A Ray of Sunshine

This little girl lights up my life every day! I caught her precious smile and the cutest laugh on video tonight while we were hanging out watching American Idol :) This is for every one who can't see her every day, I hope she can make you smile too! Don't mind my narration...it's totally a mom thing!

Lemon-y Greatness!

For those of who know of Paradise Bakery I must share my ongoing obsession with Lemon Zester cookies with you! They are the most amazing lemon-y (I know it's not a word!) and delicious sugar cookies ever!! This past weekend when at the mall we stopped to enjoy a cookie (or two ;))

and i got to thinking...I should learn to make them myself. So I went home and did some research and...I found the recipe! They turned out AMAZING and lemon-y! YUM!

~I put the recipe below for those of you who want to try~

*Here's a good idea too~The recipe makes about 3 dozen cookies so I didn't cook all of the dough and pre-made the balls of dough, stuck them in a bag and put them in the freezer. Now whenever we (I mean I) get a craving for one you just defrost and cook!

Recipe~

Zest of SIX lemons
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups shortening
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 (3 oz.) package lemon Jello
20 drops of yellow food dye
1 large egg, beaten
4 1/3 cups cake flour (*important*)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Plain or colored sugar, for decorating

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a food processor, mix the zest of 6 lemons with the 1 cup of granulated sugar. Mix until the sugar is yellow and the zest is finely chopped.

In a medium bowl, cream together the lemon sugar, powdered sugar and shortening using an electric mixer. Mix on slow speed 30 seconds, then scrape down the bowl with a spatula. Increase speed to medium and mix for 3 minutes. Slowly add vanilla, jello (dry), food dye, and beaten egg while mixing.

In a separate bowl, combine cake flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, mixing on slow speed until just blended. Do not overmix.

Scoop with an ice cream scoop and roll in sugar. Place on baking sheet. Flatten slightly with palm of hand.

Bake 9 to 10 minutes. Cookies are done when small cracks appear and are pale golden. Ideally, do not let edges brown.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies

One Month Old

I can hardly believe it but our sweet Emery Ashlyn is one month old! Becoming a mommy has been the greatest experience. The amount of love, joy, and happiness that fills my heart everyday is indescribable. Now I know how much my mother loved me!

Road Trip to California

Last week I took Emery on her first road trip to California to visit Grandma, Grandpa and her uncles. We spent lots of time hanging out and Uncle Nathan and Griffin had a chance to take care of their niece (They are so in love with her :)). There's lots of pictures so get ready!

She isn't a fan of the road just yet...

Good thing we had sea horse!

Uncle Griffin was so happy to see her.

This is Drake's first encounter with a baby...

and he did very well!

I must say the uncles jumped right in with feeding, burping, soothing and entertaining Emery! They were excellent!

I love this one!! She was out cold after being rocked to sleep by Uncle Nathan.

Of course I had to share this, she lost the rest of her umbilical cord the first day we were there. It's not as bad as it looks, I promise. And she's an innie, whoo!

Nathan and I have two great babysitters we can call anytime, they would just have to travel to Phoenix...anything for your niece right guys?!

Like I said, Drake enjoyed Emery too!

Ha Ha, this is funny. After taking Emery to her first photo shoot for her one month old pictures (see next post!) we were approached by an older gentleman who said, "So this is the real reason they make baby carriages...so you can pack on the bags and hold the baby!" He then told us we should take a picture..so we did! Hey it was a busy day!

Another first while we were visiting was capturing our little one's smile on camera!! After giving her a bath she was in a great mood so I challenged myself with acting goofing behind the camera so I could catch her in the act.

This may have been more entertaining for mom but...

We got it!

Grandma was so delighted to be with her Emery!

On our last day I noticed Emery had disappeared while taking a nap. Where did I find her... napping with her uncles, and Drake of course!

They aren't as sound of sleepers as Emery (smiling for the camera :)), but this was quite a precious moment!

Overall Emery did really well on her first trip to Grandma and Grandpa's...she can't wait to go back!

Emery's Busy Day

Here are a few pictures of how Emery spends her day with Mommy.

We love reading together...

My bouncy chair is lots of fun too...

Tummy time for me turns in to "on my side" time...

It's a lot of fun being a baby but I like to do this the most...

Love at first sight....

Okay maybe not love...yet! But Keegan and Emery met for the first time this weekend and it was so much fun!

The lovely Helfrich Family (plus one :))

Look at these cuties.

I love this little man!

Daddy wasn't too excited about this one...we're going to have to watch them!

There's no better way to spend a Sunday then with great friends. We had a lot of fun hanging out with the Helfrich Family and introducing the babies! I have a feeling Keegan and Emery are going to have a lot of fun together!

Happy Valentine's Day!

So many first's today!

• We took our first family photo!

Happy Valentine's Day!

• Nathan and I celebrated our first LOVE day together!


• It's Emery's first Valentine's Day!

• My first time playing cupid for my family :)

• My first of many holidays being a happy mom and wife!!

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We hope your day was filled with as much love as ours was!!