strawberry or raspberry

I apologize for my lack of posting! Not that I have a huge following . . but I do like to keep my loved ones updated. I just haven't felt inspired lately, I suppose, though I have been busy.
I visited my mom for a week, Finn came along. We had so much fun! Shopping, the zoo, a tiny inflatable baby pool, more shopping, many meals al fresco; it was a revitalizing mini-vacation. Scott stayed home, walked Rufus regularly, and ate God knows what for dinner.
Oh, and my mom and I found this gorgeous antique cake stand at an antique shop my mom frequents. It is begging for an upside-down peach cake, and I have promised it one next week. But the first cake to grace the cake stand will be my dear friend Mimi's birthday cake. She has requested chocolate cake with chocolate icing, and who am I to deny her? I will use local jam in between the two cake layers, I just have to decide which to use - strawberry or raspberry. I'm looking forward to indulging in chocolate butter cream frosting. Oh my.

In other news, Finn is crawling! I rearranged the kitchen and made him a "play cabinet". It's full of fun things like washed clamshells - you know, the ones that greens come in at the grocery - ice cube trays, mixing spoons, wooden bowls, etc. He loves it, and it's perfect to keep him in sight and away from the stove while I cook or wash dishes.
Here's the juicy triple berry crisp I made that lasted less than 24 hours. It would be an enormous understatement to say that it turned out pretty good. Too bad the photo quality doesn't convey that.

Back to the cake dilemma . . which jam would you prefer in between the layers of your chocolate cake - strawberry or raspberry?

things with lemon

Another week has flown by. My love graduated Nursing School! Well, he attended the ceremony. He still has summer classes however. But his graduation ceremony meant we had family in town and I, for one, love my in-laws. So it was a grand ol' time. A few days before the family arrived, I happened upon an incredible deal at my local natural food store.
When life hands you half off lemons . . .

you make things with lemon!!!

Lemon bars, lemon almond biscotti (not pictured - I used Dorie Greenspan's Lenox Almond Biscotti recipe and added lemon zest), and lemon scones (Molly's Scottish Scones with Lemon and Ginger).

We also attended a graduation party for the nursing students and I brought along Paula Deen's Gooey Butter Cake. Gooey Butter Cake originated in St. Louis, and now that we're living in the midwest, we find it at almost every coffee shop in town. Scott loves it, and since it was his graduation, I made it.

Today the baby and I will be going to visit my mom, who lives 5 hours away. We're leaving Scott and the dog at home, and we'll be missing them sorely. On a happy note, though, I'll get to spend some time with my brother, who's about to deploy to Qatar. Omaha zoo, here we come!

we had a picnic planned

My week has flown by!
Here are the highlights:
- a lightning storm
- an indoor picnic featuring iced tea, chicken salad in pita pockets, fresh veggies, and chocolate cake with wine soaked strawberries
- an impromptu bbq with burgers, brats, roasted potatoes, pasta salad, and strawberries
- a mother's day dinner cooked by a friend, and for dessert peach champagne sorbet with fresh bananas and blood oranges
- tie dye
- a new game where Scott builds towers of blocks and Finn knocks them down
- new vacuum cleaner



And coming up:
- Scott graduates from Nursing School on Friday!

practicing cherishing

I am sorry, but I don't know if I have any photos to share today.
But I do have some links!
At the craft club on Thursday, we did this. Our shirts came out awesome.
Today on NPR I heard Mo Willems' interview with Michele Norris. Mo talks about how adults don't draw, because they realize they aren't good at it. He makes a good point - you don't stop playing basketball (or doing whatever other hobby) when you realize you'll never make it professionally. He encourages adults to draw, because when you are drawing, you are empathizing.
So I did a little doodle.

I suppose I do have a photo, after all. Here's Finn with Natalie.

And today I've been contemplating the act of cherishing.
With Finn so young, but the days and weeks already slipping by so quickly, I've been practicing cherishing him. I try to take mental photos, but they fade. Instead, I find it's better for me to just revel in the moment. One of my favorite moments to practice cherishing is after I've nursed him to sleep, when I'm holding and rocking him. I take in every detail - his limp arms, his solid little body, his soft hair under my chin. Precious moments indeed.

Which moments do you cherish?