Feelin' the love!

We got a package from Grandma Barbara today.

Good things are ALWAYS in the package from Grandma B!

Here is our Valentine's Day stash!

Since Grandma is a dog groomer there is always a bandanna that goes along with the holiday!

Here is Lola sportin' her new look.

Unfortunately she isn't as pleased with it as we are.

Thanks Grandma B!

This is how we feel after opening and eating a lot of things from the package!

We love you too!!!

1. valentine's candy

2. fun cards

3. a package in the mail (We probably should have let the kids open it, but we couldn't wait. We did wait to eat it with them though, if that counts for anything.)

Mormon militia?

Last night was Elder Mcavoy's last dinner in our home. He has served his mission here in MA for the past two years and now it is time to go home and figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life.

Paul even let him come over even though it was Superbowl Sunday, but the agreement was they had to be out by 6 since kickoff was at 6:30. Elder Mcavoy, being the huge football fan that he is, totally understood.

As in typical fashion at the Trueman home it all started with Xander collecting his arsenal of Nerf guns for the big "mormon militia" battle. This has been a tradition every time they come over for the past year or so.

Everyone got in on the action-

shooting,

throwing the ammo when it took to long to load,

hiding behind chairs and big guns,

eating the ammo- oh wait that was only Lola,

and laughing REALLY HARD!

I took the behind the scenes photographer roll, but still had a quite enjoyable time. The part I liked most was it would be silent during the stalking phase and then serious laughter busting out. What a fun time!

After the gun fight it was time to sit down to Superbowl style dinner- nachos, buffalo wings, chex mix and soda with some veggies on the side. Of course there was applesauce cake for dessert.

Alyssa made a nice card for Elder Mcavoy. He has been in our ward for a long time and we have all enjoyed his company. It did help greatly that he was a Cowboys fan too! Best of luck!

1. fun times in the Trueman home

2. the kids giving the missionary thought from their lesson

3. not being upset who won or lost the Superbowl

My new favorite cake!

I wanted to bake something for the kids that would be hot and hopefully delicious when they got off the bus yesterday. I found this wonderful and easy recipe on Everyday Food from Martha Stewart. No don't turn away since I mentioned Martha! This is a really easy no fru fru recipe. Well it isn't with my adaptations!

Here is the original recipe and I'll post the changes I made to it at the bottom-

Ingredients

Serves 10

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cardamom
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 cups packed light-brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups Basic Applesauce, or store-bought chunky applesauce
• Nonstick cooking spray
• Confectioners' sugar, optional

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom. Set aside.
2. In another bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and honey until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture; beat just until combined. Beat in applesauce.
3. Generously coat a nonstick 9-inch tube pan with cooking spray. Spoon batter into pan; smooth top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (but slightly wet), 50 to 60 minutes.
4. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Turn out of pan onto a cutting board or baking sheet; invert cake onto rack, top side up. Cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving, if desired.

Here are my changes- since you all know butter and I don't get along!

• I used butter flavor crisco plus 6 teaspoons of water instead of 1 cup butter
• I don't own cardamon. Unfortunately had to look it up. I have heard of it, but wasn't sure of the flavor. So I just omitted it!
• used cinnamon applesauce without chunks
• I didn't sprinkle powered sugar on the outside since it didn't need anything extra.
• I also baked it in a bundt pan.

End result- a seriously moist cake on the outside and crunchy outer crust. OH MY SO DELICIOUS! It was a hit and everyone in the house LOVED it! We finished most of it yesterday and had only a bit left today. I must say that the crunchy outer layer softened up overnight in the tupperware, but it was still delicious! I think the crisco was what made the crust so deliciously crisp.

This is going to be my "go to" easy and delicious cake recipe from now on! If you bake it with the butter let me know how the outer layer turns out please!

ENJOY!!!

1. out to lunch with the hubby 2 days in a row

2. Lola feeling better

3. Paul getting a promotion and not laid off!!!

Still life

I started working on a new painting yesterday. I guess I inspired Alyssa because when I came downstairs she had set up a model for her still life and was busy creating! (Notice the mango, clementine and pear in the background.)

She is so lucky because she can come up with things and create on her own.

As for me, I copy.

1. cold medicine for sinus pressure

2. advil for headaches

3. not having to go anywhere today

Forty???

The other night Xander says to me,

"Even though you're getting old you still look good. Kinda like a 27 year old or something."

Seriously my kids have more of an issue with me turning 40 than I do! They bring it up often. I still have 105 days left of being 39 and really there is nothing I can do about it so I shall embrace it.

1. rain rather than snow

2. getting the sand out of my basement and 1/2 of the garage

3. not caring (too much) that I'll be 40

Lettuce wraps

For dinner tonight I wanted to do something out of the ordinary. So I made delicious lettuce wraps with peanut sauce. They were quite yummy! Next time I'll make the sauce a little spicier. The kids tried it, but basically ate noodles with chicken. They have never been fans of peanut sauce, but love peanut butter. Go figure! They did love putting the wraps together. They thought that was great fun!

1. making it to Stake Conference

2. going for a girls rock walk- (Lissy, Lola and me)

3. lettuce wraps and left overs for tomorrow

Rockin' report cards!

The kids both rocked their report cards!

Xander was so excited to show his to me as soon as he saw me at school. He only got 2 B's and the rest A's. What an awesome job! Alyssa waited to show me hers when we got to the car. She got straight A's! Wow- I am so proud of both of them and the improvements they have made.

Xander was so upset and his bubble burst when he heard about her straight A's. I felt bad for him feeling bad. He is so much more competitive than her- especially with her. I told him how proud I am of both of them and their accomplishments and we should be happy for one another too. I know this will come with maturity and it is tough sometimes. That is why I have always wanted them in separate classes since kindergarten- so they can have their own successes and failures without the other one there to witness.

What do you do to encourage your child to be happy about the others success?

Thankfully the anger has passed and now we can focus on fun and celebrating tonight by going out to dinner! Not quite as fancy as the last report card celebration. We are paying for it this time so Chili's here we come!

1. errands with my hubby

2. kids who want to do well

3. no dishes for me tonight!