photo of the week 48

Halloween was good, mellow and good.

November is going to be a busy month.

I have plans... loads of them.

Some of which involve me NOT eating all of Joce's candy,

Although it is tempting.

surprises in the mail

Today we got a package from The Professor's parents

who rock

.

.

A lot!

the note said, "It is someone's birthday somewhere, feel better soon!"

It was filled with loads of little treats,

Thanks for dinner ;)

WE LOVE YOU!

saving grace

these cookies are helping

a lot

.

.

.

actually maybe not so much, it's slowing my running time.

.

.

.

They are the best cookies in the world!

.

.

.

I got the recipe from my Laurel Advisor when I was 16.

I knew then that I would want my kids to think that I made the best cookies in the world

.

.

.

...and I do.

Here it is

Kelly Johnson's Chocolate Chip Cookies

(with or without oatmeal, coconut, nuts etc...)

1 cup Crisco (I used butter flavored because I love butter but Crisco makes a much softer cookie)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

1 tbs vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups flour (I did 50/50 with wheat)

1 1/2 cup oatmeal

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 bag chocolate chips

or the following combination

( 1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup butterscotch 1 cup coconut 1 cup pecans or walnuts)

Make the cookies like every cookie recipe you have ever made. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes, I prefer 8 minutes I like them a little gooey. These however were cooked a little longer but they are still soft and chewy.

*Okay, I just realized that I forgot to add 1 tsp of baking powder, but I just made some with out it and they turned out exquisite. So I am beginning to think that baking powder is just a sham. Discuss.

chocolate wednesdays

yeah... I could get used to that.

The plan was simple, delicious cupcakes in Silver Spring followed by taking pictures of the DC Temple with our Holgas.

What happened??

Amazing cupcakes from here, Chocolate Wednesdays twenty percent off :) followed by two hours driving, lost through the back roads of DC trying to find find the temple.

GPS = Fail.

but it was ok. We saw beautiful old homes with crazy colored bricks and arched front porches. 16th street is loaded with huge brick churches and stained glass. Luckily Jeri has cable in her car for the kids. Next thing we know it was time to go home and pick up Wyatt.

We will just have to go take pictures of the Temple another day.

Maybe find some more cupcakes while we are at it.

Here's the low down of what we got.

My little bug turned 2!

It was a little "under the sea" theme

We had hot dog "Sail boats", fishy crackers and chocolate sea shells.

We had two types of cupcakes, chocolate and pink-lemon aide both with cream and mascarpone cheese frosting and milk and white chocolate sea shells on top.

I used scrap booking paper to create little sea creatures around the room. The octopus was a BIG hit!

Jeri and Lincoln brought over the COOLEST thing ever, a foam machine. This thing was amazing

The kids played for hours

We smacked a pinata, ate cupcakes and played in the sprinklers.

Then it was time to be a mermaid!

The grownups got in on the fun, note Lincoln's goatee.

It was perfect.

the end.

Ben's party

Goleta Beach has for the last four years been our birthday spot.

Manly Cupcakes

Friends and Family enjoying themselves very much

Ben wanted to start his party off with a bang so he jumped into the ocean right out of the car.

Three generations

Maranda was not happy when the baby went away

The battlefield aftermath

Goleta Beach we will miss you!

My FAVORITE Chocolate Cupcakes

Vivian made these at our babies 1 year birthday party extravaganza. Roxanne makes these all the time and fills them with whip cream and turns them into "Hostess Cupcakes" I make them with cream cheese frosting because I think everything is better with cream cheese. The recipe can be found here at Vivian's sisters blog. It makes me happy. I think your families will agree.

Can you believe how bald she was a year ago?

Easter

Easter was simply lovely...

The food...

The Flowers...

The Friends...

The Hunt...

The End.

Easter Egg Hunt

My little girl is growing up so fast. Check her out last Easter...

...And this year. (There is a jelly bean in her mouth)

It is amazing how much she has grown in just one year.

Here are some more images from the FSH Egg Hunt this morning.

How to keep your toddler happy during your 3 hour layover in Phoenix

ICE CREAM!

She likes to share

Camp Hansen flight 85 to Baltimore

Making cookies

Is there any point in fighting it?

HALLOWEEN

Let's just say we won the FSH costume contest for "Best Family Costume" including to tickets to the "exclusive" UCSB Dinning Commons. It was a good but crazy day. (P.S. I am aware that I look slightly like Christina Aguilera, maybe next year)

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie DeMartini and I threw a very successful baby shower. We had thirty lovely ladies from the Goleta Valley Ward in our backyard enjoying the lights left up from the Pirate Wedding last month.

My colorful take on these bad boys

This is what it looked like before everyone got there. Note the bug spray on the table. A very popular item.
Thank you Ikea and Costco
Yummy Food

I realize that I need to be better about taking pictures with actual people in them. But it was dark, and I am just not pro enough with my camera to make anything look good. Maybe next time.

Thank you to Katie DeMartinini for being amazing and throwing this thing with me, Jocelyn DeMartinini for showing up and saving the day, Ben for coming home just to move the tables and chairs from the community center, Jack for helping him move them back late at night. Everyone who brought food, Jo for directing traffic and making sure all the little old ladies found it and finally Katie Erb for getting Knocked up so that so that we could party in the first place.