Smells Like Family

You know the trick realtors play on home buyers? The one where they place cookie dough in a low oven so the house they are selling will smell irresistable to prospective buyers? Yep. That "trick." Buyers walk up to the property and through the door, already inclined to like the place. They look about the house (for the cookies) and picture themselves and their family drinking milk. Why? That's an easy answer, because the house smells like "home." What smells more like "home" than chocolate chip cookies? To our kids, nothing. 

This coming weekend is Parent's Weekend at our older daughter Alyssa's college. Per our usual pending visit routine, Alyssa messaged me two things, her list of Momma Do's and her list of Momma's Brings. One of these things is not like the other. One of these things is super, duper long. Can you guess which one is not like the other? Before I finish this blog? (Sorry, I had to go there...)

Alyssa asked me to bring some pantry basics like flour, sugar, coffee and so on. She asked for chocolate and coconut oil. I could go on, but you get the picture. Alyssa also suggested a restaurant to visit and requested we bake together. She wants to make Momma Chocolate Chip Cookies. Chocolate chip cookies are one of her favorites. My recipe is is not conducive to a diet but is conducive to making a college apartment smell (and feel) like home. Chocolate Chip Cookies are a Grube Family favorite! Thankfully, they are not a weakness of mine because I make them a lot! Mia, our youngest daughter,  likes her chocolate chip cookies just barely baked (or softie) and always warm. Alyssa likes her cookies softie too and Russell, my husband, takes them anyway he can get them so long as they are not too crunchy. If I eat any, I will only eat the freshly baked ones since I prefer mine tender in the middle and crispy-crunchy everywhere else. 

Our home smells of crispy leaves and, of course, cookies. Our home smells of herbs and spices and the outside. Our home smells of a busy life made up of late night studying, choir practice, football games and rushed weeknight meals of tacos, pasta, salad (and sometimes) cereal or buttered popcorn. Our home smells of  lunch fixins and rushed breakfasts. Our home smells of clean laundry, dog food, printer ink and pencils. Add all these strange combinations of smells up and what do you get? Yep. Our home smells like family...

What does your family home smell like? Please share in the comments section.

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