Simply Citrus Cream Cake

I have to share yet another recipe. My sweet husband made this cake for me for my birthday. It is soo yummy!

1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow or white cake mix
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding
1-1/3 cups BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream, divided
3 eggs
1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup water
2 Tbsp. grated orange peel
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
1 can (11 oz.) mandarin orange segments, drained
Make It
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Lightly grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round cake pans; set aside. Place cake mix, dry pudding mix, 1 cup of the sour cream, eggs, oil, water and orange peel in large bowl. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 min.; scrape bowl. Beat on medium speed an additional 2 min. Pour evenly into prepared pans.
BAKE 25 to 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool completely.
BEAT remaining 1/3 cup sour cream and powdered sugar in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Gently stir in whipped topping. Set aside.
PLACE 1 of the cake layers on serving plate; spread with half of the whipped topping mixture. Top with half of the orange segments. Repeat cake and topping layers. Garnish with remaining orange segments. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Things that make Christmas Christmas

For most everyone there are certain things that are important when celebrating the holidays and its just not Christmas time without them. The things that make Christmas special for me are definately not glamorous and they do not cost a lot but without them Christmas is just not Christmas.

1. Music. For me it is Bing Crosby's "Merry Christmas". It is an album that has been played in my home since I can remember. Memories of Christmas morning and opening presents to "Bing" makes me smile. What would Christmas be without the Andrews Sisters singing about the "big fat man with the long white beard" coming to town.

2. Christmas lights. I love christmas lights. When I was little my dad would put a strand around the outside of my window so they would light up my room at night.




3. snow. This is a more recent thing because growing up in California I never experienced a snowy Christmas. The most we ever got was rain. I hate driving in snow, but when I have no where to go I love the snow.

4. Its a wonderful life. This has to be the ultimate Christmas movie. I am not a lover of old movies, but I have to say this is one I treasure. It has such a great message--I make my kids watch it with me every year. Yes, and every year it makes me cry all over again.

5. Christmas cards. I love to make Christmas cards. There is nothing better to put me in the Christmas mood. I try to make each card just a little bit different and special for the person I am sending it to.

6. Family. I am sure this is important to most people and definately a must for me. There is nothing better than to spend Christmas day with the ones you love!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Tradition

One of the things I like to do at Christmas time is make frosted Christmas cookies. My mom did it every year when we were little so I have kept the tradition. Every year I try a new recipe and every year I am disappointed with the results. This year however, I found the perfect recipe.

It is super easy and the dough is so easy to work with--I didnt even have to chill it before rolling it out. The cookies turn out really yummy too.

Butter Cookies

1 cup butter (not margarine), softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

* My kids decorated these cookies. Needless to say they love sprinkles!

I have been tagged!

Here are the rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog
2. Answer the six "8" items.
3. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

8 Favorite TV Shows:
1. The Office
2. LOST
3. Medium
4. Desperate Housewives
5. The house flip show on TLC
6. all the shows on the Food Network
7. Deal or no Deal
8. American Idol

8 Things I Did Yesterday:
1. went to Walmart and Smiths
2. Had lunch with Nancy
3. picked up Camden from school
4. cleaned my house
5. made dinner
6. worked on homework with Camden
7. made and wrapped ornaments for ward christmas party
8. worked on pictures

8 Things I Look Forward To:
1. SATURDAY (ward christmas party is on Friday)
2. Getting all the holiday stuff done
3. Receiving Christmas cards!
4. Christmas Day
5. Morgan turning 3
6. Taking lots of pictures
7. Riley starting Kindergarten
8. Date nights with Nathan

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Olive Garden
2. Mi Ranchito
3. Bajio
4. PF Changs
5. Black Angus
6. Enjoy
7. Cheesecake factory
8. In-n-out

8 Things On My Wish List:
1. Good health for my family and friends
2. A date night with my hubby
3. Please let the the christmas party go well
4. a piano
5. new kitchen table
6. spending time with friends
7. going away for the weekend WITHOUT kids
8. my kids to be happy

I tag Michelle, Tami, and Jerlyn!

Tis the Season

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Thanksgiving time again!

We had a great Thanksgiving! This year we went to Nathan's brothers house. The food was yummy and we had a great time being with family. We have so much to be grateful for this year. I am grateful for my husband who is a good man and works hard for our family. I am also grateful for holidays and family and yummy food.

Riley is grateful for his mom, his bed, and his family

Camden is grateful for Heavenly Father, his family, and school.

Morgan is grateful for Riley, Camden, Mom, Dad and herself.

Preschool fun!

I have been such a blog slacker lately! I have been so busy with photography. I have hundreds of pictures to still process and more to take this week. It is such a great thing because I love taking pictures and NEVER get tired of it, but it just makes it harder for me to post to my blog.



Riley has been loving preschool. One of his favorite parts are the field trips. Miss Lisa always has something fun planned. This month we went to the pumpkin patch.



The day before the field trip Camden had come home with a stomach bug. So, I wasnt sure that we would make it to the field trip. Fortunately, he seemed better by the time we were to go so we went. They had a lot of fun spots for pictures. This big red hay trailer was hard to resist. I love color!











They had lots of fun tractors for the kids to climb on. I think we could have spent hours here just playing on the tractors.


Morgan had a good time picking out pumpkins and running around. She was also a good sport and let me take a few pictures of her in this wheel barrow.





Last month we went to the Dinosaur Museum. Riley had a great time with Zach. We were planning on going to the Children's garden, but it was pouring when we got there so we went to the museum instead. However, I wasnt prepared for inside pictures so some turned out a little dark, but I am glad I got a few of them playing.



They especially loved digging in the sand with the dinosaurs.





and digging for dinosaur bones.