Getting ready... we had a limited supply of peeps this year, but we got more creative with the peeps.
My favorite was the peepy duel.
The one on the right seemed to come out of it better...
There's a couple more pictures over at Flickr.
March 31, 2008
Second Annual Peep-a-palooza
We had so much fun doing this last year, that we did it again. We waited an extra week after Easter, but the peeps didn't seem to mind too much.
Getting ready... we had a limited supply of peeps this year, but we got more creative with the peeps.
My favorite was the peepy duel.
The one on the right seemed to come out of it better...
There's a couple more pictures over at Flickr.
Getting ready... we had a limited supply of peeps this year, but we got more creative with the peeps.
My favorite was the peepy duel.
The one on the right seemed to come out of it better...
There's a couple more pictures over at Flickr.
March 30, 2008
How Caitlyn has a Sleepover Party
wait wait wait wait... phone rings! Answer. Ah, dang, someone can't spend the night.
wait wait wait wait... doorbell rings! YAY! Other girls are here!! Talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk (they're getting louder), more girls come, more talk talk talk talk until Mom says "DINNER TIME!" (she has to shout to be heard over all the talk). Eat eat eat.... DONE! Let's play party games! (Want to know what time it is? 6:10. The party started at 5:30.) Play Pass the Parcel (fun)
and then decorate pillowcases.
Eat cake. (Or pick at cake then ask to save it for later, as was the case for most of the girls.) It's now 6:45. Mom sends gaggle of girls outside so we can get little girls ready for bed. Attempt to play a couple more games. Have to run out to help numerous girls climb up and down rope ladder to the clubhouse in the shed. Come back in at 7:30 to open presents. Caitlyn is so excited (she gets loud when she's excited)... she got four Webkinz! (Oh, boy.)
Run downstairs to the computer to register Caitlyn and play. Discover that we have a problem with the Webkinz webpage and our monitor... we can't see the "OK" button to register Caitlyn, no matter how hard we try. Disappointed, they instead start Pink Panther (Steve Martin version) and alternately watch and play games until a couple of the girls go home.
Little kids in bed, Mom and Dad retreat to their rooms. Finish watching Pink Panther, put in Labrynth. Dad comes down and says lights out at 11:30... talk talk talk (quieter this time) and play games and make movies
and talk talk talk some more until Mom comes down at 3:00 a.m. to say "GO TO SLEEP OR I'LL SEPARATE YOU!" Get up at 8 a.m.
Try not to repeat any time soon. (At least from Mom's perspective. Caitlyn would do it again every weekend if I let her.)
wait wait wait wait... doorbell rings! YAY! Other girls are here!! Talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk (they're getting louder), more girls come, more talk talk talk talk until Mom says "DINNER TIME!" (she has to shout to be heard over all the talk). Eat eat eat.... DONE! Let's play party games! (Want to know what time it is? 6:10. The party started at 5:30.) Play Pass the Parcel (fun)
and then decorate pillowcases.
Eat cake. (Or pick at cake then ask to save it for later, as was the case for most of the girls.) It's now 6:45. Mom sends gaggle of girls outside so we can get little girls ready for bed. Attempt to play a couple more games. Have to run out to help numerous girls climb up and down rope ladder to the clubhouse in the shed. Come back in at 7:30 to open presents. Caitlyn is so excited (she gets loud when she's excited)... she got four Webkinz! (Oh, boy.)
Run downstairs to the computer to register Caitlyn and play. Discover that we have a problem with the Webkinz webpage and our monitor... we can't see the "OK" button to register Caitlyn, no matter how hard we try. Disappointed, they instead start Pink Panther (Steve Martin version) and alternately watch and play games until a couple of the girls go home.
Little kids in bed, Mom and Dad retreat to their rooms. Finish watching Pink Panther, put in Labrynth. Dad comes down and says lights out at 11:30... talk talk talk (quieter this time) and play games and make movies
and talk talk talk some more until Mom comes down at 3:00 a.m. to say "GO TO SLEEP OR I'LL SEPARATE YOU!" Get up at 8 a.m.
Try not to repeat any time soon. (At least from Mom's perspective. Caitlyn would do it again every weekend if I let her.)
The Great Chocolate Cake Quest: The Final
It was delicious. :) The only thing I'd do differently is remember to take it out about 1/2 hour before serving so it has a chance to defrost a little bit.
Otherwise, it was perfect.
March 26, 2008
And Now For Some More Poetry by Megan
Self Portrait
My hair is like the sun on strawberries
My eyes are like dark chocolate
My life is like a roller coaster
My dreams are like the galaxy
My heart holds truth
That is a rainbow
I live here
And I eat cherries
Limerick
There once was a girl named Sue
She never said anything true
She lied all the time
'Bout stealing my dime
Then she got caught and turned blue!
Diamante
My hair is like the sun on strawberries
My eyes are like dark chocolate
My life is like a roller coaster
My dreams are like the galaxy
My heart holds truth
That is a rainbow
I live here
And I eat cherries
Limerick
There once was a girl named Sue
She never said anything true
She lied all the time
'Bout stealing my dime
Then she got caught and turned blue!
Diamante
Flower
delicate pretty
watching dancing feeling
Spring is here now!
growing thriving warming
colorful beautiful
Blossom.
I am
I am a loud reader
I wonder what to read next
I see my books as gold
I want a library
I am a loud reader
I pretend I'm the hero
I feel the characters
I touch my imaginary friends
I worry for them
I cry at the sad parts
I am a loud reader
I understand my "insane" mom
I say "Go away, I'm reading!"
I dream to be the hero
I try to eat and sleep
I hope to have a book dedicated to me.
I am
a
LOUD
READER!
delicate pretty
watching dancing feeling
Spring is here now!
growing thriving warming
colorful beautiful
Blossom.
I am
I am a loud reader
I wonder what to read next
I see my books as gold
I want a library
I am a loud reader
I pretend I'm the hero
I feel the characters
I touch my imaginary friends
I worry for them
I cry at the sad parts
I am a loud reader
I understand my "insane" mom
I say "Go away, I'm reading!"
I dream to be the hero
I try to eat and sleep
I hope to have a book dedicated to me.
I am
a
LOUD
READER!
We Love Our Grandparents!
Perhaps the best part of the weekend was that we got to see our grandparents! YAY!
March 25, 2008
I Know When I Am Baptized
My wrongs are washed away
and I can be forgiven
and improve myself each day
I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain
I want to be the best I can
and live with God again.
and I can be forgiven
and improve myself each day
I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain
I want to be the best I can
and live with God again.
Caitlyn, before the service.
She was very excited. It was a lovely meeting -- the talks was wonderful, and Megan recited The Three White Dresses poem. Russell gave Caitlyn a beautiful blessing, too.
Unfortunately, unlike the rest of spring break, Saturday was cold and windy, so the beautiful short-sleeved dress wasn't too terribly warm. Ah, well. Caitlyn said afterward that she felt different, special. We're just happy she made this choice to be baptized.
Caitlyn's Photo Shoot
Caitlyn had her 8 year old pictures taken during spring break. Unfortunately, it happened to have been the day I was sick, so I really wasn't coherent enough to give a lot of input. Thankfully, though, the photographer did a good job, and the pictures are just lovely.
I have to explain this one. The photographer noticed the white dress and asked what it was for. Actually, she said, "So, is that for a first communion?" Not wanting to get into a really long, involved explanation about the Church (actually, I was really not wanting to communicate at all), I said, "Something like that." So, the photographer decided to shoot this one:
Yeah. Something like that.
This one was my favorite. It has "Caitlyn" written all over it. Her favorite is the one on the sidebar.
I have to explain this one. The photographer noticed the white dress and asked what it was for. Actually, she said, "So, is that for a first communion?" Not wanting to get into a really long, involved explanation about the Church (actually, I was really not wanting to communicate at all), I said, "Something like that." So, the photographer decided to shoot this one:
Yeah. Something like that.
This one was my favorite. It has "Caitlyn" written all over it. Her favorite is the one on the sidebar.
Pool Time!
We didn't do much during spring break (rainy, painting, sick) until Grandparents came into town for Caitlyn's baptism. Then we got to go SWIMMING! (Yeah, it was a crappy, over-chlorinated, hotel pool, but it was a pool. The girls were excited. Russell was not.) We went twice -- once in the morning and once in the evening. The girls would have gone swimming all day all weekend if we would have let them. Even Kristen was asking "Bim?" whenever she got the chance.
Alison all decked out...
After I took this, Megan looked at me and said: "You took a picture!" I gotta sneak them in whenever I can.
Kristen was unsure at first, but eventually she was crazy enough to jump in when Russell wasn't there. (She went under and Megan rescued her!)
Caitlyn had tons of fun (she was the hardest one to catch!)... she's got a toy we found at the pool (it wouldn't stay inflated...)
More pictures over at Flickr.
Alison all decked out...
After I took this, Megan looked at me and said: "You took a picture!" I gotta sneak them in whenever I can.
Kristen was unsure at first, but eventually she was crazy enough to jump in when Russell wasn't there. (She went under and Megan rescued her!)
Caitlyn had tons of fun (she was the hardest one to catch!)... she's got a toy we found at the pool (it wouldn't stay inflated...)
More pictures over at Flickr.
It's Blue (Da Ba Dee?)
We repainted one of the bathrooms over spring break... it was a very messy, very long process, one in which we (or our hands at least) turned blue!
Megan did the most helping, but she also took the pictures (because my hands were blue!), so she got Alison helping (a little bit).
The finished product:
And the theme song (which also explains the post title):
Megan did the most helping, but she also took the pictures (because my hands were blue!), so she got Alison helping (a little bit).
The finished product:
And the theme song (which also explains the post title):
March 17, 2008
The Great Chocolate Cake Quest #7
In the immortal words of Henry Higgins: "Why can't a woman be more like a man?"
NO. Wait. That wasn't it.
It's this: "I think she's got it!"
Either that or seventh time's the charm.
I did a bit of tweaking of one of the recipes and learned an invaluable lesson (measure after sifting the flour, not before!) and used a trick my Mom suggested (putting it in the freezer overnight) and turned out an almost-perfect cake. We were all very happy; we're starting to get sick of chocolate cake....
(The frosting's a little off, but I was impatient and my arm hurt, so the butter wasn't all the way dissolved. But that's not the point here.)
So, for The Recipe:
1 cup unsweetened dutch process cocoa, lightly spooned into cup
1 1/3 cup boiling water
2/3 cup buttermilk
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 1/3 cup cake flour, sifted first then spooned into a cup and leveled off
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted first then spooned into a cup and leveled up
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 9-inch cake pans (2 inches deep) with parchment paper, then grease and flour the pans (though I just sprayed them and it worked okay).
In a medium bowl, whisk together the cocoa and boiling water until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
In another bowl, lightly combine the eggs, 1/4 of the cocoa mixture, buttermilk and vanilla.
In yet another bowl (no one said that this would be easy!), mix together the remaining dry ingredients.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter. Add the remaining cocoa mixture. Add, slowly and on low speed (if you're using an electric mixer) the dry ingredients and mix until just moistened. Increase the speed and beat 1 1/2 minutes to aerate and develop the cake's structure. Scrape down the sides. Gradually add the egg mixture in three batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition to incorporate the ingredients and strengthen the structure. Scrape down the sides.
Scrape the batter into the prepared pans (about 1/2 full) and smooth the surface with a spatula. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans on racks for 10 minutes. Loosen the sides and invert onto greased wire racks. To prevent splitting, reinvert so that the tops are up and cool completely before wrapping airtight.
Wrap in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and put in freezer overnight. Remove before frosting.
I'm not promising that this recipe will work for you. You can try it, but know that you might just end up going on your own Great Chocolate Cake Quest to find the perfect recipe that works for you. :)
Stay tuned for the great yellow cake quest... coming.... sometime.... when we feel like we can eat cake again! :)
NO. Wait. That wasn't it.
It's this: "I think she's got it!"
Either that or seventh time's the charm.
I did a bit of tweaking of one of the recipes and learned an invaluable lesson (measure after sifting the flour, not before!) and used a trick my Mom suggested (putting it in the freezer overnight) and turned out an almost-perfect cake. We were all very happy; we're starting to get sick of chocolate cake....
(The frosting's a little off, but I was impatient and my arm hurt, so the butter wasn't all the way dissolved. But that's not the point here.)
So, for The Recipe:
1 cup unsweetened dutch process cocoa, lightly spooned into cup
1 1/3 cup boiling water
2/3 cup buttermilk
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 1/3 cup cake flour, sifted first then spooned into a cup and leveled off
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted first then spooned into a cup and leveled up
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 9-inch cake pans (2 inches deep) with parchment paper, then grease and flour the pans (though I just sprayed them and it worked okay).
In a medium bowl, whisk together the cocoa and boiling water until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
In another bowl, lightly combine the eggs, 1/4 of the cocoa mixture, buttermilk and vanilla.
In yet another bowl (no one said that this would be easy!), mix together the remaining dry ingredients.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter. Add the remaining cocoa mixture. Add, slowly and on low speed (if you're using an electric mixer) the dry ingredients and mix until just moistened. Increase the speed and beat 1 1/2 minutes to aerate and develop the cake's structure. Scrape down the sides. Gradually add the egg mixture in three batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition to incorporate the ingredients and strengthen the structure. Scrape down the sides.
Scrape the batter into the prepared pans (about 1/2 full) and smooth the surface with a spatula. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans on racks for 10 minutes. Loosen the sides and invert onto greased wire racks. To prevent splitting, reinvert so that the tops are up and cool completely before wrapping airtight.
Wrap in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and put in freezer overnight. Remove before frosting.
I'm not promising that this recipe will work for you. You can try it, but know that you might just end up going on your own Great Chocolate Cake Quest to find the perfect recipe that works for you. :)
Stay tuned for the great yellow cake quest... coming.... sometime.... when we feel like we can eat cake again! :)
March 15, 2008
We're Going to the Zoo!
We went to the zoo with preschool on Thursday. It was a lovely day -- not too hot and not too windy -- a good one for looking at animals. Alison most wanted to see the gorillas, but I didn't take any pictures there. So, here she is looking at giraffes.
Kristen most wanted to see "roar" (lions). She was very impressed, but had more fun climbing on the rocks in the lion exhibit.
And this isn't my kid, but I liked the picture. :)
Kristen most wanted to see "roar" (lions). She was very impressed, but had more fun climbing on the rocks in the lion exhibit.
And this isn't my kid, but I liked the picture. :)
March 12, 2008
Band Concert
Megan says: "The worst thing about being the only oboe is that you have to go out on stage first."
That's Megan telling her friend about her crazy parents and three sisters who are sitting in the third row taking pictures and movies. (Soooo embarrassing!)
I let Caitlyn be in charge of the video, and as a result... we don't have a full song. I do have two little snippets of the pieces. You didn't really want to listen to the 6th grade band play an entire song, did you?
That's Megan telling her friend about her crazy parents and three sisters who are sitting in the third row taking pictures and movies. (Soooo embarrassing!)
I let Caitlyn be in charge of the video, and as a result... we don't have a full song. I do have two little snippets of the pieces. You didn't really want to listen to the 6th grade band play an entire song, did you?
Pre-Concert Boredom
What do you do with three kids while you're waiting for the 6-8th grade band concert to start?
You let them play with the camera, of course. (Until they start fighting over it and you take it away saying that if they break your camera, you'll not be a happy mom. But that's beside the point.)
You let them play with the camera, of course. (Until they start fighting over it and you take it away saying that if they break your camera, you'll not be a happy mom. But that's beside the point.)
The Great Chocolate Cake Quest #6
Any guesses how it turned out?
If you said "soggy and it stuck to the pan but it tasted good" you'd be right!
It didn't matter, though, because I made these from it:
They were a BIG hit. (If you follow the link, you'll find the recipe.)
So... from all the evidence (six cakes!) I've found that the ones made with cake flour are dry and the ones made with regular flour are soggy and stick to the pan. Hmmm.... I wonder... maybe if I used half regular flour and half cake flour? I'm going to compare the three recipes we liked best and try and make a cake from a combination of them (hopefully). I've got a couple more weeks....
Stay tuned.
If you said "soggy and it stuck to the pan but it tasted good" you'd be right!
It didn't matter, though, because I made these from it:
They were a BIG hit. (If you follow the link, you'll find the recipe.)
So... from all the evidence (six cakes!) I've found that the ones made with cake flour are dry and the ones made with regular flour are soggy and stick to the pan. Hmmm.... I wonder... maybe if I used half regular flour and half cake flour? I'm going to compare the three recipes we liked best and try and make a cake from a combination of them (hopefully). I've got a couple more weeks....
Stay tuned.
The Garden Show
Okay, so I'm a few days behind...
So, last Friday, Megan and I went to the Wichita Garden Show (I was hoping for ideas, but it was more a place for garden people to sell you stuff). At any rate, we saw:
lovely flowers (hibiscus, my favorite),
extravagant water features,
and hatted (is that a word?) NAL coaches.
We also did a lot of walking, which made us very, very tired. Luckily, there were places to rest...
Ahhh.
So, last Friday, Megan and I went to the Wichita Garden Show (I was hoping for ideas, but it was more a place for garden people to sell you stuff). At any rate, we saw:
lovely flowers (hibiscus, my favorite),
extravagant water features,
and hatted (is that a word?) NAL coaches.
We also did a lot of walking, which made us very, very tired. Luckily, there were places to rest...
Ahhh.
March 4, 2008
FHE Craziness
So, on the way down to the temple last Friday, Russell and I realized that it's been FOREVER since he wrestled with the girls. He decided to remedy that last night.
My favorite picture from the night was this, though:
My favorite picture from the night was this, though:
March 3, 2008
The Great Chocolate Cake Quest #5
I'm starting to wonder if it's not the recipes, but an evil curse that's somehow been placed on me. I LOVE cake, but I am just not able to bake one....
The recipe, from Perfect Cakes, started out great. The batter was good, the cakes a little lumpy and soft, but they held together. Iced it with yummy ganache...
The girls were excited...
And then I cut the thing.
AAAHHHH!
It tasted good, and there was a little note on the recipe that said the cake is best the day it's made, so maybe if I make it and serve it on the same day it wouldn't do this:
I can't help but wonder: will I EVER find a cake recipe that will work?
The recipe, from Perfect Cakes, started out great. The batter was good, the cakes a little lumpy and soft, but they held together. Iced it with yummy ganache...
The girls were excited...
And then I cut the thing.
AAAHHHH!
It tasted good, and there was a little note on the recipe that said the cake is best the day it's made, so maybe if I make it and serve it on the same day it wouldn't do this:
I can't help but wonder: will I EVER find a cake recipe that will work?
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