Triple Fudge Crunch Cake

So it's no secret that I LOVE chocolate and any excuse to bake something really:)  I decided since it was Sunday and we were all in the mood to snack that I'd try out a new cake recipe.  When Phil saw the ingredients he cringed and said, "I'm out"...so I warned him not to judge a recipe by the ingredients:) 

I think it's safe to say...he ate his words...literally!  The cake is super yummy and is definitely a crowd pleaser!

Here's what you need...

1/3 Cup Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 bag Milk Chocolate Chips

1 package Fudge or Milk Chocolate Cake Mix, I use Betty Crocker

1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil

1 Cup Applesauce

2 Eggs

1 Cup Chopped Pecans

To Start:  Heat your oven to 350.  Grease the bottom only of a 13X9 pan.

Next, Microwave the condensed milk and half a cup of the chocolate chips in a small microwaveable bowl uncovered on Medium (50%) in 30 second intervals until the chocolate is softened; stir until smooth and set aside.

Now for the cake part:  Beat cake mix and oil together with a mixer or your kitchenaide, just until it turns crumbly; scoop out 1 cup of that mixture and set it aside...Now add the applesauce and eggs into the remaining cake mixture, the mixture will seem thick and grainy, just continue to beat for about 2 minutes or so then spread it into your pan.

Drop melted chocolate mixture in tablespoons onto the cake batter. 

Grab that cup full of crumbly cake bits and add it to another 1/2 cups of chocolate chips and the pecans.  Just mix with your hands until it's "topping" worthy:)  Crumble the mixture all over the cake batter, then bake it for 45-50 minutes or until the center is set.

Cool completely or serve hot with ice cream...it's super yummy!

Sorry my photos aren't better...I only had my phone camera handy:)

Las Vegas With the Ladies!!

My good friend Sandy moved to Colorado last year and we've missed hanging out:(  We finally found a weekend that worked for everyone and decided to meet in Las Vegas!

My trip kicked off around 4:30pm on Saturday when Phil dropped me off at good ol Sky Harbor...only to find out 30 minutes later that I'd be grounded an extra hour and a half due to missing flight attendants?!?!?!  I was the last one to arrive, so we kicked off dinner at P.F. Changs...YUMMMM!  It's been years since I've eaten there and I'm always leery of trying new restaurants...you know me and my vegetarian + bacon lifestyle;)  I have to say the Tofu Rice meal was EXCELLENT...and I'm not even a fan of Tofu!

As you can tell...we had lots of fun taking pictures!

After dinner we headed to Planet Hollywood to catch a hypnotist.  While we were waiting I caught sight of these GARGANTUAN hand prints and had to take a pic:) 

While we were waiting for the earlier show to get out, we were stuck in the bar area and I noticed these "sweet" little rooms!  Ha Ha! I had to take a pic and show Phil...of course you'll all be very glad to know there was no dancing on my trip:)

After a very eventful night...literally a fight broke out next door in the middle of the night and we thought the people fighting were going to crash through our door any minute...somehow we all did manage to fall asleep, and then we awoke to this beautiful view!  Breakfast at IHOP...

Shopping at H&M...I must have missed the memo about NOT smiling...;)

Kim, Sandy, and I.

Trying on horrible shades...

I'm actually thinking when you guys are like 60...you guys could totally rock these!!!! 

We had soo much fun and adventures to match! 

Sandy was a doll and taught us all how to play Roulette!  I am now a huge fan, it was incredibly fun! Oh the weekend literally flew by!  I flew home on Monday afternoon to a happy husband and 6 kids!  I can't wait to go out on a Ladies Getaway again!  Maybe we can go someplace tropical next!!!!

Mother's Day...always a treat:)

I love the idea of Mother's Day...I think it's a wonderful idea.  However, this year I've decided that I'm trading Mother's Day for Father's Day with Phil.  I awoke at 3:30 am to the sound of Seattle becoming the first member of the "pukey and poopy" club...aww sweet sounds you love to wake up to!  Luckily, I have the best husband in the world he cleaned that one up:)  Then about 5:30am Berlin joined the "pukey and poopy" club...bliss, complete bliss...this one needed a two man clean up crew to tackle it:(

After the clean up and lots of help from Phil...I was able to lay back down and enjoy my pillow for about an hour before Phil had to leave for our 8am sacrament:)  Of course, I'm the lucky one to stay home...after all it is Mother's Day!!!

On a good note...during the hour I was out COLD...and rolled over to see these cute little gifts sitting on my night stand:)

The snowflake thingy is from Paris...and the cute card is from Brooklyn:)

--Side Story about the candy and flowers and why I'm actually excited about them...

SO last year on Mother's Day Sunday, at church I started noticing women wearing these corsages pinned to their dresses.  Sweet...not my style, but sweet, nonetheless.  After seeing like 20 different ladies with them, I HAD to ask someone what kind "exclusive club" they all belonged to.  The answer was, in Elder's Quorum they sent around a little sign up sheet that the husbands could all sign up and pay to have these flowers delivered to their wives today.  Awww sweet...so where's mine?
Naturally, having Seattle just out of nursery's reach, and me sitting up front in Relief Society, I found my answer...as I saw Phil hanging out in the foyer with about 3 other dad's and their kids, who's wives also coincidentally, didn't have the sweet corsages either:)  I thought it was funny, but I did like harassing him about it.

Needless to say, Phil was in Elder's Quorum this year when the sign up sheets went around...and I wasn't left out this year:)  It was completely worth it!

P.S. Thanks Melanie for being the greatest and sending home the Mother's Day Treat from sacrament with Phil!  You're the BEST!

Girls Night Out!

It's been a while since the "ladies" have all gotten together:(  We had like 5 out of the 7 of us having a birthday within the month, so we decided it was an EXCELLENT excuse to get together again!  We've missed Maylene living close and are glad when new friends get to join in on the fun too.  Sorry to all the others that couldn't make it, we will definitely plan another!

We went to the "fan favorite" of the group...Oreganos!  It was a little warm, and we only had to wait about  an hour for a table...and it flew by!  Note: Always go to a packed restaruant when you're meeting up with friends you haven't seen in a while!  It's sooo good to catch up without shoving food in your mouths at the same time, which we also do, but it's still nice to get some convo in first;) 

We always tend to get a little silly and have THE BEST conversations, definitely a well needed break!

My flash on my phone for some reason flashes twice...so it tricks you!  You see the first flash...assume it's done, and go back to your usual pose when BAM it catches you for real this time!  I haven't been on the receiving end of it yet...(notice no self portraits as my FB profile) so that will explain some of these really hottt shots!  Ha Ha!  The first couple were so funny, we decided we were going to keep taking crazy shots.

Cynthia

Maylene

Amy

Melanie

Shavonne

Charilla

Thanks Ladies it was sooooo much fun!!!!!!!  Can't you tell by my scary expression?????  Bet you all would be scared to run into me after watching Eclipse,  I give a whole new meaning to "pale face"...hahaha!

Sweeping with Seattle

So I woke up in a hurry, as I do everyday...it's 8:00 and the kids have to be to school by 8:30...and I haven't had ANYONE come get their hair done, nor any of the babies come wake me up...strange.

I look over at the nightstand and I notice Boston is still mad at me for telling him he couldn't play the Wii yesterday...he left me a sweet note, see?

It's never good news when the house is quiet.  When I get downstairs I see that there is a total cereal mess on the floor,  but the kids are all ready for school, yay!  Then I hear the garage door open and close, but don't really pay attention to who opened it...because I'm in too obsessed with getting everyone's backpacks and shoes on!

A second later, Seattle passes me with a broom...on a total mission!  She ATTEMPTS to clean up the spilled cheerios on the floor...then proceeds back to the garage to put the broom away...amazing.  I'm completely speechless!  Now if only my 10, 8, and 6 year olds would do the same thing...

I've got teeth...and a little personality!

Berlin has finally gotten her two front teeth in, they look a little goofy but I LOVE the style they add to her little grins!  She's started waving and she gets so excited when she's doing it...so I had to take a picture:)

This picture is from Paris to Nana.  One of the things Paris LOVES to do everyday is read books and draw pictures to her Nana, (mom you're a lifesaver!)  it's a nightly routine they have and usually the pictures are sent via text message, but this time it's going on the blog!  I'm so thankful for modern technology!!!!!!

Madison turns 4...almost:)

We decided to celebrate Madison's birthday a little early (April 13th) since my dad was in town! 

By request, we had pink "princess ice cream cupcakes"...well it was my version anyway.  There wasn't any ice cream involved...but they looked like ice cream, so I think that counts! 

 

She LOVED her gifts! So did Haven and Seattle:)

She had to put her "twinkle toes" on immediately and ran into the bathroom with the other kids to turn off the lights and watch them light up!  Oooh I remember when that would have been the highlight of my night too;)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADISON:)

--For some reason, Madison never liked saying she was 3.  Seriously, whenever I would ask her age she would say she was 8.  No matter how often we would practice her name, birthday, and age...she would always get her age purposely wrong.  SO I tried again after her birthday and she smiled a HUGE smile and said 4!  Yay!  I don't think I'll ever know why she didn't like being 3...but I'm glad she likes being 4! 

Playing with Papa!

My mom is in South Carolina with Sarah, who is having baby boy # 3!  Yay!  Since she'll be there awhile we wanted to surprise my dad and have him come out and play with his Arizona grandkids!  Shavonne had a "free" flight earned, so it was PERFECT.  Greg and her purchased the flight and then we got to call him on conference (my family's favorite) and tell him what time he had to be to the airport...because he was coming out for a visit!!! 

It was awesome, he was pretty excited!  Shavonne and Greg are the best!  It's still perfect weather, low to mid 80's during the day, so definitely warm enough to hop in some water...but not quite swimming pool status, yet.  Shavonne and my dad took a little trip and picked up one of these beauties...it actually held all seven of them!  Crazy!

Behind the scenes...what you wouldn't know from looking at this picture is, my dad hooked the hose to fill this pool up, directly to the water heater!  He made sure all the kids were out and far away first, then he filled it up half way with hot water, then the rest with some buckets of cold from the tap!  Why didn't we think of that????  The kids LOVED it!   Of course while pouring in the buckets of cold water...it wouldn't be my dad unless he poured it on everyone!

Easter Morning...

Easter with the Wyatts

Easter at our house is all about the Egg Hunt in the morning:)  Our Easter Bunny leaves grass everywhere that he's been upstairs to get the kids excited about the "Hunt!"  The kids had to wait this year until Dad and Mom had the video and regular cam's ready!  Phil and I had EXTRA fun this year hiding Brooklyn and Boston's eggs!  Ha ha, every year they get harder and harder.  It's was hard keeping every one's eggs straight for the hunt, so the last couple of years we've had everyone have their own "themed" eggs...and then of course the rest are a free for all:)  It totally helps!

Some highlights...Paris got underwear from the Easter Bunny in her basket:)  I think they were put there as a joke, but were left to see her reaction.  When we saw her go over to the basket and pick them up, her face was pretty expressionless...so we had to ask!  "Paris, did the Easter bunny seriously bring you underwear, what a weirdo!?" -Me  "No, it was actually pretty nice, because Madison always steals mine and I need some more."-Paris
Ha Ha Ha!  Never would have thought that would some how come off as normal at all!  I guess it's a good thing she got underwear then...

Madison and Seattle took forever to find their eggs, because the minute they would find one...they were literally shaking with excitement while opening them to see what kind of candy was inside...(either the kind they could poor directly into their mouths or the kind they would need to unwrap first)  They were total addicts!

Berlin was a cutie, she was exited about the 1 egg that was in the world's smallest Easter basket!  She also had fun emptying everyone else's baskets too...

We finished off the morning with my special "Carmel Baked French Toast" and watched General Conference.  What a perfect morning!