Easter

Rachel, my usual photography subject, was more than happy to pose for about 40 pictures while I played with my camera.  This is her Easter dress.

So while I was snapping pictures I did not realize that the TV was well showing inappropriate for a 5 year old stuff.  Allen loves watching the History channel, always trying to learn stuff.  Check out the view behind Rachel.

Bob !

Alex was dressed nicely, but then got hot and ditched the shirt.

Wearing his beloved baseball hat.

Rachel checking out the desserst table.  Keep in mind we had 4 adults, one of which is diabetic, and two kids and we had a table of desserts.

Soccer 2010

The kids are playing soccer this year for Methuen Youth Soccer rather than the YMCA.  Both really enjoy soccer and if they want to continue this is the way to go.  Here are some pics from the first games.

Broke the rules and untucked the shirt/dress.  She's a rule breaker this one.

He thinks the ball will come to him

Hanging out with Billy waiting to charge the net.

B and Daddy shot!

If you are interested in coming to see them play they both play games at MKS fields in Methuen.  Alex plays at 12 pm on Sundays and Rachel at 2:30 pm on Sundays.

Sleeping in the Hall

This is how I found Rachel the other evening.  All curled up in her Tinkerbelle chair, wrapped in a Dora blanket fast asleep with a Magic TreeHouse book inher lap.  Apparently she fell asleep reading, while waiting for me to come upstairs because I said I'd be there in a few minutes.  I came up in about a half hour and this is what I found.

Carrot Cake

Yup I baked again.  Entirely from scratch, even the icing is from scratch.  It's for dessert for after Easter dinner, so technically I have not tried it yet.  I did however lick the spactula (don't worry it was after I was 100% done) and it was good.  Here's the recipe.
Ingredients


FOR CAKE:

2 cups Sugar

1 cup Vegetable Oil

4 whole Eggs

2 cups All-purpose Flour

½ teaspoons Salt

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

2 cups Grated Carrots

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For Icing

1 stick Regular Butter, Softened

1 package (8 Oz) Cream Cheese

1 pound Powdered Sugar

2 teaspoons Vanilla

1 cup Pecans, Chopped Finely

Preparation Instructions

Cake:

Mix together the sugar, oil and eggs in a large bowl. In another bowl sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Add to first mixture and combine. Then add carrots and mix well. Pour into a greased and floured (Baker’s Joyed) pan (bundt, sheet cake, 9 x 13 pyrex) and bake until done, 25 to 50 minutes, depending on the pan you use.

Cool completely.

Icing:

In larger bowl, cream butter and cream cheese. Add sugar and vanilla and blend, then mix in the nuts. Spread on cooled carrot cake.

New Couch has arrived

Isn't it pretty? 

The new couch

We ordered a couch from Jordan's way back at the beginning of January.  One of the pieces has been on back order so we've been waiting not so patiently.  They finally called this past week, so we emptied the living room, steam cleaned the carpet, cleaned everything else.  Well, while waiting for the following Friday to arrive we were not going to put everything back so this is how Allen watched TV and napped.

Monochrome

So while playing with my camera I discovered the monochrome setting.  I love this. 

Shadowy, not my best shot.

I love this picture.  I love the way the black & white really emphasizes the expressions on their faces.

Playing with my camera

I've been reading my 4000 page camera manual, trying to master certain settings so when we go to Disney I can get great shots.  One of things I've been working on is consecutive shots that stay in focus.  For some reason I couldn't get the hang of it.  Then yesterday I spent some time outside with the kids.  Now really, I should have been cleaning wthe yard, but well, I didn't feel like it.  So I took pictures instead.

7 Layer Bars

I love 7 Layer Bars.  They are the thing I always go for at bake sales.  But I would never bake them, for some reason they intimidated me.  Not that I bake often anyways, but even the few times a year that I do, I would never consider making them.  Well I decided to give it a try.  Hello?  Super easy.  Here's the recipe for those of you who are not familiar with them.

Ingredients


1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup butterscotch chips

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 1/3 cups shredded coconut

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

2.Place butter in 13 x 9 inch pan and melt in oven. Swirl to coat bottom and sides with butter.

3.Spread crumbs evenly over bottom of pan. Layer chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and nuts over crumbs. Pour condensed milk over nuts. Sprinkle coconut over condensed milk.

4.Bake until edges are golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let cool.