Since nobody will ever intentionally hurt or break the bones of my children under my watch, I was quickly pushed down the hall into the OR. It was really cool - kinda like being on TV when my gurney crashed through the double doors. About 5 minutes later Kell was born. I had to look around the room to make sure there wasn't someone else giving birth and they mixed up the babies because she came out with thick, long black hair that stuck up in the air, olive skin and was screaming like crazy. She looked a bit like a monkey. A screaming monkey. I fell in love immediately.
Kellie - age 2
Kellie has always had a mind of her own and has no problem sharing her opinions. She was also the funniest child I had ever been around. If she made one of us mad she would kick on the charm and start one of her acts, like how she could walk like a boy or just flash her adorable grin. I recently went through some family vacation photos from when we drove down to the California border, cut across to Hwy 101 on the coast and spent a week driving up the coast of Oregon. She was about 3. I took pictures at each beach we stopped at and there was a picture of Kellie off to the side pouting about something at each beach. It makes me laugh now, then not so much. Did I mention she was stubborn, too?
She started reading at 4 and reading extensively by the time she started Kindergarten. She has always had tons of friends and is incredibly compassionate, especially about animals. Kellie was, and continues to be, a collector of stuff. When she was at her Grandparent's house during spring break when she was in 2nd grade, I decided to excavate her room. I found 3 shoe boxes full of rocks under her bed. Included in these boxes of rocks were also things like chunks of asphalt and concrete. When I asked her why she had the boxes of rocks she looked at me like I was crazy and told because they were pretty. She did let me get rid of them - eventually.
My sweet girl has always been a fashionista. Months would go by when all she would wear were dresses and her Jellies. Then once we were stocked up on dresses she would only wear stretch pants and tennis shoes. This went on for years. She is still cutting edge with her fashion and pulls if off perfectly, unless she is only wearing sweats that week. :)
Kellie - last year at college
She has always been a picky eater, too. Actually, it is pretty much just meat she doesn't like. She could (and still can) find the smallest speck of hamburger in any dish and set it aside. She says it is a texture thing. She still is not a big fan of meat. Her favorite thing in the world is peanut butter. I think that is how the girl survived her childhood (and her first year of college). I chose a cookie with peanut butter for her below.
Another funny thing - everyone told me to relax because she wouldn't take her beloved blanket to college. Yep, everyone was wrong. It wasn't the blanket she had as a little girl, because it disintegrated (farewell, NeeNee) but she did take one to college. I really wasn't too surprised.
I am very proud of my girl. She is still smart and funny. She has always been involved at school, from elementary school to college. In high school there was ASB, cheerleading and was very proud to run the Mr. Columbia River pagaent when she was a senior. This pagaent is a beauty pagaent spoof with senior boys. They had to apply to participate, were chosen and then spent the year fundraising for our local children's hospital. The boy that raised the most money was crowned Mr. Columbia River. The year she ran it over $70,000 was raised. She did an amazing job. She also was top 5 on the Homecoming Court. It was a great year for her.
Kellie in the black and white dress.
Homecoming Court
She is now a sophomore in college with plans of being an elementary school teacher. College has been very good for her and she loves it. I love having her home because we have so much fun together and I miss her when she is gone, but I'm glad she loves college. She told me all the time when she was little that she was going to live next door to me her whole life. I can only say I would be lucky if that were to happen.
Here is your birthday cookie, Kel! It is gooey, buttery and rich with all the flavors you love - peanut butter and chocolate.
FUDGY PEANUT BUTTER AND CHOCOLATE BLONDIES
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9x9 pan with cooking spray. Mix butter and peanut butter until well blended. Blend in sugars, eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to mixture and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips. (I add some more chocolate chips to the top, too). Bake 30-35 minutes.
No comments:
Post a Comment