Easter Traditions

I just LOVE Easter! Do you?

In the week leading up to Easter, I wanted to find a new cupcake recipe. Not just any recipe. It needed to exceed all expectations. So I embarked on a search for "The Sweet Tooth Fairy copycat cupcake recipes." I love The Sweet Tooth Fairy http://www.thesweettoothfairy.com/menu/ and I love the story behind the success of this business, which I first read about in the BYU alumni magazine a few years back. Included in the article was a recipe for "Black and White Chocolate Cupcakes" with the most divine white chocolate frosting I've ever allowed into my mouth (and onto my hips, I might add). Check out the article and the recipe here: http://magazine.byu.edu/article/the-sweet-tooth-solution/

Anyway, with the thought of those delicious cupcakes in mind, I searched for a copycat recipe for another variety of cupcakes from The Sweet Tooth Fairy. This is what I found: http://www.blessthismessplease.com/2014/07/sweet-tooth-fairys-vaniella-squared-cupcake-copycat-recipe.html

I quadrupled the recipe and made enough of these amazing babies for half our neighborhood, no joke.

 My kiddos helped me frost them and we made these cute little toothpick labels and placed them on some not-so-fancy plates paper plates (because that's what I had on hand). Then we delivered them to people as an Easter gift, along with a message. I love Easter! It's a joyful celebration of the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Easter Cupcakes!

We have some other fun family traditions on Easter...

Homemade cinnamon rolls!

I use this great recipe from my favorite go-to recipe girl, Jamie.

http://jamiecooksitup.net/2011/10/cinnamon-rolls-with-maple-frosting/

Except, I usually make the divine "white chocolate frosting" from The Sweet Tooth Fairy (mentioned above with a link) because I prefer the tangy sweetness of cream cheese over maple.

Did I mention the house smells AMAZING on Easter morning???

Just looking at this photo makes my mouth water. They are that good.

Here is another fun tradition at our house on Easter morning (or thereabouts): 

Egg dying!

Each year, while we are doing this, we recall with a giggle the year our youngest child was two or three years old. When I told him we were going to "dye Easter eggs" he replied, with great concern: "Why do we want to kill them?" :)

And of course, it wouldn't be Easter without the annual backyard... 

Easter egg hunt!

Some years, if the weather doesn't cooperate, we have it inside the house. This year, however, it was sunny and fairly warm out. We had a fun, but quick, egg hunt for the two youngest kids.

 My husband caught me hiding eggs in my pj's and teddy bear robe (I'll tell you the story behind the teddy bear robe someday).

But the best tradition of all on Easter Sunday is...

 Going to church as a family!

I love attending church to worship and to be reminded of the wonderful blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

We go to church to sing hymns of praise, to study the scriptures and learn together with our brothers and sisters in the ward family, to pray, and most importantly, to partake of the Sacrament to help us remember Jesus, to remind us of what He did for all mankind, and to renew our covenants with God to follow Him by trying to live good lives and help others.

After church, it is required (by me) to put the camera on the tripod and snap some family photos in our Easter clothes.

Happy Easter!

#Hallelujah #HeLives #BecauseOfHim

My New "Baby"

We brought home a new Yamaha mid-size grand piano last week!

It was a little scary getting it here. I could hardly stand to watch!

It took four men to move it in.

We were giddy with excitement! Tiffani was the first one to play the piano after it was all settled into our living room. It has a clear, beautiful tone and is a delight to play! 

Our family feels very blessed to have this new addition.

As a music teacher, it was sure fun for me to see my piano students' excitement when they each came for their lessons this week. I propped up the lid so they could look over the edge and watch the amazing workings of the hammers and strings as I played the piano for them. All my students wanted to know where the "old" piano went. We moved our upright piano to the big room upstairs. It holds a very special place in my heart because it was my first piano, and I inherited it from my Grandma Ila Child when she passed away 18 years ago. I think of her every time I play it. Tiffani will start teaching piano lessons Grandma Ila's piano this summer, and it will become her piano someday.

I am looking forward to many generations of musicians enjoying this new "baby" of  ours.

Years ago, I was inspired by an address given by Henry B. Eyring: Remember, Remember 
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/o-remember-remember?lang=eng  Here is one of my favorite quotes from this address by President Eyring: "Tonight and tomorrow, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children?

Life is so busy.

But in the midst of the "busy-ness" of life, it's good for me to carve out time to remember.

I try to do this every day. Because each and every day has precious moments for me to capture.

Sometimes it's taking a few moments recording my insights in my journal before I fall asleep at night.

Sometimes it's in snapping a picture with my phone when I see a precious moment transpiring before me.

And sometimes it's sharing the moments I remember with my family at the dinner table.

I see the hand of God in my life daily in many different ways... sometimes I see His love in a beautiful sunset... other times it's in the eyes of one of my children...or in the exhilarating feeling I get when I am running in the desert, on the farm, or along the beach...I see evidence of God's goodness in beautiful, inspired music...often I feel the love of God when I am pondering a passage of scripture, or when I am listening to a talk by one of His living prophets. I see the hand of God in the goodness all around me...in people who allow His love to work through them... I saw it today simply in the friendly wave and smile of my dear neighbor through her front window as I walked up my sidewalk after seeing my 4th grader off to school at the bus stop...I felt God's love this morning as I knelt in prayer with my husband before he left for work...I am blessed to have a husband who lets God's love shine through him in the way he guides and provides for our family...in the way he makes me laugh...in the way he talks to me... in the way he looks at me...in the way he has faithfully stood by my side throughout 20+ years of marriage. 

What message did God send to you today? How did you see His hand in your life? How did you feel His love?

Missionary son #2

Elder Bowers and Elder Santos

A view of Lake Michigan. Todd is serving in Kenosha, Wisconsin