Cooking with Kimball

I hope it comes as no surprise that I enjoy cooking.  Since we are currently living in an apartment that comes with 3 flat screen TVs and cable, I admit to watching a few Food Network shows once or twice a week.  The kids love it when I have one of these lazy afternoons because they like to watch with me and they think it is great fun that I'm watching TV. 

Today we watched 2 shows and when I told the kids it was time to turn the TV off, Kimball told me we needed to go cook something...a dessert.  I was on board instantly so we decided on cranberry nut dessert since it was a dessert that could be eaten warm or cold and it was already 3:30.  I didn't have any nuts so I decided to substitute 1/2 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate for the nuts and it was a brilliant idea.  It was SO yummy.  

Kimball helping with the chopped cranberries.

Rebecah was in on the action too.

Ready for the oven.

After we got the dessert in the oven the kids proceeded to continue their cooking at the toy kitchen in the living room.  They played so nicely together.  I love it when they do that!

The finished product.  Not the best presentation, but it was delish.

                           

Rebecah's 3rd Birthday

Today we celebrated Rebecah's 3rd birthday.  She has been very excited for her birthday.  She never really told us what she wanted for presents so we bought things that we thought she would like.  I made a "Happy Birthday" banner since our other one is in storage.  I thought I had brought it with us to the apartment, but I couldn't find it the night before her birthday when I went to decorate so at the last minute I threw a new one together.

We are so blessed to have Rebecah as a part of our family.  She is spunky and has an infectious smile.  People always comment on her smile.  She gives great hugs and she is always willing to help in the kitchen, do chores or play with us.  We can't imagine our family without her.

Here are some pictures of Rebecah's special day.

Standing under her banner with her presents.

Here she is hugging Daddy's Ricky Raccoon.

For breakfast I gave Rebecah a few choices and she chose muffins.  I made blueberry yogurt muffins with an orange glaze and I tinted it blue at her request.

Singing at breakfast.

Blowing out her breakfast candle.

Kimball went to preschool in the morning and Rebecah enjoyed helping with her cake, playing legos and hitting the balloons around.  

Kimball told me on the way home from Preschool that he wanted to make a card for Rebecah; he only needed a plain piece of paper.  I gave him the paper and he did a good job.  I thought it was so sweet that he wanted to make a card for Rebecah to help her feel special.

Dear Rebecah, Happy Birthday Love Kimball.  The bottom says "Look, Look" so she would turn it over.

On the back of Kimball's card he traced Lego mini-figure shapes and then colored them.  How sweet!

Present Time!

Starting with her cards.

Doll feeding set.

                           

Feeding Jenna, her Christmas doll.

Next Present.

Fur Real Dog to go with her Fur Real cat.

Opening her Raspberry Torte play dress.

So excited for her new dress!

Dress up shoes.

Dressed up and looking like a Princess.

For Rebecah's birthday dinner she has been very consistent over the last month when I would ask.  She always told me she wanted saucy onion meatball hoagies and a blue cake.  I tried my best to give her a blue cake.  I used a lot of food coloring!  It was a french vanilla cake and frosting.  Rebecah was very happy with her cake.

She also wanted a star on the top.

Listening to us sing to her.

Watching the flames.

Her blue cake...it is blue, but not bright blue.

BIG Bite!

Legos with Daddy

It has always been fun for me to see Joseph building Legos with Kimball, but it is even more heart warming to see him building Legos with Rebecah.  I love her excitement for Legos and how she basks in the Lego attention Joseph is giving her here.  Kimball was at preschool so Joseph took the opportunity to build with just Rebecah since he was home today.  She is so excited to have Legos of her very own.  

Joseph telling Rebecah the part he is working on.

Rebecah and Joseph discussing the creation.

Showing me the creation Rebecah and Joseph built.

The creation was our living room/dining room where we were eating Rebecah's blue birthday cake.

So proud of her legos!