My Maranda

My Maranda turned 11 this year. She wanted to have a party and invite all her friends from her Primay class plus some friends who are in our ward that are in her school class. This is a pretty large group. Maranda was happy to plan and prepare for all the festivities.
Here's what she decided: we played several 'Minute to Win It' games, all involving food.
She opened presents (obviously).
We ate hamburgers (grilled by Dad) and chips with clam dip (Evans family favorite). Maranda said everyone has pizza at birthday parties and she wanted to do something different. Plus she loves grilled hamburgers.

For dessert, we had rainbow cupcakes. The insides were a rainbow and each cupcake was decorated with one rainbow color. Maranda and her sisters helped decorate the cupcakes on the day before. They were also delicious.

Maranda love arts and crafts and all kinds of games. She is learning the piano and also takes ballet. She gets along with everyone and has lots of friends. Hanna took Maranda for a photo shoot in the afternoon to capture her 11 year old self. We think she's pretty cute inside and out.
A few hours later, Maranda had another party with her 4 cousins that are her same age. We thought it would be worlds colliding to have them all there together with her friends from the ward. The cousins are all familiar with each other and had lots of fun together. Plus, Hanna supervised that party so I didn't have to. We must have been tired by then, because we have no pictures of the cousin party. It was a great day though, Happy Birthday Maranda!

Happy Birthday Dan 2011

Dan wanted another fondant cake for his birthday. Hanna wasn't available to help make it so she made me the fondant and I had to make it myself. This cake is four layers of vanilla cake filled with chocolate ganache. Then it is covered in buttercream frosting and a layer of fondant. Then it has more fondant decorations and more frosting. I think he liked it.
Chandler wasn't around for opening presents but here's Dan with his girls.

Christmas Day 2010

We opened presents then went to Elaine and Ron's house for breakfast. We made orange rolls all afternoon, then later we went for dinner at Grunyon Run.

Chandler's B-day 2010

Chandler is, by far, my favorite son. He loves to laugh and have a good time. He is also cute. He is friends with everyone because he just loves people. I can't find any pictures but I'm sure he had whatever he wanted for dessert and he got a present too. Chandler is working hard at his two jobs and saving for better transportation.

Creme Brulee

I won some great ramekins for our New Years white elephant exchange with my family this year. We had the best time making pazookies and then learning how to make creme brulee. Creme brulee is surprisingly easy to make except for one thing. We had trouble with the top because it needs to be torched in order to caramelize the sugar. Luckily Sherry and Wendell came through with a plumbing torch that did the trick. Now I need to decide if I should purchase a kitchen torch or not tempt myself with easy creme brulee (think egg yolks and heavy cream). Such a hard decision!

Merry Christmas Dan

Dan said all he wanted for Christmas was a fondant cake. Hanna was able to secretly make him one. Didn't it turn out cute?

Christmas Eve 2010

This year we again went to the temple to see Jordan Bluth sing, he is awesome. Then we came home to read and act out the nativity. We will be super sad when Chandler moves out because we will have no Joseph. This year we had Mary, Joseph, an angel, two wise men and two shepherds. MamaG came over to join us. Then Danica gave us a wonderful little guitar concert and we opened Christmas pajamas. The camera was about to die by then so we didn't get any good pajama pictures. But the pajamas were still cute.

Three Ballerinas

Hanna, Maranda and Ruthie had a ballet recital. Our camera doesn't take stage pictures so I went back stage to get a few pictures of these sisters.They all did such a beautiful job, we are so proud of them.
This is Grandma Proffitt (Herrick) and MamaGinger who came with us to watch the recital.

Hanna turns 17- 2010

Hanna has some great friends. Throughout the day on her birthday, 17 friends each brought her a rose. By the end of the day she had a full bouquet. Hanna is so fun to have around. She likes to laugh and joke and quote movies. She has a positive attitude which is also contagious. When Hanna is home, she is cleaning all the time and she is a great help in the kitchen. She also asks what she can do to help. Honestly, how many children ask that? She is the most wonderful 17 year old that we know. We love you Hanna!
We could only catch her for a few minutes between activities that day, but we did at least sing and eat triple layer chocolate cake, delicious. Then she ran out the door to the next thing. . .

Gingerbread Houses 2010

Ok, it's a messy tradition that I don't love. But our children really really do love it. I guess with frosting and every kind of candy, what's not to love? We start one evening with the frosting that acts like glue and we piece together the structure of the houses. The older girls like to make new creative houses and other structures (look at Maranda's city buildings)The next night we make the good frosting and pull out all the candy.

Zanya
Ruthie
Hanna
Andria
Danica (that is the best picture)
I'm so sad we didn't get an "after" picture of Maranda's. It was pretty great.

Preschool Christmas Program- 2010

Zanya loves her preschool class. They did a wonderful program and Zanya knew every word of every song. She also had a poem memorized to recite during the program. She was so animated and fun to watch. And she made a darn cute angel.

Family Pictures- Novmeber 2010

So we finally got around to taking another family picture. Our last one was about 4 years ago. We have a great friend with a good camera who was willing to follow us around the temple grounds and take pictures of us. Thanks Ryan!

Ruthie Flower- November 2010

This was the Highland School production of Alice in Wonderland. It was for grades 1-3 and it turned out great. Ruthie is in first grade so she got a small flower part. I was on the costume committee so I got to make 13 flower costumes.I made a petunia, rose, lily and violet. I also used a daisy that I made several years ago for Halloween. Parents helped by assembling the small flower headbands, and we bought the shirts. I made all 13 skirts.

Ruthie loved being in the play and going to all the practices. It really was an excellent production.
Ruthie was the prettiest flower :) .

Bacon Cupcakes- November 2010

You read that right. I can't remember the details but it involved one of Hanna's teachers who likes bacon. These cupcakes had bacon in the cupcakes and maple syrup in the frosting. They were strangely tasty.

Wedding Day- November 11, 2010

My Dad died in a sad accident over 5 years ago and since then, my Mom has been alone. This year she was able to find a wonderful man and they decided to get married. The wedding and following party were so fun and our whole family was there.

Here is the newly married: Ron and Elaine Herrick
This is Ron, Elaine and all of my siblings and our spouses.
Here is everyone from my family plus Ron's family too. You may need to zoom in to find anyone, we are a pretty large group.
We had DJRon provide the music and we had a great time dancing

I love these pictures of Ruthie dancing with her Dad. Swing it girl!
I was in charge of the cupcakes. I think I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. We had Vanilla, Chocolate, Coconut, and Lemon. Yum!