For those Loganites...

For anybody who lives here in Logan, if you want to put your name in a drawing for a free photography session, check out : http://sweetshotsphoto.blogspot.com/
Who doesn't need/want more pics of their kids? And this photographer is very talented (as evidenced by her photography website).

Busy Baking

Lately we've been baking a lot more. Some were not the favorites: black forest brownies and cheeseburger muffins. But we liked the dinner rolls and Cranberry-Orange Pinwheels from Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. I'll put the Pinwheel recipe below:

Cranberry-Orange Pinwheels

1 cup cranberries

1 cup pecans

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel

3 cups all-purpose flour

For filling: in a blender or food processor, combine cranberries, pecans, and brown sugar. Cover; blend or process until finely chopped. Set aside.

In large mixing bowl, beat butter with electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. Beat until combined, scaping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and orange peel until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half, cover and chill dough about 1 hour or until easy to handle.

Roll half dough between pieces of waxed paper into a 10 inch square. Spread half of the filling over dough square to within 1/2 inch of edges. Roll up dough. Moisten edges; pinch to seal. Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Chill for 4-24 hours.

Cut rolls into 1/4 inch slices. Place slices 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

My hubby also likes these with lemon frosting or glaze on them.

Here's a pic of Chief with a cake he helped to make.

You don't want to end up eating too much cake or you'll look like him:

Of course, I think he's quite handsome.

Other side effects of too much sugar include stickers and goofy faces.

Funny kid

Since I usually forget to write down all the funny comments my 5 year old makes, I will write down the one I remember:
Red does something cool (don't remember what). I tell him he's awesome--twice. He replies, "I'm rich in awesome!"
Gotta love a 5 year old...

New Read

I read a book yesterday. Technically I only neglected my family for 1/2 a day because that's how long it took to get from cover to cover. Anyway, the librarian suggested The Arthurian Omen--a murder mystery. It was actually pretty good and even had a good moral to it. It's been awhile since I had a new book to sink my teeth into--figuratively of course.

Chief's school had a "dance night" last night. His class danced to some fun music--one told you what moves to do--the other was a black light macarena (I'm not sure I spelled that right). He was way cute to watch--wish I brought my camara.

I have to post this clip I stole from a blog I read--it made me totally laugh:

Side note: JOY is when you hear your three little boys playing with each other and laughing. PANIC: is checking up on them and realizing they are in your bathroom with the door locked. FEAR: is hearing your husbands electric razor turn on. RELIEF: is finding that none of them shaved their hair or eyebrows off.

Gains and Losses

You'd think my title referred to the stock market, but then you probably rethought that due to the 'gain' part. Actually it refers to Chief "gaining" an award for being a 20 minute reader (yeah, I know a lot of kids got one, but still...) and "losing" another front tooth. I keep meaning to take a picture of him to post. He pulled it out during school on Wednesday. He (and Dad and Mom) tried on Tuesday night, but it wasn't sure it was ready yet. It was really cute to watch him prepare himself to pull it out.
Now the school Valentine parties are over, but my sons are not ready to stop partying. They just want to keep decorating and having fun. As if we don't have enough holidays to celebrate by decorating and partying! That's okay though--as long as the parents are still invited.

Yes, I'm stealing...

Quotes from another blog:

Parenthood: That state of being better chaperoned than you were before marriage. ~Marcelene Cox
It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't. ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. ~Lane Olinghouse
You will always be your child's favorite toy. ~Vicki Lansky
I love to play hide and seek with my kid, but some days my goal is to find a hiding place where he can't find me until after high school. ~Author Unknown
Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. ~Charles R. Swindoll

BYO Underwear Party

Okay, my kids are wearing their underwear while playing in the crib. The boys and girl switch off holding a princess wand and wearing a tiara. Should I be scared?