Valentine's Day 2019...

I went in to help with Alanna's Valentine party! Blaze and Alanna came home with waaay too much candy, but since Jackson and Paul don't get to celebrate at school anymore, they were good to share. I had fun making this chocolate, peanut butter mousse cake. And I have learned, from watching Instagram videos, that it's best to pipe on the filling between layers to end up with an even nicer looking cake! I also tried something new which was to pipe designs on wax paper with chocolate ganache, and then wrap it around the cake to set. I have made this cake for a few events now, and it seems to be a favorite! It's hard to go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter!

Weekend with Andrew and Alex...

Andrew and Alex came out to visit for the weekend, and it was also Caleb's birthday! We enjoyed having a family dinner and playing Code Names afterward.

Charlie is enjoying a chocolate peanut butter high hat cupcake. He kept telling me "it's good chocolate"! This kid really loves dessert...we are kindred spirits for sure!

Blaze's 1st Pinewood Derby Car...

Since this is the last year of Cub Scouts supported by the church, this may have been Blaze's first and final Pinewood Derby experience. James put off working on the car until the last minute, and that is why Blaze didn't have time to decorate or paint it. But, it came in third place, and he was ecstatic! It's funny how these car races pan out because some years our boys have worked so hard at finding the most aerodynamic design etc. and have only faired average. I should give Jackson due credit on finding the design and helping Blaze with this car too!

Historic Snow Day...

For the first time in 14 years, our school district actually canceled school because of snow and freezing conditions on the roads! The hard thing was it was really too cold to actually go out and enjoy the mounds of freshly fallen snow! It was in the low teens. Blaze is pictured here throwing a fit because he wants to go out and play, but he is cold and it's not fair, and no one else will go out to build a snowman with him!

Surprise Visit...

One Saturday, Maryann called to see if they could stop by since they were up here for a wedding and had a short break in festivities! Of course, we rushed home to visit with them for about an hour. The girls ran around the house laughing and squealing like old times, and it was so good to catch u with Maryann! I just can't believe how big our baby girls have grown!