Rainy Day Baking

Braden had his last swimming lesson this morning.  I don't know what was off about him but he wouldn't get out of the pool and when he finally did he started yelling at me and demanding a lollipop from the front desk.  Sometimes I wonder if I have an almost four year old or an almost fourteen year old.  What is up with this teenage attitude!?  He is the sweetest little guy but then out of nowhere he turns some invisible corner and is meaner than mean!  Yikes!  After a lot of tears for him and a lot of holding back tears for me we managed to get back into the car and head towards home.  We made a quick pit-stop to the grocery store to pick up some spices because I had set my heart on doing some baking during nap-time today.  B managed to get through the market with a limited amount of whining while Gracie, in her typical fashion, yelled "HIIIIIII" to anyone with a beating heart.  She only once practiced her daredevil grocery cart acrobatics.  Here's a pic of her doing the same thing on our last rainy day outing to Lowe's...

a little blurry but I love how she's laughing!

Some how we made it home without fighting or crying or bothering each other much more.  The kids had lunch.  I cleaned up.  Gracie went in for her nap and me and my pink Kitchenaid got to work.  Before baking I was feeling crummy (still under the weather) and the rain was making me feel less than chipper and I just needed something to perk me up.  The smells of vanilla extract, pumpkin spice, banana's and cinnamon did the trick.  The food network was on in the background, the rain was pounding on the skylight and I got to escape into my little baking world.  Sweet perfection.

Here's what I made:

Pumpkin Bread

you can find the recipe here: Pumpkin Bread

I didn't use any nuts because I wanted Gracie to be able to eat it as well...otherwise, followed the recipe.

While the bread was in the oven I cleaned up the kitchen and got ready to make cupcakes for Bunco tonight.  I'm so excited for my little night out with the ladies in town.  Everyone signs up to bring either a bottle of wine or a sweet or savory snack.  I love, love, love sweets, so I signed up for that!  Here's what I made:

Banana Cupcakes with Honey-Cinnamon Frosting

cupcakes without the frosting

you can find the recipe here: Banana Cupcakes

and with the frosting....

you can find the recipe here: Honey-Cinnamon Frosting

Keeping with my 30 days of Thanks promise today I'm thankful for our big black dog!  Six years ago one of my MIL's coworker's dogs had an "oops" liter of half golden retrievers, half bernese mountain dog puppies.  She wanted them all to go to happy and loving homes - free of charge!  Pete and I had been craving our own puppy (both our families have always had dogs) and the minute we heard about this amazing opportunity we were in the car headed to Farmington, ME.
Fenway Foxy is by far the most loving and goofy dog I know.  He never leaves my side when I am home and wishes to be with us when we're not home (he's known to hop in the back of the car and stay there just in case we are going somewhere - he doesn't want to miss out!).  He loves playing with other dogs, catching frisbees and having his belly rubbed.  He jumps at anything and cracks us up every time he bolts away from a noise that startled him.  We're challenged by his allergies and ear aches but love how funny he looks shaking his head both when he's itchy and excited.  When he was younger we taught him to "speak" and ever since he has had quite the voice.  When he was a puppy he would answer back when we told him "I love you".  He also can puke in the toilet...one of his most famous talents!