For Christmas Bailey gave me a wonderful gift- a cupcake maker.  She was so excited to give it to me that she kept begging me to open it early.  She begged and begged but I held strong and waited.  She had her friend McKenzie over tonight and they had a cupcake baking night to try it out.  We decided to give one of Brent's suggestions a try and we made Root Beer Float cupcakes.  Everyone loved them- I am still thinking it over.

 I wasn't prepared to decorate this kind.  Below is a cute idea I found online.

Thanks for the fun gift Bailey!!

So many hats and only one head!

We love our Sweetie Peetie!

To: Grandma Dede!

Thanks for the cute hats Grandma Dede!! We love you! Merry Christmas!!

Annual Christmas Mall Game

This year has flown by and we once again had our annual mall game.  It is getting harder and harder to find a night that will fit everyone's schedule, and so we were missing some of our regulars.  We were able to wait until Bree and Bryce were here and able to find a night that Brent didn't have to work.  Thanks to everyone who came.  It is a tradition that we love and it just wouldn't be Christmas without it.  I think that this was our ninth year.  Of course when it comes to my memory we just can't rely on it for accurate information.  There were a couple of unique and interesting gifts just like always.  Katie's Cat Butt air freshener might have won the creative, gross prize.  She had picked Tami Jones name and put it in a Victoria Secret bag.  Tami was extremely hesitant to open the gift! (that is stating it mildly!) The other pretty creative (gross) gift was a rubber chicken stress reliever that when squeezed, a gel filled sac with the appearance of an egg emerged from it's bottom.  I think Jamie Jones receives the credit for that one!  Thank you to Kurke Bakow for giving me the best gift ever.  It is a cupcake corer and he didn't know it but I have been wanting one since I have started baking cupcakes so much.  Time to start experimenting with cupcake fillings.  We are loving having Cannon, Bree and Bryce here.  Cannon couldn't be any cuter and Bree and Bryce are amazing parents.

 Once again my intentions were to get many more pictures, but I just get caught up in the fun and forget. Merry Christmas to all!

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON

This video is hilarious!  It is a bit easier to see if you watch it directly on You Tube because you can see it full screen.  Enjoy!

Someone Needs Your Star

I taught a lesson to the Young Women today.  I haven't taught in quite a few years and so I was pretty nervous to step back into it again.  I faced my fear and lived to talk about it!  The lesson was helping the girls value and appreciate those with disabilities.  It was a pretty emotional topic for me and I was glad that I got through it without drowning them in tears...just a slight sprinkle compared to what normally happens.  I appreciated the girls being so attentive. Dani came to support me which meant a lot and I loved having her and Bailey there.  Here are some quick pics of a picture board I used to display family members I was going to talk about, and a handout I made for the girls to take home.  For me, a lesson is not a true lesson without food of some sort. :)  So the girls got a frosted star sugar cookie inside the bag.  It has been a blessing to be in with the young women.  We have amazing girls and I love the women I get to serve with. 

 One fear faced... only a million more to go. :)

Crazy Lady Cupcakes

I have found a new passion in the form of these exceptionally yummy cupcakes.  It has been so much fun trying out new recipes that I find on the internet.  So far I have made:

• Red Velvet
• Lemon Cream
• Coconut Pecan
• Chocolate Almond
• Reese's
• Snickers
• Pumpkin Spice
• Cookies-n-Cream

I think the hands down favorite is the Reese's, with the Lemon Cream a close second.  I will have to say that each kind is absolutely delicious.  I have pondered the idea of selling them and if it ever happened I would call my business "Crazy Lady Cupcakes".  Appropriate, don't you think?   These are the only ones I have gotten photos of.  I made the Cookies-n-Cream for the first time tonight and they were a huge hit with Brent and Bailey.  I do have plenty of people that have offered to be the testers!  :)

 

Hello December!

For those of you who know me, you are probably aware that my sleep schedule has been completely out of whack for way too many years.  I am literally up until three or four in the morning and then finally drift off to sleep.  So on this sleepless night, I looked out the window and it was too pretty to not put on my flip flops and venture outside to take some pics.  Bree is missing our Idaho winter so these pictures are for her.  Bree, you will be here before you know it shuggy!  And yes, my feet are freezing!  Snow day?...Bailey would be in heaven.

Lovin' My Tree!