FROM THE WEEKEND.....

In honor of Aunt Francie and Andy's birthday, I made a revised version from scratch of the Decadent Chocolate Cake I blogged about a month ago. Dustin and Taska were here visiting for the weekend, so it was a great time to try it out. It was delicious! Here is the recipe for the heavenly, mouth-watering, lip-smacking, lick the plate and anything the frosting touches, moist and chocolatey divine cake.

RECIPE:
1 3/4- 2 c sugar
4 eggs
1/2 c oil
2 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 c milk
3/4 c cocoa
1 c sour cream
1/4 c water
1 small box chocolate pudding

Using an electric beater, blend well until all ingredients are incorporated and pudding has dissolved. Pour evenly into 2-9" cake pans and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Frosting:
1/2 c melted butter
2/3 c cocoa
3 c powdered sugar
1/3 c cream
Using an electric beater blend 5 minutes, until light and fluffy!

Since Jason will be traveling a lot over the next month due to work, we put up our Christmas tree last Sunday. This is a couple weeks early for us, but we didn't want him to miss it. The kids have loved it, and I must say that I've enjoyed having the Christmas spirit in the house a little early this year.

Sunday was a blustery, blizzardy day. We went to sleep with the drizzly sound of soft rain and woke up to 14 inches of snow and a winter wonderland!!! It was the perfect day to play some games,
listen to some Celtic Christmas music,

enjoy some comfort food; an avacado, tomato and extra aged smoked gouda sandwich on honey whole wheat...delish!


It's tradition at our house to go sledding after the first major snowfall, so we all bundled up and hit the hills near our house.
Here are Logan and Si in front of our house.
Here are the boys and dad getting ready to hit the slope.
Logan and Silas going down on their own.
Dad pulling the boys back up the hill. How spoiled are they!
Si just snug as a bug! He didn't care that he couldn't see where he was going, he was having too much fun.

It was such a beautiful night. I wish I had a better camera (it's what I asked Santa for this year for Christmas) because the moon, and the dark blue sky and the fluffy clouds were amazing, right out of a painting that belonged in the Louvre! I tried to get a good shot through the top of the pine trees, but as I stated before...my camera stinks! I gave it my best shot.
We ended the night with a cup of hot chocolate topped whipped cream and cinnamon.....

and all nestled into the couch in front of the warm fire and the Christmas tree. What a great family night!