayed cookie sheets.

4. Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Note: For the Red  Cookies use Strawberry Cake Mix instead of the White Cake Mix. Skip the sprinkles.

For the Blue Cookies, follow the White Cake Mix recipe and just add a 3oz Berry Blue Jell-o Mix in it. Also skip the Sprinkles in Blue Cookies.

Kalli's Graduation from KSU

Tony and I at Scott and michelle's house

A few weeks ago, Tony and I received a graduation invitation from my cousin Kalli from Kansas. At first we were really debating on if we were going because at the time, my Grandpa Griffis was not doing well at all. Then last Tuesday, when we found out that my Grandpa passed away and the memorial service wouldn't be until May 19th, we decided we would take the long drive to Kansas. So, we left last Thursday after my softball practice and headed to my Uncle Scott and Aunt Michelle's house. This was Kayley's first long road trip and Tony and my  first long road trip driving by ourselves. It took us about 12 1/2 hours to get to Kansas and Kayley slept the whole time almost. She did so good. When we got to my Uncle and Aunt's house, we were definitely spoiled by them. My Uncle Scott made us lunch and took us to the zoo in Topeka, Kansas. It was alot of fun. Kayley loved all the animals. She wasn't too thrilled on feeding the goose though.....The goose poked her hand to get the food out of her hand and she didn't like it. After the zoo, we went back home to order pizza for dinner. Then Aunt Michelle and I went to the grocery store to get buns for Kalli's party and BLUE BELL ICE CREAM!!!! We don't have any Blue Bell ice cream in Michigan in our stores, so I was super excited to get some. The next day, we all got up at 6am and ate yummy pancakes and Uncle Scott made and headed out the door at 6:30am for Kalli's graduation in Manhattan. Kalli's graduated from Kansas State University. Kalli got a degree of Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a minor in Women's studies. We were all very proud of her and I couldn't wait to spend some time with her and my cousin Tyler at her party afterwards. I missed them SO MUCH. I haven't seen Kalli since she was in Tony and my wedding day. It was so good spending time with all  of them and we wished we could have stayed longer, but we had to head back home. Thank you Uncle Scott and Aunt Michelle for everything!!! You guys are awesome! Congratulations again Kalli and it was so good seeing you and Tyler again. We love you all and hope to come see you again soon!

Aunt Michelle and Kayley walking back from getting the mail

Kayley and Mommy sitting on the drive way

Kayley and Mommy at the Topeka Zoo

Kayley and Daddy plugging their noses from the stinky elephant poop

Kayley and Daddy sitting on a lion statue

Uncle Scott on his phone. He was on his phone or computer a lot for work. lol!

Kayley comparing her hand to a gorilla hand print

Kayley and Daddy following the penguin path

Love this picture!!!!

Kayley and Mommy at the graduation

Kayley, Mommy and Uncle Scott

Kalli coming in.She's the one in the middle

YAY KALLI!!!!

Kalli and me and Kayley sleeping...ha ha!

Kalli and Aunt Michelle

Uncle Scott and Kalli

The McClure Family

Tyler and me

Kalli and me

This song is for my Grandpa. He would want me to remember this.

A Tribute to my Grandpa

I LOVE YOU GRANDPA! THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!!!

Yesterday my dad called me telling me that my Grandpa passed away. I was so heart broken listening to my dad cry over the phone when he told me the news. I remember feeling a lump in my throat as I tried to hold back my tears as they rolled down my cheeks. I knew my Grandpa was ready and it wasn't going to be long before he would meet the Lord in Heaven, but I wasn't thinking he would go this soon. I'm just happy that he is not suffering any more. I wrote my Grandpa a letter back on January 19 of this year. I would like to share it with you all.....so here it goes.

                                                                  Grandpa, My Hero

        Many of us have a hero or someone who we consider to be a hero. Some have heroes who are athletes or doctors. Some even consider their teachers or their pet to be their hero. My hero is my Grandpa, Glenn E. Griffis. He fought in the WWII from February 1943 to January 1946 in the Air Force. Not only did he fight for his country, but he would fight for God and his family.

            When my Grandpa married my Grandma (Lucille Griffis) on July 21, 1942, he made a vow to not only love her unconditionally, but also to God. My Grandpa and Grandma were faithful members of Juniata Baptist Church for many years. My Grandpa was a Sunday school teacher for 25 years and a Deacon for 30 years. He also was involved in many other things in the church. Then in 2003, my Grandpa and Grandma came to Cornerstone Baptist Church. He liked to go to the Bible studies on Thursdays when he was able too.

            My Grandpa also loved to read the Bible. He liked to have his family involved in reading Bible devotions too. I remember sitting on his lap every morning reading the Bible with him and Grandma when I was a little girl. Grandpa would always read the Christmas story of Jesus' birth every year before Christmas dinner as well. I always loved that about Grandpa. But the one thing I remember most about Grandpa is he always made time to pray.

          I consider my Grandpa to be a Prayer Warrior. Grandpa would spend some Sunday mornings praying during the service at Cornerstone with some other men. He always prayed most of all for his family. He would pray for us everyday and tell us he would too. That is why my Grandpa is my Hero.

        I'm so proud to have a Grandpa that made such a great impact in my life. I'm so thankful for all his prayers and Godly influence he has showed me to become the person I am today. I can't thank him enough and I love him with all my heart.

I read that letter to him when he was in the hospital and the doctors where telling everyone he probably would only have a few weeks or so to live. But the doctors didn't know that the Lord wasn't ready for him yet. My Grandpa still had work to do on Earth. He still had to tell others about God and save souls to Christ. My mom and I even got to witness him tell my cousin how to get saved over the phone. That was such a happy moment that day in his room at the Pines nursing home. Now my cousin will also get to see Grandpa in Heaven some day. My Grandpa loved the Lord with all his heart and his family. He made sure that all his family knew Jesus Christ as their Saviour and accepted Him into their lives. Grandpa was such a great soul winner for Christ. He was so ready to meet the Lord up in Heaven and see his wife. Now he is in that wonderful place called Heaven and I can't wait to see him again on day. I Love You Grandpa and will always remember all the times we spent together. Thank You for everything you have done for me and my family. Say "Hi" to Grandma for me and tell her I love and miss her.  XOXO

        

My Birthday Weekend

Kayley LOVED all the fish tanks



Kayley loved her Parrot Cup that Nana and Papa
bought for her. She is so spoiled!



This year on my birthday I turned 27 years young. I don't like to say how old I'm getting....(not that I'm anywhere close to being old), but putting young after my age looks so much better. It's hard to believe that in three more years I will be 30. Anyways.... last Friday, my mom, Bryan, Tony and Kayley all went to Rain Forest Cafe' for dinner. It was my first time ever eating there. It was SO COOL! The food was AMAZING too! Kayley loved all the fish tanks and the animals in there. She wasn't very fond of getting too close to the elephants. The thunderstorm noises in the restaurant didn't even phase her. She loved it! For my birthday dessert, they brought out "The Volcano" with a sparkler on top. It was HUGE! Three slabs of chewy moist brownie with ice cream and whipped topping on top, with chocolate drizzled on it. All five of us couldn't finish it. Then on Sunday after church we went to Famous Dave's and yesterday I went to Sage Brush with the Poyorena's. Needless to say, after all that eating out.....I need to go on a DIET! Now if only I can get myself started......:/





We couldn't fit the big elephant in the picture, so we went with the small one





Granny's 80th Birthday

Four Generations Picture

Yesterday was my Granny's 80th Birthday. A few months ago, my Granny had to have a feeding tube put in her stomach. Her doctor told her that she would not be able to swallow anything without choking. So for her birthday, my mom and I planned on having her friends and family come and visit her where she is staying at now in Mt. Morris. My mom asked everyone to bring her some roses since she is unable to eat anything. We were hoping that Granny would get 80 roses for her turning 80 years young and we did it!! Granny got 80 roses for her birthday. Some were real and some were artificial. My mom and I also made a jello poked cake and jello squares for her birthday. We tried to make a cake that was soft enough for Granny to try and swallow. Granny actually got to try a little bit and she didn't have any problems. She really wanted more, but we didn't want to over do it. Granny had around 20 or so guests show up for her birthday yesterday. Her pastor and his family from her church even showed up. Granny got to hold their youngest baby girl for a little while too. After people started to leave and her party was ending, Granny got in cleaning mode. The whole time I was there, Granny kept herself busy. She did not want to sit still. My mom kept on telling her to relax and she wouldn't. I think she drove my mom a little nuts. LOL! Granny really enjoyed herself though. She also looked good too. She dressed very classy as usual. It was so good seeing how well Granny looked. I haven't got to see her in a while, so it was so good to see her smiling face again.

The Flowers I Put Together For Granny. Can you believe I found everything from the dollar store?!

All of Granny's 80 Roses. She was so proud of them, she made sure everyone of the workers in the nursing home saw them.

Granny holding her Pastor and Wife's baby girl

Kayley watching cartoons with the Pastor's two boys. The guy in the chair on the right hand side is Granny's Pastor. I don't remember his name.

Kayley and the P'KS

My Family and Granny

Our Kayley Bug! I love this picture! She is getting SO BIG!