family photos

These are my favorite kind of family photos. I would love to have some of our family.

Check them out here: http://www.designmom.com/2009/04/central-park.html

Almond Cupcakes

I found this recipe in an issue of Canadian Living, which is not a mag I have ever purchased before, but I was tempted by the cupcakes pictured on the front. These almond cupcakes are divine! Super moist and flavorful and that nice slightly sticky top, yum! Here is the recipe:

1/2 cup soft butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp almond extract(I used more like a whole tsp)

1 cup flour

1/2 cup ground almonds
1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup milk

In a large bowl, beat the butter and the sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat in almond extract.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the ground almonds, baking powder and salt and salt. Stir into the butter mixture alternately with milk, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 of milk. Spoon into paper lined or well greased muffin tins.

Bake in a 350 oven until cake tester(umm, toothpick anyone?) comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool.

The recipe suggests frosting with a butter frosting.

the look a child has...

...when handed a hunk of chocolate for the first time. Thanks grandma and grandpa Wiebe!

I deserve an award

The blogging slacker award, that is! Oh well, I am back now. This week we celebrated Earth day and although I wouldn't say we really 'celebrated'(is it really a holiday to be celebrated?), we did have some fun making these compost cupcakes.

Then yesterday I took my oldest 2 children to see Earth. Can I just say WOW! It was incredible! And beautiful! And informative! All 3 of us really enjoyed it! Today was a day off of school for Olivia, so we made use of the Manitoba Museum pass they were given for their birthdays last month. Also fun, but would have been more fun with a dad involved, or with a baby(who now insists on walking everywhere and not sitting her stroller) uninvolved. You know. So I guess we did sort of celebrate in our own way.

Easter

Happy Easter to all of you! Here's a re-cap of our weekend, filled with lot's of family and food. My girls wore matching dressed this year, which makes my totally giddy! I suggested a pink button down to Levi-that was totally out of the question!

On Friday we drove out to my grandparents, and on the way home Graham and I enjoyed all of the kids doing this:


I have made paska(easter bread) every year since we have been married, but this year as I was kneading, I really felt like, hey, I know what I am doing here! That felt good, since I generally begin baking with yeast with a bit of dread. Will it turn out this time, or not?

Check out this dessert my sister in law make for Graham's family Easter dinner! 16 layers, really, count them! And totally delicious!