SUPER

Just in case you were wondering what Super Heros look like in the morning...



Gotta fuel up before you can fight for justice! I guess breakfast really IS the most important meal of the day!

Angels and Devils

Have you ever seen the cartoons where a character has an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other and they are both coaxing the character to choose their way?

Well today my angel and devil were in agreement - I needed a cupcake.

So instead of choosing between the angel and the devil in terms of flavors - I decided to humor... BOTH.



First - The Angel.
This angelfood cake is very easy to make. You can find the recipe and instructions HERE under CJane's Mountainous Angel Food Cupcakes. The frosting is BY FAR my favorite - Burnt Butter Marshmallow Icing - YES MA'AM. The berries on top MAKE THE CAKE so you can't skip'em (although I didn't sugar paint mine).



Second - The Devil.
It's not labeled as "devilfood cake" but the chocolate is so rich and the cake so dense and moist I don't know how it CAN'T be sinful...sinfully delicious that is. The recipe is HERE under Diana Barry's Birthday and the buttercream icing is DA BOMB. Oh, and that little diddy on top - that's a PRETZEL m&m.

Buy them.

They're amazing.


If you happen to try any other cupcakes from Cheeky Kitchen let me know - I'm wondering which one to try next!

Bon Appetit!

LOVE THIS!!!

My friend Katherine posted this on her facebook account and I'm so glad she did - I laughed my head off.


For all those who can relate - Enjoy!

Birthday Tales Chapter 6 - Farmer Papa

While Paul and I were busy at the temple with the Gardners, the kids were busy helping Farmer Papa fill the new planter boxes in their yard. Gotta love the overalls!

Once again Ben is not too thrilled - maybe because he doesn't like farming in his jammies?...

Birthday Tales Chapter 5 - Unca Rate

Paul's little brother Nate (aka Unca Rate as Rachel used to call him) recently received his mission call to the Alberta Edmonton mission. We had a wonderful time being together as a family as he received his endowment in the Timpanogos Temple. We are so grateful for the blessing it is to be a family forever!



(Nate is the sharp looking red head front and center)

Birthday Tales Chapter 4 - Wheeler Farm

Another FUN FREE place to go in the spring/summer is Wheeler Farm. We met up with the KK Gardners and had a blast. These kids are BEST FRIENDS.

Rachel and Bella started walking with their arms around each other. Don't they look like sisters!?! Then we made the whole crew stand under the big tree for a pic - they weren't too jazzed about having the sun in their eyes. LtoR Rachel (4) Bella (5) Ben (2) and Harry(3).

They even went on Pony Rides!! The Girls LOVED IT...

...the boys...not so much.

Well HARRY liked it, but BEN... see for yourself -

May favorite part is when Ben says in a sulky voice, "Da Hoase is BWOWN Mom."

We LOVE being with Kent and Kristin and the kids and we're sad they live all the way in Oregon but we'll make it out there someday and until then there is always Wheeler Farm!!

Birthday Tales Chapter 3 - The Library

I'm shooting myself for not getting more pictures of this day. We had a WONDERFUL birthday adventure down town. After the dentist we went to see Grammie. She took us to lunch at Sizzler and then we went to Ammy's office at Deseret Book. She took us on a tour of the new Deseret Book bookstore downtown. That place is like the mother ship of all Deseret Books. IT'S HUGE!! If you haven't seen it yet it's definitely worth the trip. After that Sylvia and I took the kids on the train to the Salt Lake City Public Library. The down town library is also an amazing place with glass elevators and little shops and a children's section you could get lost in for HOURS!! Take a look:
The Ice Cave


The Computers


The Tree house: where Paul and I had one of our first dates.


We had such a fun time exploring down town Salt Lake and the best part was it was all FREE! The library and the train (in the free fair zone) are some of our favorite things to do in the spring/summer.

Birthday Tales Chapter 2 - Grandpa Bishop

Paul's dad, Marv, is the bishop of their ward in Pleasant Grove.

Sometimes we call him Grandpa Bishop.

Grandpa Bishop's ward had a dinner this week, and Grandpa Bishop invited the family to come since we were all in town. We drove down from Salt Lake and went straight to the church, not stopping at the house before hand to see the family. Unfortunately for Paul (but fortunately for the rest of us - tee hee hee) he showed up looking EXACTLY like his dad. HAAAA!

Yes we teased him relentlessly for the rest of the night - just in case you were wondering.

The kids had a great time playing with Gradpa Bishop in his office.


The highlight of the night was the entertainment. Paul's older sister, Alicia (aka Leece), played her guitar and sang for the whole crowd. She does this for a living througout the year going back and forth between Nantucket and Hawaii. We haven't had the cash to travel to those far away places to see her sing, so it was a real treat for us to listen to her here in Utah.

I'm sad I didn't get the whole song on video. This turned out to be an enlightening experience for me. Leece hasn't had the easiest life, and yet her wonderful parents have stuck with her through thick and thin. Leece started this John Denver song by telling the audience that this was a song her dad sang to her when she was little. It was one of the first songs she learned to sing with him as a duet. And I can honestly say that he has lived up to every word of this song.

I'll walk in the rain by your side.

I'll cling to the warmth of your tiny hand.

I'll do anything to help you understand.

And I'll love you more than anybody can.

As if he promised her these words in her infancy, and he has fulfilled that promise. It was extremely moving.

She ended with another wonderful song, All Creatures of Our God and King. She really needs to cut a CD because she has written some wonderful songs of her own. If any of you know a good recording studio LET ME KNOW!

Birthday Tales Chapter 1 - No Cavities!

The Birthday week started with a trip to the dentist.


FUN.

Actually it was fun. We love our dentist - Dr. Curtis. He has fun chairs to ride in, T.V.'s on his ceiling to watch while he's working on your teeth, and ANY FLAVOR OF FLOURIDE YOU WANT!

No REALLY.

Even COOKIE DOUGH flavored flouride - I know I know - gag me. But that was the flavor Ben chose, and the look on his face says it all...
But the best part was NO CAVITIES!!! All three of us checked out clean and clear - YAY!

Tales of a 30th Birthday

It's true. I have entered into a new decade.

And BOY am I FEELIN' IT.

Of course it doesn't help that I rang in this new age of mine with the stomach flu.

So instead of enjoying a night out on the town with the love of my life, I am enjoying jello, 7-up, Gatorade, chicken broth, and Zofran. Oh Zofran - how you save my life. I'd also like to take a moment to tell my bed how much I love her. The tempurpedic miracle - hands down the best purchase we've ever made.

But enough of that. The "birthday week" was full of celebration and excitement. So much so, that I feel it a waste to document it in one LOOOOOONNNG post. So we'll do it a bit at a time in chapters. That way special attention can be given to each special day.

Enjoy.