a shower for 2

Two weeks ago

Laura had a baby shower-- well a babies shower.

(DOES SHE LOOK AMAZING OR WHAT?! I can't believe there are two?!)

That's right!

TWO BABY BOYS

are 

ALMOST HERE!

 the Lovely Johnson ladies were there

-Ella, Caroline, Lily, Karen, Larkin-

Wende, Lisa, Lauri, & Kristy

The shower was at Laura's parents house

and her sweet mom made the most delicious rolls!

All of my sweet friends made salads & they were fantastic.

I can't believe I didn't take a picture of the food?

probably because my mind was on these

the dessert-

Cupcakes!!

Have I told you how excited I am that these babies are coming?

Probably not, because I have been in denial- trying not to think too much about it. 

I hate waiting... BUT NOW I CAN BE EXCITED BECAUSE

LAURA IS SCHEDULED FOR A C-SECTION ON FEBRUARY 12!!!

THIS COMING TUESDAY!

(c- section because they are breach)

She is 37 weeks along & 38 weeks is full term for twins.

The last time they were measured (over 2 weeks ago) they were each over 5 lb.

We are talking- she is going to have these babies full term & she is going to be able to bring them home.

 Oh Heavenly Day In the Universe

Good news in an otherwise cold & dreary winter.

My boy- and his sweet wife-

are having babies. What could be better than that?

I just have to tell you- Laura has been absolutely amazing through this. She is so miserable & never complains. She is one tough cookie & she is going to be the best mom to these little boys. They are so lucky- we are so lucky.

sixteen!

Our Sweet Chloe has turned 16!

\

16 is a big deal people!

Last week she got on an airplane & headed to San Diego, CA to visit one of her dearest long time friends- Blair who moved there last year. Chloe was so thrilled & excited to see her & go to the beach etc. Blair & her family treated her like royalty & she had the best time!

Hailey & I picked her up from the airport Monday morning & headed out to breakfast.

Gourmandise-Cream Brulee Oats-- Oh MY!

Oatmeal that has been bruleed, topped with berries & cream.

DELISH

Later that night- 

SURPRISE

A group of her pals shocked the heck out of her, by "kidnapping" her & taking her out to dinner than to a party at a park with loads of teens. Seriously- how fun is that!? 

Chloe is literally the last junior in the High School to turn 16. I love how shocked she is here in this picture- I wish I would have had a video running- it was so funny when they ran in & surprised her!  

I love these girls.

Chloe's biggest blessing in teen life is her great friends!

-really love these girls-

 

On her REAL birthday-

the next day

We had to run a million miles a minute!

Every big thing going on for the whole week- was that day!

Ballet, work, driver's Ed., back to school night for Trent's school- 

and

Chloe went on her first date- lunch with a friend- sweet.

So--- after ballet - we headed to the Sweet Tooth Fairy for cupcakes.

We are HUGE fans of the Fairy.

But then--

around here-

we are HUGE fans of Chloe

Birthday dinner post coming soon.

happy birthday chloe

I'm so behind in the blog world...

I know we all are- but I am over the top busy- 

(and really tired of being so busy, but that is besides the point)

Last week was our sweet Laura's Birthday!!!

Oh how we ~LOVE LAURA~

She is the best- I mean it! The best daughter in law ever.

She is smart & cute & witty & sweet to all of us... she is driven, good to Brian, thoughtful, loyal. I love having her in our family.

So much- that I made these

Chocolate High Top Cupcakes

Chocolate cupcakes topped & filled with homemade marshmallow cream & dipped in ganache. 

Heaven help me - these were good!

At her combined family, surprise birthday party (hers & ours) we had a BBQ & I didn't take any pictures after the cupcake one. lame.

It was a busy week last week getting ready for the 4th year girl's camp hike. Even though Chloe is a 5th year (they didn't have a hike last year.) She had a 35lb. pack. She carried her own water & tent & food. She was so excited to go. She got her fishing licence & a new pole. Great times.

Camping girls

Father's day was a swing & a miss.. Chloe came home from camp- very sick.

She was miserable with a fever, body aches & plugged up ears.

I took her to instacare Sunday morning to find out~

She had a major ear & sinus infection. poor thing!

Hiking with all that going on?

-She is one tough cookie-

We did have a father's day BBQ- complete with Italian sodas, roasted peppers stuffed with pepper jack & wrapped in bacon, chicken & corn on the cob

and another DQ cake.

oh people

I feel like I could fall asleep & not wake up for a couple of days.

On goes life- it's a good one.

cupcake cookoff

A couple weeks ago the YWomen in our church congregation got together for a mother/daughter cupcake cook off-- oh ya, this is my kind of activity. Chloe & I were so excited to go!

We got there & made our game plan right away... 

um- if you didn't know it- Chloe & I are fiercely competitive. 

-It's not really a good or bad thing- it just is what it is.

The spread of choices was incredible!

There were all kinds of possibilities- the YWomen leaders really went over the top. 

There was cake mix, sour cream, filling, sprinkles galore, fruit, chocolate, anything & everything you need to make a gourmet cupcake. I just have no way of doing this activity justice. I didn't take enough photos- I couldn't- there was a job to be done.

The decorations were so cute- cupcake bunting & look at these tables.. oh man!

I am this year's YWomen camp director & guess what... these girls better lower their expectations... seriously.

While the cupcakes were baking- we played a get to know you game. 

There were questions that we each answered, then the girls had to guess whose answer was whose.

Chloe & I made a key lime cupcake with lime butter cream frosting, filled with custard & stopped with a strawberry.

-we won best tasting-

We also forgot to take a photo before we ate it.

trust me it was beautiful & it was gooood.

cooking girls

There is a lot of cooking/baking that goes on in this house.

the increasing size of my rear end & these pictures...

are proof!

Last Saturday Chloe made bread all by herself!

I wasn't even home- isn't this beautiful!!

My new favorite coconut cake.

French Bread

key lime cupcakes

and from a while back...

onion rings.

the girls were experimenting with making onion rings at home.

What's cooking at your house?

blue & gold

After a year of working in Cub Scouts...

I finally did it.

I finally took the patches off my old size S shirt that fit me well when I was jack's den mother & put them on a size L shirt. It was painful, but had to be done.

It was time for the annual Blue & Gold Banquet.

I needed to be dressed right.

I can only blame myself...
and too many cupcakes.
A song is going through my head:
"don't you blame it on the sunshine
don't blame it on the moonlight
don't blame it on the good times
blame it on the boogie"

It was a really fun night!
The theme:
Happy Birthday to scouting
Scouting turns 100 years old this year.
100 years- FAntAstic!


There were balloons- pizza- cupcakes & cakes on each table.
We sat here with these yummies. They were fabulous!

Trent is just one step away from his Webelo rank- and should get it next month!

We have the world's best cub master- she's new to the job & doing so good!

I love a well run cub scout program- they are so few & far between- and we are so blessed to be a part of this one.

Chloe went to YW last night.

They had a cake decorating class & she came home with this!!

Lucky for my new size L shirt --- this one was too pretty to eat

Way to Go Chloe!!
*can you name who sings that song?

It's one of my favorite songs-- find it here

I dare you to listen to this song & NOT get up & start dancing!

It'll put spring in your step

lots of cream cheese frosting & a fish fry

I just can't let one more day pass me by without blogging about this past Saturday!

Besides being the missionary's birthday-

I was asked to make some mini cupcakes for a dinner held for the Stake Relief Society, just before the General Women's Conference broadcast. I was really glad to have a reason to make cupcakes even if the birthday boy was not going to get one.

The didn't ask for any particular flavor...

so I went all fall crazy & came up with these cuties!!

They are pumpkin cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting & YUm they were so good. I had never made them before- it was just an idea in my head- so I tested them out on the blogger moms during our creative Thursday. The blogger moms are great taste testers.

I had procrastinated buying the ingredients until Saturday morning- I had nothing else to do- then had to go to THREE STORES to find canned pumpkin. I was sweatin' it, I tell ya!

But it was worth it since I found this little cutie at the last store's bakery.

BYU won their game- we won't talk about last week's game- that was Bogus.

NoW i have a bunch of BYU cupcake ideas floating around in my head.

Later it was time to go to the dinner/broadcast & realized I didn't have anyone to go with... I knew I would know people there... but I started to feel like a seventh grader without a locker partner... I got up my courage- what a wuss- and went anyway. It was a great conference & yes I found friends- feewwww.

The best part of the day happened seconds after I got home!

I walked in the door & the phone rang-

It was trent

he told me to come outside-

He & Brett had just driven up. They had gone to a pond a few miles from our house & HOORAY- LOOk At that FAce. Ya- HE was walking on air--- but refusing to touch it.
After a day of working in the yard, Brett was such a good sport & took Trent fishing. they have been a couple of times this summer with no luck. Trent had been bugging him to go- that kid has amazing nagging skills- so they headed off & happy day- finally caught one!

During church on Sunday, Trent knew jack was coming so he had his eyes pealed on the chapel doors, jack was running late & trent had the camera in his hands to show jack as soon as he got there. It was so cute. Jack was thrilled for him.

so it was a busy day & hopefully a good one for the missionary