Technology is not always fun

I have been meaning to update for awhile. I have the most darling, fun pictures of our Christmas parties this year. But, my computer has decided not to cooperate with me and I am unable to get on the internet. So, while I wait to get my computer fixed or looked at, I will not be able to post them since the only access I have is at work. So I am sorry to those family members that wanted to see pictures. It is going to have to wait until after Christmas, but I promise to post them as soon as I can. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas spending time with the ones you love. I know I will.

Cupcake Friday

....But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all. These were really fun for the kids for our cupcake Friday. The recipe for Rudolph Cupcakes is a chocolate cupcake recipe from Martha

Stewart. This recipe makes about 2 dozen.

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

3/4 cup warm water

3/4 cup buttermilk

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with liners; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, sift together cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add the eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla; mix batter until smooth (about 3 minutes) Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about 1/3 full. Bake until tops spring back when touched. About 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

Once cool frost with chocolate frosting. Use white chocolate chips turned upside down for the eyes. For the eye color use blue or black gel (in the cake aisle) Use a red peanut M & M for the nose and pretzels for the antlers. You can dip the pretzels in chocolate if you would like.

ENJOY

Thoroughly lick the beaters

The kids finished product

The Eights Tag

Liz tagged me awhile ago and I just barely noticed it so here it goes.

EIGHT TV shows I watch
1-CSI
2-Army Wives
3-The Hills (I know it is ridiculous but I am addicted)
4-Dexter
5-Spongebob
6-Hannah Montana
7-Suite Life of Zach and Cody
8-Go Diego Go
(Can you tell who controls the TV at our house. The only time I watch my shows is at work.)

EIGHT Things I did Yesterday
1-Slept
2-Went to Christmas party
3-Dinner at Spaghetti Factory
4-Walked around Temple square and looked at the lights
5-Drove
6-Tucked kiddos into bed
7-Watched the 3rd round of the NFR
8-Laundry

EIGHT things I am looking forward to
1-My days off
2-Lukes Preschool Christmas program
3-Cupcake Friday
4-Christmas
5-Summer (I hate the cold)
6-My hubby's raise
7-Family Christmas parties
8-Everyone getting better at my house

EIGHT things on my wish list
1-Be thin again
2-A new car
3-My own house
4-To be debt free
5-To be married in the Temple and have my children sealed to me along with my sweet husband
6-Economy to get better
7-Win the lottery (I know bad wish but what can I say. I would not have to work anymore)
8-Be able to stay home with my babies

I tag Paisley, Tricia, and Sara

Family, Friends and Fun

OK so these posts are backwards. Still trying to get the hang of this blogging thing. The next post should have been first. Well anyway, after the Christmas party we met My sister Megan and her family and our friends Skee and Angie and their kids for dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory at Trolley Square. After we were all thoroughly stuffed we went to look at the lights at Temple Square (along with everyone else in Utah). There were so many people there it was hard to walk. At least it was a mild night and we didn't freeze to bad. Even though there were a ton of people it was totally worth it. It was so peaceful and beautiful.

One of my favorite sights in the world. It is so beautiful it is breath taking. I love driving by the temple every night on my way home from work.

These beautiful statues were just north of the Mary and Joseph statues in the pond. They placed them so it was like the shepherds were in awe and almost did not want to get to close. It was absolutely amazing.

This was so beautiful. I love the reflection in the water. It was so simple yet it spoke volumes.

Best Friends

Silly boys

Tessa, Shiann, Savannah, David, Cade, Luke, Paxton, and Austin

Luke did not want to have his picture taken

My sweet sister Megan and her cute family

Luke finally let me take his picture. What a sweetie.

Police Department Kids Christmas Party

Saturday was the annual kids Christmas party for my work. The kids loved the face painters, balloon animals and the crafts. Then of course Santa came and gave each child a huge bag of candy. I think they got more candy from that than they did at Halloween. Talk about sugar rush. Cade and Luke each won a prize in the drawing. Shiann and Austin didn't win anything, but there is always next year. They all were really hoping to win the bikes but no luck. It was a really fun time and the kids loved it.

As you can see Austin was not to sure what to think of Santa

To die for cupcakes

So I found this most delightful recipe for cupcakes on another blog. My sister Megan asked me to post it on here so that others would be able to enjoy them as well.

You will need

Box of brownie mix
Package of oreos
Package of caramels
Empty stomach

Unscrew the oreos and put the side that has no frosting in the bottom of a cupcake tin. Place a caramel on top of the orea. Make brownies according to recipe on box. Pour brownie batter over the top (making sure to cover the caramel) Let the kids lick the beaters. Bake at 350 degrees for 16-18 minutes. Let cool (because you will burn your mouth on all the ooey gooeyness inside.) Once cool take off the muffin cup place in a bowl and top with vanilla ice cream. You will think you have died and gone to heaven I promise.

Enjoy

Sorry Joe

Ok, I just got a call from McKenna. She told me that when Joe got done reading my post about him he looked at her and said "It was not a 3.94 it was a 3.974." So I stand corrected. Sorry Joe I hope this makes you feel a little better. Love ya

Mission Beach

So I am going to break up our trip into a couple of different posts. I know there are a lot of pictures so bear with me. Mission Beach was so beautiful and had some really fun rides for the kids. This is the first time they have ever seen the ocean and pretty safe to say they were AMAZED. Shiann never wanted to leave and kept trying to collect kelp to bring home to show all her friends. All in all we ended up with 3 bags full of seashells. Their very favorite was that Ben found a live sand dollar (weirdest looking thing I have seen) I guess I have only seen them after they have been bleached etc. It was covered in fur and kept making this weird sucking noise on his hand. The kids insisted on bringing it home (after I wrapped it in several paper towels and a washcloth trying to keep the horrible smell out of the car). We actually ended up spending 3 days here. It was only a 5 minute drive from our condo so it was perfect. I have so many more pictures but will only post a few. I will bring them to Thanksgiving dinner for everyone to see the rest.

Trying out their new boogie boards

One of my silly girls dreams was to be buried in the sand. I think if she had it her way we never would have left the beach.

Check out those dimples. What a cutie. Need I say more.

Austin hated the water and was perfectly content just to sit in his stroller and watch and laugh at his brothers and sister.

Ben would hold onto the kids and fling them into the waves. I could hear them laughing and screaming all the way back at the shore.

As soon as the water would get to close Luke was outta there.

Luke finally go brave enough as long as the water was only to his calves.

Shiann was so excited to see the ocean she dove right in. By the look of her face I don't think she expected it to be so cold. Even though the water was about 70 degrees.

Cade showing me he is tough enough to go into the waves.



So I thought the kids would love the San Diego Zoo. Boy was I wrong. They were bored out of their minds and kept asking if we could just go to the beach. I guess if ya have seen one zoo you've seen them all. Besides a couple of pictures of the animals, this is the only picture I have of them there and obviously Luke did not want to participate.

Way to go Joe

Just wanted to give a little shout out to my little brother Joe. Just found out today he made the honor roll with a 3.94. I am so proud of you buddy. We love you and keep up the good work. You are awesome. I am so lucky to have such a sweet little brother. You and Jake make me really proud. Shiann, Cade, Luke, and Austin are so lucky to have you both as uncles. You are both such great examples to them. I cannot wait to see what a great man you will become. You are already starting out to be a fine young man.

Las Vegas

So we decided to break our trip to California up a bit and stop in Vegas the first night. Well that and the kids have been begging us forever to go there. I have no idea why (could be because we have gone without them a couple times.) Anyway, Pretty safe to say they were amazed at how huge the hotels were and all the lights. Their eyes were a little bigger than their stomachs the next morning at breakfast. We thought it would be fun to take them to the Riviera breakfast buffet. We were there for almost 2 hours. They could not believe all the food and of course never ate half of what they picked. Surprisingly enough our room at Circus Circus was really nice. Their only complaint was dad kept waking them up with his snoring. He felt so bad that he ended up sleeping on the floor. (What a trooper). Walking through the casinos was interesting because Luke kept wanting to play the fun games that made noise. We had to chase him down a few times so he wouldn't push buttons. All in all we had really fun. They just really could not wait to get to California.

Giving himself kisses in the mirror at the hotel. I must say I was cringing and he got his mouth washed when he was done.

Sweet baby boy. He was such a good traveler. He never cried the whole way there.

With the lion at the MGM. As you can tell Luke was pretty much done at this point. Austin is just looking at him like "What is your problem?" But in Lukes defense it had been a very long day.

Had to get a picture with the blue M & M. They loved this store. We were there for over an hour.

By far Cades favorite thing was seeing the M & M car. He wanted to crawl inside.

Frustrated

I must say I thought this blogging thing might be really easy. But for 3 days now I have been trying to post pictures of our trip to San Diego and for some reason it will not let me add images. I want to be able to share our cute pictures with all of you but I just can't. If anyone has any suggestions for me that would be great.

Here goes!!!

Well here goes nothin'. Everyone has told me how easy this is so I guess we will see. If I can keep up with it will be another thing. For those I have not talked to in awhile we have 4 precious little ones. I am married to a wonderful and supportive husband and father and I could not be luckier or happier. I have been working as a police dispatcher for 14 years now and am actually looking forward to retirement. Well that is if we get our 20 year retirement we have been trying for. (Keep your fingers crossed for me)