Cooper's got legs!

Someone learned a new trick!  And, he likes it!!!

That's right, Cooper got his legs and learned how to stand up without help.  He now can stand up without using any assistance.  He then laughs and claps - the movement sometimes knocks him down...  Really, just so cute! 

And, Erin & Evelyn could not be more proud!!

It won't be long before the little man is walking and we experience true terror!

Red Velvet Cake

Erin and Ev love helping cook and bake.

Erin seems to be my helper when I make Red Velvet Cake.  I'd never made it, but took the plunge for Christmas evening - and man was it tasty!!  When you cut it open it is just beautiful and the taste makes it even better.

Cake

2 1/2 cups (250 grams) sifted cake flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons (15 grams) regular or Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated white sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk

2 tablespoons liquid red food coloring

1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

1 teaspoon baking soda

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 - 8 ounce (227 grams) cream cheese, room temperature

1 - 8 ounce (227 grams) tub of Mascarpone cheese, room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup (115 grams) confectioners' (icing or powdered) sugar, sifted

1 1/2 (360 ml) cups heavy whipping cream (contains 36-40% butterfat)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Butter two - 9 inch (23 cm) round cake pans and line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Set aside.

Red Velvet Cake: In a mixing bowl sift together the flour, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside. In bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft (about 1-2 minutes). Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.

In a measuring cup whisk the buttermilk with the red food coloring. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. In a small cup combine the vinegar and baking soda. Allow the mixture to fizz and then quickly fold into the cake batter. Working quickly, divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans and smooth the tops with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 25 - 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean.

Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Place a wire rack on top of the cake pan and invert, lifting off the pan. Once the cakes have completely cooled, wrap in plastic and place the cake layers in the refrigerator for at least an hour (or overnight). (This is done to make filling and frosting the cakes easier.)

Cream Cheese Frosting: In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and mascarpone cheese until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners sugar and beat until smooth. Using the whisk attachment, gradually add the heavy cream and whip until the frosting is thick enough to spread. Add more sugar or cream as needed to get the right consistency.

Assemble: With a serrated knife, cut each cake layer in half, horizontally. You will now have four cake layers. Place one of the cake layers, top of the cake facing down, onto your serving platter. Spread the cake layer with a layer of frosting.  Place another layer of cake on top of the frosting and continue to frost and stack the cake layers. Frost the top and sides of the cake. Can garnish sprinkles or whatever you think is pretty! 

Serves 10-12 people.

Waffles!

Snow!

This morning I woke up to Erin saying in a quiet voice "ha.............."  slow and quiet.  She looked out her window and saw a beautiful snowy back yard!

I don't even think we made it to 8:30 before the kids were outside in all their snow gear.  One of the highlights was both of the girls taking turns to pull Cooper in his little sled.  He LOVED it.  Laughed and giggled in glee.  Even when he got knocked over he was as happy as a clam.  Erin just got him back in his sled and off they went.  It was really the cutest thing ever.



We felt so blessed that winter kicked off on a Saturday morning and Dave could be part of the fun.  He was such a great sport and spent hours with the girls building a FABULOUS snowman.  We used oranges for buttons, a nice blue scarf, avocados for eyes, a pine cone nose, stick smile and it was just precious!

Gobble Gobble

Erin & Evelyn made some beautiful Thanksgiving decorations and I wanted to share them with you.

We had a hectic and eventful week of Thanksgiving.  Unfortunately at Cooper's first birthday party on Saturday he got sick and threw up.  Happened again that evening and then he was peachy fine.

On Sunday Evelyn was not feeling well - and of course caught the bug.

Monday was Erin's turn.

Tuesday they were both in bed most of the day - not sick, just resting.  Ev had lost her energy and I was quite concerned for dehydration.  At 7pm we met with our doctor and we were so close to heading to the ER.  Our pediatrician gave us some meds to keep her liquids down and get her to take in more.  Of course he is a miracle worker and she pepped up by Wednesday morning and was on the road to recovery.

We were all healthy enough to enjoy Thanksgiving with our family.  And, though nobody had been sick since Monday ... pretty much everyone we were with on Thursday evening got sick. 

This was a bug that lingered................................................

Happy to report that everyone is happy and healthy now!

Cooper's Stats

I've been holding onto a piece of paper and I want to throw it away.

At Cooper's 1 year appt, he was 23 pounds, 15 ounces and 31.75 inches long. 

Whew - there, now can I please throw it out?

Cooper is ONE!

I almost named this post Cooper is a Rock Star.  Because yesterday you would have thought he was a rock star.  From the moment he woke up, the girls were loving him and praising him even more than usual.  They were so very proud that their little brother is ONE YEAR OLD!  I can't tell you how many kisses he got - or how many times he was sung to.  But, it was very sweet and special.

I just don't know where the year has gone.  It FLEW by at warp speed and now my little guy is a whole year old.  What will I do when he goes to Kindergarten? I'll probably freak out.

He is such a great little guy. Crawling and walking while holding onto furniture - and using anything he can find as a walker.  He loves to play with trucks, balls, books and anything else he can get his hands on.  He is a BIG eater!!  Loves grapes and strawberries, chicken and hot dogs, noodles and rice! 

One of his favorite games is dropping stuff and saying uh-oh.  Not so cute if you ask me.  But, I love him anyway!!!

Evism

My girls love to draw and color.  They have a few jumbo coloring books - Hello Kitty and My Little Pony.  The sheets are twice as big as a normal book - and the pictures have a lot of detail.  White I sit working on the computer the girls come by and show me their work - and it really does look pretty!  Ev was working on a Hello Kitty page - all in blue.  I asked if she wanted to finish the sun, flowers and clouds.  Her response was that they are allergic to crayons.  Yes - the coloring book figures are allergic to crayons.  She informed  me that in 30 minutes the allergy would end and she would finish coloring. 

So, who is talking about allergies so much?  Perhaps she has a kid at school that is allergic to everything or talks about it a lot?  I just don't know. 

Regardless - so funny!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Cooper!!

What a fast year it has been. Dave and I really can't even believe Cooper is one year old!  Don't know where the time went.  But, it has been a great year!  He is such a nice little guy - so smiley and happy!

One of the biggest blessings we've experienced in this year is how amazing our girls have embraced their little brother.  Never jealous.  Never hurtful.  So very helpful.  So very loving.  Such praise they give him.  They shower him with kisses, hugs and love.  True unconditional love.  It really is amazing.

On his birthday he got to enjoy cake - and boy did he like it!

The Zoo!

One of the girls favorite things is to head to the zoo.  They'd go every day if I had the patience (and time) to take them.  I did make it a point to take them this fall - just me and the girls.  Cooper hung with my mom so I could really spend nice quality time with Erin & Evelyn.  We packed a picnic and had a great afternoon!  They had a great time seeing all the animals, riding the carousel, walking around the beautiful grounds and playing with their good friend, Ellie. On our Drive home we did something extra special.  It was about 3:30 or maybe 4pm and we went out for ice cream ... that's right, before dinner!!  They thought it was just fabulous and so special.  Ev had mint chocolate chip.  Erin enjoyed strawberry and I had my favorite - peppermint.  We all tried each others and it was a really special outing.  I told the girls how I think peppermint ice cream tastes like Santa.  Erin told me strawberry ice cream tastes like summer.  She is right!