Honey Cakes

One of the things that Olivia and I really enjoy doing together is baking!  We've been doing a lot of it around here and are always looking for reasons to whip up a yummy batch of something or other.  Tomorrow is our neighbor Charlotte's 3rd birthday so Olivia chose a recipe out of her cookbook.  We made honey cakes and thankfully they turned out great.  They are darling and are delicious.  The best part is that they are made with honey and apple puree with just a little added brown sugar.  

Nina, another friend, was over this morning and she joined us in the pouring and mixing!  She also helped form the bumble bees!

Give it a try if you have time - again... delicious!!!

Honey Cakes

(makes 6 cupcakes)

½ stick of butter

¼ cup, packed light brown sugar

4 T honey

1 egg

½ tsp vanilla

2 T apple puree

2/3 c self-rising flour

½ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp ground ginger

powdered sugar (optional)

For the bees:

7oz marzipan

writing icing

slivered almonds

food coloring

1  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with baking cups. Put the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl. Pour in the honey and beat everything together until fluffy.

2       In another bowl, beat the egg, vanilla and apple puree, then beat this into the butter mixture. Sift the flour, cinnamon and ginger over the top.

3.     Fold in the dry ingredients until well mixed.

4.     Fill the baking cups with the mixture. Bake for 18-22 minutes, until rise, golden and firm to the touch. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

5.     To make the bees, share the heads and bodies from the marzipan and gently squash them together so they stick.

6.     Paint on the bees’ faces and stripes using writing icing. Push slivered almonds into the back for wings. 

7.     Dust the tops with powdered sugar (I sifted it on top) and place bees in the cener. Enjoy!

March Date Night

For Christmas I gave Steve 6 months of date nights with a babysitter arranged and fun ideas planned.  For March we went indoor rock climbing.  It was so much fun and we can't wait to take the kids.

We flew up some of the climbs and others were too challenging so we definitely have a lot of room for growth.

After climbing we went to dinner and had a wonderful time catching up.  I love our dates and can't wait until next month. Love you sweetie!!!!

Enjoying the last of the snow...

I am so excited for spring as is the rest of the Midwest!  Before it all melted the kids decided to sled down a small hill in the back.

Steve pushed them down ...

and it ended like this (sorry for the dark picture)!  Laughter and giggles ensued.

Braden decided he'd try to surf...

and of course it ended just after take off.  No injuries though and I believe he tried a few more times. I love it when I see determination in his eyes.

Olivia loved playing with Braden and daddy.

Thank goodness that whole pile has melted.  We did wake to a light dusting this morning but most has melted in the sunshine today.  Come on spring... we are ready for you!!

Emily's Baby Shower

We had Emily's Baby Shower last weekend in Chicago.  Olivia was a very lucky little girl to be included  (thank you Em)! The shower was wonderful.  Great people, yummy snacks, fun presents and of course a beautiful prego lady!

We met Dick and Naomi, Sam and Em for lunch beforehand at a restaurant.  It was nice to be able to spend that time together.  Olivia was in her high glory with her own water glass with TWO straws!  She was such a good girl.

Naomi and Sam :)

We did a book themed shower so this was the basket for Emily to collect books in as she opened them.  She and Sam have a wonderful collection started.

These were the bookmarks I made everyone.  Jenny helped me (thank you Jen!).  The necklaces were for a game. If you said the word, "BABY," you had to give your necklace to the person you were talking to.  It didn't go over too well but that's okay! We still found a winner. :)

While Emily introduced everyone, they told her what word was on their rock and then shared a memory and/or gave her a piece of advice.  Although it took some time I think it was really special. I loved hearing what everyone had to say.  Emily has so many wonderful, loving friends who obviously adore her.

Em let Olivia help open.  This was by far her favorite present to open because the paper had glitter on it!!!

Baby Snyder will be a wonderful supporter of Northwestern!  Mini-clothes are just so cute.

Afterwards we had some cake.  One of Emily's past students made it for her.

Guests took home their goodie-bags which I had a blast making!  They had a candle and some body-butter from the Body Shop in them.  Thanks again Jen for your help.  Em is using bright colors in the nursery so decorating for the shower was really fun.

Olivia LOVED being part of the celebration and is still toting around her goodie bag, talking about it.  Thanks again Em for including her. I think you made her year. Can you see her BIG smile?!

She adores her Auntie Em... as do we!

I am so glad we were able to see Em one more time before her journey begins. I know that sounds so cliche' but that is exactly what it is...a journey.  There are ups and downs, rights and lefts but you continue on and the rewards are ones you never dreamed of.  I LOVE being a mommy, it is the most important job I have ever had (next to being a wife of course!!) and I know Emily will be amazing. I am so excited to learn together, share with each other and become even closer than I feel this has already brought us. 

I love you Em!

The Harley Davidson Museum

We went to the Harley Davidson Museum yesterday morning for our Tour Club.  Norah spent most of the morning riding in the stroller.  This is getting much less appealing to her so I have visions of complete chaos with three kids running three different directions at Disney this summer! 

They started with a picture book story about where Harley originated.  It was actually quite fascinating. Then we toured the facitlity.  It takes you through from the 1st motorcycles to present.  

There is a kids area at the end where children can do crayon rubbings, try on leather clothing and ride a mini-bike.  Norah had her first experience with crayons.

At the end you can hop onto 11 different bikes.  This was Olivia's favorite - PINK!  Horrible picture I know - it was dark, with my phone, and I forgot my flash.  

It is a great museum. I'd love to go back and spend some more time. I actually think it'd be a fun date! :) 

Double Play Date

We had a double play date yesterday and I think it's definitely the way to go!  Both kids had friends over so they were entertained, no arguing, no one feeling left out, etc.

Olivia was being a silly girl...

Jaycee was enjoying their treat of popcorn and a fruit snack!  

Braden and Jacob played Play Mobil.

And Jacob shot some hoops in the hallway!

Norah walked around looking for someone to help her dunk the ball.  

It was a really fun play date and we are looking forward to having more friends over next week. 

Norah is 15 months old!

We took Norah to the doctor today for her 15 month check-up.  She has grown 2.5 inches inches in the last 3 months making her a whopping 32" tall!  She's in the 90th percentile.  I think she is going to be tall like her daddy.  This will help her with her slam dunk skills as one of her favorite things to do lately is throw the basketball in the hoop if we lift her up. She loves balls.  She gained about 1.5 lbs so is still at the 50th percentile for weight.  Good job growing Norah!!    

Norah continues to be a very happy little girl.  She has learned though how to get what she wants and that if she screams, it usually ends up getting her the cracker, the hug, the attention, etc that she wants.  This is totally my fault. :( I have a hard time not catering to her when I can.  Oh well...  there are greater issues in life!  

Her ear tube surgery went very well and already in the last week and a half she has been talking more.  I can tell that she can hear better and will be challenging Olivia for the microphone before we know it.  I'm not sure if we'll ever have a quiet moment here again!  Ha.  

So all in all .... all three children are at such fun ages and are doing great.  I love them dearly and am really thankful that I have this time at home with them. I am such a lucky mommy.

Olivia

Need I say more? 

Braden

This little boy (who looks particularly "little" to me in this picture) is doing such a good job growing up. He has grown by leaps and bounds this year in terms of reading, writing and math. I am so proud of him.

  

Basketball just finished and although at the beginning of the year he continuously told us he "HATED" basketball, I think if you asked him now he'd say he liked it!  I even think we could talk him into another year. :)

We have conferences this week and for the first time I am not worried about what his teacher is going to say but am so excited to celebrate all of his successes.  

Inspiration

I have been pondering doing some major home changes for a while.  The type of changes that make a big impact but don't require a lot of money.  The reorganization, repainting, and repurposing.  I am not usually a risk taker so I ponder for a while and then ponder some more.

I had a group of ladies come in and give me a quote of what it would take to "redecorate."  This was using only what I have in the house, no new paint, furniture, etc.  The estimate was between $320-495.  AHH.  I know I'd love what they would do but just cannot justify that price for using what I have.  Especially when I already have some things I'd like to try doing on my own and we know we need to do some purchasing of new furniture in the near future.

So where to start... that is the question.  Today at iMom, the topic was interior design.  The woman who spoke was AWESOME!  She gave great ideas and left my mind spinning and wondering when I can jump in.  I'm so excited.  I think we are starting in either the living room or the downstairs bathroom.  Stay tuned!