My birthday cake

My girls insisted that we make a cake for my birthday.  So I let them decorate it.  It was just a plain chocolate cake but it had cream cheese frosting which is my fav so I didn't really care how much decorating they did as long as I didn't get lots of sprinkles.

This is the end result of their work and it was actually quite delicious. Izzy's was the blue half, Ashley's the yellow

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Scott's birthday

 Scott turned the big 42 this last week.  He and I went to lunch and then after a fajita dinner he took the bigger kids sledding while I finished preparing his cake.  Ashley had requested that he have a ballerina cake and wanted to decorate it herself but I vetoed that and made a cake I knew he would love to eat.  Coconut Dream Cake...yum.

 Ashley and Tommy helped blow out the candles

 Izzy set the table and prepared the ambiance including candles.

 Tommy loved the cream and kept asking for more please.

 Ashley wanted blue sprinkles since she didn't get to decorate the whole thing.

 The party planner.

The boys.

 

 

Coconut Dream Cake

 

Bake a yellow or white cake mix according to directions.

While still warm poke holes in the top of the cake with the handle of a wooden spoon.

Pour 1 can of "cream of coconut" on top. (I added about 1/2 c of coconut milk to the cream of coconut because I like the cake to be nice and gooey)

Top with cream and coconut.

 

Delish!!!

Playdough is the New Fav

Over the years I've collected random playdough tools.  I find when I pull out the playdough now that all four kids stop and play for a while.  For Christmas we got a box with a bunch of colors.  Wow!  Talk about new creativity.  Isabelle especially has gotten into it.  She creates food and people and has had a lot of fun. 

 

When I don't have lots of colors I make my own, I have two different recipes I use:

Playdoh
1 c. salt
2 t. cream of tartar
2 T. oil
2 c. flour
2 c. cold water
food coloring optional

Mix flour, salt and cream of tartar in a pan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it forms a ball around the spoon and pulls away from the pan.  Remove from heat and knead immediately.  Occasionally knead it as it cools on a rack.  It will keep indefinitely in a ziplock bag.  It needs no refrigeration.

Koolaid Playdoh
2 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. salt
2 packages unsweetened koolaid
2 c. boiling water
3 T. cooking oil

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.  Mix liquids together and pour into dry ingredients.  Stir until it forms a ball. At first it will appear as if it will never make a smooth playdoh mixture.  As the mixture cools and becomes less sticky, take it out of the bowl and knead until smooth.  Store in airtight container.

Izzy's clogging performance

Isabelle has been clogging with Extreme Rhythm run by our friend Beth Hulse.  She is quite good and enjoys it most of the time.  This time of year gets really fun with performances and competitions.  The big studio performance was last night and she was awesome!!  She has worked hard at smiling on stage and getting her knees up high. 
She has made some great friends on her team and she loves doing it with her bestie Hannah.

This is the link from their Christmas performance at the mall

http://youtu.be/HuXweTDQyB0

Tender Heart

My family is such a miracle to me.  This song by Katherine Nelson touches my heart in many ways, the mother, the birthmother, a loving Heavenly Father.  I am so very, very blessed.
http://youtu.be/dhMfQVBpoSY

New Ashley-isms

Ashley: Izzy!! You're Sassing my pants!! (I often call the girls sassy pants when they are being sassy, this was apparently her version.)

Ashley to me:  Wow, you look as beautiful as a sandwich! 

For my birthday Scott and I took the littles to lunch at Tucanos.  Ashley needed to use the bathroom while we were there but was unable to go because of the unfamiliar toilet.  I was therefore anxious to get home.  When we were nearly finished I told Scott, "As soon as we're done we'll run home and you can pay the check."  Ashley looked at me with complete sincerity and said, "Mom, we don't need to run, we have the car."

Ashley: I'm cute and fansome.

I told Ashley I wasn't sure what we should do with this beautiful box in the picture and asked her if she had any ideas.  Her reply was to take the paint off.  I asked why? She said, "Then it won't be beautiful anymore!"

She has decided that the way to know if you are done eating a meal is if you burp.  I'm not sure who she learned that from but she's not above letting me know if it's time for me to stop eating.  :)

When Ashley knows she has frustrated me she says, "Mom, you're the wonderful-est mom in the world." (in the video she actually says "greatest")

 

New Year's Eve

The Eddy's invited us to share New Year's Eve with them.  The Chappells, Beutlers and Grandma and Grandpa were there.  We played games, ate snacks and watched the ball drop at ten.  It was a grand time!  The only problem with the evening was Tommy's sneakiness.  Every time he could, Tommy climbed on the counter to help himself to another cake ball or chocolate or cookie.