Funny Four Year Old!

While showing Brad a "trick" on his bike, Winston told him, "Daddy, Watch and Learn."  How funny is that!  :)

Thought for the day

Our choices today will affect where we end up tomorrow. Each choice has a consequence and each consequence, a destination. You should be asking yourself each day if the choices you are making now will take you to where you want to be. We are responsible for who we become.

and another one:

I choose to live by choice, not by chance;
to make changes, not excuses;
to be motivated, not manipulated;
to be useful, not used;
to excel, not compete.
I choose self-esteem, not self-pity.
I choose to listen to the inner voice, not random opinions.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Wow, I can't believe it's been 24 years since we took the plunge - 24 wonderful years.  Where has the time gone?  It doesn't feel like it's been anywhere near that long and yet it's hard to remember my life before we were together.

I love my family so very much.  I'm deeply grateful for Brad and the life we share together. We've been blessed with three wonderful boys and I'm full of gratitude for the life we've built together. I'm looking forward to all that the future holds for us.  Families really are what life is all about.   

A Recipe to Try

Here's another lemon recipe I found.  This one uses frozen lemonade concentrate in the cake mix and a glaze you pour over the cake and in the cream cheese frosting.  Mmmm, this sounds delicious!  I stumbled across it here.  I'm sooo looking forward to trying this one.

Lemonade Cake with

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients
1 Lemon boxed cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)
4 eggs
1 1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 Tbsp Lemonade from concentrate

Glaze
2 Tbsp Lemonade from concentrate
1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp water

Frosting
8 oz block 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1/2 cup room temp butter (1 stick)
3 Tbsp Lemonade from concentrate
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
5 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350°  Spray 2 8" round cake pans generously with cooking/baking spray.  In mixer beat all your ingredients on low for 30 seconds and then on medium for 2 minutes.  Keep the remaining frozen lemonade concentrate in the freezer...you will need it again.   Bake according to package directions (I baked for approx 30 minutes) until cake is set and toothpick comes out clean.  Let the cakes cool in pan...about an hour. Do not remove.

When the cakes are cooled level them off so they are flat on top.  Poke holes in cake that wasn't cut using a fork. Make your glaze.

In a medium bowl combine powdered sugar, lemonade and water.  Stir until smooth.  Pour equally over the top of the cakes..still in the cake pans.  Cover and let sit for at least an hour, but overnight is best in refrigerator.

Make your frosting.  Cream butter and cream cheese together until combined.  With mixer on low add your lemonade and vanilla.  Slowly add in your powdered sugar and then beat on medium for 1-2 minutes until smooth. 

When ready to frost remove your cakes from the refrigerator.  Loosen cake around the edges with a butter knife so they will release easily.  Frost as desired.

Easter Pics

Winston was so excited for Easter this year.  I just love his smile.  He's at such a fun age right now and I'm so enjoying his excitement and enthusiam.  He couldn't wait to color eggs so we did them on Friday night.  Of course I forgot to get pictures of him coloring the eggs.  He did a great job though and was so careful with them.  He didn't want to ruin them by breaking the shells. 
Here's a few pics from this years Easter celebration. 

Hunting for his colored eggs in our back yard.  Found one!

Found another egg in the grass.

Looking around for more. 

Brad and Bo hid the eggs and helped him find them all.

"Look Mom, I got a watch in my Easter basket."

He LOVES those little powdered donettes. 

You just gotta lick off all that powdery goodness!  Mmm.  :)

Our Little Ball Player

Last week was Winston's first baseball game so of course I had to snap a few pics.  I can't believe he's already big enough for T-ball.  My little boy is growing up too fast!

It was so fun and hilarious to watch these little guys go after the ball.  The whole team would run to where the ball was hit and they'd all pile on trying to come up with it so they could be the lucky one to through it back to home.

Winston was the winner this time and was thrilled to have the ball.  I love how he sticks out his tongue when he concentrates.  He does this all the time.

Here's a video of Winston's first hit.

Hello Sunshine!

We had such a beautiful sunny morning today.  It's probably wishful thinking on my part, but I'm hopiug that by thinking about sunshine, the warm weather might stick around for a little while.  Everyone, think SUNSHINE!!!  Here's a few pictures of some beautiful sunrises to help.  :)

Here's hoping for more sunshine soon!

Goldie the Goldfish

 Winston has a pet goldfish.  He acquired this little fish at his cousin Saren's wedding reception back on March 26.  He promptly named him Goldie. 

We stopped on the way home and bought a fish bowl and some goldfish food thinking this poor fish wouldn't last a week.  Winston was so thrilled to have his own fish.  I had to keep an eye on him to make sure he didn't terrorize the poor fish too much with his love and enthusiasm.  

I'm actually quite surprised this fish has lasted a whole month.  Whenever Zack and Bo got a goldfish, it usually only lasted for a week or two before biting the dust - so to speak.  I thought this fish would only stay alive long enough for Winston's interest to disolve and then it would go belly up.  This fish seems to be thriving.  He (or maybe it's a she) is quite lively and I think has even grown some. Winston's interest has definitely faded but Goldie looks like he'll be around for a while. 

Here's a few pics of Winston with Goldie the Goldfish.