More treats and other stuff

Andria likes to take pictures. She doesn't even need a subject. She can take many pictures of random views around the room, the vase of flowers, her stuffed animals or the back of your head. Here is Hanna's hand as she decorates, compliments of Andria. We decided to make some chocolate cupcakes since we haven't made chocolate in a while. One of our friends asked one of my children if we made our cupcakes from a box mix or from scratch. This child didn't know so I will clarify: these recent gourmet cupcakes from the last few months have been from scratch. Previously, we have just used a box mix but now we are branching out and trying new things.

Anyway, I wanted orange flavored frosting on my chocolate cupcakes but Hanna wanted pink hearts. So we made some regular frosting to go with the pink hearts and some orange frosting which I thought was delicious with the chocolate cupcakes.

Here are Hanna's:

Here are mine:

My favorite cupcakes are still the coconut.

This is Sunday lunch prepared by useful teenage daughters. I hope you have some at your house.

Just so you don't think that we only make cupcakes, here are the pumpkin cookies we made this week. I made them because I wanted them but I didn't realize that all my kids like them too. They are really big pigs. Margaret, do you want me to save you some? They have half the fat and are sort of healthy ,) but still delicious.

Here is another one of Andria's pictures:

And a self portrait. She is so fun!

Baby shower cupcakes

Here are the most recent cupcakes. They were for a baby shower that our young women organized. (FYI I have a new calling as family preparedness specialist so I am not in Young Women any more, sniff) Anyway, most of our cupcake ideas are not our own. We wouldn't want you to think that we are super creative, or something. We are excellent copiers. Hanna got a cupcake book for christmas with some fun ideas and we also use ideas off the internet. If you like our cupcakes, you can do it too! I have had requests for the peach cupcake recipe so here is where I got it: http://iheartcuppycakes.com/2008/07/31/vanilla-almond-cherry-cupcakes/

This blog is all about cupcakes and it is very fun. We have copied several of her ideas and used her recipes. We have also used the coconut cupcake recipe from Sprinkles which was published in some magazine or something. There are many cupcake blogs and other sites with great ideas. We just copy them or tweak them for our own purposes. I saw a fluffy pink frosting on a chocolate cake in a magazine and I think that would be fun for Valentines Day. Then when summer comes around there are several recipes that Hanna and I are dying to try. We'll keep you posted.

My Maranda turns Nine

Maranda turned nine yesterday so there were a few celebrations in order. First we did her nine year old pictures. I wish we had a better camera but with such a cute subject the pictures just have to be great! Maranda has a fun personality and gets along with everyone because she is so easy going. She loves all sports; soccer, basketball, softball, and enjoys being outside. She likes to climb trees, swim, boogie board and play games. Maranda will also practice the piano without being asked! We love having Maranda in our home and are so proud of her. Then, of course, some birthday cupcakes. Maranda picked butterflies but then we make some creepy bugs too. They were fun to make and Maranda enjoyed helping us.

Because it is an odd birthday for her, she got to have a friend party. She chose miniature golfing and was kind enough to include her sister, Andria.

Here are all the girls in the van. What a fun group!

Then we opened presents. . .

And sang Happy Birthday, and ate cupcakes.

Then on Sunday, January 18, Maranda's real birthday, she got her present from us: A new bike!

And one final celebration with her cousins. We had peach cupcakes (they were good!) this time along with snickerdoodles and homemade ice cream.

Cupcakes, round 3 (and Dan's birthday)

Does this look like dinner instead of dessert? Since it is Dan's birthday and he is on a diet, we thought we would make some healthful cupcakes (ha ha) Here we are in our creative process, tidiness just stifles creativity! This is Sam, Jan, Hanna, and Danica

Here is the complete dinner (mashed potatoes & gravy and butter; peas and carrots; and chocolate pudding for dessert). Yes, they were delicious! The chicken drumstick cupcakes didn't make it on the menu because we were short one ingredient. Maybe next time.

Dan and his posterity. Everyone was making faces and laughing about it but we managed to get a picture with mostly normal faces.

For Dan's birthday he spent two days in Las Vegas with his family. He played golf both days with his brothers and also saw his Mom and two sisters as well. He had a great time but forgot the camera. We are waiting for his brother to email some pictures to us so we can document the fun times in Vegas.

Today he opened our present that we made while he was out of town. We think it turned out pretty great, so masculine. Dan frequently washes dishes or starts breakfast while in his work clothes or church clothes so he needs an apron. Everyone chose the fabric for their own hand print from the boxes of left over fabric that we have. Then we traced their hands and made hand prints out of fabric using the quilting skills that I learned last year. Isn't Dan cute? And he is never more attractive than when he is washing the dishes :)

This apron is a replacement for one that we made several years ago. The old one is smaller and the hand prints were done in puff paint. After many washings, the puff paint and permanent marker is quite faded. We like the replacement.

Cupcake, New Years Eve and a Question

Here is another cupcake creation that Hanna and I tried. It is a tres leche cupcake so we call it cookie and milk. It was very delicious and the tiny chocolate chip cookies were a fun touch (Hanna made those).

For new years eve we made a cranberry almond cupcake but we forgot to take a picture :( It was beautiful (for a cupcake). It had cranberry sauce drizzled over the frosting and sliced almonds on top. I really liked that one and I think my family liked them too. New Years Eve we went to Grunyon Run but I am so dumb, I only took two pictures. So here they are: Kindyl and Andria making gingerbread houses (Greg helping)

Maranda and Saydie making theirs:

Pictures missing: kids bingo game, Hannas first place prize, kids running around and playing games together, adult snack time with another cheeseball and assorted treats plus the healthy veggie tray (thanks Joy), adult bingo gift exchange, adults playing Last Word (Dan won), breakfast at midnight at a neighbors house, Hanna and Kylee after the stake dance. You will have to imagine all the pictures along with the cranberry almond cupcakes.

Question: What is this a picture of?

If you said Zanya on her new big girl bed you are right!

However, if you said 300 lbs of white wheat, 20 lbs of elbow macaroni, and 17 lbs of rolled oats, you would also be right!

Zanya has had the mattress on the floor for a few weeks and we had several buckets of stuff that needed a place to live so it was a win win solution (it was Dan's great idea when I asked if anyone could think of a place to store the newly sealed buckets of food.)

Call me a kook if you must but there are a lot of mouths to feed over here and none of us likes to be hungry :)