Okay, I am not usually one for "better for you food" - I mean I like the rich yumminess of butter, the creaminess of chocolate, the richness of heavy heavy cream, the flavor of sugar -white and brown, etc. etc. I have tried swapping out some of the "bad" for some of the "good" here and there and lets just say, I am on the bad side.
Until tonight.
I tried a recipe that I have been wanting too for some time. It's from Hungry-Girl which if you haven't been to her website, you should go. click here: Hungry-Girl
So what I tried tonight was Yum Yum Chocolate Muffins.
It doesn't get much easier than this I tell ya. And everyone loved them, kids, grandpa, Hubby, Grandma, Me, me, me!
1 Devil's Food Cake Mix
1 15oz can pumpkin
(yep that's it)
mix with electric beaters because it's gonna be thick. Put into 12 greased muffin tins. (you want them kind of heaping, they won't rise)
Bake at 400* for 20 min
I am not kidding. I am in love with these brownies. Is it the right mix of fudgy and cakey? Is it that I know there is no oil or egg? Is it the idea of a veggie tasting like chocolate?
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
budding sense of humor
H-y has been trying out his sense of humor recently. He likes to call Momma, Daddy. Or tell his brothers they are cats or horses. And then he laughs.
We have always called H. "Baby H." or "Baby H-y." Yesterday when I called him, "Baby H-y" he said, "I'm not baby. I H-y!" But then he put his finger in his mouth and started to suck like it was a bottle. And then he laughed. Okay, as a parent, it was cute, cute, cute. But it wasn't really that funny. But to a Two year old, it was hilarious.
Again, maybe it's just the five years between Liam and H. but I don't remember Noble and Liam trying out their sense of humor this early in life. Perhaps it is his funny brothers that are wearing off on him.
We have always called H. "Baby H." or "Baby H-y." Yesterday when I called him, "Baby H-y" he said, "I'm not baby. I H-y!" But then he put his finger in his mouth and started to suck like it was a bottle. And then he laughed. Okay, as a parent, it was cute, cute, cute. But it wasn't really that funny. But to a Two year old, it was hilarious.
Again, maybe it's just the five years between Liam and H. but I don't remember Noble and Liam trying out their sense of humor this early in life. Perhaps it is his funny brothers that are wearing off on him.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Correction
Alec corrected me, I guess Noble's car last year was not dead last - however, that is how Noble remembers it. And that is all I have heard for the last year - his car was ugly, his car was slow, his car didn't win, his car wasn't cool.
Well, we made up for it this year!
Well, we made up for it this year!
FIRST PLACE!
Noble's Pinewood Derby car took FIRST PLACE!
He was delighted to say the least!
Last year, we were unprepared, and the car ended up taking dead last and the award Noble took home was Craziest looking car. Noble was not amused. He had higher expectations this year - but I think this exceeded all of our expectations. Thankfully - Cam Casper has all the tools and such to make it possible for a non-tool family to make a car. And Alec knew a few tricks that made it "faster" and boy did they work!
He was delighted to say the least!
Last year, we were unprepared, and the car ended up taking dead last and the award Noble took home was Craziest looking car. Noble was not amused. He had higher expectations this year - but I think this exceeded all of our expectations. Thankfully - Cam Casper has all the tools and such to make it possible for a non-tool family to make a car. And Alec knew a few tricks that made it "faster" and boy did they work!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Rockin' Cupcakes
Another Awesome class at Central Market!
I called the week I got my class catalog and this class was already filled. They called yesterday and offered me a spot. Today when I went to class I found out there were still 45 people on the wait list.
You can see why, this class ROCKED!
Yes, I really, honestly, made these cupcakes with my own two hands using zip-lock baggies instead of icing bags! This class was so worth it!
From the top you can't tell that it is a cupcake, but from the side you can!
I called the week I got my class catalog and this class was already filled. They called yesterday and offered me a spot. Today when I went to class I found out there were still 45 people on the wait list.
You can see why, this class ROCKED!
Yes, I really, honestly, made these cupcakes with my own two hands using zip-lock baggies instead of icing bags! This class was so worth it!
From the top you can't tell that it is a cupcake, but from the side you can!
This one is for my cous' Shawnie. It is a Westie like her Auggie Doggie.
I didn't want to bore you too much so I collaged these. We made the bug and butterfly with melted chocolate. The top right is spaghetti and meat balls, it looked better in real life. The Fish bowl is awesome too, it is one of Alec's favorites.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Most Fun
Noble was talking to his "New Grandpa and Grandma" (Alec's parents) on the phone this weekend. He told them that his primary teacher was the "funnest person in the church!"
Whatever keeps him going to church!
When I told Courtney, Sister Kimball, about it she said that sometimes he gets bored in class because he is so far above and beyond the others in his class that she feels like she has to pull him back... "come on back buddy" I think that was her nice way of telling me that my child doesn't pay attention in class. She was happy to hear that something is getting through to him.
Courtney is the friend that I tease and tell her that she wouldn't be my friend if we didn't go to the same church. She is too cool to be my friend outside of church!
Just kidding, slightly... :)
Whatever keeps him going to church!
When I told Courtney, Sister Kimball, about it she said that sometimes he gets bored in class because he is so far above and beyond the others in his class that she feels like she has to pull him back... "come on back buddy" I think that was her nice way of telling me that my child doesn't pay attention in class. She was happy to hear that something is getting through to him.
Courtney is the friend that I tease and tell her that she wouldn't be my friend if we didn't go to the same church. She is too cool to be my friend outside of church!
Just kidding, slightly... :)
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Provo
I tried to blog this the other day, but I think blogger was having a bad day. We all have them, there is nor reason why the electronic world can't have them too. But I will admit being a little tiffed about it.
Okay. So I spent part of my "vacation" *wink*wink*wink* in Provo. I have never been that excited about Provo. When Alec went to BYU undergrad, we lived in Orem; Law School we lived in Salt Lake. But I have to admit that being back, not just in Provo, but on campus was wonderful. There is a spirit there that is "Provo" and/or "BYU" that cannot be felt anywhere else. For the first time since Alec graduated in 2005, I almost longed to be back there, to be a part of it again.
The boys and I made a contract for while I was away. Part of my side of the deal, was that I would take lots of pictures. Of what? I explained that this trip was not going to be like when the whole family went to Utah and we saw cousins and did fun things. But they wanted pictures. I ended up taking pictures of "popcorn" trees and familiar parks and such for them. But here are some of my favorites.
The Provo Temple. The Spring colors just coming to life. The mountains. This is where I went to the temple for the first time. Special happy memories.
Okay. So I spent part of my "vacation" *wink*wink*wink* in Provo. I have never been that excited about Provo. When Alec went to BYU undergrad, we lived in Orem; Law School we lived in Salt Lake. But I have to admit that being back, not just in Provo, but on campus was wonderful. There is a spirit there that is "Provo" and/or "BYU" that cannot be felt anywhere else. For the first time since Alec graduated in 2005, I almost longed to be back there, to be a part of it again.
The boys and I made a contract for while I was away. Part of my side of the deal, was that I would take lots of pictures. Of what? I explained that this trip was not going to be like when the whole family went to Utah and we saw cousins and did fun things. But they wanted pictures. I ended up taking pictures of "popcorn" trees and familiar parks and such for them. But here are some of my favorites.
The Provo Temple. The Spring colors just coming to life. The mountains. This is where I went to the temple for the first time. Special happy memories.
"My Mountain" as I call it. Or "Mommy's mountain" as my hubby and kids call it. Mt. Timp. I of course grew up on the other side of it than this picture was taken on, but I have come to love both sides of this magnificent mountain. It's legend. It's beauty. It's home to me.
The Marriott Center at BYU hold 23,000 people. It was 2/3's if not 3/4 of the way full for opening and closing sessions each day of Women's Conference. That is a lot of Women in the same place. Women's Conference was a wonderful, uplifting, enriching experience. I left edified and encouraged. I hope to go every year.
They didn't announce until the Conference started that our concluding speaker on Friday would Thomas S. Monson. They had always just said "A Senior Brethren." Well, it doesn't get much more senior than our Prophet! What a wonderful treat for the Women. As he left the building he in turn waved at each section of women, and they waved back. It was touching, and very personal, even though it was shared by thousands of us. He then gave us the thumbs up and continued out.
Mother's Day
Happy Mother's day to all you women out there!
Every year I have Alec take a picture of me with the boys on Mothers day. Too often, I don't make it into the pictures because I am the one snapping away. But here is proof that I exist! :)
The old me would have coordinated us a little better. Gotta love the island shirt on H! but the new me, that hopefully is humble, not hopeless, is okay that not one of us is wearing a single color that is the same. I guess the boys all have blue in their shirts. Just blue and red, blue and brown and blue and yellow. And of course, I am in purple. On Sunday mornings we are lucky to find clean church cloths for everyone, let alone Sunday mornings that Mom has been M.I.A for 12 days.
Every year I have Alec take a picture of me with the boys on Mothers day. Too often, I don't make it into the pictures because I am the one snapping away. But here is proof that I exist! :)
The old me would have coordinated us a little better. Gotta love the island shirt on H! but the new me, that hopefully is humble, not hopeless, is okay that not one of us is wearing a single color that is the same. I guess the boys all have blue in their shirts. Just blue and red, blue and brown and blue and yellow. And of course, I am in purple. On Sunday mornings we are lucky to find clean church cloths for everyone, let alone Sunday mornings that Mom has been M.I.A for 12 days.
Funny face time. The only way we get them to pose is to promise to take funny face pictures. It is no surprise that my kiddos like to ham it up.
After listening to the talks at church today, and the lesson in RS... I was left wondering if we have it all backwards. Perhaps Mother's day shouldn't be a day to honor our Mother's (don't get in a huff - I agree we deserve a day that honors us) but perhaps we need to honor ourselves as Mothers on this day. Take a step back and for once see the good we do, take credit for work, sweat and tears. No one else can make us feel good as Mom's. Right? Are we not our toughest critics? Are we not the ones that set the bar high? Are we not the ones that want to give them just a little more good, better and best?
There are a lot of Moms out there second guessing themselves, putting unmeasurable amounts of stress on themselves to do more and do it better... give yourselves credit, see the good you do. It is a "plan of happiness" and half of that plan is ours, lets be happy about it.
I don't want my kids to grow up thinking I didn't like the job that I chose. Stay at home mom. I didn't chose it because it was easy.
Pat yourselves on the back.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Homesick
You know you are homesick when:
10) You want to leave church meetings so that you can call your family - oh wait they are at church too.
9) You seriously think about changing your plane tickets again, even though the airplanes have purchased a new fleet with your plane ticket fare and change fees the last month.
8) You wish you were home so that you could get up early on a Sunday and attend Welfare meeting at church.
7) You miss the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls that you only sort of like that your sweetheart makes for Sunday breakfast every Sunday.
6) The "how many bites do I have to eat?" whining at your Sister-in-law's dinner table makes you smile, rather than cringe.
5) You miss the chaos on the church pew during sacrament and realize you can't sit still for an hour and fifteen minute meeting either.
4)You buy a treat at the gas station for your kids out of habit... and then realize chocolate doesn't pack well.
3) Your insane thoughts of the kiddos and hubby suffering without you and how much they will appreciate you when you get home are replaced by fearful - what if they don't miss me and they don't want me back?
2)Your suitcases that were only half full when you came are bulging because you have one too many treasures to take home to your never over indulged nor spoiled children.
1)You bring up your Picasa pictures or log on to your own blog just to remember what they all look like.
10) You want to leave church meetings so that you can call your family - oh wait they are at church too.
9) You seriously think about changing your plane tickets again, even though the airplanes have purchased a new fleet with your plane ticket fare and change fees the last month.
8) You wish you were home so that you could get up early on a Sunday and attend Welfare meeting at church.
7) You miss the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls that you only sort of like that your sweetheart makes for Sunday breakfast every Sunday.
6) The "how many bites do I have to eat?" whining at your Sister-in-law's dinner table makes you smile, rather than cringe.
5) You miss the chaos on the church pew during sacrament and realize you can't sit still for an hour and fifteen minute meeting either.
4)You buy a treat at the gas station for your kids out of habit... and then realize chocolate doesn't pack well.
3) Your insane thoughts of the kiddos and hubby suffering without you and how much they will appreciate you when you get home are replaced by fearful - what if they don't miss me and they don't want me back?
2)Your suitcases that were only half full when you came are bulging because you have one too many treasures to take home to your never over indulged nor spoiled children.
1)You bring up your Picasa pictures or log on to your own blog just to remember what they all look like.
Buttons
Y'all are going to think I make this stuff up. When it rains it pours I tell ya.
My dog, Buttons, died Sunday May 4.
She was just a couple weeks short of 16 years old. I got her the summer before my Senior year in High School. When I went to college she stayed with my parents and became their dog.
Above is Buttons wrapped in a blanket about a year ago.
Below is a very furry Buttons with my parents and very baby H.
My dog, Buttons, died Sunday May 4.
She was just a couple weeks short of 16 years old. I got her the summer before my Senior year in High School. When I went to college she stayed with my parents and became their dog.
Above is Buttons wrapped in a blanket about a year ago.
Below is a very furry Buttons with my parents and very baby H.
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