Goals

OK, for the longest time (the last 10 years) I've wanted to make amazing, yummy cinnamon rolls and I had a list of qualities that these cinnamon rolls would have. For example: tons of gooey caramel filling (my problem was it kept falling out the bottom or would soak into the dough), the dough has to be a little doughy like cinnabon but a hint of bready texture like my mom's (so hard to do), light brown color on top with a yummy cream cheese frosting and lastly they still have to taste good the next day. For the last 10 years I have tried and tried to get them just right but they would always flop in one way or another. It usually was that the dough wouldn't be just right. Well tonight, after 10 years, I have mastered the cinnamon roll. I am just soooooooo excited. I think half of it was getting the baking time correct. So now I am left with two cookie sheets of cinnamon rolls, any one up for breakfast? yeah - so good I ate two.

home again

Ah! to be home after a quick overnight trip, it feels so gooooood!
Thank you to mom for feeding the pets that couldn't come.
Poor lou and roz.
The boys had fun swiming with Jer (too cold for me & Carli came down with a runny nose). They had some kids activities where we were staying and the boys painted some small canvas bags. A- did a star wars scene and B- did a camo monster truck. Most of our time was spent on the basketball court with all types of balls of all sizes. Even Carli crawled all over that court.
such a fun quick trip

Today is much better than yesterday!

So I made sugar cookies with frosting (like the lofthouse kind) today! Do you think they are better for you if make them with fresh ground whole wheat flour and organic sugar? hum... i bet with the frosting they are just as bad. Oh well, they are still yummy, and I had that craving and after dealing with sick kiddos for two weekends and counting, I SO DESERVE THEM!

And I just have to brag that I have such a rockin' visiting teacher (and great friend). I think she had an inspiration to call me yesterday to chat and I totally opened up and was way too emotional but she had some great words of wisdom and it really helped and I needed to hear what she had to say. Then today she brought over a lovely flowers and a sweet note!

Just evidence of the Lords tender mercies.

Valentines?

Poor, Poor Avery, worked so hard on his valentines and early this valentines morning got sick and now he can't to to school. What a bummer! Cute idea though. He found it on the computer and we worked together to make them. The body of the ipod is a pack of gum. He was so excited about handing them out.

-dessert tonight-

Just made "Chocolate Mint Brownie Cookies" from The Prepared Pantry (www.preparedpantry.com). My mom gave them to me a while ago and they have been sitting on my pantry shelf, tempting me. So tonight as I was waiting for dinner to finish baking, I pulled them out and whipped them up. YUM and Oh so easy.

Our Sunbeam

Bo is a sunbeam!

Holy crow, how did that happen

Yum Cake!

Tonight I made some

"rainbow / san fran cake" (that is jeremy's addition, he also calls it our gay or lesbian cake)(Hmmm...no comment).

So the picture isn't great, sorry! but it was delish and pretty all at the same time

(no comment on the yucky dyes used to make the cake that color)

We had Nana and Pa-j over for cake and a long game of UNO attack, yeah that's the one where it spits the cards at you when you are just about to get rid of all your cards. So fun yet irritating at the same time.

What a wonderful Sunday evening!