Cupcakes!

I bought the most amazing book the other day.

The book is Hello, Cupcake! And it is just way too cool!

Both the boys love it too! I picked it up at Costco the other day and the boys have not been able to put it down.

So, we had to make some cupcakes this weekend. I have several school functions for both the boys that I need to "provide" something for and this is just perfect.

After looking through the book, several times... we found some that we thought would be okay. I loved the snowmen family but thought it may be a bit ambitious for a first timer.

Then I notice the current issue of Taste of Home Magazine has these cupcakes featured on them. And there was the perfect cupcake to start our cupcake decorating experiences with on the front cover.

I can't find a picture on line, so here's a picture of the front cover:


See those cute little snowmen at the bottom?

We made those. And they turned out great! Here are the boys showing off their snowmen:



Today was just the "test run" to see how easy or difficult they were. I have to bring something to Sam's school later this week for his Christmas Pageant. I think these are a go!

It was so easy, even a four year old could make them! I did frost each of the cupcakes and I cut the cookies for the hat, but the boys did the rest. I showed them what to do and they did it.



From left to right: mine, Josh's, Sam's.

In fact, it these would be a great class project for elementary kids. If you frost the cupcakes, and come with the supplies already the kids can decorate them and eat them!

The boys had a great time and we decorated a couple other cupcakes in a more "creative" way:

Here's Josh's creative design:

And Sam's:

These were so much fun to do together with the boys. It was perfect for today -- a bit cold outside, Josh wasn't feeling well this morning so it gave him something fun to focus on...

Oh, and in other news...

I'm going to be interviewed tomorrow on a local TV station. The subject: Tantrum Free Travel with Toddlers this holiday season.

It's going to air on Sunday 12/21. Once I know how things go, I'll post more!

Bouncy, Flouncy, Pouncy, Fun, Fun, Fun, Fun, Fun!

Sam and I had a play-date at a bouncy castle place near us today.

It was great. This place is usually packed when the kids are out of school, and occasionally, on school days. I've been there on a number of days when the Homeschool Group meets there for fun and games and group interaction or something. It's a HUGE place and lots of fun bouncies and slides. It's clean, so we like it.

Today was wonderful! There were only a handful of us there, none over the age of 5 I would say. It was great!

My friend has 2 kids, a boy that is almost 2, "G" and a girl that is 4 1/2, "K". Sam and K had so much fun together.

I think he's got a new girl friend!

I don't have permission to post pictures of my friend's kids, but here are some of Sam.

Going down!



Being Monkey's

This one actually is really cute. I had to cut "K" out because I don't have permission to post it. But she's upside down too!

She was hysterical. She'd pose and say, "Take my picture!" And then she'd boss Sam around. He's a bit stubborn and doesn't like to be told what to do, so he ignored her. I tell ya, she's a typical "girl" and he's a typical, "guy"! But they still had fun together.

These kids could have stayed there all day long if we'd let them. And if I didn't have to pick up Josh from the bus, I would have gladly let them!

The boys finally got haircuts last week.

Josh -- here he really wants to play the PS2 but I'm making him "pose" for the camera.




And Sam, who did NOT want his picture taken. I have about 5 of the back of his head and him saying, "I do NOT want my picture taken!"




We had some severe thunderstorms roll through here this morning when I was getting Josh ready for school. The power went out for about 30 minutes.

Josh, Sam and Daddy were sitting in the living room telling "scary stories" to each other by "flashlight" -- it was very cute. And to hear the boys tell the scary stories was hysterical! They all ended with, "And they looked out of the tent and saw DADDYSFACE!" and then fits of giggles!

It was very cute!

Me As Coffee.

My friend Sheila from My Memories put me on to this.

It's me as coffee....

I actually prefer to drink a Latte -- but the Australian Flat White is my favorite!

You Are a Plain Ole Cup of Joe

But don't think plain - instead think, uncomplicated You're a low maintenance kind of girl... who can hang with the guys Down to earth, easy going, and fun! Yup, that's you: the friend everyone invites. And your dependable too. Both for a laugh and a sympathetic ear.

What Kind of Coffee Girl Are You?

So, you think it's pretty accurate?