Easter Outfits

Happy Easter!

Benjamin woke up to find out if the Easter Bunny had come. He had indeed come, brought candy filled eggs, and had hid his basket. The bunny had left a clue in one of the eggs to tell Benjamin where it was hiding. Benjamin was excited to get three "jets" and a Diego flashlight. He was also allowed three pieces of candy before breakfast, because he is three. A treat indeed. We had crepes with homemade peach syrup, whipped cream, and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. A delicious breakfast for our Easter. Here are the pictures of the morning. I will post again with our easter outfits and dinner. (We have 7 adults and 3 kids joining our family for dinner. It should be fun!)

Marshmallows and Toothpicks

While Benjamin has been sick, we have discovered Curious George on PBS. He now loves the show and one episode in particular where George builds a bridge out of marshmallows and toothpicks for some baby chicks to cross back to their mother. After the episode is over, they show a classroom of children using gummy candies and toothpicks to make their own bridges. Benjamin decided that he needed to make a bridge. After my last trip to the store, I remembered to buy him some toothpicks and marshmallows so that he could make his own bridge. He did have some help from mom and ate a bunch of marshmallows. It was a great time. He then decided to take his bridge apart and make a robot, but I didn't get a picture of it. It really is a fun activity. So next time you are out at the store, get some marshmallows or gummies along with toothpicks to make bridges or other novel creations!

Coloring Easter Eggs

We colored eggs tonight for a Family Home Evening activity. Benjamin is finally big enough to truly get it and enjoy it. We had a great time. There is something about pastel colored eggs that makes me feel so happy. Spring is here!

Purse Tag

I was tagged by Tami to take a picture of my purse, then empty the contents, and take a picture of those without removing any objects. Here it is. My purse has its own post. Here is the link to how I chose this purse.
The contents of my purse were . . .
3 pairs of sunglasses (Why three when I live is a very cloudy state, you may ask? I don't know how they all got in there. They used to be in the car.)
2 bottles of Aveeno lotion (1 is empty and needs to be rinsed out and recycled)
1 bottle of Purell (I am never without this. It even has its own pocket, one of the zipper ones in front.)
1 cell phone (also has a home in the other front small zipper pocket)
1 tube of mint chapstick
1 lipgloss
1 mini tape measure (My sister-in-law Lisa [Stephen's sister~ I have two sister-in-laws named Lisa] told me that this was a must have for purses to entertain little ones. I got one, and it has been well used and loved.)
1 Sally car (Don't forget that I am Sally and Benjamin is Lightening McQueen so we have these to play with as needed.)
1 Lightening McQueen car
1 wallet
1 camera
1 mini Peanut butter cup
2 packs of gum
1 small UWT calendar and notepad (Benjamin calls this his wallet, and it is a must for making his lists at the store.)
4 Smarties (necessary bribes for long waits)
1 checkbook (I never write checks any more, but I wrote one last night for an Enrichment craft.)
3 pens
1 old grocery list
1 flier for a new video rental box (It has a free code on it!)
1 roll of wrapping paper ribbon (This was for wrapping presents at the RS birthday party which was last Thursday.)
1 roll of scotch tape (I always keep this in my purse. I just never know when I'll need it.)

There you have it! My tags are Elizabeth, Alice, Katy, and Boedee. Can't wait to see what's in your purses!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Stephen was called as the Elder's Quorum president last Sunday. We have known about the calling now for 6 weeks or so. It was getting really hard to keep the secret, and I'm glad that it is now official. A few nights ago, he had his first presidency meeting at our house. I thought that it was the perfect opportunity to try a new recipe. That way the leftovers could be sent home with them and therefore, I wouldn't be tempted to eat them all. For our anniversary, Stephen brought home cupcakes from a yummy cupcake bakery in a neighboring town. I had seen this bakery many times and had been dying to try it. The cupcakes were delicious with my favorites being the carrot cake and red velvet. I haven't ever made red velvet cupcakes and so here was my chance. Attached is the recipe that I used, and they were really yummy. I didn't use as much red food coloring as the recipe called for and so they were a bit swirled but still really good. If you get a chance to try them, you will not be disappointed. Just let my picture above tempt you!

Red Velvet Cupcakes
From www.recipezaar.com

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 ounces water

2 ounces red food coloring

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon baking soda

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1(8ounce)package cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease 12 cupcake cups or line with paper liners.
2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Add eggs and blend well.
4. Make a paste of cocoa and food coloring and add to the butter mixture.
5. Sift flour and salt togethr into this mixture.
6. One at a time, add the following ingredients: buttermilk, vanilla, and water.
7. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar and the baking soda. Fold it into the cake batter. Make sure it's incorporated, but don't beat it.
8. Pour the batter into the cupcake cups. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cake springs back when touched.
9. Remove from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes, then turn out of pan and onto a rack to finish cooling completely.
10. Cream Cheese Frosting: Blend together the following: 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend until smooth.

TV

I think the thing that most bewilders me as a mom is how to stop the "Can I watch another show?" question. Benjamin loves watching tv shows. He even sees a commercial for a show and immediately thinks that he is in love with the new show and needs to watch it. I limit tv time. I have to or he is a kid that would watch it all day, everyday. Yet, in my efforts to limit, it ultimately makes me the bad guy when I say no that tv time is over because you have watched all of your shows for the day. I tried to drill it in over and over, 2 shows a day is the limit yet after the two were done there were many tearful complaints about how he needed just one more show. I was tired of the tantrums and even had some days with no tv at all because I always tell him that if he cries about tv then he is too little and can't watch it. I do plan other activities for him to do and yet the tv is such a draw. Finally, after yet another tantrum about the tv, a moment of mommy brilliance struck, and I devised a plan. A sticker chart, I thought. That just might work. It has worked, and it has worked wonders for two weeks now. Whenever he asks for another show, I tell him to go look at his chart. If there are already two stickers then it is done for the day. There still might be a pleading, but nothing in comparison to what we used to have. Yeah for sticker charts and mom not being the bad guy! I am already looking for other uses.