Day 31

I love my boy! This is his marker at school that is hanging in the hall of his school. It is by this fish that his teacher displays his best work for the school to see:)

Day 30

Today Cassidy finally made popsicles with our new popsicle maker we got for Christmas. She was the most excited for this gift, so she is todays picture:)

Day 29

Beautiful sky today:)

Day 28

Coconut Cupcakes!

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
• 1/4 cup flaked coconut
• TOPPING:
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup flaked coconut
• 1 tablespoon butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon




Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, combine the egg, milk, oil and extract; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until combined. Stir in coconut. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full.
2. Combine the topping ingredients; sprinkle over batter. Bake at 400 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

Day 27

Today we bought a cupcake for our friend's daughter for her birthday, and this was the cute way that they boxed it up for her. So cute!

Day 26

It was finally dry enough for Keaton to try out his new electric scooter that he got for his birthday! As you can see from his facial expression, he loves it!

Day 25

Today was an absolutely beautiful winter day. The air was crisp and the sun was shining! If every winter day was like this I would have no problem with winter:)

Day 24

Kevin and I had a much needed diversionary break today, and went to see the movie "Red Tails". What a great movie. I don't understand why it didn't get a very good rating. I liked it!

Day 23

We dropped Laffy Taffy candy off for Keaton's birthday treat for his class at school, and then we checked him out to go to lunch. Our friend Marysol at La Hacienda brought this fried ice cream over to him and then they sang to him. He is such a sweet boy!

Day 22

Happy 9th Birthday Keaton! I cannot even begin to express my love for this little man in our lives, and the joy that he brings daily. We are so blessed to be his family, and are grateful for the things that he teaches us. In his short nine years, he has taught us that laughter is the best medicine, and that being sweet and kind makes you the best type of friend. He has taught us to play hard, practice hard, and live hard! He gets the most out of every day, and everyone around him loves him. His teachers have told me every year that everyone wants to be Keaton's friend. When I said to him this morning that I could not believe that he was nine already, he responded "I know it just feels like yesterday that I was 8!" Typical Keaton answer! Happy Birthday bud, I love you!

Day 21

Tonight was Keaton's birthday party with his friends. We planned the party to run from 6-10 pm with pizza, the movie Kung Fu Panda 2, cake and ice cream and gift opening. I really under estimated for this party. By 8:00 we were out of ideas. Not a good idea when you have 7 boys at 9 years of age! We gave up at 9:20 and took them home! Oh well, Keaton loved it!

Day 20

An unseasonably warm spring day on the 20th of January! Loving this weather:)

Day 19

Lunch at Tuscany with my favorite guy!

Day 18

I bought this new cupcake pan to make filled cupcakes for Keaton's birthday party, and decided that I should try it out before the big day. You can see from the expressions on Haley and Gabrielle's faces what they thought of them. They are WAY to much work for the party though!

Buttercream filled chocolate cupcakes

2 1/4 c flour

1 3/4 c sugar

3/4 c shortening

2/3 c cocoa

1 1/2 c water

1 1/4 tsp. soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. baking powder

2 eggs

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour pan, set aside. In large bowl, beat all ingredients together on low speed, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl often. Spoon batter into prepared pan, filling each well 3/4 full. Bake for 18-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan, invert onto a cooling rack. Clean pan and repeat.

Filling:

1 1/2 c powdered sugar

3 Tbsp. softened butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 to 2 Tbsp. milk

In a small bowl, beat all ingredients on low speed until smooth. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes adding additional milk if needed until smooth. Fill pastry bag and pipe or spoon filling into each cupcake.

Frosting:

2 c powdered sugar

1/3 c cocoa

1/4 c butter softened

1 tsp. vanilla

2-4 Tbsp. milk

In medium bowl blend all ingredients on low speed until blended. Beat on high speed for 2 minutes until smooth.

Day 17

Keaton started up Futsal again today, and again he played very well! He has also opened his scoring account on the first day. Good job Keaton!

Day 16

Happy Martin Luther King day! We took the kids to see the movie "We bought a zoo". What a cute movie! The kids are looking forward to Dr. Seuss's "The Lorax" that is coming soon.

Day 15

Today Cassidy received her Young Womanhood Recognition in sacrament meeting. This is the culmination of a lot of hours and hard work. Congratulations Cassidy! We think you are something special!

Day 14

I can't believe it is January 14! We actually pulled chairs out in the front yard to sit in the sun, and watch Keaton ride his bike. The high today was 47 degrees. Crazy!

Day 13

Cutest cookies of the year at Kneader's!

Day 12

Cassidy's beta fish Rio. She loves him!

Day 11

Chocolate Coconut Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. Pretty much the best thing ever!

Day 10

Rob Thomas posted a picture just like this yesterday to Facebook, and when I saw the same "octopus" I decided that this had to be my picture for the day:)

Day 9

Today I so want to be here! Turtle Beach Barbados:) I will NOT let the winter blues take me this year:) I have always said that I am at my happy best when planning a trip, so I am doing so. This beach is going to be on the itinerary!

Day 8

Look who's number one!

Day 7

We have had a very mild winter so far. No one other than Keaton has complained about the lack of snow, and so when we woke up to this fierce January storm he was very disappointed!

Day 6

Only in Utah could you find Emma Smith's oatmeal cookie recipe. Only in Utah would you find someone who cares about Emma Smith's oatmeal cookie recipe!

Day 5

Tonight Kevin started to put away the nativity pyramid while Keaton and I worked on his 6's multiplication problems. Keaton passed of all of them twice in under a minute. As his reward, Kevin lit up the pyramid. I am so glad that we were able to light it up because Keaton has been wanting to do that since we pulled it out of the box over a month ago!

Day 4

We tried an interesting pizza place today per Haley's recommendation. Mawahli's Pizza in Orem where a proceed of every pizza sold is donated to the kids in Africa. I asked Haley is that is the reason she liked it because of her tender and soft heart. She actually thought that was a pretty funny idea, but she knows how well I know her! The restaurant had an African theme, and a pretty killer Berries and Cream dessert pizza!

Day 3

Tonight was pack meeting, and Keaton advanced from Wolves to Bears:) Yeah Keaton!

Day 2

Took the kids to see the new Mission Impossible movie. They loved it as much as Kevin and I did!

Day 1

Sparkers at the stroke of midnight? Check! Cool way of showing off the new year? Check! Happy New Year:)