Happy Valentine's Day

Wow, I can't believe it's February 14th already!  Seems like we were quietly ringing in the new year a couple of weeks ago.  And I still can't grasp that it's Thursday, where did this week go??  Our weekend absolutely flew by, we sure packed a lot in to 2 days.  On Saturday we set off in both vehicles to stay with my parents in Glasgow, MO and visit our oldest son, Jacob, on the way.  We enjoyed a late lunch with Jake and friend, Eric before turning them loose in one of our cars for the night.  It was a treat for them to have wheels on campus, even if just for 24 hours.

The rest of us, all four, spent about an hour at the mall before heading on to our destination.  Once we arrived, it was a race to the dining room to see how Mom decorated her "bust" for the holiday.  I'm not sure when she began using the figure as part of her decor--or where it came from for that matter--but she's so clever to use it every season.  Wonder what will adorn her after today??

Mom's Muse

The boys met up with Jake and the car after church on Sunday, while Mom and I hurried on to KC for a family baby shower.  We had a fantastic time visiting with relatives--not to mention the drive to and from--and I got an extra night in Glasgow with Mom and Dad.  Monday, after a pit stop at Jake's dorm to deliver Valentine muffins and a spin through Columbia's big antique mall--stay tuned to see my big purchase-- I returned home.

What a weekend, lots of miles and smiles.  We don't ever know how long we have in any one place, but being within driving distance to our son in college and our families is definitely worth it!!

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Sugar and spice...

...that's what little girls are made of!  So the rhyme goes anyway.  Coming from a household full of boys, pink and flowery are two adjectives seldom used in sentences around our dinner table.  Don't get me wrong, I love all things feminine--clothes, shoes, nail polish, pillows, duvet covers...--but I'm on my own in that.  And of course we have three nephews, so no dresses and bows being purchased for Birthdays or Christmas either.  Most of our friends have sons, and the few babies we know being born are boys as well.  Hmmm....

As I said in my previous post, the only other one I've composed, we recently moved to a new duty station with the Army.  Imagine my surprise after unpacking and finally getting around to meet neighbors, there are more girls than boys on the street.  Little girls, dressed in "the" cutest little outfits, toting stuffed animals while running up and down the street screaming.  Ahhhh, heaven on lower Totten St.  The best part being that I can get my fix by chatting about ponies and purple and come back inside to soccer and calm.  

Since moving in, one family has had a parent deploy--mom.  They have three little ones, and dad--retired military--stays home with them.   On occasion the two girls come over to bake with me, something they miss doing with their mom.   I absolutely love it!  And I love hearing them tell me their favorite things to bake with her and what they'll make when she returns.  

Boxed and ready to go

Yesterday was the middle daughters birthday--she turned 6--and I decided to take them cupcakes.  I've been wanting to try this recipe from Magnolia Bakery,  so what better reason.  Of course they were frosted in pink and sprinkled with candy flowers.  We kept a few for us, and delivered two boxes and a bundle of pretty balloons to them before dinner.  They were so excited to see us, so much so that the youngest disappeared around the corner and returned with a piece of construction paper clad in foam letters and pirate stickers.  Did I say Heaven already??  As promised, it now resides on our fridge, where I haven't had child art in some time.   Melt....

I tried my best to create the frosting "swirl" that sets Magnolia cupcakes apart, but after watching the video twice, I just don't have 40 extra hours.  Be sure and let me know if you master it!!!

Dessert for us

Reinventing Forty

These past few months we've been talking to our kids -- they're 18, soon to be 16 and 12, hardly kids -- about reaching outside of their comfort zones and trying new things.  Don't get me wrong, we're a military family and we've done our fair share of "new", every 1-2 years in fact.  It just doesn't seem right to keep preaching, so here I am, leading by example.

Now that we're settled and have formed a routine, we moved to what might be our last duty station(eek!) last summer, I've been thinking about my next venture.  That brings me to blogging.  I know, where have I been all these years??  I just began reading a blog, after searching for a recipe of something I ate while visiting my sister in England, two years ago.  That's been the only one I followed until recently when that blogger posted a link to one of her favorite bloggers.  I checked it out, loved it, and realized this was just what I want to do.   

I hope you enjoy following along, who knows where this might lead!!