Day 90

We always love Johnny Depp's movies, and we are looking forward to seeing this:)

Day 89

This months book report genre for the third grade was a biography. We went to the Highland library, and the only book they had on Keaton's reading level was a bio on Ghandi. I told Keaton that it would bore him to tears, and that he would come to hate reading biographies. I picked up a book for him at the Draper library that was much more his interest. Any guesses who it was? I will give you a hint. He is writing a hero essay on his top three heros, and this guy ranks number 3 after his dad and Fabian Espindola. That is right, David Beckham. My Keaton is such a great kid!

Day 88

Spring is in the air! These little beauties are in my front yard:) I love spring!

Day 87

On our walk today, we passed this beautiful Magnolia tree just like the one we had in our front flower bed in Orem. I loved that tree, and each year as I see this one bloom, I miss ours and want to plant another one.

Day 86

Haley is a tease!

Day 85

This was the coolest cloud formation that I had seen in a while. Coming over Traverse Mountain into Draper, there was a distinct division of weather. Gray and raining on the left, and blue skies with white clouds on the right.

Day 84

Every time I see this picture hanging in the foyer of Brio, I think of an Italian Joseph Smith. See the resemblance?

Day 83

I mailed in my passport for renewal today, and frankly am freaking out about sending it through the mail. When I first got my passport, we had to go through quite a process as we were trying to expedite mine and all the kids passports because we were in a hurry to get them back. We went through a travel broker, so I didn't have to mail them, they took care of that. I have loved having my passport, and my mind will be much more at ease when I have it back in my possession!

Day 82

The Hunger Games fever has struck the Stoker household. We are headed to the midnight showing, and the kids made these cute shirts. Such clever kids I have:)

Day 81

Tonights dinner of champions was Red Mango. New blueberry flavor swirled with their original was what was on the menu for me. Love this kind of dinner!

Day 80

Today is the official first day of Spring! I made it through the winter!

Day 79

Tonight we went to Brio for Gabrielle's birthday dinner. They have the most amazing mac and cheese (which is her favorite), and that is why she chose that restaurant. We love Gabrielle!

Day 78

Happy Birthday Gabrielle! My baby girl turned 13 today, and I could not be more proud of the wonderful young lady that she is becoming! We love you Gabrielle!

Day 77

REAL Salt Lake's season home opener was tonight against the New York Red Bulls. REAL won 2-0, and it was an awesome game. We are so happy that we bought season tickets again!

Day 76

Here is the newest chocolate cupcake recipe that I have been using, and it is fantastic! I got the recipe from The Farm Chicks blog. So so good! I have also included their buttercream frosting recipe:)

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar (not packed)
1 3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees farenheit. Fill muffin pans with 24 cupcake liners. Sift dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. (I recommend a batter bowl to easily pour the batter into the cupcake liners). Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Beat with a mixer for about two minutes, occasionally scraping the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the boiling water, and beat, just until blended. (Don't be alarmed - the batter appears watery). Evenly ladle (or pour) the batter into the liners. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the center of the cupcakes spring back when lightly touched. Cool and frost

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Perfectly sweet, but not overly so, and light and creamy just like you'd want on a cupcake.

1/3 cup butter, just slightly cooler than room temperature

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2-4 tablespoons milk, depending on desired consistency

1 1/2 tsp vanilla
food coloring, if desired

Beat butter in a medium-sized mixing bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in 3 cups of the powdered sugar. Beat in milk and vanilla. Blend in remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar. If desired, tint with food coloring. (For the perfect pastel colored frosting, only 1 drop of food coloring is necessary).

Day 75

Today for Cub Scouts, we flew kites. It was such a fun day, probably the funnest scout day we have had for a long time:)

Day 74

My beautiful little daffodils are almost all in bloom! These are my favorite daffodils of all time:)

Day 73

Coming home from the library today, we saw some very cool cloud formations:)

Day 72

Today the sun was shining, and I pulled a chair around the side of the house to soak in said sunshine. Look what was waiting for me! I feel spring coming on!

Day 71

This is not a sight that you see very often. A couple of Alpaca Llamas tied up in a front yard. Those are a couple of huge pets!

Day 70

Today I held a bridal shower for our niece Bethany. She is such a sweet girl, and we love her:) Cassidy and I made cupcakes, we had different types of breads with jams and some fruit. All in all I think that it turned out pretty great. Congratulations Bethany!

Day 69

Kevin read as a teen the books by Edgar Rice Burrows "John Carter of Mars". Disney made a movie out of the first book "The Princess of Mars", and Kevin was really excited to see it. We took the kids today after school, and they really enjoyed it. In fact, Keaton wondered what age his dad was when he read them, and when I told him that he had been around 15, he said "I cannot wait until I am 15 so that I can read them!" Pretty darn cute! While we were waiting, we all had to try the new Dbox seats that move with the movie. So cool!

Day 68

We have been watching the first season of Alias this week, and we are hooked! How awesome is it that as soon as one cliffhanger ending is over we can immediately watch the next one. We are having fun!

Day 67

Keaton's last game of the futsal season. His team won silver medals, and he is thrilled!

Day 66

This is a pretty perfect lunch as far as I am concerned!

Day 65

I am longing for a vacation so badly. I am a spoiled and pampered girl who is keenly feeling the need to cruise:)

Day 64

We are in a Mexico frame of mind. Kevin decided to make Limonada tonight for dinner. So very yummy!

Day 63

Keaton is a very happy boy to play outside in the snow. Here he is with his snow fort.

Day 62

Beautiful moon tonight:)

Day 61

Cassidy is definitely my girl:) She is a sunseeker:)

Day 60

Today is the day that makes this project 365+1. It is leap year, and today is February 29.

Day 59

Carrabba's restaurant has my new favorite pasta - Cavatappi amatriciana.

Day 58

We were able to pick up our season tickets for the new Real Salt Lake season. Looking so forward to the games!

Day 57

One of my favorite Larimar bracelets lost one of the stones. I was heartbroken. I guess I am going to need to go back to the Caribbean to replace it:)

Day 56

Tonight we held Cassidy's birthday party. She has a great group of friends:)