sunshine and lemon cookies

the stores may have all their spring clothes and bathing suits out....but us New Englanders know that March is still winter for us....and we are not surprised to get a snowstorm in April.....but we still crave the sunshine....I can't resist buying these....and making these.....

lemon cookies

1 (18.25 ounce) package of lemon cake mix

2 eggs

1/3 cup of vegetable oil

1 tsp. lemon extract

1/3 cup of confectioners sugar

1. preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. mix all ingredients except for sugar

3. roll into teaspoonful balls and roll balls in the sugar until they are lightly covered.

4. place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. the bottom will be light brown, and the insides chewy. makes about 36 cookies.



this batch is going to our church's soup kitchen tonight.

hello mr. snowman!

we have had a lot of snow this year....and thankfully for our backs it has been the fluffy kind...but the kids have been waiting and waiting to build a snowman.....last night the snow was perfect!
Before bed cooper said, "goodnight snowman, go to sleep." and they waved hello this morning before playgroup.....so cute.

Winter Fun

Friday night skiing....we had to drag Caroline off the slopes crying because she didn't want to go....she skied for hours...and wanted "just one more time?!" Cooper, my simple little man, just wanted to ride up the magic carpet with daddy, with toy truck in hand, and run down the hill....little legs going as fast as they could. Today we went to the Winter Carnival on the lake.....sledding!

Ice Skating races! Go Caroline!! She had a permanent smile on her face the whole time....this girl had a blast all day! She made it around the track every time without falling once!

It was a gorgeous day to be outside! Even I, who curses the winter, enjoyed the bright sun and blue sky....and always fun to enjoy a great day with the family.

Caroline took home 1st place for skating and 2nd place for sledding! Cooper was just happy to be outside digging in the snow with his truck....he also go a trophy for competing! A great day all around....rosy cheeks and tired kids!

And one for Cooper....John Deere of course! He loves all the little pockets...and even tried putting his tools in too!

tutorial can be found here. lots of great ideas!

Sewing again.....

Making things makes me happy.

Lots of new babies have arrived....so I have decorated a few burp clothes. My wonderful neighbor gave me a set when we had cooper and i love ribbon on anything...so cute. I would say if you could sew a straight line anyone could make these....just don't look close at mine, because I can't even sew a straight line!

I saw a cute tutorial for pocket tissue holders....so I made these for Caroline's preschool teachers for Valentine's Day...and one for me.
And I can't wait to make more of these....can you tell what it is?

A crayon holder...perfect for trips!

Still here....

Staying busy with playdates, preschool and playgroups.basketball and ballet.

crafts, baking, sledding and shoveling snow.

time with Gramma and Shener before their trip to the sunshine state.

planning a family vacation and a wedding weekend getaway.
and the sewing machine is out.....

Valentine fun.....the kids dined on tortellini and jello. Although they had more fun playing with the jello and cookie cutters and not eating it...my kids are weird...what kid doesn't like jello! just like Caroline not liking pizza. Rob and I had a quiet dinner after we put the kids to bed.....we had butternut squash soup and crabcakes.



We are looking forward to skiing this weekend and a winter carnival out on the lake.

Father-Daughter Dance

All dressed up.....and so excited!To take daddy to the dance....Caroline is truly a Daddy's Little Girl

Wow...my little girl is growing up...so amazing to see...still so amazing to think that I am her mommy....my heart is so full tonight....helping her get ready, taking pictures....now I wait to hear all about their night at the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance.

We found butterflies!

Today we took the kids to Magic Wings , a butterfly conservatory and gardens......it was about 10 degrees outside, but about 80 degrees here....a great place to be in the middle of winter! We had so much fun exploring..... Cooper is now taking his bunny everywhere! Which means it is in every picture!

the butterflies were amazing and everywhere.... baby quails running underfoot.

Cooper was fascinated with this creature...he wanted to see his blue tongue.

And Rob was brave enough to get this close...nnnooooo thank you.

Caroline waited for over an hour for one to land on her....she was completely pleased with herself. This one had wings that were transparent....very cool!

carrot cake and a cabinet

Another recipe that hides those veggies....carrot cake....carrots were on sale this week, a 5lb bag for $2.99....thats a lot of carrots! The hardest part of this recipe was shredding the carrots....this cake is hard to resist right out of the oven....I'll be making another batch with creme cheese frosting when we have company over this weekend.

carrot cake

1 cup of all purpose flour

1 cup of whole wheat flour

1 cup of sugar

1 tsp of baking powder

1 tsp of baking soda

3 cups of finely shredded carrots

1 cup of cooking oil (sometimes i use applesauce instead)

4 eggs

mix dry ingredients, add carrots, oil and eggs, beat till combined.

pour into greased pan: you can use any size; muffins, 2 round, or 9X13.

back at 350 until toothpick comes out clean.

9X13 about 35 minutes

2 round about 30 minutes.

I thought I would show off one of my favorite cabinets in the new kitchen....
the kitchen designer tried to talk into a single door spice rack......but I'm so glad I got this one....everything is right where I need it.

On the mend

Once again....boxes seem to occupy my children's time...after we feasted on oranges and grapefruit for lunch I gave the kids the boxes the fruit was delivered in....Caroline spent 2 hours decorating her box, which became a baby's bed...and they played "house" all afternoon.

Today my washer machine will be running all day.....I am washing everything and anything in an attempt to get rid of germs....seems like the whole town has had a visit from the dreaded stomach bug.

Just what the doctor ordered....a delivery of Florida fruit....this is what was for lunch today!

Still fighting the stomach bug around here....caroline is on the mend and looking forward to school...cooper is feeling yucky with stomach aches but keeping food down today and getting lots of rest.