Family Day

Last Saturday our first stop of our outing was at Pizza Hut to redeem the kids free pizzas for reading. We rarely use them so this was a fun stop and we had fun laughing and talking waiting for the pizzas to be done. I realized we rarely go somewhere that we have to wait for the food except at home where everyone is waiting on me. It was just a fun change. Then off to down town.

They even gave us a candle, happy early B-day, B-boy.

Key Lime Smile!

Window seat
Then we went to Monkey Joes which is a big building with 7 big blow up jump toys and only the hottest place in town. Paige was invited to a birthday party there so decided all the kids would enjoy an afternoon of jumping! Here she is with her good friend from pre-school.

It was a whole day of fun and playing and eating. We are trying to get the most out of our weekends as Justin is extremely busy during the week and we don't have many left.

That Girl

This morning Paige says "Mom I am just going to borrow something OK?"
When I started loading the kids into the car I found out that she was "just going to borrow" my hat because it matched her sweater. Of course the sweater came out of the box of clothes labeled too small. She was pretty proud of her fashion sense this morning so I had to take a picture. :)

Yummy creamy and not too sweet recipe

That's the Best Frosting I've Ever Had

5 Tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup butter (2 sticks) (DO NOT USE MARGARINE!! Just so you don't wreck it TWICE like me)
1 cup granulated white sugar (not powdered sugar)


In a small saucepan, whisk flour into milk and heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. It took me around 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn it. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature. You can place the saucepan over ice in the sink for about 10 minutes or so until the mixture cools if you are in a hurry. Stir in vanilla.

This mixture must be completely cooled in order for the frosting to work.While the mixture is cooling, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Then add the cooled milk/flour/vanilla mixture and beat until it all combines and resembles whipped cream. Make sure you scrape down the sides every so often so that it all gets incorporated and whipped. If it's not looking like whipped cream, keep on whipping. This frosting is great for piping. Best served the same day.Source: The Pioneer Woman I got it off my cousin's blog.

I made it for Avery's birthday and I probably didn't let it cool all the way even thought I thought I did. But mine separated and looked funny and lumpy but boy it still tasted yummy and creamy and good!

Texas Sheet Cake recipe

This recipe is just too good to loose and I don't want to haul my whole cook book with me to WA. I think the kicker for me is the cinnamon in the chocolate cake. Woohoo, is it YUMMY!



DeeAnns 20 minute sheet cake



Cake ingredients
2 c flour
2 c sugar
2 sticks marg.
4 Tbs. cocoa
1 c water
1/2 c buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs

Bring 2 sticks of butter, water and cocoa to a boil. Mix all the other stuff together except the egg and buttermilk(or ½ t vinegar and ½ cup milk let sit). Put the hot stuff in the cold mix then add eggs and buttermilk. Grease and flour a jelly roll pan (I use a regular 9x13). Bake at 400 degree F for 20 minutes.

While the cake is baking you can make the icing.

Icing Ingredients
1 stick butter
4 Tbs. cocoa
6 Tbs. milk
--Take off the heat then add
1 tsp. vanilla
pound of powder sugar (I use a box)
1 c pecans (optional, I like mine toasted)

Bring first ingredients to a boil, mix last few and put on cake when it comes out of the oven.

Mustard Sauce for Ham

More Recipes.
This one is from my awesome aunt Carol W. She makes this amazing sauce that goes with ham and I have called her many, many (too many) times to get the recipe and always loose it so here it is for me and anyone else that wants the yummiest addition to ham since special potatoes.
Mustard Sauce for Ham
2 Egg yolks
2 TB flour
1 cup canned milk (evaporated)
1/2 tsp salt
3 tsp dry mustard
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
Mix dry ingredients together. Add eggs.
Scold milk but remove about 1/3 part of the milk and add to the mix with the eggs before it gets hot. Beat the mix. Pour back into pan of milk. Cook for 2-3 minutes and add vinegar at the end.
Disclaimer- I keep loosing the recipe so I have only make it twice so I hope the directions work as I haven't made it in a year or two.

Play Dough recipe

Making Payton's school project was fun. Thanks to my mom we were able to make mountains for his panda dioramas. I thought I would blog the recipe so I can find it next time I need it. The Original recipe is -3 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 1/2 part water, 2 glugs? (Tablespoons) oil. Mix and add color. After you have played with it and shaped it you can make it harden by laying on a pan and baking for 225 until the dough is hard and can be lifted off the pan.
I will try and add a picture if the project comes back from school in one piece.

Update

Sorry I have been too lazy to take any pictures. Tomorrow will be our 3rd snow day in a row, so maybe I will find time. Or maybe I will find other things to do.
It has been fun but I hope we either get warmer weather to melt the ice or get more snow so we can play on our snow days. Hope everyone is safe and warm out there.
Avery has a school project to work on and we just read the part she gave to grandma. We really have enjoyed the adventures of Felix in Washington on the farm. Thanks again.
Maybe I could find a way to post it... or print it out as a cute book.