1st birthday cupcakes

I was lucky to be asked to make cupcakes for one of the sweetest baby girls ever. Teagan's 1st birthday is definitely something amazing to celebrate. Read her story here. Teagan and her family are such strong people. Teagan is such a special girl, I am looking forward to see how she grows and becomes stronger. Happy Birthday Teagan! Thanks Susie!

up for grabs

marshmallow fondant
I just made some cupcakes and a little cake (pictures in a few days) and I made some fondant...maybe a bit too much!
I am done with the cupcakes and cake and I have some
Light pink
Dark pink
a little bit of Brown
and white fondant

It isn't enough to cover a cake, but enough to play around with your kids and let them decorate a little cake or cupcakes or enough for you to cover a cake in frosting and use the fondant for flowers or polka dots.

I have 2 boys who are totally offended if I offer them ANYTHING pink, so I have no future use for the fondant.

If you want it, you are welcome to it!
The first person to comment that wants it can come pick it up.
**obviously this is for people in town**
I can even give you a quick overview on how to work with it if you don't know but are just curious :)

too much TV

Gabe has obviously watched too much TV or he is just very very observant

Gabe goes around all day saying things like "mom, door starts with D" "Megatron starts with M" and so on.....usually very random words.

So our conversation goes like this the other day:

Gabe: Mom, water starts with W!

Me: You're right! Gabe, you are getting so smart, I am so proud of you!

Gabe: Now you need to sign me up at Sylvan so I can get really smart, okay?

Me: what??

Gabe: SYLVAN, so I can learn more things and be smart!

Me: ..........oh geez...................

**on a side note...James is testing again.....please keep him in your prayers**

**sigh** :)

Staring at some pretty flowers from a very loving husband Admiring springs first signs
Watching bread rise and then baked into warm honey wheat bread

Contemplating what to do with this messy area in the back yard

**any ideas would be greatly appreciated!**

Watching a determined 2 year old try to bite into a frozen chocolate covered banana

**He cried after this because he couldn't...it was cute :) **

I have loved this day. I usually am one who doesn't mind rain... I actually love it. But today, with the sun shining in my windows, I just wanted to smile the biggest smile all day long. Isn't it amazing what some sunshine can do to a person?

Now if it would just warm up!

I love spring!

How I am feeling

Alma 37:37

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

Since we as a family made our New Years Resolutions, one of them was nightly family scripture study. It has been going so well and the kids love it. I listen to their prayers when we are done and hear the honesty and sincerity in their voices and I have a feeling of warmth and comfort because I KNOW they feel Heavenly Fathers love and they feels the spirit, especially Gabriel.

I also love to pray....I feel the blessings from it everyday. I put my faith in the Lord and turn to Him. But sometimes I feel I need to work on my prayers. To really put my heart into what I am praying about. Sometimes I feel I can get so repetitive....which I know isn't bad, but I just know where I can grow.

So.....this is how I feel and this is how I am going to become better at prayer the way Heavenly Father knows I can.

A dare

While down in Portland, Rachel (my sister in law) treated us to a lot of yummy food.
French dips, eggs Benedict, egg salad for breakfast, a yummy baked rice pudding, some Filipino egg rolls called Lumpias, a chicken salad that everyone couldn't get enough of that we made twice, and a PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE that I couldn't stop eating.

Here is Rachel in the middle of making it, look at her super cute baby belly :)

Rachel found the recipe in a book a couple of years ago. She said that the description was a group of ladies who had it at a get together and between them they ate the whole thing themselves because they couldn't get enough of it.
Rachel told me about it and I was very sceptical....a little worried.....but still wanted to try it.

So I dare you all to try this...the sweet of the pineapple, the saltiness of the crackers, and the ooey gooey goodness of the cheese just all work together into a dream in a dish...okay, so I may be stretching it...but it really is very very good.

Not sure if this is a side dish or dessert.....either way.....I ate more for breakfast.

So here it is:

Pineapple casserole
20 oz can of Pineapple tidbits- drain BUT SAVE 3 TBSP of the juice in bowl
1/2 cup sugar
3 Tbsp flour
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (she used it out of the bag)
1 stick of butter melted
1/2 cup (+ more if you want) crushed Ritz crackers

Mix pineapple juice, sugar and flour in a bowl till mixed. Add cheese and pineapple and stir till cheese and pineapple are coated with the juice mixture.
Dump into casserole dish (make in 9x13 if you are doubling it) and spread out evenly.
In a small bowl, mix Ritz crackers and butter until crackers are all buttered up. Sprinkle over pineapple mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

........I dare you............and tell me if you liked it after you make it! and I am sorry if you didn't :)

And here is proof that people actually like it
Allrecipes Pineapple Casserole But I don't recommend this exact recipe, the one I posted is better!

What a week

This last week we went down to Portland/Vancouver for the week to visit family and get away for a while. The main reason to go to Portland was to see the blessing of my brother and sister in laws first baby boy, Liam. What a special boy he is.
It was a great trip...we had a lot of great food (thanks Rachel!!) Got a lot of new recipes, had some great conversations, made some great memories. The boys did so well and had so much fun.
Here are just a few of my favorite pictures, or this post would get way too long.

Matt, Erin and the handsome baby Liam

Look at those cheeks!!!Finally a "good" picture of Gabe...we can never get him to just "smile"
At Omsi...James looks a bit uncomfortable doesn't he?

My favorite picture of all....story behind picture: Every trip we take, James ALWAYS grows a beard because with work, he HAS to shave every day no matter what. So by the end of EVERY vacation, James has a beard. So when it is time to go back to work, we always get to see the "stash". It always makes me laugh and I honestly cannot hold a conversation with him....at least not a serious one :) I love you James!

And the rest of the photos:

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