Superkid

How is everyone?  I am great!  I think it's funny that I thought I was going to have so much time off this summer to bake, cook, and write in my blog when I have less time now than I did while I was in school.  Why is that?  I guess when Addison and I are not in school there's more stuff to do.

Friday night,  Addison was the chef and I was his sous chef.  He made Beouf en Croute and it turned out delicious.  And I finally made Dulce de Leche so we had it for dessert with strawberries.  We made so much food that we ended up eating it again for Saturday dinner.

Here are some pics of the chef and his masterpiece:

Addison and I decided to  stay in the house Saturday to finish laundry.  Before we left for Asheville last weekend the laundry room was getting out of hand and then after unpacking it was crazy.  Every time I opened the laundry room door I wanted to cry.  But now we can see the laundry room floor thanks to Addison.  I am so fortunate that he's a great helper.  So all we did Saturday was clean and play video games all day while JT went to visit his dad.    It was just to hot to go to the farm so we spent the day in air conditioning.  I also think Addison just wanted a relaxing day since last week was so hectic for him.

Sunday, we saw the new X-Men movie and we loved it.  It is now my favorite X-Men movie so far.  The story line was good, the acting was great, the special effects were awesome and it wasn't cheesy.  I know a lot of comic nerds are not happy with Hollywood making every comic into a movie.  Hollywood usually does a bad job with it but I feel they are trying harder and I'm loving it.  After the movie, Addison had his second diving meet and he did very well.  I am impressed with all his learned in a year. I hope he keeps up with diving, I think he's really good at it.  I guess we will have to see, he tells me he's better at swimming.  :)

Here's a video of his diving meet:

Oh, Addison did great at his Black Belt Endurance test.  It was 2.5 hours long and it was extreme.  They had to do so many kick, crunches, jumping jacks, and push ups.  I've never seen him sweat so much.   I can't believe what a great athlete he is, he didn't get it from me.  I swear he's an alien.  :)

This week I really need to work on Father's Day cards and I need to make some new cards for my Etsy site.  I also need to make those Chocolate Dulce de Leche Cupcakes.  I made two cans of Dulce de Leche and I don't want it to go to waste.  As  promised I will try to bake all the recipes in all my cookbooks.  It's going slower than I thought but I'm still working on it.   I've noticed I have been focusing on the WS and Sugarbaby cookbooks so this week I will bake something out of one of my two BAKED cookbooks.   I have already made the Burnt Sugar Bundt cake, the Sweet and Salty Brownies, and the Grasshopper bars.   I'll let you know what moves me.  I will flip through the cookbooks while I watch the Cooking Channel,  that usually works.  I have been wanting to make the Green Tea cupcakes but I have been saving them for someone birthday.  Does anyone have a birthday coming up?

Well, I'm off to enjoy the rest of my day.  Vieng and I are going to see Bridesmaids tonight and I'm so excited.  I'll let you guys know how it was.

Busy week

Sorry for not posting but this week has been so busy.  Monday, Jt had a soccer game.  Tuesday, Addison had his last day of school party (so had to make 30 cupcakes Monday at 1 AM) and that night was  Addison's 5th grade graduation (which he received 3 award, including the Presidential Award).  Wednesday, Addison had his first dive meet (which he placed 2nd).  Thursday, Addison still had 3 activities (swimming, diving, and Taekwondo starting at 10:30 AM) but we still had time to clean and cook dinner (I made spaghetti).  So,  I am really going to enjoy this 3 day weekend.  Addison doesn't have any activities and JT doesn't have to work until Tuesday.  It will be a relaxing 3 days.  Maybe I will have time to finally bake that cherry pie I have been talking about.  Yes, I still cherries that everyone is gradually eating so before they go bad I need to make a pie.  I also have about 10 lemons.  How long do lemons last?  I'm more worried about the cherries than the lemons.

What happen to my summer full of baking?  Addison is going to have to start learning how to drive or start riding his bike everywhere.  :)  Next week, day lessons for swimming and diving start at 9:30 AM.  So we have to be up and ready everyday at 9 AM.  The good thing is it gets me going but no sleeping in for us this June.  Oh July I can't wait to sleep in.

But don't get me wrong, I love taking Addison to all his activities.  He really enjoys them and loves being active.  I also love the summer leagues, the kids really enjoy hanging out and competing.  It is also so relax compared to other competitions.  I really don't mind doing it for a month.   I just mind it at 9 AM when I couldn't fall asleep the night before.  :)  But, it does give me time to read my books while I'm waiting for 3 hours a day.  Oh and it hasn't gotten too hot yet.  Check with me in 2 weeks.  I will probably be complaining by then.

I mentioned I made Addison's class cupcakes, they were Campfire Delight Cupcakes.   Addison asked me to do chocolate cupcakes for his class and I didn't want to do any old chocolate cupcakes.  These are a rich chocolate cupcakes with a toasted marshmallow filling topped with malt chocolate icing.  I got the recipe from Sweetapolita (of course). Remember when I made the Campfire Delight Cake from her blog? It's a 6-Layer Rich Chocolate Malted & Toasted-Marshmallow Cake.  You can find her entry here.  It was delicious!!  Well, Sweetapolita made a cupcake version and they turned out amazing.   You can find her cupcake version here.   I love doing cupcakes more than cakes.  You don't have to worry about layers and icing the whole cake,  piping on icing is so easy.   These cupcakes might be my favorite so far.

Well, talk to you later.  I need to get to bed so I won't be a grumpy taxi driver tomorrow.  :)

So I'll leave you with proud momma pictures.  I love my little prince.

5th grade Graduation

Favorite Picture!!  Daddy and Son.

So proud of my boys!!!

He's going to be something BIG one day!!

And diving

So handsome!!

Rainy Saturday

So it rained all day today so we didn't get much done.  JT had to work today and Addison just wanted to be lazy.  We did make it to skating lessons this morning and then went to J. Christopher's for brunch but that was about it.   I caught up on some recorded programs I haven't been able to watch because of school and read some magazine that are almost 2 months old.  I have been to busy to read magazine??!!! That's pretty bad.  The dogs even slept most of the day.  I even decided that I didn't want to cook so JT suggested on picking up Chinese food on his way home.  This is bad since we are trying not to eat any processed food but I guess a treat here and there is not that bad.  I promise to cook and bake tomorrow night.

Oh speaking of cooking, I didn't post the pictures of the lamb roast I made Thursday night.  It turned out wonderful.  For sides I made Northern beans and spinach gratin.

 

Juicy Lamb

 

Cheesy Spinach

 

Addison's Plate

I have no idea what I will be cooking tomorrow.  Maybe chicken or pork?  Hmmm..

Oh and speaking of baking Sweetapolita put a new cake recipe up on her blog.  It's a 6-Layer Rich Chocolate Malted and Toasted Marshmallow Cake.  She says it's the yummiest cake she has ever made.  I got the Neapolitan cake recipe from her blog and that cake was incredible.  I have to make this pronto.  I can't believe it's better than the Neapolitan cake.  We will just have to wait and see. 

Here's her pictures of the cake from her blog:

 

YUMMY!!!!

So I guess I'm cooking and baking tomorrow.  :)

Before I go, look at my future Olympic diver.  He's just so athletic.  He didn't get it from me. :)

 

Oh Nails look exactly the same so I decide not to post a pic until tomorrow.  We will see what happens after all the cooking and baking I have planned.