More pics...

We got a new camera for Christmas, but I really haven't had a chance to take it out and play with it. So we went to the park to day to let the kids play and shoot some pics.
She is so crazy. She kept going down the slide every way, but the right way. She has no fear.
You would think that this would have brought her to tears-landing on her head-she just laughed.
Her and her crazy hair.
So fun.
Check out the lens flare.
I have to put the camera on the "action/sport" setting because these kids move so fast.
He loves his daddy.
The drool and the rash from the drool.
It is hard to believe that Addi is four years old. She is still such a handful. Yesterday was not one of her best, so Ian and I convinced her, once it got dark, that it was bedtime. We had both kids in bed by 6:15 pm. It was much needed.
Our little joy. I love my new camera and the great pictures it takes. It blows my old one away. I am so happy I can capture my kids faces with it!

Look who's walking!

Von turned 14 months old yesterday and he started walking a few weeks ago. Love him.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pound Cake...Need I say more?

I found this recipe on bakerella.com a few weeks ago and then on Tuesday Marsha just happened to bring me a flat of strawberries. I was so excited. Here is the recipe:

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pound Cake = YUM!

3.5 cups all purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup butter, room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
3 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
6 eggs, room temperature
1 cup milk, room temperature

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Sift flour and baking powder in a medium bowl and set aside. Using a mixer, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar for about 6 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla and milk until combined. Add flour mixture until completely combined. Pour into two greased and floured 9 X 5 loaf pans. Stir in 2-cups hulled and diced strawberries for each loaf if desired. Bake for about 60 minutes or until done.

Cream Cheese Icing
4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
2 Tbsp butter, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp milk

Cream butter and cream cheese. Add sugar and milk until thoroughly combined.
Spread on top of cake. Store in the refrigerator.

I actually made these into cupcakes, filling the tins 3/4 of the way full and baking them for 30 minutes. This makes a lot of batter, it made almost 50 cupcakes. I wish I would have used my Kitchen Aid because the bowl I used was almost over flowing by the time I had all of the ingredients in it.

Progress Report

We got Addi's mid-year progress report. We were surprised how accurate it was. She is quite the character, a little mischievous and, sometimes naughty. Her teacher says it so nicely, though. Here is what she had to say:

Student's Strengths: Addison has a high curiosity for the world around her. She is charismatic and draws to those who enjoy the same zest for life. Addison is very energetic and thrives on activities that allow her to have plenty of physical movement and interaction with others.

Student's areas of interest: While outdoors, although Addison utilizes all playground equipment, she is often engaged in "rough and tumble" play. When given the option, Addison likes forms of play that allow her to express her imagination, rather than playing roles that have already been defined by others. She prefers child-directed activities that allow her to choose the outcome.

Student's social summary: Although Addison connects easily with those she is engaged with in play, she has a tendency to physically withdraw herself from everyone when her sense of order has been disrupted. Like many of her classmates, Addison is learning to use kind words rather than physical aggression to get her point across, which will help her obtain skills necessary for cooperative play.

Areas for Improvement: Addison often expresses that activities that require her to produce a specific result (i.e. letter writing exercises or cutting out shapes with scissors) are too "hard." Practicing at home will help strengthen her fine-motor development.

Additional Comments and Suggestions: Addison is fun loving, enthusiastic, and kind in nature. She is truly a blessing to have in class!

Do we have our hands full, or what? She is a work in progress and we are so glad she has this chance in pre-school to learn and grow. She loves going to school and her friends there. Luckily, she has another whole year before going to kindergarden to learn how to behave herself a little better!