HIS Ministries. Tecate, Mexico

 I've been going there since 11.11.11 (easy date to remember!)

I went with my church's high school ministry, Encounter. Needless to say, I fell in love with the kids there! Even though I speak no spanish, the kids don't really care. All they want is to be your friend and play with them! (smiles need no translation) 

 This little baby is the cutest little bundle of joy

 My best friend friend Estefania has recently been given glasses to wear, and she wasn't too excited to wear them. So, I borrowed Gabe's glasses to show her just how cool glasses really are! 

drawing time!

food time!

                           nail polish time!

and the boys being good sports and getting their nails done

play time!

                                     (this ball legitimately almost hit me)

                       photoshoot time

hair time!

                                                more baby time for me...

constructing an outhouse time!

 It was a great trip! lots of hard work and hard play. 

a perfect spring break day!

 I love passing out the pictures from the last trip when I come down. I got my girls little photo albums for Christmas, so they have a place to keep them.

gingersnaps

                        everyones favorite!

Gingersnaps

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups all purpose flour
2. 2 teaspoons baking soda
3. 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4. 2 teaspoons ground ginger
5. 1 teaspoon ground cloves
6. Pinch of salt
7. 1 cup packed light brown sugar
8. 1/4 cup molasses
9. 3/4 cup canola oil
10. 1 large egg
11. turbinado sugar for rolling

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. In another bowl, combine together the brown sugar, molasses, canola oil, and egg until smooth. Mix the flour mixture into the brown mixture, stirring until dough comes together. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 20 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll into ball by heaping teaspoonfuls and roll the balls in sugar and place on the baking sheets 2 inches apart. Bake 8 minutes. if you like crispy gingersnaps bake 9-10 minutes.
3. Remove from oven and leave on the baking sheet several minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies will be very soft when removed from the oven but they will firm up.

I usually double up because I like to make them a little thicker sized, and these portions only make maybe 2 dozen