Christmas is Happening, People!

But here is a synopsis of other things that have happened right here, and I just haven't told you about it all yet.

Trick or Treating:

The girls got to do the rounds with their best friends.
There was a lot of giggling, running and candy eating involved.
Now they want to do this ALL THE TIME.


My favorite Halloween picture. That's my own parked car - do not be afraid, she was never in harm's way.

I told them to stay at the door with their treats bags extended until someone shut the door on them. Madee clearly took me seriously.

We went to the ZOO!
The Sanford zoo is tiny.
But there are a lot of keepers holding animals to pet along the way.

And lots of other random fun things to do.


Sophia's growly face.


Madee's "RAWR".

Listening to keepers talk about macaws.


The littlest feeding some yak looking things.


The cuteness we truck around town most of the time.

The races. Madee is clearly a rocket.


Girls do lunch!

And then there is ballet.
Madee loves ballet class.
And talking about ballet.
She works really hard at it.



The littles want to go to ballet class too.
But they have a good time raising a stink in the waiting area.


And we had our first horse ride.
They LOVED it.
Clearly.


And as always my little helpers are at the ready to help with any muffin making I might have going on.

Even if Eden's idea of helping is helping herself to spoonfuls of muffin mix.

We hope you guys have great holidays and we can't wait to share our holiday pictures with you!
Merry Christmas!
The Dervs

A Cupcake Story

I love to cook.
Like LOVE it.
I started when I was 11 and I never looked back.
I love food.
I love to smell it and combine it and dish it up and eat it.

So it is no wonder the girls drag their chairs into the kitchen every time I start to chef something up.

Like, EVERY time.
And I?
Am not the cornerstone of patience. Especially if one is not doing things the way I do them.
Yet I try to incorporate the toddlers into these activities at their own skills level.

They make pizza, crack eggs, stir stuff up, help with salad, and the other day they just HAD to make the cupcakes.

So I gathered all the ingredients in little bowls and supervised as they combined them and handed them utensils and before I even gave them any direction they were screaming at each other and pulling at the bowl and I ended up looking like this.


That face is my "I am already annoyed" face.
Yet I step back and let their magic happen.

Their way.


Eden's way is especially messy.


But since her smile is worth a herd of purple unicorns, her way is breathtakingly beautiful.


Hey, I told them not to eat it and they didn't get salmonella so it all worked out.


I actually cleaned E up in between the mixing and pouring sessions.


The concentration. Cupcakes are serious business.


Madee prefers to cook in the buff so she is wearing my vintage Starbucks apron.
Be jealous.
You DON'T have one.


Eden just kept filling the same cup with batter.
I bet you will never guess which one I mean.



Synchronized cupcakes.

All ready for the oven.
Well, almost ready for the oven.


Somebody's side needed a wipe.


It is hard to let the cupcakes go in AS IS, but dude, they are cupcakes. Any lost batter is minus the calories and any messed up cupcake is still a cupcake.

Anyhoo they all turned out perfect, so...


The End

Epilogue: The cupcakes lived happily ever after. In my tummy. YUM!
Also? Happy Birthday Matt!

Cupcake batter is Betty Crocker. I don't do from scratch, since Betty rocks it right!