THREE!

A few days before the BIG day, we had a fairy fete for our little pixie. The best part was having so many people we love there to celebrate with us. Mark, Aup and Teairsa drove into town just in time. Elle's Nora comes from Grandma "Nora" Johnson and she had been visiting Tom and Carma for six weeks for some medical treatments. We LOVED having her here. In fact, Elle still asks every time we're going to see Grandma and Grandpa if Grandma Nora will be there, too, and cries when the answer is no :(. Tom, Carma and Ryan were there, too, as well as our good friends the Norris' and the Lehnardts. Below are pictures of everyone singing Happy Birthday and enjoying cupcakes....

... and making fairy herb gardens with tiny basil trees, rosemary and thyme, miniature fairy furniture, rocks, sticks and leaves. Look how sad Ben is that he didn't get to make one, too :(

On the actual day--May 29--we had all the family over at the Linkous' for dinner, birthday cheesecake and presents. Top right in the picture collage below, she's singing "Whistle While You Work" with her new little broom ("just my size!"), which she desperately needed because she always wants to help me. Below that picture she's giving Grandma Nora a special thankyou hug for such a perfect gift. It doesn't matter whether I'm sweeping, cooking, or cleaning toilets, Elle's right there with me, "but I want to help you!". Love it. Grandma and Grandpa Linkous gave her a play doctor set so she can practice being brave here at home before the next appointment :) (another story for Jungle Puma history). She also got a bike and a helmet so she and Ryn can get caught up in that department. It's so fun to see her tiny little body sitting up as tall and straight as she can, miniature legs pumping away, and her calling, "I'm doing it, Mom!" Joy and the Austin gang gave her the book The Little Engine that Could, with an inscription that said, "for our little can-do cousin". I thought (as usual, with my perfect gift-giving sister) it was perfect for this tiny package of determination that is Elle. I absolutely love to watch her little mind figure things out. Mark, Aup and Teairsa gave her some bubbles, a puzzle and a snuggly bunny that she takes with her everywhere. Michelle and Mary gave her a beautiful, metal, unbreakable, tea set which we really needed with Eden wanting to always be included in the tea parties now :). The Norris' came over a whole week early to give her some My Little Ponies because they thought they would have to miss the party. And Mom and Dad sent her some birthday money that she's trying to decide just what to do with....decisions, decisions :).

And, of course, Kevin had to get some close-ups of her in Carma's secret garden. Man, I love those brown eyes and pouty lips!

He even caught some semi-smiles. I really don't know why they're so elusive when we try to take pictures since she's laughing all the time in real life. Elle is our resident comedian. After every new funny face, silly dance or crazy voice, we hear, "was that funny, Mom?" And how I love to hear her giggle! She laughs herself to tears at least 10 times per day.

Life is beautiful with Elle, as the little "Elle" pants we got in France say. When we were reading in the Book of Mormon a few days ago, we read how men in the last days will not believe that miracles can happen anymore. I stopped reading and said as strongly as I could, "MIRACLES HAPPEN." I told Elle and Ryn and Eden how THEY are my miracles. How thankful I am that miracles have not ceased. Happy Birthday, angel girl.

This is DIVINE! And healthy....in moderation:)

These are WAY better than a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup and it better be better considering the quality of the ingredients. Think of it as a super high end version of a Reese’s cup, that also just happens to be darn healthy. What a sweet combination! The expense of getting quality ingredients is certainly a bit more, but so well worth it. Use Green & Blacks Organic Baking Chocolate for almost everything. If you can find it, get it. It comes in 5.3oz bars and is one of the best commercial chocolates. Also use the Green & Blacks Cocoa Powder when needed. The type of peanut butter to get for this would be the natural kind. Ugh, you know, the ones with peanuts in it, but just organic peanuts and salt. It’s amazing how much extra unneeded junk is in most commercial peanut butters, from hydrogenated oils to funky stabilizers and preservatives. You really don’t want that stuff in your body. Do you?
Also, the crust of these tarts are super rich and healthy as well. No refined carb loading here. You make these out of just almonds and cocoa powder, and they are far easier and faster to make then the white kind.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Tarts
Makes about 4-5 5-inch tarts

For the Crust:
1 Cup Almonds
1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder (Cacao Powder)
1/4 Cup Virgin Coconut Oil
1/4 Cup Raw Sucanat Sugar
2 TB Maple Syrup
2 TB Cacao Nibs
2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/8 Tsp. Sea Salt
Step 1 Place the almonds in a food processor and process until coarsely ground. It’s ok if there are bits of almonds not broken down, this will add extra crunch and texture to the crust.
Step 2 Add the cocoa powder, sugar and salt and process to combine lightly, then add the rest of the ingredients and pulse several times until incorporated and slightly damp.
Step 3 Line your tart pans with saran wrap and then on top of it, gently press the crust mixture into the bottom and sides.
Step 4 Place them in the freezer while you prepare the fillings.

For the Chocolate Filling Layer:
1 Cup Young Coconut Meat
1/4 Cup Virgin Coconut Oil
2/3 Cup Maple Syrup
1/2 Cup Agave Nectar
8 oz Dark Bittersweet Chocolate (Green and Blacks)
1/4 Tsp. Sea Salt
2 TB Vanilla Extract
Step 1 Melt the chocolate by chopping it and melting it over a double broiler or make your own double broiler using a heat safe bowl over a pot of hot water. Set aside and allow to cool slightly.
Step 2 Scoop out and clean the meat from a young baby coconut (the ones with pointy tops and shaved white).
Step 2 Add the coconut meat along with the rest of the ingredients to a high speed blender and blend on high until everything is completely smooth and creamy with no lumps. Set aside to cool.
Note: One of the best coconut oils is Virgin De Coco Creme. If you can’t find it, get a virgin centrifugal coconut oil with a very light scent to almost no scent.

For the Peanut Butter Layer:
1 Cup Natural Smooth Peanut Butter
1 TB Virgin Coconut Oil
1/4 Cup Agave Nectar
1/4 Tsp. Sea Salt
Step 1 In a small mixing bowl, mix in the coconut oil, agave and sea salt with a large spoon.
Putting it all together:
Step 1 Take out the tart pans out of the freezer. On the bottom of crust spread a layer of Peanut Butter Mixture.
Step 2 Pour the chocolate mixture on top.
Step 3 Place these back in the freezer to set overnight. You can garnish them however you like. shavings and chocolate sauce.

ENJOY!

May funnies

May 1--Ryn: I'm He-man!
Elle: and I'm the guy who sings He-man! duh-duh-de-duh, de duh-de-de-duh, de duh-de-de-duh-duh, duh-duh (theme song)

May 3--Elle was once again gracing us with the He-man opening song, complete with narration this time--"....defend against the evil horses (original lyrics--forces) of Skeletor!"

May 7--Someone was at the door and Elle came to get me in my room, "Mom! Someone is ringing the Dora bell!"

May 8--Ryn asked me at breakfast, "Mom, is it OK if I do exercises?" I didn't know what in the world she was talking about until I looked at her arms, covered with goose bumps. "Sure, Ryn."
She jumped out of her chair, ran into the family room, did 20 jumping jacks and returned to her cereal a little warmer.

May 9--For Mother's Day in her class at church, Elle made me a card that had a little bag of Hershey kisses attached to it. When she brought it to me, she said, "Mom! I've got a treat for you! ...and for me, and for Daddy, and for Ryn and for Eden!"

Yep, she is one treat-driven gal. So we have tried to get them to stay in their own beds every night by offering a treat the next day if they do. Elle had a sure-fire plan to get two treats on this day. Kev had given her one and she came back, asking, "Can I have a treat for staying in my bed?" "I already gave you one." "No, that was for Elle. I'm Jaydna."

May 13--I was pushing Elle on the swing in the backyard and she was closing her eyes for quite a while. "Are you sleeping?" "No, I'm just making funny faces so everyone will laugh and come out of their houses and it will be a big party! I like parties."

May 16--Elle: Dad, I'm going to do something nice for Jesus. It will make Him happy and He will give me his Spirit.

We were over at the Linkous' walking around in Carma's amazing garden. Elle tried to put into words how she felt about such a beautiful place. "Mom, this is a good land."

May 18--Kit: How about oatmeal for breakfast?
Elle: No! I want suckers!.... Suckers and eggs!

May 19--Ryn: Are you a princess?
Elle: No
R: A queen?
E: No. I'm a....people.

Elle had a blister on her foot and Ryn asked what caused blisters. I told her that they come from your shoes rubbing your feet the wrong way. She put it all together--my explanation, plus the fact that she didn't have any blisters on her feet. So when Elle asked Ryn one more time, "What's a blister?", Ryn gave her this: "You put your shoes on and it started scrubbing you the wrong way. My shoes are scrubbing my feet the right way."

May 23--Eden's favortie word is 'Daaaaaa-ddy'. I had her with me in Relief Society and she did great for the entire hour....until I started putting everything back in our bag during our announcements (our RS does them after the closing prayer). She assumed it was over and headed for the door, calling loudly in a 'I'm coming to find you' voice, "Daaaaa-dy......Daaaaaa-dy!"

May 24--We played a memory game for FHE and Elle picked 2 different cards on her turn. "Let's pretend it's a match," she suggested.

May 25--After drinking her OJ, Elle thanked me for the good juice. "I liked the orange feathers in it."

I love the teaching moments that happen any time and anywhere. Ryn asked me, "What am I doing here on earth?" as we were driving home from the store. Can anything in the world be more wonderful than teaching the gospel to angel children?! I LOVE THIS!!!!

May 26--We were making cupcakes for Elle's bday party (yes, I promise to post pictures soon :)) and I only have one pan. Thankfully, sweet Marcene had 4 more she could lend us. As she was leaving I thanked her for saving us from the "ten years it would have taken to make all those cupcakes with my one pan." A few minutes later, Ryn was filling Elle in on our situation "....it's not going to take ten months because of the things Dee and Marcene gave us..." I hadn't even realized I had said the 'ten years' part until I heard Ryn say that :)

Later on, Ryn and Elle were trying some new tricks on the couch that Ryn knew I wouldn't be too keen on. So she asked me not to look--"Mom, don't see me do such a thing!"

May 27--You know you're going to be in for some tricky teenage years when, at 2.98 years old, your daughter calls to you with this, "Mom! Come in here and watch how I kiss Hercules!" There was Elle, falling over trying to kiss her imaginary hero with one tiny foot lifted up behind her.

May 30--The girl who never sleeps gets lonely for her big sister during the night, so we were bound to hear this at some point, "Ryn! Obey me now! Wake up!"