Oh the magic of Christmas!

This picture was too cute not to post. This is technically Ryker's second Christmas but since he was only 4 months old last time around, I'm calling this his first "real" Christmas. I've been excited for this Christmas for about a year now and had a really hard time waiting until AFTER Thanksgiving to decorate the house...somehow I managed! I even waited until he was asleep to put up the tree so that in the morning I could surprise him with just the tree lights on. It was definately a success. All he said all morning long was "woah!" and "wow!" Oh how I love my little man and the little things that keep him happy!

Let the Shopping begin!

OK, so I know I'm really bad at posting things on time....so lets start by saying "Happy Thanksgiving!" Hopefully everyone had a great time with family and ate more food than they do the rest of the year combined. This year CJ smoked a turkey on his smoker and it turned out so good! We brined it in a maple bourbon brine the night before and smoked it for about 7 hours. Totally delicious! My stomach is growling just thinking about it!

Next, "Happy Black Friday!" Since I didnt work the day after Thanksgiving I actually got to particpate in our yearly tradition of getting up super early on a holiday weekend and spending tons of money. Totally love it. Ryker came with us (my mom, sister and I) because his daddy had to work. I was surprised at how well behaved he was considering he was in a stroller, shopping all day long.

 

After all is said and done he did get some awesome new slippers though!

Mr. & Mrs.

So this is a few days late but better late than never right?

My sister in law got married on Saturday and I couldn't have been more excited for her! The ceremony was absolutely beautiful (of course I'm not sure that any ceremony in the Temple could be anything less) and she was {GORGEOUS}! I forgot my phone in the car so I didnt get the chance to smap any pics of her and her new hubby coming out of temple but I did get this cute picture of my little one:

 

I know, I know. Beyond cute. I'm totally spoiled with this cutie in my life.

Anyway, back to the wedding. There is something so special about temple marriages. Its not just a life long commitement.

Its a sealing of two people.

It lasts forever.

Eternity.

It made me reflect on my own temple marriage only 2 short years ago. Everytime we go back to witness friends' and familys' marriages I am reminded of the feelings I had as I knelt across the alter from my husband and the amount of joy that filled that room. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have that I am with my hunny for eternity. Not just "until death do you part." I am grateful for the knowledge that I have that families are forever. That my family (in laws and all) have that knowledge and that we have all had the opportunity to be sealed together. Its so re-assuring to know that after this life, I have family waiting for me. That even after we pass on, we wont be alone but will be with our loved ones. And my poor hubby gets to put up with me for as far as he can fathom and then some :)

Double Chocolate Cupcakes

Last night two of my nieces came over to play with Ryker and to give their parents a much deserved date night. We had some fun playing with all or Ryker's toys and after dinner we decided to make some Chocolate cupcakes. Their parents came to pick them up before we had a chance to frost them so I whipped up some chocolate buttercream frosting this morning and this is how they came out.

 I seriously think this frosting is the most delicious chocolate frosting I have ever made. So yummy! Oh and my trusty taste-tester (aka my wonderful hubby) said that the cupcakes are one of the best cupcakes he has ever had. In fact when I asked him to taste one, he ate that one and three more right after...they are THAT good.

If you want to give them a try here is the recipe:

{Chocolate Cupcakes}

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup hot water
• ¼ cup sour cream 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add in oil, milk, egg and vanilla extract and beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 2 minutes. Pour in hot water and stir until well combined. Add in sour cream and mix until combined. Fill paper lined muffin cups 3/4 full and bake in preheated oven for 16 – 19 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool several minutes in muffin pan then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

{Chocolate Buttercream Frosting}

• 1 1/2 cups butter, at room temperature
• 3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
•  4 Tbsp heavy cream or half-&-half
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

In a the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with paddle attachment, whip butter on moderately high speed until very pale and fluffy (nearly white in color), about 7-8 minutes, occasionally scraping down sides of the bowl. Sift in cocoa powder then add in powdered sugar, 4 Tbsp heavy cream and vanilla and mix on low speed until combine, scrapping down the sides of the bowl as needed and adding up to 1 tbsp additional cream to thin if desired. Increase mixer to medium-high speed and whip mixture until pale and very fluffy about 4 - 5 minutes, occasionally scraping down sides of the bowl. Then use to frost your cupcakes! I promise you wont be disappointed!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from a friendly dinosaur! Hope everyone had fun Trick or Treating. This little dino sure did!

Autumn is in the air!!!

My little boy isn't so little anymore...sad day. Today after we got home from work and daycare we took a little walk to our mailbox. - We have one of those huge mailbox things that house 10 peoples' mail not just a mailbox at the end of our driveway- When he realized we were headed for our front door he threw a bit of a tantrum so I decided to take a longer walk. That is when I learned something {AMAZING}! Ryker loves, and I mean LOVES, to stomp around in the fallen leaves!

We stayed outside for quite some time just stompin' around. When I asked him if he wanted to come inside to eat some dinner (to which he normally replies "Mmmmmm") he turned to me, pointed his index finger finger and shouted "No no!"

I wish I would have gotten the picture with his finger up but I was a little too slow. I just love Autumn and now I get to share the fun with my little man!

Frightmares!

I survived this.

In case you don't know me all that well, let me start by saying that I {hate} haunted houses. I don’t like to be startled or scared in any way, shape or form. That stuff just isn’t for me. CJ on the other hand {loves} this type of stuff. So, being the good little wife that I am, I go with him to these haunted houses and such...

That being said, I actually had a lot of fun. Lagoon is a great place to go! Especially if you want to reminisce about how many times you could go on the rides that spin-you-three-different-directions-at-the-same-time when you were younger but can barely stomach it once now. Not to mention all the fried food...Yum!

PS- Happy Birthday to the best hubby and daddy ever! {Yesterday}