Creme-filled Chocolate Cupcakes :)

I play Bunco once a month with some girlfriends. We always choose a theme. This month, we had a Cupcake theme. I wanted to make something that no one else would make. So, I chose these........Creme-filled Chocolate Cupcakes. Kinda like a Ho-ho, or Ding Dong, or whatever they are called :) Two words...DEE LICIOUS :)

For the cupcakes....

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/cream-filled-chocolate-cupcakes?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/easiest-cupcakes#slide_9

For the icing....

http://www.delish.com/recipes/cooking-recipes/martha-stewart-chocolate-glaze-recipe

I just dipped the cupcakes into the icing and went from there with the decorating!

Spring is in the air!

Well, at least it was last week :) Now, we're back to rain, rain and more rain, but I'm holding out hope that spring will be here soon! I miss the sunshine! I tried to get out in the sun while we had it. We all do better after a day in the fresh air!

Here are a few of the spring blooms that have popped up lately. Although, today, as I look out the window, I notice that with the rain, these beautiful blooms have closed up and are hiding. Hopefully the sun will come out and entice the flowers to once again open up!

Caden's full of imagination all the time. But, it seems like outside, the imagination flows much more freely. He's always busy doing something. Working hard. I usually can't keep up :)

And here is my favorite subject to photograph right now. I love taking pictures of Brock! Don't get me wrong, I love taking pictures of Caden, too, but it's much harder to photograph Caden than Brock. Caden tells me no. He tells me to stop taking his picture, and then he runs away and hides. So, I don't get to just take picture after picture of him. Brock, however, can't leave quite as fast and I can just snap away :)

I almost.....

have....

a.....

WALKER!!!!!

And, he's a little bit of a daredevil, too! Just like his daddy and his brother. Seriously. Don't you think I need a little girl to balance out all of this craziness??? :) :) :)

On our way home...

After the fun day in Tualatin, we got back in the car to head home. I decided to take a few more pictures....

Sweet Brock, so peaceful when he sleeps :)


My grown-up Caden. He's so much fun and full of energy. Always ready and willing to do another fun activity. He brings so much joy to every single day :) I love him more today than yesterday, and I can't even imagine how much love I'll have for him tomorrow :)

My silly, handsome husband and I. Like Caden, I love him more today than I did yesterday. I love being with him every moment and I am so blessed by him every day.

And finally, a collection of Caden's photography. He wanted to take some pictures, and when I got it back, he'd taken nearly 100! Most of them were black or close ups of his legs. But, I kept a few and I love looking at the world through his eyes! The picture of Caden's face was taken by Caden! A great self-portrait :)

I am learning again to enjoy every day for what it is. Thank God for a great Naturopathic Doctor. She gave me a great collection of herbs that help me pull myself out of the pits and back into the reality that is my every day life. I can face my days with so much more joy and excitement now. And, I've been asking God to help me remember how much I love my family, every single day. He's so faithful to remind me that I'm exactly where I want to be. Keep it coming, God. I look forward to, and count on, your daily blessings :)

A tour of Tualatin.....

It's no secret that Nigel loves Tualatin (the city he works in). So it wasn't shocking to me that when I suggested we go for a walk and play in a park, Nigel chose to go to Tualatin! We ended up having a really fun time and we did a little tour walk of the Tualatin commons area. It really is a nice city. I suppose I wouldn't mind living out that direction some day.....

Here we are on our walk.....the ducks were hilarious, so desperate for a little of our lunch :)

This is our attempt at getting a family picture! It was really hard with no one around to take it for us, but we are all in it, barely!

Our walk began and ended at a really fun park, so when we were finished walking, we stopped to play before heading home. Brock was really enjoying the swing :)

The 2 crazy boys were at it again, climbing as high as they could!