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The Fifth Grade Tea, Life Inspiration, and Mini Almond Muffins.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Cooking+ Katie



My sweet little Katie, the little girl who JUST started kindergarten, like, two weeks ago (seriously, I just recently stopped crying about it) is now graduating from the fifth grade. HOW did that happen so fast? I can’t even take it.

But anyway, the fifth grade girls got to have a Tea one day last week in the school library, and it was a fun chance to dress up in pretty dresses and be elegant ladies with manners and hear inspiring speakers. 


We heard from Shana Steele, counselor at Moore Middle School, about the ins and outs of changing classes and having your own locker. I tried my best to tune her out because I wasn’t ready to hear any of that.

Next, the lovely Joanna Rathbun, who told amazing stories of great adventures starting out life as a Missionary Kid in Korea, to playing sand volleyball in the Olympics…

She told the girls that our greatest strength is free will. Every day, she said, we wake up with the opportunity to choose what our day will be. Will be be disciplined? Will we be lazy? It’s all our own choice. Brilliant words. And she also inspired in me the goal of getting my girls involved in sports for the discipline and mental toughness. ASAP. 

And then there was Laura Peycke, who also had her share of fabulous adventures cycling all over the world, before she settled down to become an Aggie animal doctor. GUESS who was GLUED to her speech, and her power point presentation of bloody animal pictures… well, besides me, of course… my sweet Katie, who has wanted to be an animal doctor since she could walk. 

Katie’s animal doctor Halloween costume, age 4. Her idea.


My favorite thing that Laura said was that she always knew she wanted to be a vet, but didn’t think she was smart enough. It took massive encouragement from her parents, who told her, “If THIS is what you want to do, we will MAKE IT HAPPEN.” I made a mental note to tell Katie that same thing, and often.

I spoke to Ms. Peycke afterward, decided I wanted to be her new BFF, and made plans to tour the animal hospital at A&M with Katie at some point this summer. WHOOP!

Look, if I can survive the emotional trauma of getting this kid INTO kindergarten, then OUT of fifth grade, college will be a piece of cake.

And speaking of cake, I made these muffins for the Tea, and they were SO buttery and delicious that I’m adding them to my Short List of Delicious Things to Make for Dessert.

 
Mini Almond Muffins
Ingredients
4 large eggs
1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
2 cups chopped (unsalted) almonds
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
 
Directions
Combine all ingredients until mixed well, then spoon into paper-lined (or greased and floured) mini muffin pan. Bake at 350* for 20 minutes. Remove to cooling rack immediately.
 

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Comments

  1. Karen says

    June 5, 2013 at 4:50 pm

    Your muffins sound yummy!<br /><br />As for your babies growing up too fast-I hear you. <br /><br />Not to burst your bubble, but the thought of my baby leaving home for college is pretty much unbearable to me so I&#39;m not sure it will be quite the piece of cake you&#39;re hoping for when your time comes. (Thankfully, mine has decided to stay home this year so that ripping away from me is

    Reply
  2. melissa bartel says

    December 1, 2013 at 5:16 pm

    Lauras&#39; mom used to say the same thing…so I&#39;ll be nice…I&#39;m Lauras&#39; sister and let me tell you…she is very smart and talented…and I&#39;m so glad she could encourage Katie…she&#39;s very good at that…was so glad to see this today…<br /><br />Melissa Peycke Bartel

    Reply

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About Me


Hey there... I'm Melissa! Texas girl. Mom to three + one goldendoodle. Believer. Old house fanatic. Creating a happy + healthy home with purpose is my passion. I'm so glad you're here!

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I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 years of paint off of this door down to the wood and start over… but that person has no business starting new projects. 😅 My neighbors must have thought this project would never end. *I* thought this project would never end. 😰 If you’re thinking of doing this yourself? Just don’t, ok? Throw the whole door away and buy a new one. 😂🤣 Just kidding.  Old house weirdos like me… we can’t just do things the easy way. Anyhoo… after some trial and error, @sherwinwilliams Celestial is what I landed on, and I have to say… I like it. Periwinkle-ish blue looks great with the yellow house and will look even better when the azaleas are in bloom. Was it all worth it? That’s not important right now. 🤭 Will I do this all again in two years? The magic eight ball says… without a doubt. 👏🏻 I’ve already picked the next color. #gluttonforpunishment #somefoolsneverlearn #oldhouselove #oldhomelove #makinghome #southernliving #gardenandgun #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in an 80-year-old house completely worth it … what broken pipes, icy hardwood floors and drafty windows? 🤔 I forgot already. #comeonspring #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Happy Saturday ☀️ Happy Saturday ☀️
Salt Lake City is always magical ✨ Salt Lake City is always magical ✨
2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrollin 2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrolling through my pics from the last twelve months made me realize how blessed and content I am. Prosperity, love, and peace have been ours in abundance, in spite of the pain of losing my dad. The second picture is the last picture of him… the last time I saw him. 💔 But God has been good to my family this year and 2022 is ending far better than it began. 😄 #2022inreview #thanksforthememories
Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍ Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍♀️
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That’s it. That’s the tour. (Slide two). 
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It’s a new trend I’m starting: bare Christmas tree. Lowe’s tag still attached (so quirky and unexpected)! Christmas ornaments still in boxes. Coming soon to an Anthropologie window display near you. 
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Every year I think, “next year I’ll do better. Next year I’ll have it together.” And then, here we are on the SIXTH Christmas that we’ve been in this house, the sixth Christmas I’ve dragged our chaotic bunch of Christmas mess out of a chaotic garage I still haven’t unpacked from our move six years ago. 
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Maybe this year is the year I’ll organize it all and put it back neatly so that by Christmas number 7, it will be smooth sailing. People will flock to my social media to see how I’ve pulled everything off SO PERFECTLY. Next year will be my year. 
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Seems every year there’s less and less bandwidth for all these things. There’s more grief and stress, less money. More demands, less grace. 
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I put this sign on the wall in my office so I could keep it in front of my eyes: Love. Joy. Peace. And all that. I am SO unlike Jesus most days. So lacking in all of these character qualities. And that’s WITH waking up most mornings and spending my first 30 minutes with God Himself. 
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How lost would I be without that? Geez. I can’t fathom. I REQUIRE being transformed by renewing my mind every single morning, and even then, responding to people and life with love, joy, peace and patience doesn’t come naturally. 
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It’s the goal, though. 
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This weary world needs that from us Believers during this season, more than ever… even more than an Anthropologie-window-display worthy Christmas home tour. 
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I’m working on both.
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