Giveaway on Facebook!

I am participating in a big giveaway on Facebook!  (my first giveaway...a little nervous!)

Check out https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rumpsack-Diapers/255250188960 to see the sponsor list (I'm The Kitchen Sink Boutique...giving away a custom cloth swim diaper) and see what you'd like to win. There are over 50 sponsors with a ton of different products. 

This is cool!  The giveaway lasts for one week, starting today. 

Also, check out my page, whether or not you participate in my giveaway and "Like" my page! 

The Circus Came to Town

The other night, Avery pulled out this fake clown's nose that squeaks when you squeeze it. At first she was very afraid of it, but she quickly warmed up to it. I know these pics make her look really goofy, but she was so proud of herself and loved having her picture taken!

Keara's Birthday: Part I, but really Part II

I just finished Keara's birthday cake.  This child requested a three tiered, ICE CREAM cake this year.  And she was very specific that she wanted it patterned after Cinderella's cake from a book we have.  This is what that cake looks like. 

Of course, I told her we couldn't make it THAT big.  Nor could I feasibly do a very large tiered ICE CREAM cake.  I mean, a regular three tiered cake wouldn't be that big a deal.  But an ICE CREAM cake? 

Here's the deal.  The last ice cream cake I made was when she turned 2.  It turned out fine.  But we don't really like cake, so I decided to do smaller layers of cake which would make the whole thing smaller, which is fine by me because, like I said, we don't like cake. 

Second, I've never made frosting flowers before.  And I really don't know much about frosting tips to be able to do all those fancy things.  I needed a fairy godmother quick.

Instead, I just got my brain.  I read whatever I could online and one gal suggested that her favorite "frosting" for the cake was just ice cream whipped with whipped cream.  I tried that and while it worked well, it also melts quickly and regular buttercream doesn't stick well to it.  Oh well, there was no turning back.

I had to do one small step, put the cake in the freezer for 5 minutes, take it out again for another small step, and put it back in the freezer, over and over.  In the end, I wanted to just take a picture and be done with it, so it looks like it is melting in the picture.  Probably because it is.  But at least it's done. 

I'm tired.  It's been a long day.  I've made lasagna, cinnamon rolls, regular rolls, banana cream pie, served a crazy April Fool's meal to friends, listened to conference, and made an ice cream cake.  My house is a wreck and we have family coming over to eat this cake tomorrow, but I'm going to bed.

Goodnight cake.  Please don't fall apart before we can at least show you to Keara.

I Just Did Something Awesome!

And yet, there are no pictures to prove it.  Anyway, I was given a pressure cooker/canner a Christmas or two ago and have loved canning pinto, black, and white beans in it.  But I've never COOKED in it.  Mostly because I have been too scared to try it. 

But tonight, I suddenly felt to invite a friend for dinner, yet had no dinner planned.  I wracked my brain to figure out what to make in the next hour and a half with what I had on hand (had I just had potatoes, this wouldn't have been so difficult).  I suddenly thought of shredded beef tacos, which I need the meat for on Saturday for our traditional April Fool's Cafe.  Perfect.  Oh wait, I didn't have any shredded beef.

All I had were frozen chunks of beef roast.  There's no way to put that dinner together in an hour and a half.  Unless you use a pressure cooker!  So I read up on how to do it, mostly thawed my meat, tosssed it in and cooked it for 40 minutes.  When the pressure had dropped to zero, I opened the cooker up to find perfectly cooked, fall apart roast.  In FORTY MINUTES!  AHHH!!!

It revolutionized my life.  I can't wait to try other things in it.  No more forgetting to throw something in the CrockPot.  All I need is about an hour to have whatever I want!  This is so exciting!

So if you've been wanting to try pressure cooking, go for it!  I, for one, can vouch that it works!

It's Almost That Time of Year Again!!! (at least for the rest of you!)

Swimming season is almost upon us!  Well, at least here we thought it would be coming round the corner, but then yesterday we got hit with 6 inches of snow, so there went that idea.  But for most everyone else, spring is in the air and summer is around the corner.

Because of the response I got last year, I am offering my cloth swim diapers again this year.  They are AWESOME!  (thanks Pheobe!)  If you haven't tried them yet, you need to.  They are a lifesaver and the absolute best part of my children's wardrobe. 

You can buy them at http://www.kitchensinkboutique.etsy.com/.  If you want more than one, email me first (kitchensinkboutique(at)gmail(dot)com) and I'll give you a discount code for 2 or more :) 

I know these look boyish, but that's just what I had at the time.  I  have the colors above (blue, green, teal) as well as pink and yellow for the outside.  The insides I have magenta, purple, light pink, yellow, green, aqua, darker blue, and light blue.  Mix and match!

SUPPLIES!!

My hilarious friend, Lauren Merkley, once told this awesome joke.  My favorite (sorry, Lauren, if I've altered it a bit).  So, this CEO is conducting interviews for a high position job.  There are three candidates (sorry if this is racial): an American, a Russian, and a Japanese.  The American comes in, blows the interview out of the water, lands the job within the first 2 minutes.  He was a Harvard MBA graduate with a 4.0, plus 10 years corporate experience, so it was a no-brainer to hire him.  The CEO immediately sends him to get to work. 

But because there were two other men there to interview, he felt it his duty to at least see them.  First, the Russian comes into his office.  He is not as put together as the American, but the CEO can tell that he is doing his best to qualify for this job.  He has a Bachelor's degree, speaks good English, and has moderate experience.  The CEO is a good man and feels a desire to give this man a job, especially after learning about his wife and children.  So he creates a position in the Mail Room for this man and sends him to work.

Last comes in the Japanese man.  He is wearing torn and tattered clothes.  He doesn't hardly speak a lick of English.  He's never been to college, let alone High School, and has never worked in a corporate office a day in his life.  Thankfully, the CEO again takes compassion on this poor man and decides to create another position: Supply Room Manager.  He sends him to get to work.

A few days later, the CEO decides to check on his newly hired team.  First, he checks out the executive floor.  Everything is running like clockwork, with the American at the lead. The CEO is excited and impressed.  Next, he checks out the Mail Room.  There are a few hiccups and glitches, just like in the Russian's English, but overall, things are running well.  He tells the Russian to keep up the good work.

Finally, he makes his way down to the Supply Room.  He opens the door but the light is off and no one is to be found.  All there is are supplies.  "Hello!?," the CEO calls.  But there is no response.  As he wanders thru the room, suddenly the Japanese man jumps out and yells "SUPPLIES!!!"

What's the point of all that?  Besides a good joke, it's just what I think of everytime someone yells "SURPRISE!!"  This Friday, Braden and Shaun and Susan put together a surprise party for me.  I didn't suspect AT ALL!  I have never been the recipient of a surprise party, only the planner, so I was thoroughly amazed and touched.  In a matter of just 2 days, Susan was able to invite a whole bunch of people, decorate the house, and put on a beautiful spread of fresh fruits and other things to dip in a chocolate fountain.  About 20 people came, and no kids! 

It was so fun!  We played Wally Ball, which was what I had really wanted to do, played a game, ate good food, and enjoyed good company.  I came home glowing and couldn't help being in awe at the generosity and kindness I had received.  Thanks everyone who played a part and came!!

My nephew Nathan off course wanted to pretend he was drinking beer, rather than IBC Root Beer. 

Good thing I did my hair that day!

I love this boy

Three of my favorite men in the world

Thank you!!!  Happy Birthday to me!

Wasn't It Just Christmas?

Like I said, this is a BORING blog.  It's February.  Did anyone else notice that?  Because I didn't really blog a thing in January.  Not that January wasn't interesting.  Okay, fine, I lied in my last post.  I said January had been excellent.  Now that January is over, I can't remember what was so excellent about it.  What I do know is that it was the most stress-filled month we've had in a long time.  Not only did we reach the bottom of our barrel and live off our food storage for a month, but Braden also took the GMAT and wasn't exactly thrilled with his score.  Now with the waiting game, the stress is taking its toll and the girls are feeling it.  So they've been acting up a lot.  Bedtime became a nightmare.  I had to remind myself of the scripture "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning" because I didn't know how I'd make it thru another day.  But, make it we did and now it is February.  To be honest, the bad month spilled over into February and it wasn't until Thursday that things started getting better.  I'm feeling less like I'm drowning and more like we're starting to sail again. 

Now that that's out in the open, it doesn't mean that January was all bad, so here are the good parts of January in picture:

That silly Monchichi doll from Christmas became a quick favorite for Avery

Avery spent a lot of her time reading

While Taryn and Keara found ample entertainment jumping on my bed.  I really liked these two pics.

I love action shots. 

Keara offered to put lotion on a dry spot on Avery.  Who knew the dry spot was her ENTIRE BODY!?

Avery looking like such a big girl

Grandma and Grandpa Moore came to visit.  The girls had a great time!

We went to the Science Museum which was SO fun!

Seriously, she is getting so grown up.  I can't believe she'll be 5 in just 7 weeks!

Climbing on the geometric playground

Peek A Boo!

Avery just chillaxing while the other girls played

A little out of order--Avery and Braden at the Children's Museum

More climbing

Avery and Grandma

Queen of the hill

Making crafts at the Children's Museum

Playing restaurant

Bubbles with Grandpa

Beautiful girl

Celebrating Braden's birthday!  No, he isn't this thrilled about an atlas, but I made him pose like he did for all his birthday pictures growing up. 

This was the third attempt at a good picture, which Braden decided would be our LAST attempt.

Happy Birthday!

Avery and Grandma

Celebrating Braden's birthday AGAIN with my brother's family

Keara's magna-doodle garden

Playing playdough

Playing with beads

All three girls happily entertained for an hour

Free day at Mall of America! 

Avery's first real carousel ride

Taryn loved every minute

Keara had been dying to come back to MOA for months.  This was a dream come true for her.

Avery wasn't too keen on standing in line

Their favorite ride: Swiper's Sweeper.  Talk about whiplash

Riding the swings.  Mommy's favorite!

I just have to say, this is an awesome picture...

"What ride do you want to go on now?"  Of course, Swiper's Sweeper again! 

Poor Susan got dragged onto this one.  Thanks Sus!

These pictures didn't upload the first time, so they're out of order.  And blogger isn't very user friendly when it comes to moving pictures around.  Sorry!

The girls having a ball in the laundry



We had to say goodbye to Avery's best friend...my dear, dear nephew Joseph.  Off to college already!?!



Taryn trying to give me a good smile on the train ride at MOA. 

Almost as much fun as the rides at MOA...the escalator.  The girls LOVE it.

Another staple in our house...melty (perler) beads. 



Avery LOVES the bunny Keara made for her for Christmas!  And I just love that smile.

 So there's January.