simbelmynë

Friday, January 31, 2014

Yogurt Patience

I'm trying to have patience while Benjamin learns to eat on his own. We usually end up with a yogurt mess.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Simple Yellow Cake With Chocolate Frosting

I asked Mike what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday and he answered yellow cake with chocolate frosting. I opted to make everything from scratch. I liked the way the cake turned out. It's more dense than a box cake. Usually, cake from scratch also turns out a bit drier, but this cake was moist for my taste. Also, I found an amazing chocolate frosting recipe. I found these recipes on allrecipes.com.

Yellow Cake

1 c butter
2 c sugar
4 eggs
2 1/2 c self-rising flour
1 c milk
1 T vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a bunt cake pan. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Combine the milk and vanilla, add alternately to the creamed mixture with the flour, ending with the flour. Mix only as much as necessary. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

Sour Cream Chocolate Frosting

1 cup semisweet chocolate chip

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

Melt chocolate chips and butter in small sauce pan. Beat into sour cream and vanilla. Add salt and gradually mix in sugar.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Christmas ~ Disneyland ~ Case of the Disappearing Toothbrush

We had the opportunity to spend Christmas in California. We had a great time and loved seeing Benjamin enjoying himself. We didn't know what to expect with Benjamin's reactions to the rides and huge crowds, but he did well. He was very curious and did a lot of observing. We're thankful that my parents and sister came to meet up with us in Aneheim. Benjamin loved hanging out with Nonna, Abuelo and Aunt Ariana. They would stick around with Benjamin in the park so that Mike and I could enjoy a ride together.

Below are pictures from our trip. But first I have to tell about the missing toothbrush.

Our little Benjamin plays the part of a monkey very well. This little monkey was playing on the bed. Momma was in the bathroom washing her face and daddy was trying to get little monkey to brush his teeth. One little monkey started making a pile of pillows; jumped on top and bounced right off. Monkey's toothbrush flew out of daddy's hand as he dove after the little monkey. Momma came in the room and scooped monkey off the floor. No more monkey jumping on the bed for the rest of the trip! The little guy was comforted and checked for bumps and bruises. Only one bump on the forehead and thankfully nothing else. Once everyone was calmed down a thorough search of the hotel room was done for the toothbrush. It was never recovered. That night, the little monkey got away with getting his teeth brushed. And so, the Case of the Disappearing Toothbrush goes unsolved and will forever be a mystery.

Benjamin's expression throughout our trip...wonder and amazement.

Mater from Cars.

Mickey after lighting the Christmas tree at California Adventure.

Mike's childhood home in Thousand Oaks.

Exhausted!

Western town at Paradise Ranch in Malibu.

Feet in sand at Zuma Beach.

Waiting to go to the Tiki Room. Benjamin was fascinated and danced.

Pirates of the Caribbean.

Dancing to the 80z All Stars.

Space Mountain is one of our favorites.

Benjamin loved "it's a small world"!

After the Disneyland Christmas Fantasy Parade...it snowed!

Tow Mater's Tractor Pull.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

FHE - Reindeer

We missed going to the Timpanogoes Symphony Orchestra tonight for Family Home Evening, so we went to see the reindeer at Thanksgiving Point. Benjamin got to see the reindeer up close and laughed in delight at seeing them.

There was also an ice sculpture demonstration. We saw the sculpter working on his last piece for the evening, a flower in a small block of ice. The process is pretty fascinating.