Sunshine Cake

I made this cake while my mom was out. We both loved it. It's a poke cake and it's perfect for summer. It tastes light and fruity. I will definitely be making this again. Greg liked the cake, but he doesn't like Cool Whip, so he'd only eat it if I put regular frosting on it, but I think that would be too heavy for this cake. I was so happy that it turned out. I tried to make a poke cake with my friend Emily when we were in college and it was a disaster. I can't remember what we did wrong, but it did not work out for us. This cake was so easy, though.

Sunshine Cake
Ingredients
*18-1/2 oz pkg. lemon cake mix
* 3oz pkg. orange gelatin mix
* 1 cup boiling water
* ½ cup orange juice
* 8-oz container thawed cool whip
Directions
Bake cake according to package directions in a 13x9 baking pan; set aside to cool. Poke holes over top of cake with a fork or skewer; set aside. Dissolve gelatin mix in water; stir in orange juice. Pour over top of cake; cover & refrigerate overnight. Frost with whipped topping before serving. Makes 12 to 15 servings.

Boys' First Easter

Warning: there's a LOT of pictures in this post. It was the boys' first Easter and I was super excited. They were only 4 months old at Christmas and couldn't really do much. For Easter though, they were able to go through their Easter basket and play with their new toys. I went back and forth on how much to do for the boys, they have plenty of toys, they're too young to understand the church part of it or to participate in an egg hunt, and too young to know what's going on or remember this. But, it was their first Easter and I wanted to do something. We decided to get them one Easter basket in it with two toys and some books that I bought in the dollar section at Target. While we were at Target, we also decided to buy an Elmo walker. We put it all out in the front room along with the gifts they received from other people and let them go through them. It was a fun day and the boys seemed to really enjoy their basket.

Here's the boys in our room playing on the floor before we took them downstairs.

Evan puts every single thing in his mouth.

Both boys with the Easter basket.

They really liked these little rattles.

And into the mouth it goes.

After they took the first toy out, I realized that I hadn't got any pictures of the boys on the couch in their Easter outfits before they drooled too much on them, I wanted to get some quick shots. I don't know what I was thinking. They're both eyeing the Easter basket right here. They are not the least bit interested in having their pictures taken, they want what's in the basket.

I tried switching couches, didn't work.

Looking at Daddy who is trying to distract them.

Laughing at Daddy

And back to the basket.

Playing with the stuffed animal that Brandi (Aunt B) sent them. She sent them the nicest Easter gift. Two Veggie Tales eggs, two stuffed animals and a book of nursery rhymes. It was one of the recordable ones and she recorded herself reading it to the boys. They loved it! It was better than what we got them!!

Carter with the bunny from Brandi

Playing with everything.

And Carter's favorite thing of all, the basket. I got one of the cheapest baskets Target had because we probably won't use it again. I'd like to get the boys each their own basket next year with a liner that has their name on it, so I didn't see much point in spending a lot on this year's basket. Of course, it was Carter's favorite thing.

Evan in the walker

Mommy & Carter

Mommy & Evan

Overall it was a great Easter. Very low key. I'm looking forward to furture Easters where we dress up, go to church, have an egg hunt, cook a big meal, etc.

Day after Easter Shopping. I ran to Target with the boys on Monday to pick up a few things for their Easter baskets next year.

I love Fisher Price Little People, I think that they're so cute and they're not to "themey" or specific so they're perfect to buy when they're on sale to give to the boys in the future.

These books were 50% off. Books are so expensive, so I was glad to get these on sale. I want the boys to have a nice book collection,  including books for each holiday.

The dollar section was also having a sale. I got all these for 50cents each. I love the Sesame Street books, they're short and cute and perfec to read to the boys before their naps. They're also hard, so I don't have to worry if the boys get ahold of them.

I loved Mr. Potato Head when I was a kid. This is another great, classic toy that I want the boys to have. I want them to have the original and the Holiday ones that come out every year.

I love these baskets. They have a cute little handle and are perfect for the boys to put their eggs in when they go on their first Easter egg hunt. These were only $1.50 a piece.

I also picked up a few things for me. I love this basket. I think it's so pretty. I showed Greg and even he thought it was nice. I'm not sure yet what I'm going to put in it, but I'm sure I'll think of something. I like that it doesn't have anything Easter on it, so I can use it all spring.

Some kitchen towels and two potholders

I love going shopping the day after a holiday. I'm obsessed. I always go to Target the day after any holiday. I stock up on kid things for the following year, even before I had kids, I'd buy stuff for my nephew. I also get cards, wrapping paper, home decor, etc. I feel like this year's day after Easter trip was a success.

I'm Back!

I'm finally back to blogging. My mom came up from Georgia and stayed for 2 weeks. When she's here I take a break from blogging and try and get as much accomplished as possible as well as spend some time with her and enjoy time with the boys. There's so many things that I can't do when it's just me and the boys and there's only so many things that Greg & I can get done on the weekends, so it's so nice when my mom comes up and I can work on my to do list. It's also so great to see my mom! I wish we lived closer. :(

I feel like I got so much done in the last two weeks. Things that I've been wanting to get done for awhile but just haven't had the time. Some of these will get their own post later this week.

I finally cleaned out the basement. It was our dumping ground for anything and everything that we didn't know what to do with. The point of Greg finishing the basement when I was pregnant was so the boys would have somewhere to play when they became mobile. They could have free reign of the place and have a lot of their toys down there and at the end of the day, we could go upstairs and not worry about the mess or anything. So, my mom and I spend a lot of time organizing stuff to donate, keep, and throw out. We still have some things down there like the nightstands that we bought the boys for when we change their cribs to full size beds, the doors from their closet, the carseats that we're going to put in the car for them when they outgrow the infant ones their in. I still have to figure out somewhere to put that stuff, but it looks so much better than it did. Now we have to straighten up and get some things to make it the perfect play area and we'll start taking the boys down there. I'm kicking myself for not getting before and after shots of anything I accomplished.

I cleaned out my closet. It was a mess. I got rid of clothes, shoes, etc. Now I even have some extra space.

I finally hung up all the things that I wanted on the walls.

I got a new computer desk and redid my side of the computer room. I'll show the entire thing in another post.

I cooked several meals and froze them. It's so nice to have them for those weeks where we're really tired or busy.

Made this delicious cake--can't wait to share that recipe in another post.

Took the boys to see the Easter Bunny.

Bought both boys a Jumping Jack. More on that later--one of the best things we've ever bought!

Greg mowed the lawn, fertilized, trimmed the bushes and mulched.

My mom and I were able to do a little shopping. Michael's, Kohl's, Walmart, etc.

Greg and I got to go out to dinner twice while my mom stayed with the boys.

I went to the dentist. ugh!

Cleaned and organized all the boys clothes and their bathroom.

Read almost all of "House Rules" My friend, Brandi got it for me for Christmas. I started it and loved it, but then I got sidetracked. So, I finally started it again and I'm almost done. I'm dying to know if it ends like I think it's going to.

Also while my mom was out here, the boys turned 8 months old (I will definitely do a post on that) Evan got two more teeth, Carter has completely stopped using his swing and now sleeps in his crib for all naps and at night, and the boys started sleeping through the night really well (they were doing ok and then got sick, but now that they're feeling better they're sleeping so much better at night then they ever have).

So, it was a busy and productive two weeks. I'll definitely elaborate more on some of those things in other posts this week. I hope everybody had a great Easter and I can't wait to post the pictures of the boys on their first Easter later this week.

Easter Bunny

Sorry for the lack of blogging. My mom is up from Georgia and I'm taking full advantage of having the extra help. I'm trying to clean up and organize our basement, cook some meals to freeze, and some other things that are hard to do when I'm here by myself.

We took the boys to get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny today. They didn't smile, but they didn't cry either, so I'm happy. I can't believe they'll be 8 months old on Monday.