Just for the record....

Just for the record today is January 31, 2010 and these are still up. And, I'm going to be honest here...I dont know when they are going to come down....

Red Velvet Cake...or balls

My girlfriend, Kandi, may be responsible for my recent gain of weight. I mean, she is the one who sent me off to this website. So, yep, thats it. Sorry Kandi, but its your fault....

I made this decadently, rich, beautiful Red Velvet Cake from the Pioneer Women Cookbook (you dont have that one??? Whats wrong with you?? GO.BUY.IT.NOW!!) but, I made it in those pretty tart pans from Pampered Chef, and if you plan on using those, then not only spray the heck outta them with cooking spray, but flour those bad boys too...trust me on this one!
So, as I was saying, I made this beautiful cakes for my Mom's birthday party...and dont you know I couldnt get them out of the pans?? They got caught up in a well that these pans have and got stuck. I couldnt get them out unharmed. So sad, I know. But then I remembered that Bakerella makes these cute little cake pops. Yes. Cake pops...! So, I followed the directions to make those, thinking that the birthday girl would have something in the form of cake at her party! But, as it would turn out, I forgot the chocolate to dip these baby's in, and my mom had just used her last (and only I will point out) bag of chocolate chips the night before on pumpkin bread...just my luck. So we never did have these that night, but I froze those little cake balls and made them this week. And its the best turnout from a mistake that has ever happened to me.

I highly recommend these...very rich and delightful! Yummy for dessert after a good meal with a side of coffee...

Dinner and a movie

Jeff went fishing this weekend in Ely, NV for the annual ice fishing tournament. So, I thought why not have some of the girlies over and watch a fun movie and have a good dinner?!! Right?! So, Tricia and Kandi came over and we watched New Moon and I made this...seriously...you should too! It was the best thing I have had in a long time...so so good! Well worth the effort! Here is us holding a the dish after we dug into it! Fun night, glad we could do it girls! Even if some of us were beyond tired and my kids were sick...I needed it!

Mommy Tip #1

Don't forget to hug them!
I've been sick the last couple of weeks and after a particularly challenging day at work, the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was the "routine". I turned on the t.v. for Hunter and pretty much zoned out. I was a little short with him when he asked me something and in general could have been a lot nicer! So, as I was putting him in bed, he asked me to "check on him too many times" and when I snapped that I would he said "Mom? I hope you have a great day tomorrow". Seriously...how do they do it?

Sad girl, stressed Mom

This is what I dealt with for most of the day. I know what most of you are thinking right now: aww...look how cute she is! Stephanie must be a mean Mom! Ya, right. Cute. That's exactly what I thought you were going to say. I'm not entirely sure what set her off...never really am with that one, but what I think happened was a lot of little things that exploded into the worst ever tantrum I have seen a 19mo. old throw. Lucky me. She took a 15 min. nap today in the car and wouldn't transfer from the car to her bed, so I thought, no big deal...I will just lay her down later on...NOT!!! That wasnt going to happen. She stayed awake all afternoon long and around 3, it was all over for her. She was tired, mad, hungry and...did I mention tired? She wanted to be held, mad that I wouldnt, wanted to eat, mad I wouldnt feed her (I was cooking) and in general just mad at life! Poor thing. I finally gave in and gave her some dinner that she threw all over the place. I had had it! I got her out of her chair, and sent her off with her cup to watch t.v. with Hunter. 20 seconds later, she was hysterical again and that was it. It was 5 p.m. and I didn't care...I put her straight in bed. And now there is peace!


Look at those crocodile tears!

2010 Goals!

So, 2009 is done and gone, and so is that list of goals! I did OK on last years and since I dont think of them as "resolutions", just as something I want to start, or do, there isnt pressure to get them "done". Instead of typing them this year, I added them as a picture! Coincidentally, one of my goals is to do a picture of the day (POTD) so, my first POTD for the new year is my 2010 goal list. Im super excited about a few of the things on there.
Happy New Year everyone!!!

Super-hero

Hunter and Allie were being really funny the other night and someone decided that the dish towles folded into their shirts was a good super hero cape, so they went running around the house for a few hours with these on, being crazy. Then, Hunter melted me with his "HOT EYES"! Not sure why you would choose to melt your Mom with your hot eyes...sorta seems like that would be kinda sorta like oh, I dunno, biting the hand that feeds you???!!! Just sayin'... They were fun to watch!