Snow Trip

We were so excited for our annual trip to Salt Lake City, Utah and Sun Valley, Idaho. We look forward to this trip all year and the kids are so excited when December finally rolls around. So many great moments to highlight.

OK now that I look through the pictures I'm realizing that I didn't take many pictures. Kinda lame on my part.
What we did do was visit with David, Sharilynn and the kids for several days. There is something about Utah and cousins that make my kids forget all about the TV and Wii. I love it! They just spent three days playing and laughing.
Then we headed to Sun Valley were we played, played and played!

Next stop Uncle Aarie and Aunt Emily. Dinner, Temple Square and a visit to their apartment for hot chocolate and scones.Lots of LOVE!Lot's of skiing and sledding.Anna was so brave this year. She decided that she wanted to try skiing all by herself. So we put on the skis and sent her up the ramp. She spent the next two days skiing that hill.Anna was trying to teach Livie how to make a snow ball.

Chris enjoyed ice skating just as much as the kids.On the last night of our Sun Valley vacation we went to the Lumiere Festival. We hung out with family and friends in the cold, cold, cold!
Anna had her book signed by the author who was at the festival.Huge sled carved out of snow.We were all so sad to leave. Do you notice the kids are all crying. OK there're not crying because we are leaving they are crying because they are tired and grumpy!Didn't make it home that day. We had to stay in Reno because of the snow. Chain guy had to take remove the chain I got stuck around the axle. Opps!

Thanksgiving 2010

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Setting the mood...Anna's art. Best Thanksgiving meal we've EVER cooked!The best part...Family Fun!
These two are so alike!After dinner walk.And of course a jump roping contest.Happy Family!

Always Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!
I think I forget that being 'thankful' should not be remember once a year but daily. I am so grateful for a wonderful family who loves me with all my imperfections. I am beyond grateful for our house we have made a home. Where family and friends can come visit and are always welcome. Where our children can hang their creations, run in circles, be lazy, laugh and giggle, play and feel safe from a sometimes harsh and cold outside world. I am thankful to be me and everything that my life is about.

Making Whoopie...Pies

Make these. They are awesome!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple Cream Cheese Filling

Yield: About 4 dozen assembled whoopie pies (will vary depending on how large you make them)

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Bake Time: 10 to 12 minutes

For the Whoopie Pies:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup canola or vegetable oil
3 cups chilled pumpkin puree (canned pumpkin)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Maple-Cream Cheese Filling:
3 cups powdered sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
4 ounces (½ cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger and nutmeg. Set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk the granulated sugar, the dark brown sugar, and the oil together. Add the pumpkin puree and whisk to combine thoroughly. Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk until combined.

4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and whisk until completely combined.

5. Use a small cookie scoop or a large spoon to drop a rounded, heaping tablespoon of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart.

6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, making sure that the cookies are just starting to crack on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cookie comes out clean. The cookies should be firm when touched. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool completely on a cooling rack.

7. To make the filling, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth with no visible lumps, about 3 minutes. Add the cream cheese and beat until smooth and combined, about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, then add the maple syrup and vanilla and beat until smooth.

8. To assemble the whoopie pies: Turn half of the cooled cookies upside down. Pipe or spoon the filling (about a tablespoon) onto that half. Place another cookie, flat side down, on top of the filling. Press down slightly so that the filling spread to the edges of the cookie. Repeat until all the cookies are used. Put the whoopie pies in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to firm before serving.

Halloween 2010

Halloween was here and now it's over. Decorations were up and now they are down. I'm a bit sad when Halloween ends only because I know that Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner and sometimes it feels like there is not enough time to enjoy these special holidays. For now I'll just focus on Halloween and what a great time we had! I love thinking up costumes for Anna. Poor Luke and Livie are such an after thought. I guess it's just because Anna loves the details of each costume as much as I do. Luke and Livie, well they simply don't really care. Anyway, we had lot's of events this last week.

Luke at his preschool party. He didn't care much for the presentaion portion. He wanted to get to the cookie decorating and eating.I'm the room mom for Anna's class so I was one of the lucky mom's that was able to help out at the class party.Family fun time.
Last minute costume.Justin Bieber, Librarian and Frida.
Finally we have Uncle Aarie.Anna Wins!!!!!

Too Much Good Stuff...

Could I fit anymore into a day? A nap would be nice.

Besides the kids and Chris being sick this last week, we've been busy this month.
We've been to the school's Harvest Festival.
Not sure what happened in this picture, Buzz is constipated and Little Frida was having problems with her mascara.We made Pumpkin Whoopie Pies. My new favorite cookie.We made our favorite store bought cookies.

Anna and I worked on treat bags for her class Halloween Party.

Finally, we made S'mores Jars for Anna and Luke's teachers.The month isn't over yet. I still have two class parties, a ward activity and a family Halloween dinner to look forward too.

WORST Mom ever!

Yesterday I threatened to leave this kid on the side of the road. Why? Because he started to throw a full blown tantrum in the car because he wanted water "right now!" Well I didn't have any water and we were on the freeway and I couldn't just pull over and pull water out of thin air! So I said "If you don't stop crying right now I'm going pull this car over and leave you for some other mom to listen to you cry!"

I can't even begin to describe the look on his face. I felt my stomach tense up like I was going to get sick and I could even believe the words came out of my mouth. I couldn't possibly mean it, but they say that there is some truth in everything that a person says. I know I didn't mean it, but I'm sure that's how I felt for five, maybe ten seconds.

So I'm giving myself the WORST Mom Ever award, at least for today.

*Upside- It worked.

*Downside- I felt awful.
*Another Downside- I can never use that threat again, even if it did work!

10/10/10

We had a family party to celebrate 10/10/10. I don't care what the reason, I LOVE getting together with my family because there is always excellent food and lot's of treats!
Homemade Chili by Tia L and Miller's hot dogs, of course.Dessert. Oh, so many desserts. Tia C really out did herself with this over-the-top chocolate-peanut butter-cake-like-thing.Anna skipped the hot dog and went strait for the cake. Look at the way she's just staring at the cake, she's obsessed. That could be why she's always at the dentist. More dessert. Tia L made homemade caramel for apple dipping.
The cooks.I think he ate to much.