Hallie is 5!!!

Hallie turned 5 last month! I don't know what it is about that number, but suddenly she is "so big." We did a few birthday parties to celebrate. For her actual birthday she went to preschool (which is one of her favorite things!) Hayden took the afternoon off and we all hung out, swimming, making and devouring lasagna, and making a lemon cake. I had no idea she liked lemon cakes, but apparently it is the only favor worth having. She actually didn't eat much of it, Hallie is not a huge fan of cake in general... But she loved that it was a ladybug.

Her friend party was all themed ladybug as well. A friend of mine mentioned that you can get ladybugs from a nursery so we got 1200 ladybugs, put them in our butterfly pavilion and did a "bug hunt treasure hunt" for one of her party games. The ladybugs were the hit of the party! We could barely tear the kids away from them to have treats and open presents! In fact adorable Hals opened half of her gifts then said, "just a minute mom, I'll be right back." Then she walked over to the ladybug pavilion and started watching the ladybugs again...lol Pretty adorable! We have great friends out here who all came to support Hallie. I think every one of her preschool friends came too!

Just starting this post got me emotional and now I'm going to let all of that gooshiness out. :) Hallie is the sweetest girl in the world! I love her SO much! I wish there was a way to convey just how special and unique and perfect she is, and just how much she fills up my heart with joy! She loves to help other people and does whenever she can. She is smiley and silly. She loves to laugh and tease. I think Hallie is also one of the most tender hearted kids I know. She cries when other people cry and gets so worried about anyone who is having a hard day. Right now one of her favorite saying is "no worries! It's ok, we're all still learning. Right?" She says it in this oober happy, positive voice. :) She is so incredible!

One of my favorite times of day is at night. We have this ritual where I come and lay by her and ask her what her favorite part of the day was. We take turns every night, but she always thinks she went first the previous night and is surprise I say that I went first..lol :) Then we talk about the day. That girl can talk! Lately I feel like she is never silent. :) She has so many things to say or observe and questions to ask. Right now is such a fun time with her! She wants to be so grown up and do so many things and is constantly learning. :)

A Taste of Me

This past week we have had Hayden home all to ourselves. It has been wonderful, marvelous, glorious and amazing! The kids and I have missed him SO much! Especially since the two weeks prior to the break I was basically a single parent. We were lucky to see Hayden for an hour a day and we didn't accomplish that often. He was up by 3 or 4 several days and home at midnight or one. Needless to say he was exhausted and the break was a necessity for us all.

So while I was experiencing my few weeks of being a single parent I realized something. Food is important to me. I knew this before.... I have always loved to bake and to cook; to try out new recipes with odd ingredients, or just try a new style of cooking. But never was it more apparent than when Hayden was gone. I needed an out, something for me to enjoy while he was at school. So I turned to baking. First I tried to make and use fondant on a cake...not great, but hey it's my first try.


It was fun to try fondant, and I'll definitely try it again. However, I realized that it is most likely not my niche. We'll see,... I suppose with more practice, but I found love in another place. I have a sincere love for pretty. Any food that is "pretty" is my favorite food. It could be asparagus and beets in some gross sauce and I would love it if it was pretty. So when I found a beautiful picture of a peanut butter cup chocolate cake cheesecake.... I was smitten. Then Hayden and I were invited to an engagement party for two of the sweetest people in the world and I knew I had to bake this cake for them. So after three days of baking this is what was produced....



(this was one of the last pieces and got kinda squished :( but you get the idea ;) )

The pictures aren't the best quality, but you get the idea. Here's the rundown of this cake from bottom layer to top: homemade rich chocolate cake, caramel, peanuts, peanut butter cup cheesecake, caramel, peanuts, (repeat cake caramel peanuts cheesecake...) Then top it with chocolate ganache, frost with whipped chocolate ganache, and garnish with peanut butter frosting, peanut butter cups and homemade chocolate swirls! In the end the cake weighed about ten pounds!

As I made the cake I was so incredibly happy! I loved every second of the process. Finding the best ingredients, putting them together, smelling the flavors being added and combine, adjusting the recipe to fit my perception of what it should taste like..AHHH!! It was so fun, I want to make it again!

I have to say however, there was a bit of a lull in my baking high.... I had made this delicious beautiful cake!....but what now? I am on the hunt for something new, challenging, and of course :) pretty! I may settle for now in trying new flavors out in my baking. Or perhaps fillings... I haven't really made things with fillings... Anyway I may not ever be the best baker, but I have found that I love it! I know that it is an out for me and I can now plan accordingly :) Next finals week everyones waistlines better watch out!!!

Life and loves

So things are good for us all here in warm AZ. The run down is that we miss family. We love our friends. We play outside in the sun everyday :) :) :) Hallie loves preschool, dancing like a star, Oliver, and playing with her siblings. Leilah loves popsicles, following Hallie around, and sweet talking everyone she meets. Greyson loves everyone and everything. He smiles like crazy, grabs for his bottles (loves to eat and grows like crazy) and basically melts my heart. Hayden loves being home and with us, but that is a rare occasion these days. I love finding projects to do with the kids, the library, and walks to the park everyday. And someday I will love me some sleep! :) I love how Hayden works so hard and studies so hard for us.

Oh, and I'd love some visitors!!! PS we swam three times this past month... nudge nudge, wink wink

Pics of us.. sorry never good with order and such :)