We Have a 5-Year Old

My dearest fury firstborn is five today.  I ask myself, "Where did the time go?!"  I know she's not your typical firstborn, but I do think that a lot of the same feelings of having any type of 5-year old would throw you into a frenzy.  5 year old child, 5 year old marriage, 5 year old ball of fur, 5 year old pair of shoes. . . You get the point.  It really makes one ponder the concept of time.  In all reality, it goes by WAY TOO FAST.

Dodson's Izzy Bear (according to her AKC registration papers)-

Thank you for being the sweetest pup known to mankind!  You truly have brought so much joy to our lives.  You may just be a canine friend, but you have taught us many things that parents of human children need to know.  Unconditional love (your willingness to snuggle is endless), patience (especially in the beginning! yikes!), the need for peace in our home (otherwise you run up the stairs and hide from all of the nonsense), and compassion (thank you for all of the times that you allowed me to cry in your coat).  You are a tiny glimpse of what it's like to be godlike.  We love you!

-Your Mom & Dad

PS-  This year we will celebrate with homemade treats (I actually have a dog bone cookie cutter) and homemade frosty paws.  I will try and do a lot more of this for you, Cherro Perro.  After all, you only have 3 more years. . . teases your dad.  Little does he know, you will be one of those rare cases that lives to be 17!

Svenska Pannkakor (Swedish Pancakes)

Thank you google for the translation.  I figure, if my brother is working on some Nordic language skills . . . I should do the same.

Sunday morning is our homemade breakfast designated time, unless we decide to do breakfast for dinner . . .we enjoy that too.  We have some breakfast favorites.  Steven LOVES the Swedish pancakes at Stockholm Inn in Rockford.  I know I've talked about it before.  They are a definite treat when we go back to visit my family.  Im talking every other day (for the brothers/dad/huz in my life).  In the meantime, we'll enjoy our homemade version:

Swedish Pancakes:

3/4 cup sifted flour

1 Tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt (optional)

3 eggs

1 1/4 cup milk

2 Tbsp oil

Sift dry ingredients. Combine beaten eggs, milk and oil. Add to dry ingredients, stirring until smooth. Pour batter a tablespoon at a time on hot griddle, tilting griddle to make a very thin cake. Serve with melted butter sprinkled with sugar, and hot lingonberry or blueberry sauce.  Maple syrup is a favorite too.

Enjoy or Smaklig måltid, rather!

Homemade Hot Chocolate and Some 'Elf'

Sorry for the delay in posts!  We were having too much fun with my little brother in town!

Friday night particularly stands out, because we enjoyed homemade hot chocolate, a little Sequence, and our premier viewing (this season) of 'Elf'.  

Always a good laugh!

**I would omit the vanilla extract next time . . . definitely add whipped cream and a candy cane for extra goodness!**

Pooker's in Town!

Sunday night, my little brother came into town for a week's stay.  Initially, it was going to be a surprise for Steven's birthday, but Steven started feeling neglected by my brother (they have a sort of bromance) due to the fact that he will be gone for two years; (deserves its own post) and so we ended up telling him a week after the tickets were booked.  Needless to say, Steven was excited!

Monday and Tuesday night were spent:
 -making cinnamon rolls --something about Christopher and Steven together calls for cinnamon rolls.  Tradition maybe?
-I started reading the book, "Christmas Jars" by Jason F. Wright . . . so far, very sweet
-My brother and I attempted to watch "I'll Be Home for Christmas" . . .terrible/awful but full of holiday cheer, I suppose!
-Hanging out and spending some good quality time together

We love having him here!

Treat Bags, Photos & Our Christmas Cards

We started to get our act together around here Sunday afternoon . . .

I made this Peppermint Crunch Puppy Chow as gifts for the women that I visit teach.  They were a warm up for the big holiday baking day that I have planned for next week!  You better believe that I'm going to have an evening dedicated to Christmas treats!

We also took some pictures for our Christmas card.  Isn't this pup a gem? The red bow just kills me!  

I'm a little excited to get my printed cards back.  This year I ordered from Invitation Box . . . I snagged a good deal on Groupon and am anticipating their arrival!  I'm hoping to send them out SOON!

BTW . . . I LOVE this time of year due to all of the Christmas cards received.  I've enjoyed every single one . . keep them coming!

Mom's Birthday Weekend in Vegas!

I need to play catch-up!  We have had a busy two weeks, with lots to talk about. . . 

Last Thursday, my parents got into town for my mom's birthday weekend.  Despite my bout with the stomach flu, we were able to celebrate our hearts out! 

Some of the weekend's events included:

-KA Cirque du Soleil - Friday night

-My Mom's favorite chocolate cake

-Two golf dates for the boys

-One hike up Lone Mountain (my Dad, Steven, Bear)

-Jazz and Dinner out at Lake Las Vegas

-Lots and lots of good conversation with my Mom (as always!)

And my family got some really great news, that deserves its very own post . . .

My Go To Summer Dessert

Recipe from Marthastewart.com

The last couple of weekends, we have hosted dinner with friends or have been hosted by friends.  Needless to say, it's great.  It's fun to just be able to enjoy a good meal, with good company, and then play games or swim or what have you.

So, for the past two weekends, I have whipped up a new favorite of ours!  It's easy, tasty, light and fresh for summer, and has looks to impress.  No one will ever know that it was a last minute dessert.  Plus - it's all from scratch. . . no boxed cake mix here!

Makes 1 Two-Layer Cake

For the Cake (x2):

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 cup cold water

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together all-purpose flour, sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and coarse salt.
2. Make a well in center of flour mixture and add vegetable oil, pure vanilla extract, white vinegar, and cold water. Whisk until well combined.  Pour into a prepared 8 in round cake pan.  Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Cake Assembly:

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Cakes, baked in 2 8-inch round cake pans
• 2 pints heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 quart fresh strawberries, washed, trimmed and thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS

1. Bake cakes and cool completely.
2. Whip the cream to soft peaks, add the sugar and vanilla, and whip again until just stiffened. Do not over mix!
3. Slice the top off 1 cake round to make a flat surface. Spread bottom cake round with a thick layer of whipped cream. Top with a layer of half the amount of strawberries. Top with the other cake round and spread with another thick layer of whipped cream. Top with remaining strawberries.
4. Slice and serve with any extra whipped cream and berries on the side.

Voila! You won't be disappointed!

Our Fourth - 2012

I love spending the 4th here in my hometown.  I feel so patriotic celebrating in a smaller town.  I have yet to spend our nation's holiday in Vegas, but something tells me that it wouldn't feel the same.  I may be completely wrong. . .

This Fourth. . .

-We (more like, I) decided it was a boat shoe kinda day - So American, ha!

-Once again, my dad outdid himself on the BBQ - his fajitas were FANTASTIC!

-We went down by the Rock River for fireworks and left a disheveled mess (the humidity is deadly right now. . .my hair is proof).

-We caved in, and at 11pm; we found ourselves savoring the Red, White, and Blue Trifle (one of our best traditions, yet!)

-I got to spend another holiday with my family, which is, always terrific!

Tomorrow, we are off to St. Louis for a Cardinal's game, sampling of a Man vs. Food restaurant, and exploring my little brother's favorite city!  I love summer!