Tuesday, April 23, 2013

back to the zoo!

We got a family membership to the zoo so we're going to take advantage of it! The kids and I made another trip today and it was a BEAUTIFUL day and we had a really great day....

all of the apes and monkeys were super active and up front.
 
the Mandrills came right up to us

and this baby mandrill was getting a kick out of
watching Miles watch him

a bit out of focus, but he was just so happy :)

may have to ride the carousel every time :)

love the aquarium!

Sydney climbed on every statue the zoo has :)

yay train ride!!

Miles pet this goat about 20 times. He would walk around the
whole petting zoo but come back to pet this goat

S is for SYDNEY :)

T is for tired...because it was a long fun day :)

Saturday, April 20, 2013

cupcake wars #2

Sydney and I are trying our hands at a different cupcake recipe this week. Last time we did chocolate cupcakes with a chocolate and caramel filling and a peanut butter frosting. They were insanely good. This time around Sydney wanted chocolate and strawberries, so that's what we did! We did a chocolate cupcake, with a chocolate strawberry ganache filling and strawberry frosting. It is SO yummy!!

my trusty baking assistant

our observer/judge finishing his lunch

hm...looks like more tasting than baking :)

all the goods ready to go!

yum!

and now we get to enjoy!!

And the recipes....

Chocolate Cupcakes

Chocolate Strawberry Ganache filling
2/3 cup (about 4.5 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup strawberries, finely chopped (I used food processor)
-Heat cream until it bubbles and then pour over chocolate chips
-Let sit for 1 minute and whisk until combined
-Add vanilla and strawberries and stir until combined
-Put in refrigerator to chill for approximately 20 min (or until it thickens to desired texture)
.
Strawberry Frosting (adjusted from my sister's friend, Felicia's recipe)
*this was for a half batch of cupcakes
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening (I used Crisco)
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup chopped strawberries
2-4 cups powdered sugar
Milk as needed
-Cream butter and shortening together until smooth.
-Add sugar 1 cup at a time until blended. Add strawberries a little at a time until desired flavor/color. Add milk to create correct texture
*My buttercream separated a bit. I probably could have fixed it but didn't notice until we started piping frosting on it. Maybe too much liquid from strawberries? Not sure, something to do better next time :)

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Welcome baby Elijah!!

My sister, Holly, and her husband Shaun welcomed their beautiful son Elijah to the world yesterday. I decided to make a spontaneous trip with the kids over to Marion, IN to surprise them and we are SO glad we did. It was such a joy to get to meet Elijah! He is just precious and we cannot wait to see him again!!!

look at those cheeks!!


proud mama and papa!


Sydney REALLY enjoyed this little guy
 
holding her new cousin





we went to the zoo....

We went to the Columbus Zoo this weekend  while my mom was visiting and had lots of fun!  Sydney loved all of the animals, especially the polar bears, elephants and flamingos. Miles really liked the Aquarium and the gorillas. Can't wait to go back!!


at petting zoo area

she got to ride a pony!







at aquarium

carousel



they have an area where you can get extremely
close to the kangaroos because they are trained to
stay within the fence.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Sydney and I love to watch Cupcake Wars together (a baking competition show). She always picks teams for each of us to cheer for and we both watch with anticipation of who will win, drooling over each creation. We watched an episode yesterday and I've been craving cupcakes since then. Because it was raining today and I've exhausted all the indoor activities through the winter, I decided that during Miles' nap time we would have our own "cupcake wars"....which just meant making cupcakes :) We chose to make chocolate cupcakes with a chocolate ganache and caramel filling topped with peanut butter frosting. They are INCREDIBLE :) The texture of the cake left a little to be desired because I only had bread flour, but the frosting was to.die.for. Next time I'll leave out the caramel because these were SO rich it was just not necessary. Here is our adventures in baking....

my little baker

everything is ready!


yummmmmmmm
 
we are tired and ready to eat!
And the recipes:

Cupcakes and Ganache

Caramel sauce

Peanut Butter Frosting (adjusted from my sister's friend, Felicia's recipe)
*this was for a half batch of cupcakes
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup shortening (I used Crisco)
1- 1 1/4 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
2-4 cups powdered sugar
Milk as needed
-cream butter, shortening, and peanut butter together until smooth. Add sugar 1 cup at a time until blended. Add milk to create correct texture and more peanut butter to enrich flavor

 

 

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

a big 'ol photo update....

Wow, I think I forgot I had a blog there for a bit. We've been so busy with life that I keep forgetting to post pictures, updates, or the like. Josh has started a new position (he got promoted to Branch Manager, yay!!) so he's been busy which has in turn made us all busy. So here are several pictures of what we have been up to the last month......

We made a very quick trip over to Indiana for Holly's baby shower...
can't wait to meet little baby Elijah!!
Miles with his 2nd cousin Madeline
Gigi and all her great grand kids
Sydney and Nana looking pretty awesome

I love this picture of Miles and Grandma smiling at each other :)

with Gigi


had a little birthday celebration...Josh is more excited than Miles :)

with my lovely preggo sis, Holly

And then we had Easter fun..... 
coloring eggs

observing the egg coloring :)

Easter morning, she found an egg!!

Miles loved shaking the eggs and cracking them open to find....cheerios!! :)


sleepy heads after Easter basket fun


two cuties ready for church

love this one



Sydney wanted to take some pictures :)
 
And finally warm weather to play outside...



he wasn't too excited about the swings

 
fun at the park


sweetie pie.
(doesn't quite show, but she has a nice shiner under her right eye from
an accident playing at church)

Miles is still mastering walking in grass

what a cutie!


aww....love this one