Fancified

My sister Melissa has begun a fancy blog... Bless This Mess. You know, the kind that you have to write on everyday and you hope it makes money. Isn't she ambitious?! More so than me... BUT Saturday I did a guest post on her blog. GO and take a look. It's a tutorial for a reversible cape or apron... the pattern works for either! AND until SATURDAY you can enter FOUR different ways to WIN a FREE cape or apron made just for YOU by ME!  You know you want to... HURRY GO NOW!!

Happy 30 B-Day to Lachelle!

Redhead

I've pretty much always considered myself a redhead. I've got the fair skin and freckles of a redhead, the spunky feisty-ness of a redhead, and sometimes even the temper of a redhead. Growing up I have some pictures that even made me appear to be redheaded.

Well after almost 30 years... yes it's true I'm almost 30...
I've finally become a redhead! 

Two weeks ago I went to Ben's cousin Lisa and had her dye my hair auburn. I was wanting a change.
 And I must say I'm loving it!
It looks dark brown inside, but out in the natural light the red really pops.

My Little Artists

My boys are finally getting big enough to not only have the ability to sit long enough to do something crafty, but also want to do something crafty. So yesterday before church, ( we don't go until 1pm... yuck.) I set up shop and Ben and I helped the boys paint some wood projects confiscated from Grandma Ann's house.

Xander painted an apple green... his favorite color. OR at least at first... if you pay attention you'll notice the apple is red in the finished project pictures. He wanted to keep painting so after covering it in green he covered it in red.

Gavin painted a birdhouse.

And here are the finished projects! Didn't they do a good job? They are so proud of their work.

Family Pictures 2011

Alright I'm not going to lie...
I've been a HUGE slacker 
when it comes to blogging. 
(Ben's done the last two posts! Thanks hun. Boo me.)
I'm hoping to change that. I've got plenty to blog about I just haven't taken the time to sit down and do it. I decided today while Gavin is at preschool and Xander and Landon are napping I'd start making amends.

I was terribly slow getting family pictures done this past year. It was almost the middle of DECEMBER before it happened. AND then it took me until the middle of JANUARY to finally get all of them mailed off to all the right family members. I prefer to wait until everyone gets their pictures in the mail before I post them online. Now that it's the middle of FEBRUARY...
I think I'll do that now.

We went back to Natalie again this year. I loved how her pictures turned out once again. Maybe one of these years I'll be on the ball enough to do outdoor pictures...

Here are our two favorite family pictures.

Gavin (5)

Xander (3)

Landon (10 1/2 months)

Big Boys

The Brother Trio

We have such cute kiddos!

Even after 6 1/2 years together and three kids, we're still one good looking couple!

So there you have it. I just love looking at my family pictures over and over. It reminds me how truly blessed I am. I have such an amazing little family that makes me smile...
most of the time anyway. ;)

My goal is to get back to blogging and to do it a couple of times a week. SO come back again soon. I've got plenty to catch everyone up on.

Homemade Twinkies

Now, I wish I could take credit from dreaming these up...but I can't. I found this recipe on topsecretrecipes.com. The mastermind behind this website's mission is to bring name brand foods to the kitchen. When I saw these I had to try them. And I must say the are fabulous!

Homemade Twinkies

makes 10

Cake
4 egg whites
one 16 oz box golden pound cake mix (ignore box directions)
2/3 cup water

Filling
2 tsp very hot water
1/4 tsp salt
one 7 oz jar marshmallow creme
1/2 cup shortening
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

2. Make 10 twinkie molds. Rip off 10 large tin foil sheets. Fold in half twice. Wrap the folded foil around a spice bottle to create a mold. Leave the top of the mold open for pouring in the batter. Put them on a pan (either cookie sheet or 9x13). Spray the insides with a nonstick spray.

3. Beat the egg whites until stiff.

4. In another bowl, combine the cake mix and water until thoroughly blended.

5. Carefully fold in the egg whites until combined.

6. Fill the molds about 3/4 of an inch.

7. Bake for about 30 minutes or until they look golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

8. Cool and remove the foil molds. Allow to cool completely.

9. Add the salt to the hot water and let it dissolve. Let the salt water cool.

10. Beat the marshmallow creme, shortening, powdered sugar, and vanilla in an electric mixer on high until fluffy.

11. Add the salt water and combine well.

12. Use a skewer or chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon to poke three holes along the bottom of the twinkies.

13. Using a cake decorator or pastry bag (or a plastic baggie with a corner cut off) inject the filling into the cakes through the three holes. (Note: if you hold the cake in one hand and pipe with the other you can feel the cake swell as you squish the filling in. Be careful to not overfill or you will bust the cake!)

14. Enjoy! If you have any leftovers - store in an airtight container.