Graduation 2027

For his high school graduation, spring of 2027.

I'm thinking poster size?

And yes, I did make him go wash his hands!

Red Velvet Cake

Aunt Pam's
Red Velvet Cake

Ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 ounces red food color
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda dissolved in 1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 cups cake flour

Frosting:
5 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup crisco
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Cream shortening, sugar and eggs. Mix in food coloring, vanilla, salt and soda/vinegar mixture. Alternately add buttermilk and cake flour. Pour batter into lightly greased pan, bake at 350 degrees for 30-40  minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Makes 1 9x13 or 2 8" rounds.

Frosting Directions:
Over medium heat, make a paste with the flour and milk. While paste is cooling, blend remaining ingredients. When paste is lukewarm, beat into other ingredients.

*Aunt Pam is brings this to our family Christmas every year.
*I made my own cake flour! I followed her directions.
*I substitute whatever store-brand shortening I have for the crisco.
*I use butter instead of margarine.
* I use my Kitchen Aid Mixer for the frosting-the longer you beat it, the lighter and fluffier it gets!
*I was going to make this for St. Patrick's Day- never got it done. I made it for Easter...only had one ounce of green food coloring-substituted water for the other ounce. Can you imagine if I used that much more?!

oh.so.good.

Window On My World

*Early* morning fog over the rye

April 2012

Cutest Cat

Is this not the cutest thing? This is how I found Miss Nora one day after work this week.  All curled up on my bed.

*she still has a shaved spot*

A Wiggle In Her Walk..

Isabelle Josephine

Easter morning she asked me to put her hair in a pony tail so "it will wobble when I walk around the yard".

Passover

Saturday evening Ryan and I had the pleasure of attending a Seder Dinner with our friends Amir & Nili at their Temple.

We had a fabulous time, as we always do with them- and what a wonderful learning experience too!

Elizabeth and I had an argument over what Passover was about.  If you are curious, check it out HERE.  (I was right)



Angle Family Fun Day- Part 2

Ben, Mindy and my fabulous nieces and nephews had spent a few days in Topeka before coming to our house.  They made a few purchases while the were there:

Big John and Ben
or was it
John and Big Ben?
Jim?

They are HUGE. HUGE.

"... I like big butts and I cannot lie..."

I like the way they sound on the road! The clip-clop of their shoes makes me happy.

Sweet baby Lucas and Nana.

Hunter

Miss Lydia was ready to go home. Really ready for me to stop taking pictures of her.

oh ugh. She melts my heart!

Jackson is such a baby hog.

I love her little piggies hanging out of the chair!

So, so snuggly sweet. Smells good too!

And then they left, one by one.

I am sad we all live so far apart. I really wish I could see them more often. I would love to host family dinner once a week!

Easter Sunday

Christ is RISEN! He is risen INDEED!

Easter Sunday is my favorite day of the year to go to church. ok, fine. I have two favorites: Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve.

After church, we had "Family Dinner" with our surrogate family. So fun to catch up with good friends, and over-eat delicious comfort food!

Sunday afternoon, Justin (our surrogate son) took the lead and hid eggs for the kids.

There was much banter over the whole ordeal.

Justin did a great job- he actually put some thought into the process, making sure Isabelle and Jackson could find some:

And then he really hid some:

Can you see it in there?!

She was fairly confident in her hunting skills. Justin made her work for them!

William, who is our best mushroom hunter found the least. He was a little disappointed.
He got over it.

Yes, those are cows in his basket.

"Smile Ibabelle"

Jackson got tired of looking...and snuggled up with Daddy.

Scoping out the loot!

Spring Break Tuesday, Day 4

We live in the best little community!

Over spring break, several business' and organizations offer free activities for families. Tuesday, we headed out and enjoyed a FREE lunch-outside! Right next to a water fountain.  We made it out without getting wet, but some other guest were not quite as lucky!

 

After lunch, we headed down the street to a FREE movie!

None of us had seen it before, and we really enjoyed it!

After the movie, they talked me into ice cream.

They really were happy about it, but you sure can't tell from this pic!

And then, I was done with spring break.

Even though we had a great time, there was still much bickering, and normal? sibling rivalry.

So, on the way home, I stopped and got a bottle of wine- spring break and I officially broke up over a glass of moscato and a late night movie.

Easter Sunday

Has anyone seen these guys?

I love them.

Yesterday at church, we watched "Grace".  Go. Watch.
You'll laugh and learn.

Angle Family Fun Day, Part 1

Angle Family Fun Day started on Thursday afternoon (2 weeks ago) with the arrival of my parents. 

Friday morning Dad took William, Isabelle and Jackson to the Topeka horse auction, and Mom spent the entire day with Elizabeth and I cleaning.

My brother Ben, sister-in-law Mindy arrived at bedtime Friday evening with their four munchkins.

My two oldest nephews came later Friday night- they are old enough to drive themselves AND bring a girlfriend! oh my.

My brother Reuben, girlfriend NaTasha and their additional two, finally got here Saturday afternoon.

Unfortunately, my baby brother and his little family could not make it. We sure missed them!

I took tons of pictures (with the wrong lense) especially of this little cutie:

Miss Ashley Jean.
 She is about 1 month younger than Jackson- and totally mothered him while she was here.  It was adorable. And she's funny. So funny.  Says the cutest things!

An early morning swing session with Papa.

This was our first time meeting Ben & Mindy's baby:

Lucas Benjamin.

Such a good natured little guy. And, he wasn't completely opposed to me holding him either!

Saturday afternoon Nana made a hopscotch grid for the kids to play on- Isabelle was completely distraught because "Nana DID NOT make it right!" oh my. 

The weather was beautiful, and we were outside most of the day- riding bikes, jumping on the trampoline, hopscotch, in and out of the playhouse. But the most exciting thing of the day? Uncle Ben fixed Jackson's Gator.

He never let's anyone else drive- but Miss Ashley can hold her own!

Jackson was smitten with my newest niece:

Princess Edy.

She is a love.