Would you like a cupcake, "Cupcake?"

My first attempt at cupcakes...at least they look a little partiotic!

I decided I was too hungry for white cake to just ignore it, so I decided to try to make my first cupcakes. The end result did, indeed, taste good and satisfy my craving, but the decorating wasn’t quite what I had planned. The first bag split; the second one sprung two holes. With Brandon’s extra set of hands, we tried to salvage what we could with my handy icing spatula and some colored sugar. I think I’m going to have to invest in some pastry bags.

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B-u-n-d-t cake...

A little taste of home...my new bundt pan and my first ever made-by-me Gramma's Walton's Mountain Coffee Cake!

(Coming from a huge extended family, I'm a big fan of the movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding!  My title is from that movie.)

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Cookies!

I made good use of some of the cooking presents I got for my birthday from Mimi & Pappy today!  I made cookies this afternoon to share with our apartment building neighbors and for Brandon to take to work.  I tried out a new sugar cookie recipe and Royal Icing recipe (you'd be surprised how many variations there are out there!).  The icing never quite set how I wanted it to, but these are my finished products.  Thought I'd spread some bright and cheerful around, as we're in our two weeks of rain.  People seemed to enjoy them, which made me happy!  I love making people smile!

---Arielle

Brandon no tanjiyobi!

Today was my 27th birthday! Yeah I know its hard for me to believe too!

I spent most of my day at work, but it went fairly fast so I cannot complain.  When I got home I found my amazing wife had made cookies with frosting on them!  After supper and watching the first episode of season 7 of Star Trek The Next Generation I opened my gifts.  Two of which are pictured above.  On the left we have a Doctor Who Cyberman, which goes perfectly with my Dalek that I already have sitting on my dresser!  On the right, we have a Transformers Autobot neon light! :)  By the way, I cannot wait for the new Transformers movie to come out!  Well its time for bed here so I'm calling it a night...

Autobots Transform and Roll Out!

- Brandon

Gimli

Gimli is slowly adjusting to life with us in our apartment.  Quite a change from a house with four boys under the age of five!  He's been enjoying playing catch with Brandon and me, although when he gets tired, instead of actually running after the ball, he sidles back into us to sit on our lap.  He sure does love attention and affection...when he wants it!  hehehe  He's also enjoying spending some time out on our balcony with us.  He doesn't like it when I bring a book out to read - he wants all my attention on him while we're out on the balcony.  Quite a kid!  Overall, he's making us laugh a lot!

---Arielle