Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes

For Emma's teacher gift, all the kids in the class put together a scrapbook/recipe book. We had to "research" and decide what recipe to include. Luckily the high altitude wasn't too much of an issue with this and they turned out marvelously. Yes, this is in our family cook book, but here it is again.
Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes

Bowl #1:
1 8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
6 oz. chocolate chips (regular or mini)

Cream first four ingredients, then
add chips. Set aside.

Bowl #2:
1 1/2 cup flour (+1 tbsp for high alt.)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Bowl #3:
1 cup water
1 Tbsp vinegar
1/3 cup oil
1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine bowls #2 &#3. Grease tins
very well or use papers. Fill cupcake
tins 1/2 full with batter, then lump in
a spoonful of cream cheese mixture.
Bake @ 350’ for 25-30 minutes.
For mini cupcakes decrease cooking
time to 8-10 minutes.

Review: Emma loved them, Lily didn't, and Jack was diplomatic. The mini ones are better than the full size.

End Of School Projects

Projects have been rolling in left and right. Field trips and field days have come and gone. Teacher appreciation week and end of year gifts are nearly done. We now have less than a week of school left. The kids and I are going to let out a sigh of relief when we don't have homework to get done and places to be in the mornings.

Jack finished up his paper on Medieval Tournaments last night (yes, it's due today). Emma helped make chocolate cheesecake cupcakes in the interest of "research" and a recipe to give to her teacher (end of year gift).

Lily has already finished school and is relieved that she doesn't have school until August.

Mother's Day

We had a nice family day. The kids gave me spectacular cards and we went for a hike. This is us at the end of the hike. Not exactly sure what I was thinking with my "serene" look, but Lily was not in her happy place.

End Of School Blues

Spring Break has been over for a while, I'm just trying to get to the end of school at this point. We're down to two and a half weeks of school until Summer Break. I'm looking forward to Summer but I'm dreading those long hot days where the kids will drive me crazy.

Things to do to get ready for Summer;
Look into the Summer Reading program at the library. Guaranteed activity per week.
Check the tires on all the bikes. Change any flat tires.
Plant the rest of the garden. Don't kill what comes up.
Evaluate Summer clothes for the kids. Who needs a new swimsuit?
Stock up on Icee Pops. Just buy the big box, the kids will eat what you have.

What is on your "get ready for Summer" list?

Spring Break

My goal is to clean the house and not tear my hair out this week. That can be achieved simultaneously, right? I did myself a favor and created a list, afterall, what are goals without lists?
Essentially the list is what I can get the kids involved in to keep them busy and not fighting.

This morning we cleaned the basement. I really wish I had a before, during, and after picture. The before and after might not look much different, but we were able to fill up a trash bag (small) and a donation bag (big).

It did cost me a dollar a kid, but that was cheap at the price. They are HIGHLY motivated by the thought of earning big bucks this week. Maybe I should price my jobs accordingly. I wonder how much Spring Break is going to cost me.

Pinewood Derby

After many an hour spent on a block of wood, Jack is the proud winner of not one, but two trophies. He won second place for his den and second overall for the pack. AND he did most of the work.
Jack's design, the blue truck. It was almost dayglow orange, but a paint malfunction resulted in a last minute color change.

Art by Lily

Lily and I have lots of time to ourselves when the big kids go to school. Lately we've been playing ALOT of "Guess Who" and "Guess what I'm drawing". She is getting really good about staying in the lines and switching to more than one color per picture. Here she is perfecting the rainbow.