a little cooking

This weekend we finally got our wish to relax! We spent the entire weekend at home as a family. It was so refreshing!

Saturday, we had a little cooking time. The girls love to help cook especially are we are making cupcakes. I found a recipe a while back for Red Velvet Cupcakes courtesy of Paula Deen. It became a family favorite instantly!

This recipe is a must try!

Ingredients:

2 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
1 1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

For the cupcakes:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers. In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 pound cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
Chopped pecans and fresh raspberries or strawberries, for garnish

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.

Cook’s Note: Frost the cupcakes with a butter knife or pipe it on with a big star tip. Garnish with chopped pecans and a fresh raspberry or strawberry.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ease of Preparation: Easy
Yield: 24 cupcakes

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

i broke down

We had a first in the Stockdale house. I painted the girl's toe nails for the first time last week.

I know what you're thinking. No big deal, right? Girls love to have their nails painted.

I just couldn't do it. If you know me, I love all things girly and innocent. The girls wear smocked clothing, and I have rules about how they dress. We wear bows in our hair and Mary Janes on our feet.

I just want to keep them sweet and innocent and girly for as long as I can. I don't want them to have the desire to look older or be older than they are. I only have my little girls at this stage for a small amount of time.

They did look precious with their toe nails painted, though. I will admit. However, no painted finger nails for awhile. Small steps...

we're learning

Emma and I have been working on some projects.

This is the first time Emma has written her name all together.  So proud of her!

I have been working on sewing.  Literally, before doing these little projects, the extent of my sewing consisted of sewing on buttons.  No exaggerations.

With the help of my Nana showing me how to do a sample pair of pants, I was able to take the knowledge home and somewhat do it myself.

I had a vision of pants that could go with a Halloween and a Thanksgiving appliqued shirt.  I think I am going to do another top with the pumpkin in a different fabric.  Maybe a black  gingham.

I loved this fabric at Hobby Lobby.  I am going to do a t-shirt with their names monogrammed to match.
I am far from a seamstress, but it's a start.  Practice makes perfect.  At least the girls will have some play clothes for winter.  Although, they may unravel before we even leave the house...

the zoo

Saturday, while Jason was shooting a wedding, we made a trip to the zoo.  The girls and I, my best friend and her little girl, my sister-in-laws and nieces and my best friend's sister-in-law and nephews made our way to the zoo.  We were quite the zoo ourselves trying to keep up with everybody.

We could not have asked for a better day!  The weather was perfect!

The cousins

My best friend, Candice, and me

Ella and Emma 

Emma, Ella and Ava

Emma's favorite animal, a "mingo".  Not surprising, pink and girly
P.S.  I AM NOT A PHOTOGRAPHER.  DEFINITELY NOT A PASSION OF MINE:)

my wild woman

It's amazing how 2 sisters raised in the same house could be so different. Ava is our wild woman. And I love it!

She is the child that we are constantly having to put her clothes back on because she is our little streaker.  And I don't mean that she just strips down to her pull-ups.  I mean EVERYTHING goes.  She is also the child that at a little under 2 she already had an opinion about what she was going to wear.  If she had her choice she would look a little like Fancy Nancy every time she left the house.

Imagine the heartache this gives me everyday considering how much I love sweet little girl clothes.

Ava is constantly getting hurt.  She yells for a minute, but then no big deal.  She's back in the game.  Note the next photo and the monster of a bump on her head.  She fell out of one chair at the kitchen table and hit the other chair with her head.  The moment was kind of like an episode of Loony Toons.  You know the one where Bugs Bunny hits Elmer Fudd on the head and the bump automatically raises itself off the head into a huge bump.  This is much like what happened to Ava.

No big deal.  Cried for less than a minute and all was well with some chocolate pudding.  And yes, that's right.   She's naked.

Ava is also the child that tried to give up ALL naps at 18 months.  To this day, she could still do without a nap. We really only have nap time because my 4 year old still needs it.  But, sometimes despite all her protesting, she finally runs out of steam.

i thought summer was supposed to be for resting

Wow!  I  did not even realize that it has almost been 2 months since I last blogged.

Our summer has been super busy with traveling, birthday parties, church, friends and PHOTOGRAPHY.

Well, mainly photography.  Jason has been so busy on the weekends taking pics for people from birthday parties to family portraits to weddings.  I am so happy for him.  He really has a talent for photography and with it he is able to have another creative outlet.

This past weekend while was Jason testing out a camera  we were able to capture a moment with our girls playing at the park ( a rare, relaxing moment!)

I never thought I would say this, but I am ready for preschool to start so we can slow down!

princess emma turns 4

So, it is hard to believe that my firstborn is now 4.  Where has the time gone?  I just want to cuddle with Emma and hold her in my lap, but now my petite baby is replaced with a young girl with long legs!

I do love this age, though.  I love the imagination that Emma has.  She can make a game and a story out of everything.  I love that she is a genuinely happy kid.  We always joke around that Emma walks around like she is in her own fairy tale/musical.  She sings about everything.  She makes songs up as she walks along and dances.  She is constantly exclaiming that so and so is her favorite thing in the whole world.  Or better yet, this so and so activity and place is the bestest she has ever seen!

I love that she is the true "big"sister.  Just this morning Emma and Ava were coloring at the kitchen table.  Suddenly we heard Emma yell at Ava,"Oh, baby girl!  That picture is beautiful!  You have to go and show mommy your beautiful picture!"  She is even excited about baby #3.  Every night, she kisses my tummy and says good night to the baby.  We even have to discuss everyday what we need to get for the new baby.  She is very worried that the new baby might not have all it needs.

My favorite thing that she does, though, it her bed time ritual.  She gets in bed and she looks up and Jason and me and tells us she needs "faster sugar".  Faster sugar is something that Emma has started about 6 months ago that is made up of her kissing us on each cheek with rapid kisses.  Then, she must us a "big squeeze" which is a tight hug.  Next, we must repeat the same sequence to her.  And, then finally she tells us, " I love you this big, and I love you whole lot!" as she hold out her arms.  I hope that becomes a tradition that stays.

Emma was determined that a she would have a princess birthday.  Ever since Ava's party in April, Emma has been planning her party.   My slightly OCD child reminded me everyday what we needed in order to have a good princess party.  I think she liked the final result:)

The cake... made by a sweet lady in our church.  Emma knew she was a princess after she saw the cake. 

Some of the decor...

The girls decorated their own princess crowns.  They had a ball making them!

Cousin Ella with her crown.

I love Ava's side crown.  This is just her.  She walks to the beat of her own drum.  I wouldn't have it any other way!

Sweet Presley... my best friend's little girl.




All in all it was a birthday perfect for a princess!