snow storm

Baby's first snowstorm, and, boy, was I unprepared! No winter jacket, no snow boots, no snow pants...( I did have hats, though!). Luckily for everyone, Grandma Gee Gee came through for her grand kids and went all over town picking up these essential pieces for our sleepover. Grandma Gee Gee and Lindsey joked about the Napoleon Dynamite-style snow boots they got for Reese being the ugliest things they had ever seen, but the only pair left in her size. But, Reese LOVED them. Once she got them on, there was no way she was going to take those things off. Even the next morning, when the ground was covered with snow, she just HAD to put her boots on over her footed jammies. On Saturday morning, when it was time to shovel the first layer of snow off the driveway, we bundled up the kids to come out and help us. Grandma Gee Gee had some little shovels for them to use and they got a kick out of it! Tyson mostly just wanted to eat the snow, but Reese was pretty excited to be walking around in her boots in the snow. She also loved touching the snow with her mittens on!

But, the real fun was on Sunday when we played outside after it had stopped snowing! (20 inches later) Reese LOVED sledding down the hill with Tyson and her Dad.

doll face!

Yes, that snow really is up to my knees!

once there was a snowman

How fun are holiday cupcakes?! A couple friends and I had the greatest time making these darling snowmen (complete with trees from the forest) and Christmas ornament cupcakes. They were almost too cute to eat!

I still can't get over how adorable all the Christmas ornaments are that Lauren sent to Reese for her first Christmas tree!

let her eat cake

Reese was so excited to eat some birthday cake on mommy's birthday! (can you tell by the look on her face?) And check out the size of that piece of complimentary birthday cake from Macaroni Grill! (a far cry from the sorry "birthday sundae" that Cheesecake Factory offered me for dessert later this evening) My friends and I had a couple bites each, and then Reese went to town on the rest. The cake was a deliciously dense and rich chocolate cake--so rich, in fact, that a couple bites were enough for me, but Reese handled it like a champ!

so excited to dig in!!

check out the size of that bite! that's my girl!
I love birthday cake!!! Who's birthday is next?

like mother like daughter

As I have mentioned on this blog many times before, my mom and I LOVE to play all day in the kitchen when we are together...baking any kind of goodies we can think of! And when we are apart, we still talk food...sharing ideas, recent goodies we've tried and emailing recipes back and forth.
After trying a new recipe last week, and it turning out to be one that was enjoyed by all, I knew I had to send it to my mom. I almost died laughing when I got her response.

Here is the email I send to her:

Taryn: Do you get the 12 days of cookies from food network? There were about two of the twelve that I would actually want to make, and this was one. I made it for the kids' gift exchange that I went to yesterday and it was a HIT!!!! They do take some time because you have to bake the bottom layer and then let it cool completely before you can finish them...but they were really delicious! I broke my new food processor out of the box...and was giddy the whole time!!!! It was so much fun. I may or may not have pulsed too much, because mine didn't have the same size crumbles of those in the picture, but not a big deal. Everyone at the party raved about them!!

The next morning, I got this response from my mom and thought it was too funny not to share.

MommaCat: Oh my gosh - I made it too! I gave four gift plates so far, and have three more. They are super yummy - we love butterscotch, don't we? I giggled when I read your email, "like mother like daughter!" AND, I thought there were only about two of the 12 I would make, too. By chance, was the other one the Sunny's Crunchy PB S'more bites? :)

YES, THEY WERE! I guess in the kitchen my mom and I are two peas in a pod! Can't wait to get to Montana next week and get cooking!

gift exchange

Does it look like these kids are having fun?!

(Braddock is still thinking about it.  Two out of three ain't bad!)

On Friday, Reese and I went to a gift exchange at a friend's house.  All the kids brought one gift for another friend at the party, and no one could spend more than $5 on said gift.  And all the moms brought a food item to share.  What a great idea!  The kids loved it!  

I made oatmeal cream cheese butterscotch bars and they were delish! (if I do say so myself)  A little more labor intensive than the desserts I normally make, but they turned out great.  Reese came home with a small, pink cat that "meows", a bottle of bubbles (her favorite!!) and a truck (her giver covered all his bases).  Such a fun way to spend a Friday morning!

How cute is this reindeer shirt?!  Baby Braddock is such a sweet baby and Reese loves to play with him too!

Christmas decor with a twist

I love ALL of these ideas and looks.  My sister is so talented and has such impeccable taste!

To read more of Lauren's genius tips, go here http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=58&sid=8908211.

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

With the help of a few of my friends, I got up the nerve to decorate Reese's Christmas tree! (Never decorated my own tree, ya'll.  It's embarrassing.) And with some Christmas tunes on in the background, and the snow that we got over the weekend to go with our new tree, it is beginning to feel like Christmas! 

Reese's Aunt Lallycakes sent her this beautiful tinsel tree, and all the girly, princess ornaments and ribbons to go with it.

a few of my favorite ornaments...

How cute are these pink, glass candies?  Reese goes over to them and kisses them--I guess she thinks that doesn't constitute "touching" the fragile ornaments.

I love these hot pink, glittery butterflies.  They are so fun!!

Can't have a Christmas tree in our house without a cupcake ornament!

Reese is a lucky girl to be so spoiled by her Aunt Lallycakes!