Changes

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Erin

My little Adelei went to her first day of Preschool yesterday. Can you believe it? She and her cousin Taylor are enrolled in the same school. Tiny Footsteps. Preschool names kill me. We had looked at another one called Pokey Pencil. They were so excited to go to preschool! Adelei has been wanting to go to school for years. When she was 3 she noticed all the little kids walking to and from school past our house. She’s has been carrying around her princess backpack for days.

It’s incredible how much Adelei’s changed since I last posted, isn’t it?

Left to Right: Adelei, Taylor, Audrey & Brooklyn

These are all my girlies. Aren’t they adorable?? Brooklyn and Taylor are my nieces, and you have yet to be introduced to my little Miss Audrey. She is half tornado, half angel. She’s going through a screaming banshee faze that’s driving me 50 shades of cray cray.

Also, it’s Don’s 33rd b-day today. Happy b-day Honey!! But we’ve been celebrating for the last two days. Last night we ate the birthday cake (Lime Torte) that I made him. We had some friends & family over to share it with us.

Don blowing out his candles & Silly Lilly (my sister-in-law)

Cory & Rebecca Jacobsen

the kiddos. L to R, Sophie (Cory & Rebecca’s), Brooklyn, Adelei, & Taylor

Momma Donna (Don’s Mom) & Jens (Cory & Rebecca’s little boy)

Thanks to all the friends and family who make our lives rich!

Long Time Coming

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Erin

I ran across some old photos that I took of my sister, Ashley when she was pregnant a little over a year ago, and I thought I’d share. It’s crazy how long ago this seems, this was before I lost my camera (*sniff*) and before all of our new babies were born (Audrey, Collins & Vivi). They make me happy. (the pictures and the babies). Maybe someday I’ll get around to giving them to her.

Summer Berry Cupcakes

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Erin

My neighbors have chickens. They bring me fresh eggs, which I love. But the other day I glanced in my fridge and realized I had three dozen eggs. I began to sweat a bit. What do I do with that many eggs? The only solution is to bake. Luckily, in our part of the woods, we’re getting ready for the Auntie’s Annual Mad-Hatter Tea Party. So I have some recipes I’ve been trying out. I thought I’d show you a teaser of what’s to come for this years tea party:

The recipe is a simple one. We’re talking cake mix simple here, with some extra ingredients added, of course. (You know me.) And with all of the pretty berries in season, why not use them to decorate cupcakes? The sky is the limit, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, anything would look good…yep, anything. Besides, I think they’re the prettiest little things I’ve made in a long time. LiLi loved them. She kept stealing them and then ran away to some remote corner of the house where she thought I wouldn’t find her. Fortunately, she left a little trail of chocolate crumbs like a little Gretel.

Summer Berry Cupcakes:

1 package chocolate cake mix
(3 oz.) package of chocolate instant pudding
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
4 eggs

Yeild: 1 1/2 dozen (I’m guessing you could get around 2 dozen if you’re frugal)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line muffin tin with liners. In a large bowl combine all ingredients. Mix for about two minutes. Pour batter into individual cupcake liners. (Tip: I like to put the batter in disposable icing bags, and pipe it into the cupcake liners, it’s an extra step, but the cupcakes are more uniform, and it cuts down on the scrubbing time when you’re cleaning out the muffin tin, there isn’t any baked cupcake to chip off.) Bake for about 15 minutes. Let cool for a minute or two in the muffin tin, and then transfer individual cupcakes to a wire rack to finish cooling. Frost with your favorite frosting. And top with the berry of your choice.

And don’t worry, I know I still owe you a blueberry muffin recipe.;)