Meet Baby Elliana Marie!

Yea! Blaise's new friend is finally here! Annie and Nathan's precious Elliana Marie was born Thursday, March 12, in the wee hours of the morning.  (I stayed up until 2:30 anxiously praying and waiting to hear the news-her kind sister was texting me updates!) What a beauty Elli is with her head full of dark hair and her sweet little features. We can't believe just eight months ago Blaise was that tiny; David and I don't remember him being so very small! 

Blaise was so excited to meet his new little buddy! 

The proud new parents (Elli weighed in at 8.4.) 

Both momma and baby and doing great! 

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Annie’s Shower 

In February, we had a shower for Annie at my mom's house.

 Here are a few pics from the party! 

Adorable baby bump!

Annie with her family

Lots of adorable baby girl stuff!

Antonia & Blaise

Prayer for Annie, baby Elliana, and the birth. Christ answered the prayers for a full term pregnancy, natural birth, and healthy baby girl!!

White Texas Sheet Cake Cup Cakes

My mom made this sheet cake for Bri’s rehearsal dinner-delicious! Then Lyndsay brilliantly turned it into cupcakes. They are seriously better tasting then the Cupcakery! Must be the almond flavoring-absolutely divine!

2 1/4 c. flour

2 c. white sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 sticks butter

2 eggs

1/2 c. sour cream or buttermilk

1 tsp. almond extract

 Sift together flour, sugar, soda, and salt. Place butter in saucepan with 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Combine eggs and sour cream/buttermilk. Add to butter then pour in flour mixture, mix until blended. Pour into large cookie sheet with rim. (Or cup cake tins lined with paper.) Batter will be thin. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

 FROSTING:

Bring 1 stick butter and 1/4 c. buttermilk to a boil. Gradually add 4 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract and mix well. Spread on cake while warm. After icing cake, sprinkle with one bag heath toffee chips. OR put into a mini zip lock bag and pipe onto cupcakes.

 Lyndsay told me she just “threw the icing on” yet hers looked fabulous.  It took me a bit to get the consistency right (you may need to add powered sugar) and to evenly pipe the icing on. I had to scrape off several cupcakes and redo them until I got the hang of it!  You can’t be in a hurry! :)