Filling My Canteen

Last night I had the opportunity to attend the LDS Conference Center for the first time. I went with my sisters-in-law and my mother-in-law. It happened to be Maryann's 24th birthday so we ate dinner at Olive Garden before heading to Salt Lake.

Besides the fact that I was blown away by the monstrosity of the building; yet how quickly we were able to get in the doors and the fact that with over 16,000 people, I didn't have to wait in line to go to the bathroom- I was honored and humbled to be in the same vicinity as our dear LDS prophet and his counselors.

For the 90 minutes I sat in my seat, my canteen was filled. I was reminded what sacred responsibility I have to be a woman and to be a wife and mother. I was encouraged to serve and to give more of myself.  I was told of the beginning of the Relief Society and how the vision of Emma Smith is still being brought forth.

I loved listening to Elder Uchtdorf. Perhaps a few words he spoke hit me the hardest. He quoted J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, "Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves."

With a full canteen, a thought in my head and a prayer in my heart, I'm going to try better to serve, to love and to bring sunshine into the lives of others!

Hey Guys, 

"I found sumthin......" said Gibson 



"It's a spider and it's moving across the grass"



I was sorta expecting a daddy-long-leg or something of it's equivalent in size. I was not expecting a TARANCHULA!!!

I know I have boys and I'm suppose to think this is cool and awesome that we found one but I just think it's gross and a little creepy- It's like watching the movie Arachnophobia in Kristy C's family room all over again....ugh.

A Cake and a Call

I'm not organized enough this year to have gotten a birthday party together for Gibson. Since his birthday falls during the week, we decided to have a few family members who live in the area over on Sunday night for some cake and ice cream.

Gibson was in heaven with the attention all about him. Presents were brought {even though I asked for them not to be} the cake was eaten and it was over in about 32 minutes! My kind of party!



In asking Gibson what kind of cake he wanted at first it was a superhero cake, then it went to a superhero with Buzz cake and then it went to a "I want those little figurines like Brayden had on his cake." Lucky for me, my mom owns those figurines since the Disney Store was all sold out!


I found a darling idea for a cake online with the idea to recreate Andy's bedroom. So, I gave my feeble attempt at it. Honestly, the cake was pretty jumbled but it didn't matter, as soon as Gibson saw the cake, he reorganized the figurines in the way he thought they should look in the "room." {sigh}


However, the cake ended up being delicious! It was a recipe I found online and it was divine! It was a brownie/cake combo and the cake was all but gone after the party! I'll post the recipe because it's definitely a keeper.


The birthday party was the second family affair of the day. About an hour earlier we met at my parents house for a small BBQ for my brother's birthdays and for my little sister to open her MISSION CALL!!


Yep, my little sister Erin decided she's going to serve a mission for our church for the next 18 months! She had all but figured out she was going state side {apparently the size of the envelope tells you this} and she was right!


She's been called to serve in the Kentucky, Louisville Mission, Spanish speaking! She leaves December 3rd.


All day long as I anticipated her opening her call, I couldn't help but get some tears in my eyes. She's going to be a great missionary. She's loud, she's not afraid to talk to people, she loves people and well, she loves the gospel. With all of that and how excited I am for her, I couldn't help but think how much I'm going to miss her!


I'll try not to think about that now. I have until December 3rd with her and since she's semi unemployed, I've already hired her as an unpaid assistant!


So Happy Birthday Gibson and congrats Erin!

Devil's Food Chocolate Cake

1 1/4 c. boiling water
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate chopped
1/4 cup cocoa powder

add chopped chocolate and cocoa to boiling water, stir and let cool to room temp.

3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup cake flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

Sift together in bowl.

2 sticks unsalted butter- softened
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 large eggs {room temperature}
1/2 c. sour cream or plain yogurt {room temperature}

Mix together in mixing bowl until creamy.

Add half of chocolate mixture, then flour mixture, remaining chocolate mixture and remaining flour mixture.

Beat until creamy.

Pour into desired pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, rotating pan half way through.

Quick Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

3 cups confectioners sugar
1 cup butter softened
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 T whipping cream

Mix butter and sugar adding a little cream until you get desired consistency. Add vanilla.

{I made chocolate buttercream for Gibson's cake so I omitted the vanilla and added cocoa powder until I got desired chocolate taste}

This cake would also be delicious with a chocolate ganache or even whipped cream on top. Fudgy and delicious cake!

The Fruits of my Labors

I canned for the first time today.
It was a lot more time consuming than I thought it would be.
It was messier than I thought it would be.

I got 27 jars, my SIL Emilee got 31 and Amanda got 27
As of today, I'm not sure I'd do it again. (My mom said to wait for winter to make that statement, she thinks once I start enjoying the peaches I'll be all over it next year)
However, they do look pretty and if I judge the amount that Easton has already consumed, I'm guessing they are pretty good too!

Preschool 2008

The first day of preschool couldn't come fast enough. Ever since his last day of preschool last spring he's been waiting for this day to arrive. I moved him to afternoon preschool since the kid rarely wakes up before 9 and it looks like it was a great choice for all of us!



While he was at school I decided I'd make him some back to school cupcakes. I had seen these in Family Fun magazine and mine look nothing like the magazines but I figured it was for a 3 year old, he really doesn't know. So I made him close his eyes and I presented him his back to school cupcake like it was fit for a king and his reply "I don't want yellow frosting, I wanted chocolate!"

Who could blame the kid, I wanted chocolate too! So I spent the next hour scrapping off yucky yellow frosting and adding some milk chocolate butter cream frosting and then, I had a happy preschooler!