These are probably the best cupcakes. Ever. I mean it. I stole the recipe from my friend Robyn and I hope she doesn't mind me sharing the recipe. I just want all of you to make them and eat them because you will be smitten. They literally melt in your mouth.
Cake:
1 yellow cake mix
1 c. flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/3 c. water
1 c. sour cream
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1to 2 tsp almond flavoring
1 tsp. vanilla
Pour into cupcake pan.
Bake at 325 degrees for 12-18 minutes.
Frosting:
1 package cream cheese
1 C. sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
1 1/2 cup whipping cream
Beat everything together but the whipping cream. Whip the cream in separate bowl, then fold in with all the other ingredients.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Dear Diary,
Here are some funny stories. Well I think they are funny.
Yesterday I fed Macie a spoonful of macaroni and cheese. I had been spoon feeding Chloe (okay I know she is too old for this, but I just wanted the kid to eat). I realized something was amiss when I heard Macie crying and not really eating the food. And then I said, "What in the world am I doing feeding Macie macaroni and cheese!"
I quickly ran to the sink to rinse out the poor thing's mouth.
And yet another check mark in my "Examples of Me Losing My Sanity" book.
Today I wore a pink skirt to church. Chloe saw this and said, "Mommy! I wear my pink dress like you!"
A few minutes later she came in my room wearing her pink poofy dress, white tights and sandals.
The tights and sandals were quite reminiscent of my Doc Martin sandals and socks faze.
She might have been able to pull it off had it not been that the sandals had a spot for her big toe and the tights didn't fit all that well around it.
I didn't want to discourage her, so I told her "I don't think you should wear the tights, it is going to be too hot."
To which she replied, "Is Teagan wearing tights today?"
And I said, "no."
And she said, "Oh! I go take them off then!"
Then I realized that this is not the lesson I want to teach her, that she should just wear and do whatever her peers are doing. First it is tights, next thing I know she is smoking cigars in the alley.
So then I tried to say, "Oh well if YOU want to wear them, you should. You don't have to wear the same things as your friends."
But it was too late. Teagan was not wearing tights so she definitely was not wearing them either.
The adventures in mothering takes another unexpected turn.
And lastly, yesterday I went to the store to look for drapes. Did not find drapes, but I did find a lot of things that I didn't know I wanted. Well I restrained myself and only walked out with a pink broom, which is what Chloe chose as her reward for being a good girl at her grandparents. This was a proud moment in my life. Although she is not using the broom much for sweeping but has found it makes a nice barricade for her parents, and an excellent tool for accidentally hitting people on the head.
Here are some funny stories. Well I think they are funny.
Yesterday I fed Macie a spoonful of macaroni and cheese. I had been spoon feeding Chloe (okay I know she is too old for this, but I just wanted the kid to eat). I realized something was amiss when I heard Macie crying and not really eating the food. And then I said, "What in the world am I doing feeding Macie macaroni and cheese!"
I quickly ran to the sink to rinse out the poor thing's mouth.
And yet another check mark in my "Examples of Me Losing My Sanity" book.
Today I wore a pink skirt to church. Chloe saw this and said, "Mommy! I wear my pink dress like you!"
A few minutes later she came in my room wearing her pink poofy dress, white tights and sandals.
The tights and sandals were quite reminiscent of my Doc Martin sandals and socks faze.
She might have been able to pull it off had it not been that the sandals had a spot for her big toe and the tights didn't fit all that well around it.
I didn't want to discourage her, so I told her "I don't think you should wear the tights, it is going to be too hot."
To which she replied, "Is Teagan wearing tights today?"
And I said, "no."
And she said, "Oh! I go take them off then!"
Then I realized that this is not the lesson I want to teach her, that she should just wear and do whatever her peers are doing. First it is tights, next thing I know she is smoking cigars in the alley.
So then I tried to say, "Oh well if YOU want to wear them, you should. You don't have to wear the same things as your friends."
But it was too late. Teagan was not wearing tights so she definitely was not wearing them either.
The adventures in mothering takes another unexpected turn.
And lastly, yesterday I went to the store to look for drapes. Did not find drapes, but I did find a lot of things that I didn't know I wanted. Well I restrained myself and only walked out with a pink broom, which is what Chloe chose as her reward for being a good girl at her grandparents. This was a proud moment in my life. Although she is not using the broom much for sweeping but has found it makes a nice barricade for her parents, and an excellent tool for accidentally hitting people on the head.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Some people are in denial. I know this because I am looking for a couch. So I am looking on Craigslist.
And like I said, some people are in serious denial.
If something was from 1988 how could they be "barely used."
Although, I tried to sell my Razor Phone for 40 bucks on Craigslist, not realizing I couldn't GIVE that piece of crapola away.
So I can admit I have no room to judge.
Also. Does your neighborhood get as many solicitors as I do? For the past 3 days in a row someone has come to my door wanting money. And when they tell you they are collecting money for drug addicts who are trying to get back on their feet...or when you can tell the person themself probably has a substance abuse problem and wants 10 dollars to spray paint your house number on the sidewalk....what do you do??
I would like to save the world, but I don't have enough money.
Maybe I could teach the world a song. I have heard in jingles and such that that could solve all the world's problems.
"I'd like to teach the world to sing..." You know the diddy right? Didn't your Mom listen to folk music too?
Somethin' like that. Although some people are tone deaf so that might not save the world either.
Well, I will keep thinking.
Two days ago this guy who looked like he had just graduated from the School of Hard Knocks, came to my door and said he was looking for work and asked if he could paint my address on my curb for a few bucks.
I said, "I'm moving!" Which seems to not deter anyone because I use this excuse every time and every time they have some come back like, "Oh your insurance will pay for it!"
Anyway, he said he would give me the "moving special" which was 10 dollars.
I am pretty sure he made up the moving special. And I am pretty sure that I got charged more than the regular special.
But I am a sucker so I agreed.
Now get this. The very next day ANOTHER guy showed up with the same rigmarole. I was not home, Don was. And he was not aware that I already paid someone the day before. And so he paid this guy 5 dollars to REpaint our curb!
I ran into this guy in the driveway while he was doing it, confused I said, "Uh, this was just painted yesterday."
And he said, "Oh, I saw that, that is why I gave your husband a deal. 5 dollars."
I am pretty sure his "deal" was the same price as his regular customers.
So total cost to get curb repainted: 15 dollars.
And...the Mortensens got suckered again.
Did I already tell you about my "free 5x7 and photo shoot"?
Ya right.
When I am presented with adorable pictures of my posterity, I have no agency, and of coarse there was nothing cheaper than $___. I am too embarrassed to say.
But you will see. You will see that my children's faces are priceless and I should not be expected to refuse their permanent smiling faces.
Sigh.
And like I said, some people are in serious denial.
If something was from 1988 how could they be "barely used."
Although, I tried to sell my Razor Phone for 40 bucks on Craigslist, not realizing I couldn't GIVE that piece of crapola away.
So I can admit I have no room to judge.
Also. Does your neighborhood get as many solicitors as I do? For the past 3 days in a row someone has come to my door wanting money. And when they tell you they are collecting money for drug addicts who are trying to get back on their feet...or when you can tell the person themself probably has a substance abuse problem and wants 10 dollars to spray paint your house number on the sidewalk....what do you do??
I would like to save the world, but I don't have enough money.
Maybe I could teach the world a song. I have heard in jingles and such that that could solve all the world's problems.
"I'd like to teach the world to sing..." You know the diddy right? Didn't your Mom listen to folk music too?
Somethin' like that. Although some people are tone deaf so that might not save the world either.
Well, I will keep thinking.
Two days ago this guy who looked like he had just graduated from the School of Hard Knocks, came to my door and said he was looking for work and asked if he could paint my address on my curb for a few bucks.
I said, "I'm moving!" Which seems to not deter anyone because I use this excuse every time and every time they have some come back like, "Oh your insurance will pay for it!"
Anyway, he said he would give me the "moving special" which was 10 dollars.
I am pretty sure he made up the moving special. And I am pretty sure that I got charged more than the regular special.
But I am a sucker so I agreed.
Now get this. The very next day ANOTHER guy showed up with the same rigmarole. I was not home, Don was. And he was not aware that I already paid someone the day before. And so he paid this guy 5 dollars to REpaint our curb!
I ran into this guy in the driveway while he was doing it, confused I said, "Uh, this was just painted yesterday."
And he said, "Oh, I saw that, that is why I gave your husband a deal. 5 dollars."
I am pretty sure his "deal" was the same price as his regular customers.
So total cost to get curb repainted: 15 dollars.
And...the Mortensens got suckered again.
Did I already tell you about my "free 5x7 and photo shoot"?
Ya right.
When I am presented with adorable pictures of my posterity, I have no agency, and of coarse there was nothing cheaper than $___. I am too embarrassed to say.
But you will see. You will see that my children's faces are priceless and I should not be expected to refuse their permanent smiling faces.
Sigh.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
1. Chloe is coming back tonight. I did not get nearly enough done.
But I will be happy to have her back.
We talked to her on the phone last night and she was all roses and rainbows with Don.
Then I talked to her. It started off well but then turned into pathetic commentary on her stay with the grandparents.
"Mommy! I cleaned out that wittle house! With a bwoom! It was dirrrrrrty!"
"Mommy! Gwandma and Gwandpa take me on the pwo haulah!"
And then the conversation turned south....
"Mommy...Can you come pick me up now? Cause I'm tiwed."
"I'm weally weally tiwed Mom. Can you come pick me up now? Cause I wanna come home."
This continued until Don interrupted and told her we had to go.
It was sad and it was funny.
I am glad she loves (mostly me) us so much. ; )
2. Every day I get a new medical bill. Or an update on a medical bill. Or a receipt on the medical bill. It has increased my junk mail by ten fold.
Unfortunately I cannot claim them as junk and just toss then out and just pretend like they were a figment of my imagination.
They were making me feel crazy. So I finally organized them all and wrote down how much and when they were all due.
And I figured out between me and Don's surgery and Macie, we owe 17 different people money.
No wonder they were making me feel crazy,
I wish there was a box right by the "credit card" or "check" options that said "other means."
And by other means I wished they accepted payment in one of the following forms:
* a song
* a plate of cookies
*an afternoon with my 4 year old
* a photo of myself
* a thank you note
* a garbage bag full of old clothes
or finally,
* an eye brow plucking (I am very good at this)
Unfortunately I think they just want my money.
Jerks!
But I will be happy to have her back.
We talked to her on the phone last night and she was all roses and rainbows with Don.
Then I talked to her. It started off well but then turned into pathetic commentary on her stay with the grandparents.
"Mommy! I cleaned out that wittle house! With a bwoom! It was dirrrrrrty!"
"Mommy! Gwandma and Gwandpa take me on the pwo haulah!"
And then the conversation turned south....
"Mommy...Can you come pick me up now? Cause I'm tiwed."
"I'm weally weally tiwed Mom. Can you come pick me up now? Cause I wanna come home."
This continued until Don interrupted and told her we had to go.
It was sad and it was funny.
I am glad she loves (mostly me) us so much. ; )
2. Every day I get a new medical bill. Or an update on a medical bill. Or a receipt on the medical bill. It has increased my junk mail by ten fold.
Unfortunately I cannot claim them as junk and just toss then out and just pretend like they were a figment of my imagination.
They were making me feel crazy. So I finally organized them all and wrote down how much and when they were all due.
And I figured out between me and Don's surgery and Macie, we owe 17 different people money.
No wonder they were making me feel crazy,
I wish there was a box right by the "credit card" or "check" options that said "other means."
And by other means I wished they accepted payment in one of the following forms:
* a song
* a plate of cookies
*an afternoon with my 4 year old
* a photo of myself
* a thank you note
* a garbage bag full of old clothes
or finally,
* an eye brow plucking (I am very good at this)
Unfortunately I think they just want my money.
Jerks!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Chloe is out at her grandparents right now. Until Thursday!!!
I feel a little like this:
(I think the Dad portrays the same level of glee that I am currently experiencing)
I slept in until 10 AM today. It felt awesome.
Although my dreams were bizarre. I was back in college and I was really excited to be back because that was a really fun time in my life, but I kept wondering where my kids and Don were.
Anyway. I should be getting stuff done for the move. Instead I find myself daydreaming of what my new house will look like.
If I had my druthers, I would fashion Chloe's room in this theme. Look, it is a red headed mermaid!
Although if Chloe got to pick, this would be her dream:
I just can't do it.
Also, I love this couch .
But a new couch is priority 4, 678.
Also who am I kidding. It is white and velvet!
It would be ruined in 2 months.
Well enough stalling and day dreaming and onto folding clothes which is not nearly as exciting of a thought.
I feel a little like this:
(I think the Dad portrays the same level of glee that I am currently experiencing)
I slept in until 10 AM today. It felt awesome.
Although my dreams were bizarre. I was back in college and I was really excited to be back because that was a really fun time in my life, but I kept wondering where my kids and Don were.
Anyway. I should be getting stuff done for the move. Instead I find myself daydreaming of what my new house will look like.
If I had my druthers, I would fashion Chloe's room in this theme. Look, it is a red headed mermaid!
Although if Chloe got to pick, this would be her dream:
I just can't do it.Also, I love this couch .
But a new couch is priority 4, 678.
Also who am I kidding. It is white and velvet!
It would be ruined in 2 months.
Well enough stalling and day dreaming and onto folding clothes which is not nearly as exciting of a thought.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Some lovely bits of my house.
I really love this custom paint job. I think purple and grey jumbled together are very zen, don't you?
Another thing that drew us to this house is the charming, quirky wall art. I mean who doesn't want a painted cat on their wall? And a badly painted cat at that.
In case you didn't catch on, the cat is chasing the mouse "Moe." And dear old Moe has a "hole" to escape to into the other room. So "cute"!
We also really loved the sun room with a painted garden. I had to look twice to see if these flowers were fake! I mean they are just that pretty! And the green carpet looks just like grass!
And look! We have a dilapidated shuffle board court!! We love Shuffle board. we play it every 10 years or so. Like when we go on a cruise.
But perhaps the best part is the desert wallpaper. It is very lovely.I just knew you would all be jealous.
Easter
Easter was April 24th. And a long time ago. I am behind. In a lot of things. Anyway we blessed Macie the same day and then had our usual family Easter luncheon. Macie was so good during the blessing. She is a chill little thing. Well she gets more and more chill. I like her. A lot. It was a really, really good day.
I told Don after church that we needed to take pictures right then at the church otherwise we would never get a picture of all us together. Well no one wanted to. And I was right. We got no family picture. And I didn't get any great shots of Chloe's dress. She looked like Maria in "The Sound of Music"when they do that little number about how it is time to go to sleep. We have a choreographed routine when we go to sleep too. Although it doesn't sound like melodious harmonies, more like screaming.
anyway her dress was darling and I would wear it if it came in my size.
Don's Dad led a discussion with the kids using "resurrection eggs." Basically a little game with eggs that tells about the last days of Christ's life. 
Macie was a cutie in her Easter/blessing dress. I searched far and wide for that dress, and finally settled on one from Gap. And I say she looks quite angelic. I sure like my baby.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Well, Chloe turned 4 today. And it is a poor time to have a Birthday being that we are in the middle of orchestrating a move and remodeling. I haven't even had time to feel nostalgic about it.
Last night we fell asleep with some pretty imminent things not done on our to do list.
We have been trying unsuccessfully to decide on paint colors. And if you really want to make an indecisive person insane, present them with 4 bazillion colors to choose from. It is not like there is just one "tan." Oh no....this tan has hues of pink, and this one has hues of yellow, but be careful because if you go too much one way, before you know it you have peach! And it is not the 80's anymore so that would be bad. I have spent too many hours of my life fretting over shade variances between almost identical swatches of color.
Anyway, we were contemplating paint last night and had all the swatches and such on our bed and Don said, "Well let's decide in the morning. Let's sleep on it. Literally." He so funny.
Well the morning came and then we had a roof dilemma. So we headed over to the place where you can look at roofs. Some guy gave us unhelpful info and Don commented later that he was a "Know nothing Know it all." He so funny.
I think he coined a phrase worthy of a t-shirt.
Then I went to Wal Mart to pick up stuff for our last minute Birthday hoorah.
Chloe said she wanted strawberry cake. And had it been a different time in my life, I would have liked to actually make her a cake. Alas, I bought already made Angel Food cake and threw on some strawberries and turned the regularly scheduled play group into a party. I don't think she knew the difference and was satisfied with her "party."
Then we came home and realized that our street was being resurfaced. Doy. So we had to park a zip code away. Which really was unfortunate being that I had a lot of stuff to carry to the car for Chloe's party. Including Macie. She was one trip.
And the rest of the day continued as crazily and now I am home. And my house looks wretched and my clean car is thrashed. And I still have only picked out one paint color.
And now that I have expressed my feelings for this day, I will press on and go tackle my disgusting kitchen.
Or I might go get Chloe's free Krispy Kremes.
Yep. That sounds like a better idea.
Last night we fell asleep with some pretty imminent things not done on our to do list.
We have been trying unsuccessfully to decide on paint colors. And if you really want to make an indecisive person insane, present them with 4 bazillion colors to choose from. It is not like there is just one "tan." Oh no....this tan has hues of pink, and this one has hues of yellow, but be careful because if you go too much one way, before you know it you have peach! And it is not the 80's anymore so that would be bad. I have spent too many hours of my life fretting over shade variances between almost identical swatches of color.
Anyway, we were contemplating paint last night and had all the swatches and such on our bed and Don said, "Well let's decide in the morning. Let's sleep on it. Literally." He so funny.
Well the morning came and then we had a roof dilemma. So we headed over to the place where you can look at roofs. Some guy gave us unhelpful info and Don commented later that he was a "Know nothing Know it all." He so funny.
I think he coined a phrase worthy of a t-shirt.
Then I went to Wal Mart to pick up stuff for our last minute Birthday hoorah.
Chloe said she wanted strawberry cake. And had it been a different time in my life, I would have liked to actually make her a cake. Alas, I bought already made Angel Food cake and threw on some strawberries and turned the regularly scheduled play group into a party. I don't think she knew the difference and was satisfied with her "party."
Then we came home and realized that our street was being resurfaced. Doy. So we had to park a zip code away. Which really was unfortunate being that I had a lot of stuff to carry to the car for Chloe's party. Including Macie. She was one trip.
And the rest of the day continued as crazily and now I am home. And my house looks wretched and my clean car is thrashed. And I still have only picked out one paint color.
And now that I have expressed my feelings for this day, I will press on and go tackle my disgusting kitchen.
Or I might go get Chloe's free Krispy Kremes.
Yep. That sounds like a better idea.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Chloe saw a picture of a little girl with blonde hair on tv in a graduation cap and gown and she says, "Look it's Wizzy...when she was a little girl!"
And we saw the same commercial again this afternoon and she said the same thing and added..."When she had blonde hair!"
She must be remembering the pictures from last summer when Aunt Lizzy graduated and is wearing a cap and gown. I guess in Chloe's mind Aunt Lizzy is the only one who wears such a get up.
And we saw the same commercial again this afternoon and she said the same thing and added..."When she had blonde hair!"
She must be remembering the pictures from last summer when Aunt Lizzy graduated and is wearing a cap and gown. I guess in Chloe's mind Aunt Lizzy is the only one who wears such a get up.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
We were driving today and Chloe says, "Mommy! Mommy! Look-it's the mean chicken!"
I had no idea what she could possibly be talking about. I looked behind me and saw this sign:
Also today, we went shopping for new carpet. Chloe found some light pink carpet and told us that is the one we should choose.
post edit: Don corrected me and said what Chloe actually said was "I found the best carpet in the world."
And lastly today Chloe dragged me over to our neighbor's house. The one where the police were called over for an "argument." Anyway the other day she saw children outside their house and ever since then she has been wanting to go over there to meet her "friends." I was glad they were not home.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mother's day
Mother's day was yesterday. We had a nice relaxing day. Don did about 3 loads of dishes for me. And fixed the dishwasher for me. He figured out that our dishes came out looking dirty all the time because they were in fact dirty, being that the water never hit the top rack of the washer. which goes to prove that our society is entirely too obsessed with sanitation and such because we never got sick. uh, just kidding.
Saturday we had a lunch at my sister in law's house. we do it every year and it is a great tradition. My only suggestion is that the men be the one's cooking the lunch.
Friday Don took me out for Italian food. And that was delicious.
Friday Don took me out for Italian food. And that was delicious. And well, that was the timeline of my weekend.
sunday night we had cheese and apples for a snack and hit the hay aroun 10 PM.
I use Crest toothpaste and slept on white sheets.
And I think that is all the fascinating information I can think of about our weekend.
Feeling Sentimental
I have an announcement.
If you are local than you probably already know.
If you aren't local then it probably doesn't really matter to you because well...it will become obvious when I tell you my announcement.
We are moving.
But only about 3 minutes away.
And I am feeling really sad about it.
I love my little house with the red door.
But you know what I really love about my little house with the red door?
That we moved into it when it was just the two of us.
And then it became the three of us.
And it was just the three of us for more than three years.
And then it became the four of us.
And all the years in between...there have been a lot of good memories.
And I am sad to leave the house that I brought my two little babies home to.
But I will just remind myself that I am taking my babies with me.
And it is not the house that makes the home.
But the people in it.
If you are local than you probably already know.
If you aren't local then it probably doesn't really matter to you because well...it will become obvious when I tell you my announcement.
We are moving.
But only about 3 minutes away.
And I am feeling really sad about it.
I love my little house with the red door.
But you know what I really love about my little house with the red door?
That we moved into it when it was just the two of us.
And then it became the three of us.
And it was just the three of us for more than three years.
And then it became the four of us.
And all the years in between...there have been a lot of good memories.
And I am sad to leave the house that I brought my two little babies home to.
But I will just remind myself that I am taking my babies with me.
And it is not the house that makes the home.
But the people in it.
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