7 minutes of heaven...

I found a recipe I liked for the 7 minute frosting I wanted to make. It is from one of my favorite cookbooks called cupcakes! by Elinor Klivans. Martha's baking book used 6 egg whites- I wasn't trying to make icing for an army, so I went with the recipe using two egg whites.
It is pretty intense- you have to beat it over a double boiler for 7 minutes. Mine wasn't 160 yet, so I beat it two more. My arm was tired from holding the mixer like that! I looked over and Annika had done this:

She doesn't normally do stuff like that, but she does normally get all up in my personal space while I am trying to make icing, so I was impressed she was being so quiet.

It is as yummy as it looks. Travis and the girls prefer thicker icing, so I also made their favorite kind- cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Beat it for about 10 minutes and it becomes so fluffy. No pics of those, but they were yummy. Here are the cupcakes with the 7 minute frosting on them.

Today we made a craft. We made little penguins. It was from "Your Big Backyard." It was really fun, but you pretty much have to do everything. You'll notice Annika added extra glue just for fun all over its face. She really likes to squeeze the glue.

Fall Fun

We took the girls to a church festival close to our house. So it is a preview of Halloween. I LOVE their costumes. I have never been a huge fan of costumes, but I think they look so cute!

The girls made these "Listening Ears" at church on Sunday. Aren't they funny? Imagine if our kids really had ears like that- I might make some for Travis, too! :)

There is Olivia working with hers on. You'll notice she wrote her name in cursive on her ear. I think that it is funny that she did that, too!

7 minute icing

Well, I have been craving 7 minute icing for years, but because my major was microbiology, I can't bring myself to eat it. I found this great site that answers all of kinds of questions about eggs. I know this is random to post, but it was a good site. http://www.eggsafety.org/f_a_q.htm#4
After reading this, I feel like it is probably pretty safe. I am sure I will attempt it in the next few days. I will let you know how it turns out and if I don't eat it all out of the bowl, I will take a picture.
Also, since this is random- be sure and throw out all of your old toothbrushes. If any brushes have bristles sticking out to the side, ditch it. My mom (a dental hygienist) came and made me throw out 8 of our favorite brushes. They aren't that much- and you will spend way more at the dentist for not having good hygiene. We recently got some at Wal-mart we like. They are Veggie Tales. I really like the brush and the girls do to! I better go brush the Nerds off the girls teeth.

This has been a weird day. You know the days you just can't get out of a funk? They don't happen all that often for me, but today was one. I have been with the girls all day everyday for a while. Travis went out of town for 5 days and then he has been swamped with work 7 days a week since. The only time I have been without the girls was to go to the rodeo with Travis- but it was almost bedtime, so it doesn't really count. I LOVE my girls and I am beyond blessed to be able to stay home with them. I know many people want to and can't, so I am eternally grateful! They are such beautiful gifts from God and are really such sweet girls. But the selfish part of me, just needs an hour or two with a friend or by myself. And I don't mean after they go to bed, I mean during the day. I feel better just having said it (mostly). Hopefully I will wake up tomorrow (to Annika laying outside of my door making noises too early, but actually not coming in so she can claim she didn't wake me) refreshed and ready. That is a hard part of living here. Since not many people have really close friends, this is a normal way of life for them. Not for me! I had decided I would go see The Duchess tonight after the girls went to bed. For some reason it isn't on here- it is on 25 min. away, but it doesn't start until 9:45. I think I would not like myself in the morning for going. Ok, enough complaining. Sorry.

I did make this for fun while ago. It was so quick and fun! I am sure I will make some changes, but for now this is how it will be. Now I just need a picture to insert! :) While making it I have been listening to Colbie Caillat. Someone had her playing on their blog and I like her music. Thanks to youtube, I heard quite a few of her songs. Off to take a shower and beg for a better attitude...

Last one I promise!

I can't wait to be back in AR! We have a countdown going, although we have currently been distracted by the countdown to Chicago. Look how young the girls look! They grow so quickly! I can't wait to be driving down that gravel road to my parent's house!

And two and a half years later...

And here is Annika. There was no running around the block after her. And no, I am not getting sad to not have a baby. I love looking through pictures and everyone knows 2 is my favorite age. I am sad I missed a lot of that with Olivia b/c I was so busy with Annika, but I can see some of it when I look at pictures. Oh, my sweet girls. I love them!

A flash back

Sweet Olivia's first few minutes in this world. I was so happy to not have any more pain! I think I could have run around the block with joy!