Friday, September 30, 2011
Going Public??
I am thinking about making our blog public again. I always forget to add people to the blog, or someone can't access it or whatever, the issue. I am kind of tired of it. But I also feel like I don't know if going back to public is the right thing....a mini dilemma for the week!! haha
A mini San Fran trip
Last Friday night, we went down to San Fran to meet up with my Uncle Doug and Aunt Jen. They were here visiting from Kansas to see San Fran for their 10th anniversary. We hadn't seen them in over three years!! They had never met Amilee before, so that was exciting for everyone that they were going to get to meet her. My aunt is also pregnant with her first baby, and they are having a little girl due in January. My grandma is super excited because she gets a grand child and a great grand child within a month and a half!! pretty fun!!
Now, silly me, I forgot to take pictures with them when we went to dinner and to get gelato, but I took a few pics on the carousel at Pier 39, where we stopped beforehand.
Amilee loves carousels!! she saw it as we were walking through the different shops and was going crazy to ride it!! I am not a fan of carousels, so I chose not to ride, but she sure loved it.
We enjoyed catching up with my aunt and uncle and talking to them about becoming first time parents. They are so excited to have a new baby; it was pretty good. And a little nervous too. My aunt is the youngest sibling and wasn't around a lot of babies and didn't do much babysitting, and my uncle is an only child, so they are in for a treat. They will do just fine though. My grandma is planning on staying with them for a few weeks when the baby comes, so that is great!!
We enjoyed a little night to ourselves in the city, and we also enjoyed the cooler weather!! it was a nice little mini trip!!
Now, silly me, I forgot to take pictures with them when we went to dinner and to get gelato, but I took a few pics on the carousel at Pier 39, where we stopped beforehand.
Amilee loves carousels!! she saw it as we were walking through the different shops and was going crazy to ride it!! I am not a fan of carousels, so I chose not to ride, but she sure loved it.
We enjoyed catching up with my aunt and uncle and talking to them about becoming first time parents. They are so excited to have a new baby; it was pretty good. And a little nervous too. My aunt is the youngest sibling and wasn't around a lot of babies and didn't do much babysitting, and my uncle is an only child, so they are in for a treat. They will do just fine though. My grandma is planning on staying with them for a few weeks when the baby comes, so that is great!!
We enjoyed a little night to ourselves in the city, and we also enjoyed the cooler weather!! it was a nice little mini trip!!
Monday, September 19, 2011
The BEST cake Ever!!! Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Glaze
So I am not really a cake fan, nor really a chocolate cake fan, but this cake hits the spot!! and it is so delicious and so easy!! It is a Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Glaze!! yum!!!
Last night we had some friends from the ward over for dessert and I had been wanting to try this cake, so Bella and I made it. I forgot to take pics last night, but here are a couple from this morning!!
Okay, here is the recipe!
cake:
1 package chocolate cake mix (I used triple chocolate fudge)
1 (5.9 oz) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups peanut butter chips
Directions: preheat over to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the peanut butter chips and pour batter into a well-greased 12 cup bundt pan.
Bake for 45-5 minutes, or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cake thoroughly in the pan at least 1 hour and a half before inverting onto a plate. While cake is cooling, make frosting and peanut butter glaze. Frost the cake with frosting and then drizzle with glaze. Heat up the glaze slightly to accomplish a great drizzle.
Peanut Butter Glaze: (I doubled this recipe)
4 teaspoons water
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon peanut butter
Mix well and drizzle over frosted cake
Chocolate Frosting: ( I double this recipe, and it is the best chocolate frosting I have ever had, and frosting, to me, is the worst part of the cake)
Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups confectioner's sugar
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
In a medium bowl, sift together the confectioner's sugar and cocoa and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream butter until smooth, then gradually beat in sugar mixture alternately with the evaporated milk. Blend in vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. If necessary, adjust consistency with more milk or sugar!!!!
and voila!! you have a delicious dessert!! we served with vanilla bean ice cream~~ delicious!!
Last night we had some friends from the ward over for dessert and I had been wanting to try this cake, so Bella and I made it. I forgot to take pics last night, but here are a couple from this morning!!
Okay, here is the recipe!
cake:
1 package chocolate cake mix (I used triple chocolate fudge)
1 (5.9 oz) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups peanut butter chips
Directions: preheat over to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the peanut butter chips and pour batter into a well-greased 12 cup bundt pan.
Bake for 45-5 minutes, or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cake thoroughly in the pan at least 1 hour and a half before inverting onto a plate. While cake is cooling, make frosting and peanut butter glaze. Frost the cake with frosting and then drizzle with glaze. Heat up the glaze slightly to accomplish a great drizzle.
Peanut Butter Glaze: (I doubled this recipe)
4 teaspoons water
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon peanut butter
Mix well and drizzle over frosted cake
Chocolate Frosting: ( I double this recipe, and it is the best chocolate frosting I have ever had, and frosting, to me, is the worst part of the cake)
Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups confectioner's sugar
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
In a medium bowl, sift together the confectioner's sugar and cocoa and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream butter until smooth, then gradually beat in sugar mixture alternately with the evaporated milk. Blend in vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. If necessary, adjust consistency with more milk or sugar!!!!
and voila!! you have a delicious dessert!! we served with vanilla bean ice cream~~ delicious!!
New Member of the Family
Haha, I know this title is deceiving, but I have not had baby Maddy yet. I still have a couple of months to go. But my brother and sister in law did have their baby girl this morning, which is so exciting. We are planning on going to see her today when Jolene gets off work. I am so excited for them. They also have a little boy who is one month older than Amilee, so our kids are close in age and that will be really fun for them when they are a little bit older.
I also can't help but think that Baby Maddy will be here so soon. I know it is two months away, but that is going to go so fast!! and then we will have our own new member of the family. We are getting really excited, but I am really nervous too. I just keep wondering what it will be like to take care of two children who are both majorly dependent on mom. At least Amilee can do a lot of things for herself, but she has a ton of energy and needs to always be entertained and loves rough housing and such. I think she will try to be a big help too though. She loves babies and she is always trying to help them or help their moms with whatever they are doing. But still a little nervous. This is uncharted territory, not only for us, but also for this household. Nobody has really been around a newborn day in and day out for a long time. Katie and Bella never have, so it will definitely be an adjustment for all of us.
Can't wait to go see Baby Malia today!! so exciting and fun!!
I also can't help but think that Baby Maddy will be here so soon. I know it is two months away, but that is going to go so fast!! and then we will have our own new member of the family. We are getting really excited, but I am really nervous too. I just keep wondering what it will be like to take care of two children who are both majorly dependent on mom. At least Amilee can do a lot of things for herself, but she has a ton of energy and needs to always be entertained and loves rough housing and such. I think she will try to be a big help too though. She loves babies and she is always trying to help them or help their moms with whatever they are doing. But still a little nervous. This is uncharted territory, not only for us, but also for this household. Nobody has really been around a newborn day in and day out for a long time. Katie and Bella never have, so it will definitely be an adjustment for all of us.
Can't wait to go see Baby Malia today!! so exciting and fun!!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Quilt Part 1
I have been working on making a quilt for my bed, and it seems like it has been taking forever. It isn't very hard to do, but when I was working, it was hard to find time to do it, and then it is hard to sew with Amilee around also, but it is coming along. The top is all done, minus the border which I am currently working on. Here are some sneak peaks. I am so excited about it, and I have loved learning so much about sewing and can't wait to sew more things.
Bow Making Extravaganza
Recently my mother in law Jolene wanted to make Amilee some hair bows. Somehow, it seems she never has enough or the right color, though she has tons. But needless to say, we have had some bow making parties, and I have really taken to it. Here are my recent creations. I will be making more and let me know if you would like any.
Beautiful and fun to make, and a good creative outlet for me!! Can't wait for more to come!!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Lake Almanor Pics
Sorry so delayed...life has been busy lately!!
We had a great trip!! lots of fun up at Lake Almanor!!!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Lake Almanor Trip
We had a great trip this weekend up to Lake Almanor!! We headed up Friday night after Samuel got off work, and Amilee did wonderful on the 2 1/2 hour drive. She played and danced almost the whole way. It was great. That night we didn't too much, just went to bed and stuff to prepare for the weekend.
Saturday morning we woke up and ate breakfast and we got ready to head out on the boat. We brought the tube out first and Sean and Loran Loosli, and Samuel braved the cold water. It was freezing, but you got used to it once you just jumped in. Amilee enjoyed the boat too. I will put pictures in the next post. We came back for lunch and took a little rest and then went back out to do some knee boarding. Jolene got up on the knee board for the first time. It was awesome. Samuel really enjoyed the knee board, but everyone was pretty sore by the end of Saturday. We roasted s'mores on the beach that night and watched BYU football. We won the game, but our offense played very poorly, so at least it was a win, but hopefully we get our act together ASAP!!!
Sunday, we went to church. At the ward in Chester, they do church backwards, they start with priesthood/relief society first, and the branch is so small that they don't have a nursery, so needless to say, church was miserable, since amilee is not used to having to try and sit and be quiet for all three hours. I didn't get too much out of church, which is fine, some Sundays are like that, but it was still rough. Glad it is over. haha We just relaxed most of Sunday and played games. After church and a nap, our Sunday was much better. We had a nice BBQ on Sunday also.
Monday, we headed back out on the boat. Everyone was able to do tubing and knee boarding, and we had a nice time getting our fill of vacation. Amilee also played at the beach and swam a little bit, and made sand cakes. She thoroughly enjoyed that part. She loves to help cook and bake all the time here at home, and it was no different up at the cabin, even if we are playing in the sand. haha
But it was nice to get away and relax for a little while and get away from the heat! It is miserably hot here, and this pregnant body is not liking it so much...bring on the fall weather now!! haha Pictures to come later tonight or tomorrow!!
Saturday morning we woke up and ate breakfast and we got ready to head out on the boat. We brought the tube out first and Sean and Loran Loosli, and Samuel braved the cold water. It was freezing, but you got used to it once you just jumped in. Amilee enjoyed the boat too. I will put pictures in the next post. We came back for lunch and took a little rest and then went back out to do some knee boarding. Jolene got up on the knee board for the first time. It was awesome. Samuel really enjoyed the knee board, but everyone was pretty sore by the end of Saturday. We roasted s'mores on the beach that night and watched BYU football. We won the game, but our offense played very poorly, so at least it was a win, but hopefully we get our act together ASAP!!!
Sunday, we went to church. At the ward in Chester, they do church backwards, they start with priesthood/relief society first, and the branch is so small that they don't have a nursery, so needless to say, church was miserable, since amilee is not used to having to try and sit and be quiet for all three hours. I didn't get too much out of church, which is fine, some Sundays are like that, but it was still rough. Glad it is over. haha We just relaxed most of Sunday and played games. After church and a nap, our Sunday was much better. We had a nice BBQ on Sunday also.
Monday, we headed back out on the boat. Everyone was able to do tubing and knee boarding, and we had a nice time getting our fill of vacation. Amilee also played at the beach and swam a little bit, and made sand cakes. She thoroughly enjoyed that part. She loves to help cook and bake all the time here at home, and it was no different up at the cabin, even if we are playing in the sand. haha
But it was nice to get away and relax for a little while and get away from the heat! It is miserably hot here, and this pregnant body is not liking it so much...bring on the fall weather now!! haha Pictures to come later tonight or tomorrow!!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Lake Almanor
We are going up to the family cabin for the weekend up in Lake Almanor!! We are so excited. I hope I can still do some tubing...if they go slow, so I don't fall off too hard. I love being out on the boat! I hope to take a lot of pics, but here are some pics of Lake Almanor. It is beautiful.
I hope we can maybe go on some hikes or something...nothing too intense, but something a little bit out of the ordinary!! Have a great Labor Day y'all and enjoy watching some football...I know I will have some BYU on tomorrow!!!
Books
I recently finished two books!! I read A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis and the Help by Kathryn Stockett.
I recommend both.
This book was about C.S. Lewis grieving the death of his wife, and his struggle to trust in God and his feelings about an after life. I am a big fan of Lewis, but this is one of his more easier reads, and it personally made me truly grateful to have the gospel in my life because I know, that, though death is a hard time for all those it hits, I am sure of where we are going after this life and that we will see each other again. It makes death not so hard to experience. We all still need to go through the grieving process in our own way, but it helps to make things more comforting, not so sad or devastating.
Next, The Help
I thoroughly enjoyed the Help. I haven't seen the movie yet and I can't wait to see it!! I love that America has come very far in the way we treat minorities, but there are still people who harbor resentment and ill feelings towards those of another skin color. And having lived in the South, where the population is very diverse, this is hard for me to understand, since I grew up treating everyone the same. I definitely recommend this book, and some time to just keep reading and reading because I couldn't put it down and I wanted to finish it as soon as I could. There are some downright funny parts and I found myself laughing out loud, and also being really sad as well!! great book!!
I have missed reading books, but with working and all that, I didn't have too much time to read or I would be too tired to read when I finally had some time. The next set of books I am reading are the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe series once again. It has been a while since I read them, so I am excited to start again!! can't wait!!!
I recommend both.
This book was about C.S. Lewis grieving the death of his wife, and his struggle to trust in God and his feelings about an after life. I am a big fan of Lewis, but this is one of his more easier reads, and it personally made me truly grateful to have the gospel in my life because I know, that, though death is a hard time for all those it hits, I am sure of where we are going after this life and that we will see each other again. It makes death not so hard to experience. We all still need to go through the grieving process in our own way, but it helps to make things more comforting, not so sad or devastating.
Next, The Help
I thoroughly enjoyed the Help. I haven't seen the movie yet and I can't wait to see it!! I love that America has come very far in the way we treat minorities, but there are still people who harbor resentment and ill feelings towards those of another skin color. And having lived in the South, where the population is very diverse, this is hard for me to understand, since I grew up treating everyone the same. I definitely recommend this book, and some time to just keep reading and reading because I couldn't put it down and I wanted to finish it as soon as I could. There are some downright funny parts and I found myself laughing out loud, and also being really sad as well!! great book!!
I have missed reading books, but with working and all that, I didn't have too much time to read or I would be too tired to read when I finally had some time. The next set of books I am reading are the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe series once again. It has been a while since I read them, so I am excited to start again!! can't wait!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)