Cake in a Mug

Back in January my mother in-law sent me this awesome recipe for making a chocolate cake in a mug. I was so excited about it that we made them that night for FHE treats. I sent Jason to the dollar store with the girls and let them each choose their own tall mug for the cakes. You can also divide the recipe into smaller mugs or ramekins or whatever you want. It's so easy to make and really fun for the kids to make by themselves. You mix it up in the mug so there's no mess. I took a lot of pictures for scrapbook and blog purposes and then of course didn't blog it. Here's Emma mixing her cake in her mug.

Then you microwave it for 3 minutes I think. Another easy thing for the kids to do. One of the best parts is watching it cook. The cake grows and grows and you think it's going to spill out over the edge and it never does. At least, it didn't when we made them. This is what it looks like after it's all done. Doesn't that look scrumptious? And then of course you get to eat it!

Now, the recipe that I have said that it's big enough to make two cakes from. They are really big and a little too much for my kids to finish so you might want to separate them into two or three smaller cakes. But still they were cooked all the way through and really yummy. The best part is that the ingredients are things that you will have on hand so you can make them for FHE when you are in a pinch or as a fun activity to keep the kids occupied. I think it needs a little something extra so I put powdered sugar or ice cream on mine. If you want the recipe then click on the SMMART Ideas link on the right sidebar of my blog. She has it up there. That isn't where I got mine from but it's the same recipe and it saves me time typing it up. Check out the other fun things she has on that blog while you're there. And enjoy chocolate cake in a mug!

Tagged...Again!

So I got tagged again for the "go to your 6th folder, 6th picture and blog it" tag. I don't store my folders that way so I did it a little differently but anyway, this is the picture I ended on. This was taken on our second anniversary. We are at a BYU football game with my parents and that's Emma believe it or not. She is just barely 1 year and enjoying my frozen lemonade. Just before the game we spent the morning at the Timpanogas Temple where Maddie was sealed to Jason. A very special anniversary if I do say so myself.

I'm not going to tag anyone for this because I've already done that but you can do it on your own if you want.

How Do We Love You, Let Us Count the Ways

Jason turned 30 on Jan. 30th and because I'm a terrible wife I didn't get this posted on his birthday. I spent all day working on a slideshow of him with my sister in-law instead. So I decided to post it for Valentine's Day. The girls and I thought of 30 reasons why we love him.

Emma:

1. He brings me pink juice from work

2. He has Family Home Evening

3. He likes me

4. He brings me something cool

5. He swings me

6. He reads books to me

7. He plays the Wii with me

8. He colors with me

9. He plays dancing with me

10. He loves my mommy

Maddie:

1. He makes me breakfast

2. He takes me to the park

3. He takes me to the swimming pool

4. He loves me and I love him back

5. He plays football with me

6. He plays the Elmo game

7. He takes me to grandma's house

8. He plays basketball with me

9. I like to watch daddy play basketball

10. He listens to me

Cara:

1. He is very patient with me

2. He works hard for our family

3. I love him for Maddie

4. I love him for Emma

5. I love him for Nathan

6. He thinks he's so funny and that makes me laugh

7. He always serves

8. He does girly things with his girls

9. He never complains about my cooking

10. He is my knight in shining armour who not only rescued one, but two, princesses from the evil dragon!

We LOVE YOU DADDY!! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Marley

Long story short...we've got a dog. He's a purebred Shizu and his name is Marley. My friend was overwhelmed with three dogs and a baby so she gave two of them away. We got the cutest one! Now I have three kids and a dog. But he's so cute and he doesn't bark and he cuddles and follows me around and I've had so much fun with him already. Oh yeah, the kids love him too. Here is Maddie with her beloved dog. And here's Marley. Normally he has really long hair, but they groomed him right before we picked him up. I'm a little disappointed because he is so cute with his long hair and have you been outside lately? It's freezing! The poor little guy just shivers when he has to go outside and he shivers for half an hour after that.

Isn't he the cutest! He's potty trained and full grown and all the works. It was a spur of the moment thing but I'm glad we have him. Thank you Honey!! (Jason has been against the idea of a dog from the beginning. Just watch, Marley will be his best friend more than the rest of us!) So while he came with the name Marley I think he looks like a "Goob". You know, from the movie "Meet the Robinsons." I think that fits him. Now, Dad, don't freak out. I know that you're thinking "Oh Man! Now I've got to see pictures of the dog!" And you know what...you're probably right but just deal with it. I promise that I won't put up too many of him.

Anyway, Welcome to the family Marley!

**Note: I know the spelling of Shizu is wrong, but blogger blocks it out if I spell it correctly!

Go Red!

Saturday was a fun filled day at the Valley Fair Mall. We went there with the Utah Kids Club and did theGo Red 3K Walk for the American Heart Association. This month is Heart Awareness month for women. There were all sorts of booths and free creamies when you finished the walk. They had some different companies there doing demonstrations, like dance and karaoke. They also had a martial arts group there. Maddie had a martial arts group come to her school a few weeks ago and she could not stop talking about it and that her teacher broke a board. So when they were asking for a volunteer from the audience I did a Jedi mind trick so that Maddie would be chosen. She loved it!! The video is her breaking the board. I've been thinking about putting her in karate because I think she would really enjoy it and I know that it is really good for the self-esteem. The problem is that she beats up on her little sister enough right now as it is. I don't think I want her knowing "how" she can beat her up.

There were a lot of games and free stuff. Maddie and Emma learned how to make noodles with the Young Chefs Academy and did some jump roping with the AHA. I took a lot of pictures but I will spare you and only put in the ones of us doing the walk. We won some really cool prizes like free ice skating at the Olympic Oval and Jason and I won two free tickets to a Murder Mystery dinner and the girls won free meals at AppleBee's, as well as some other fun things. There was a big inflatable bounce house and slide and so of course we had to spend some time playing there. It was a long afternoon and we were all tired, hungry and cranky, but still had some fun times.

On the walk...Enjoying creamies...

We are a Heart Healthy Family!

Bed Rest Care Package

Ok, so I need your creative minds to help me with a project. My friend was recently diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer. She is going to start Radiation Therapy this weekend and every time she does a treatment she will have to be isolated from family for a period of time. I wanted to make her a care package for those days when she is bored and missing her family. Are there any suggestions? I've thought of books, music, scrapbooking, snacks, puzzles (like Sudoku type) and journaling. I was wondering if any of you have fun games she can play or anything that maybe you received if you had to have bedrest due to a pregnancy. Leave me some comments PLEASE!! I'm not good at this creative stuff. Oh, and you only have a few more days before the hair-do idea's is over with. So far only two people have left a suggestion. Works out for them because they'll win, but if you want to win then get crackin'!

WAHOO!!

So, in case you didn't know...the STEELERS WON THE SUPERBOWL!!! That means that I don't have to grow my hair out. Secretly I was hoping the Cardinals would win so that I would have to grow my hair out because I like long hair...I just hate the shag you have to have before the long hair. But oh well. I immediately called my dad after the super bowl to tell him when my hair appointment will be. He tried to con me into thinking that HE had chosen the Steelers and I was for the Cardinals...nice try Dad! You lost and I won!!! I was the only one rooting for the Steelers. Everybody in Jason's family wanted the Cardinals. They think this win should have an "asterisk" by it because the ref's were making bad calls in favor of the Steelers. (sore losers if you ask me :) ) So, any suggestions as to what I should do with my hair? I'm thinking that everyone liked it better when I was a bit more blonde (in hair color I mean) instead of the dark brown. Jason had mentioned that he'd like to see black. What style do you guys like on me? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think by the end of the week. The person's suggestions that I use will win a goody bag!