Favorite Pictures from the Big Day!

We were so glad that we were able to share in Aaron and Angela's wedding day. Everything was perfect - we had such a wonderful time.Most of the Grandkids!

Clay, Joshua, and Andrew

The Happy Couple

Uncle Aaron and nieces

Aunt Angela and nieces

We're Here

We're so glad to be here and are looking forward to this afternoon's events! It was quite the travel day yesterday - glad it's over!

Still in Halifax

We should be on our way to the airport right now preparing for our flight to New York and then to Denver, where we plan on driving to Salt Lake so we can attend the wedding of these beautiful people:
But this is February and we're in Nova Scotia and our flight is canceled. We're staying positive - we're booked on another flight leaving tomorrow morning at 5:55 am from Halifax to Toronto and we should get into Denver at 10:30 am. I didn't know it was possible to get to Denver that early in the morning (from Halifax)! Then we just have to drive to Salt Lake. The wedding is in the afternoon on Friday and Jason has an interview at Black Diamond in the morning. Everyone say a little prayer for us - we have to get there!

Where I've Been

Well, I haven't felt much like blogging lately. I've been more interested in reading books and posting them on goodreads. I think this website, that my friend Kelly introduced me to, is awesome. You can post books you've read and what you thought of them and then you can see what your friends are reading. Sometimes when I would finish reading a book I would think "what should I read now?" Well I feel with this website I have a constant supply of books to read next! I've read some great books - To Kill a Mockingbird is amazing. You should read it if you haven't. And I also really enjoyed Laddie by Gene Stratton-Porter. You'll have to sign on to goodreads for other recommendations!

We also had a wedding at the B&B - that was fun and crazy! The couple decided to elope after her mom started taking over the plans of the wedding in Germany. They partied hard after the wedding - they asked for pickled herring for breakfast the next day (I guess it's a German remedy for a hangover). We were glad to help out and felt privileged to be a part of their special day.

And we are also getting ready to go to a wedding! The kids got haircuts yesterday and Joshua and I got some new shoes. We are so excited for Aaron and Angela and to see everyone!

Snow Ice Cream

We woke up this morning to freshly fallen snow and it continued to fall while we were at church. After lunch we decided to make snow ice cream. We mixed in a bowl 1/2 cup of half and half, 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla, then we mixed in 4 cups of clean snow. It was about the consistency of soft serve and the kids topped theirs with chocolate chips. Joshua said it was the best ice cream he's ever had! The other picture was what happened when Mr. Innkeeper left Delia in her high chair and the nutella jar in her reach!

Cakes

I've been busy making cakes this week.

Happy Birthday to Grandma Ellen who turned 55 yesterday. We had everyone over to the B&B for Chinese Food (provided by Grandpa Bill) and we supplied the cake. Grandpa said carrot cake was Grandma's favorite, so that's what we made. The cake was really good, if you like carrot cake. I'm more partial to chocolate myself!

Here's the recipe of you want to try it, Carrot Cake Supreme from the Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook (one of our favorite cookbooks):
Cake:
2 Cups all-purpose flour
2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
2 t. ground cinnamon
3 large eggs
2 C. sugar
3/4 C. vegetable oil
3/4 C. buttermilk
2 t. vanilla extract
2 C. grated carrots
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 C. flaked coconut
1 small package of chopped pecans
Buttermilk Glaze (see recipe at bottom)
Deluxe Cream Cheese Frosting (see recipe at bottom)

Grease three 9 inch round cakepans (I only used two).

Cut circles of wax paper or parchment paper to line on bottom of cake pans.

Grease and flour wax paper. Set aside.

Stir together first four ingredients. In a separate bowl, beat eggs and next 4 ingredients with an electric mixer until smooth. Add flour mixture to batter, beating at low speed until blended.

Stir in carrots, pineapple, and coconut. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Drizzle warm Buttermilk Glaze (see below) over cake layers and allow to cool on wire racks for 15 minutes.

Place first layer on your cake plate. Spread a layer of Deluxe Cream Cheese Frosting (see below) on top of bottom layer. Place second layer on top of bottom layer (repeat previous steps if making a triple layer cake). Frost sides and top of cake.

Buttermilk Glaze:

1 C. sugar
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 C. buttermilk
1/2 C. (one stick) unsalted butter
1 T. light corn syrup
1 t. vanilla extract

Bring first five ingredients to a boil in a dutch oven over medium heat. Boil four minutes stirring constantly until glaze is golden. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Cool slightly.

Deluxe Cream Cheese Frosting

1 1/2 (12 ounces) blocks of cream cheese, softened
3/4 C. butter (a stick and a half), softened
1 (16 ounce) package of powdered sugar
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract

Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla.


And this is the cake I made today. Pioneer Woman's Chocolate Sheet Cake (I doubled the recipe and made it two layers). You know it has to be good when it contains nearly two pounds of butter! We love this cake, but make sure you have a group of people to share it with. It's definitely addictive! We made it once when I had my brother over for lunch and we ate half of the cake for dessert. And between Mr. Innkeeper and I we had polished off the other half by lunch the next day! Enjoy!

Denver Pictures - take 2

Here are the cousins at the Denver Zoo. It was a cold day, but we had a great time. Afterwards, Ryan took us all out to lunch at Red Robin, the kids were great and so was our server. 10 kids and 7 adults and she didn't mess up one thing!

Here are pictures from our day at the Children's Museum. If you have kids and are ever in Denver you must go to the Children's Museum - it was amazing. And if you have at least 10 kids coming with you, call ahead for a group reservation.

This is a picture of Andrew, Joshua, and Delia in front of the full size fire truck they have in the Museum that the kids can play on.

The Museum let us use their party room for our lunch which worked out great.

Mia and Rylee dressing up in the Museum.

Delia ringing our groceries through.

Lucy, Delia, and Mia getting ready for story time at the Museum.