Want your opinion

Not sure what I think about this look.  It is popular right now- kind of vintage.  What do you think?

My baby is 9!

It is my last year of having a child not in double digits!  It is hard to believe.  Time just flies as you watch and care for these wonderful children you are given.  Next school year I will have a 4th, 6th,9th and 11th grader.  They age but I stay the same age right?

So Wild Child turned 9.  He just had his party yesterday and they had a great time.  He wanted to play games so we went to the game cupboard and pulled out a huge stack of games that would work with a group of 8 and 9 yr olds.  So they made their own mini pizzas (such a great party activity, takes time and they all get to pick exactly what they want to eat), played games and had an  ice cream sundae bar.  Seems to be a popular pick at my house, which I love because I don't have to make a cake!

 yummy!

 my adorable goofy kid.

 great bunch of kids! They loved playing Apples to Apples.  We also did paper airplanes later but I didn't get any photos of that. 

 I think they loved making them and so easy!

 Gotta get in a game of jumbling towers! (like Jenga)

 Ice cream anyone?

 I asked if I could take a picture he said "wait Mom!" got his spoon full put it up to his mouth and said "okay Mom I am ready now!"  So my wild child.

8th Grade promotion

 Our view right into the sun as we waited for promotion to start. It was our second time.  I knew I should bring a book to pass the time but it was too windy (I was constantly holding down my skirt), so I took photographs instead.  I can't believe my beautiful girls are growing up so fast!!!!

 She wouldn't let me take promotion portraits like her big sister did so these are the best I have.  Maybe I should have made her but I was nice momma.

 Silly Papa Kent

yes I am in one!  She wanted to make sure everyone knew she was taller than me so she stood on a bleacher row and almost fell into me.

 They thought they were being funny by posing for a picture this way but I think it is cool so it made me happy!

 Grandma Cammack

 Grandma Lee

 Big sister, friend and promotion candidate!

 Love the love from little brother.

 are we having fun yet?

For Kate- Sour Cream Apple Squares

For my college roommate Kate- here is the recipe

No picture as they got eaten without me taking a picture last time I made them but I love these.  So yummy I have been known to eat leftovers for breakfast.

Sour Cream Apple Squares
From my mom I don't know where she got the recipe from

2c flour (I use whole wheat)
2c brown sugar
1c butter
1 c chopped nuts (any kind I am sure walnuts would be yummy but as I am allergic I usually use almonds or go without)
1-2 tsp cinnamon (really at least 2- love cinnamon)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1c dairy sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
2c finely chopped peeled apples ( I heard it works great with rehydrated dried apples from food storage- still need to try it- my kids love apples so we always have fresh on hand)


Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup, level off.  In large bowl, combine four, brown sugar and butter.  Blend at low speed until crumbly. Stir in nuts. Press 2 3/4 cups crumb mixture into bottom of ungreased 9x13 pan.  To remaining mixture add cinnamon, baking soda, salt, sour cream, vanilla, and egg.  Mix well.  Stir in apples.  Spoon evenly over base.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cut into squares.  Serve with whipped cream (or vanilla ice cream :)

Okay now this is making me want to make them again even though I had them on Friday. So yummy. . . . . .

Just because

 

He is such an 11 year old boy.  We were at Coon Bluff to go rappelling with my brother and his family and I got Bear to pose for me and I only had to ask once- I was in such shock that I took what I could get which was of course no smile because he is too cool to smile.  But since the rest of my kids refused to pose for me I was happy with anything.  Such a cool spot.  If I can convince a photographer to go out there I may do my family pictures there next time I get them done- so pretty.

 Lee family version of brotherly love!

He Is Risen

This is the reason we celebrate Easter. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and the power of the Atonement in my life.

Bear's Birthday

 So this poor boy got sick on his birthday.  Which meant he missed his very first 11 year old scout overnight camp-out as it was on his birthday also.  Talk about a disappointed kid.  Thankfully he felt better the next day. I can't believe he is 11 and is starting the countdown to young mens. . .

 We had his family birthday party on Sunday as we thought he wouldn't be home on his birthday.  He decided he wanted a chocolate malt cake that we found here.  Megan made the cake for me (she is an amazing baker) and I made the frosting and ganache.   I frosted the cake and ganached it and Megan decorated it.  Couple of hints- freeze the cakes before you assemble, so much easier to cut and frost.  Also make maybe half the ganache recipe- I put way to much on the cake and still had about half of the ganache left.  Wait until the ganache has started to cool a little before pouring it on the cake also.  The cake is really rich but really yummy.  Just be sure to have some milk handy when you eat it!  Below are some pictures of the steps we used making the cake (minus the actual baking the night before as I was busy cleaning and assembling a bookshelf while she baked the cake)