Clean up Clean up!

Its Friday!  Woohoo!  Hello weekend.  Though our weekend is a little busy.  Birthday party Saturday and Olivia gets to sing with the choir in "big" church for the first time.  She's very excited.

So Bell decided that our tree in the office/third bedroom needed a little sprucing up. 

It took the girls awhile to find him this morning.  They get so confused if he's not in the living room.

Here's the letter he left for them today

"Good morning ladies!  I decided to add a little bit of decorations to the tree.  What do you think?

So, how was it smiling at people?  Did it make you happy as well?
Today's challenge is something you can do around the house.  There have been a couple of times this week I have heard your mommy and daddy ask you to pick up stuff, sometimes multiple times.  So today I want you to obey your parents when they tell you to pick up, and also to pick up even if they don't tell you too.  Us elves have to clean up our workshop and our bedrooms too; its important to do those things.  The bible tells us in Ephesians 6:1 "Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do."  We are told to obey because we are God's. 

Day five of our Advent calendar comes from Luke 1: 46-50
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
 And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation."

Have a great day at school Sophee.  Olivia, have fun hanging out with your mommy today!"

So the girls didn't really have to worry about this challenge until this afternoon.  Unfortunately...they decided that fighting was better than cleaning. It was a very looooooonnnnnnnnggggggg hour before Kyle got home.  I think the girls might be surprised about what Bell will say tomorrow.

How's your elf on the shelf going?  How are your kiddos doing?  What silly things does he/she do?

What could be more yummy or festive than Red Velvet Cupcakes.  Its a staple down here in the south.  So here is a delicious recipe, completely with cream cheese frosting!


2½ cups cake flour
1½ cups sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
1½ cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
Red Gel food coloring
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. distilled white vinegar
2 stick butter
1 package cream cheese
4 cups powdered sugar

Preheat the oven to 350° F.   In a medium bowl, combine the cake flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt; whisk to blend.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, vanilla and vinegar.  Beat on medium speed until well blended.  Mix in the dry ingredients on low speed and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes.  Then add the food coloring, until desired color.  Divide the batter evenly between the prepared liners.  Bake, rotating the pans halfway through baking, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 18 to 20 minutes.  Let cool in the pans 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the frosting, beat the butter for 4-5 minutes.  Slowly start adding the powdered sugar.  Once the butter and sugar are completely blended, start adding the cream cheese two ounces at a time.  If the frosting is too stiff, add a tablespoon of heavy cream until its smooth and you are able to pipe it out.