6 Months (2 Weeks Late)

I never realized how much I use the Internet until I didn't have it.  Last week, I was sitting here minding my own business watching Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D(viva agent Coulson!) when they shut my Internet off.  Of course, we told them to, but I didn't remember that until about an hour later.

Now that it is back, I am back to blogging.  I always say this, and it never comes true, but I should be blogging more often.

Duck face

 Bryan is getting to be so much fun.  Some days more than others, but I still find that each day, I am more in love with him more than the last.

 He is smiling way more, and oh does he have a smile.  Sometimes he smiles at nothing, other times he smiles because he has silly parents.  My favorite has to be when he smiles mischievously to a comment I make about something he has done.  Like when he farts, or wont take a nap, or kicks his pant off when I'm trying to dress him.  Oh and we mustn't forget the big grin on his face when he sees Daddy walk in the door.  One of those truly heart melting moments.  Today, we were smiling and giggling about mommy dancing. (He loves his 70's music)  

  His fine motor skills amaze me.  How he can pinch my collar bone so hard is incredibly painful.  Seeing his hand eye coordination improve has been a wonder.  He has way better aim now, when he tries to shove things in his mouth

 We have also done away with bottles.  He never really used them to begin with, but since I became a shm and he stopped taking one on a regular basis, he has started refusing them.  He loves his sippy cup though.  He will drink from our cups too.  The hubby has to give him water from the regular cup because I spill it every time.

 In celebration for Halloween tomorrow, here is My handsome baby in his cute spooky shirt.  I'm still not sure what he will wear tomorrow, but I can tell you this, it will be adorable.

Easy Cherry Cupcakes.

I decided that today, there will be a post.  After baking banana bread, making the base for horchata ice cream and arroz con leche, and taking care of the little man, by the time I had some time to myself, and sat down, I realized that I needed to upload some pictures.  Too bad I am too tired.  The next time I get up from here will be to go to bed. 

 Bryan and I haven't spent much time at home lately, which means he has been extra crabby for me. (Cutest little crab ever)  Who knew that just one cranky baby, could be so exhausting.

I am also getting up early to help out at a fundraiser for breast cancer. (Think Pink!)  I'm not doing a Scentsy booth, or selling bows(something new that I am starting.  More to come) but just lending a hand to a good friend of mine...

Back to the point.

Because of my laziness, I am taking this opportunity to share my new favorite baking tip: Adding flavor to cakes.

Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry Buttercream, filled with coconut cream

My new secret? a box.  That's right.  I just use a box of white(or yellow) cake.  I am sure I heard this tip somewhere, but in all honesty I don't remember where or when.  All you do, is take whatever flavoring you want, in this case, fresh cherries(put through the blender of course), and substitute that, for some or all of the water the mix calls for.  The more you put in, the more flavor you get.

I did the same thing with oranges, except I juiced it in our juicer so there wouldn't be any skin in it.

The buttercream was done similar, except I added a larger amount pureed cherries than my buttercream recipe called for liquid.  I wanted a big cherry flavor, but in the end, The icing was too sweet.  It needs some more experimenting.

Both my cherry and orange cakes turned out great.

 of course there are still pictures of my cutie pie. He was a month and a half in these pictures.  The day he was blessed at church.  Isn't that little outfit darling?  My mom made it.  Funny story.  She kept going on about how much she loved babies wearing gowns for their blessing.  Had us worried.  So happy she made this little tux (that he pretty much was too big for the next day) 

 Those toes are so cute it kills me!  Do we look exhausted or what?!

Gilroy Gardens

About a year ago, one of my best friends, Catherine, moved to Utah. (Insert sad face here)  Then a couple months ago, our other good friends moved up to Gilroy. (yet another sad face)

Well a month after they left, we found out Catherine was coming down for a wedding.  Where would she be?  No other place than Gilroy.

So, since we already had tickets to Gilroy Gardens from a scout fundraiser, we planned a  little day trip.

 With Bryan, there wasn't too much we could do, which was fine with me.  This trip was before my shm days.  It was the week after I went back to work, and I was totally happy watching everyone go on rides and snuggling tight with my little guy, whom I hadn't gotten nearly enough of the whole week.  It also may have been my age, but I also really just wanted to go for the sights.

 We took a bunch of pictures by this waterfall.  We were told by our friends, that went the week before, that we would get a little wet going under the tunnel to get there. How about a LITTLE understatement!  So glad I had covered Bryan.  It was nice and refreshing, though, for such a hot day.

 The story of how the three of us became friends is rather simple.  They started out as my visiting teachers, Though Anna and I had known each other since before both of us were married.  They came over, and we just sorta clicked.  We started doing dinners, Family Home Evenings together, and a couple girl nights.  Catherine and I started ditching going to a health class together.  We had so much fun together.  I miss them a lot.

 So this little show about fruits and vegetables was cute.  Honestly, I was a little too excited to see it.  As you can tell from the lettuce, they all had eyes, sang and, made fun of the poor little onion.  I was hoping that it was going to be an educational thing, since that is what Gilroy Gardens claims it is.  Unfortunately, all I know is that oranges like to sing California sun, and, while tomatoes taste good, they are very mean.
While it wasn't very educational, there is one thing that I did learn.  Gilroy smells fantastic!  Honestly, I would consider moving there just for that wonderful aroma of garlic everywhere.

One of my favorite parts of our trip? Catherine came home with us.  We went to church in our old ward and had a skip-bo night with my mom and sister.  I loved getting caught up with her.  It was fun to see her and Bryan.  This was back when he wasn't the happiest of babies, but he lit up when she would talk to him.  It was one of the first times he had warmed up to someone other than us, and he did it immediately.  

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend, with wonderful people.