Friday, August 29, 2008

Worn Out

Decisions, decisions. Brian and I are both a little worn out this week, we've had a lot of extra leg work from the accident, and are tentatively going to buy a new car tonight. As this is the anniversary weekend of when we bought our car last year, Mazda sent us a present. It was a small bottle of touch-up paint, with a nice note about keeping our Mazda looking pretty. We looked at each other, giggling that we might need about 600 more bottles, and maybe a sledgehammer (thanks Andi). My mind is mushy=not able to compose an intelligent post!!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

RIP Mazda 5

Mazda 5 Sept. 2007-August 2008



To our dearly beloved Mazda 5,

We are so sorry to see you leaving us so soon, exactly 1 year after you joyously entered our lives. We thought we'd have more time with you, more memories, we had no idea! You were our first mini-van, and you didn't disappoint! I didn't even take a picture of you until after the accident, I'm sorry. I hope that you are happy in junkyard heaven, we will miss you....... at least until we go get a 2008 Mazda 5.



p.s. Thanks for taking one for the team and keeping Bella and I safe!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

1st Ever Family Fun Night

One of the blogs that I read does a themed family fun night on a regular basis, and we thought we'd give it a shot. We went with a movie theme but couldn't come up with a game to go with it, so we set up an obstacle course in the basement. Whenever you touched something, you got a horn beep, courtesy of Bernard. When that got old it turned into a tickle fight, because lets face it, who doesn't love a good tickle fight?

We rented the Bee movie, and ate nachos on the couch while we watched it. Then, to top it all off, we had chocolate chip cookies with ice cream on top. Can we party or what???


Brian going through the treacherous course with his eye's closed, so wild.




Bella didn't quite understand the rules, and pretty much touched everything.




Thursday, August 21, 2008

Update: My Poor Car and a Prayer Request








So I drove over to the tow lot to get some things that I left in my car today, and the car didn't look quite as bad as I remember. My dad told me to go and see if it looks even better tomorrow! We were unsure of an auto body to take it to, and my friend Erin reminded me that her in-laws own a shop, so that's a huge relief to take it to a shop we trust. I spent most of the day on the phone with insurance companies, rental companies, etc. but again was just so grateful that we weren't stuck in a hospital hurt.


Speaking of being stuck in a hospital, my friend Amy's mom has been in failing health and in a hospital since May. Amy also has a toddler and a newborn, and actually delivered the baby a few floors down as her mom lay in surgery above her. Needless to say, their family has been on a emotional roller coaster over these last few months, and are in need of prayer. Please join me in lifting up Amy's mom and family. If you would like to read more about her story, you can check it out at www.caringbridge.org/visit/judylablance


On a lighter note, despite asking for a minivan the rental agency gave me a bus. I actually had to rearrange the garage so that it would fit! Also, I cannot reach back and smack the kids when they are naughty like I used to (kidding). Hopefully we have our car back soon!

My Poor Car

Yesterday morning Bella and I were in a nasty car accident. Luckily, other than being sore and a little bruised, we are fine. I feel so grateful so have had God's protection during the crash! I was going straight through a green light at a busy intersection, and the other driver failed to yield (she said she didn't see us) and although I saw her, it was impossible to avoid at the speeds we were driving and with the other cars around us. I veered to the right and hit the breaks, she slammed into the back of the van, and the van spun out and smashed into a curb.




It was very loud and scary, Bella was really freaked out and crying. The other woman had a young girl in her car and she was scared but OK as well. Some witnesses stopped to make sure no one was hurt, and a police officer was there in minutes. My good friend Elizabeth came and got Bella for me, and Brian was there shortly too. My mind felt so shaky and it was so hard to answer any questions! All in all, everything good that could have happened did. Bella even managed to snag a teddy bear from the police officer who was trying to cheer her up.




As you can imagine, Bernard was fascinated by the news. He begged Brian to take him to see our smashed van, and had a gazillion questions. He also told anyone with an ear about the accident, describing it in great detail and with hand motions, even though everything he heard was second hand! He is such a boy!




Bella with her new bear, whom she named Reedough.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Cheesecake Topped Brownies



I made this yummy treat last night for our small group. It's easy and so good!





Start with a box of brownies that has frosting included, I use this.





Prepare the brownies according to package directions. Spread into a greased 9x13 baking pan.


Next take 1 block softened cream cheese, 2TB softened butter, and 1TB cornstarch and beat till fluffy. Gradually beat in 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1 egg, and 1tsp vanilla till smooth.




Pour cream cheese mixture over brownie batter.



Optional: melt 2TB seedless raspberry jam, dot the cream cheese mixture with it, then lightly trace through with a toothpick.






Bake at 350 for 45 minutes, or till top is lightly browned. Allow to cool, spread with frosting, top with whipped cream if desired. Store in refrigerator, you can freeze it too.


2 year old Bella licking some brownie batter.






















I have no idea who she takes after!




















Sunday, August 17, 2008

Rural Life

Two of the 3 puppies at the farm that are free to a good home.....any takers?

Bella holding the beloved kitty cat.


This weekend we visited our hometown to celebrate my in-law's birthdays. Not only did we get to nosh on cake and homemade ice cream, but we also visited our uncle's farm next door and the kids got to play with some adorable puppies and kitty cats. Both kids want a cat SO bad, but neither myself or Brian is hip to having another mouth to feed.
Bernard also got a ATV ride (with helmet of course) and got to go fishing with daddy and grandpa. To top it all off, we went to a parade! Quite a day in the life of a pre-schooler! The kids couldn't get over that fact the people were throwing candy at them, Bella was shoveling in as fast as she could.

Waving to Fred Bird.









Friday, August 15, 2008

Yummy Chocolate Cake





This is our favorite birthday cake recipe. It tastes like a chocolate bar in cake form. It's great with a silky butter cream icing!

Chocolate Velvet Cake

1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tsp instant coffee or espresso
1 cup of boiling water

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 sticks butter, softened

1 1/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1.Preheat oven to 350, spray cake pan with Pam and dust with flour. You can use 2 rounds or a 9x13 pan.

2.Mix cocoa with coffee, add boiling water (you can also use 1 cup of freshly brewed coffee instead of the water and instant coffee). Cool slightly and add vanilla, set aside.

3. Cream butter and sugar, beat till fluffy and white. Add eggs one at a time, beat well.

4.Whisk flour, soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Add about 1/3 dry ingredients to the sugar mixture, followed by 1/3 coffee mixture. Repeat twice more till all is incorporated. Then scrape sides and beat about 15 seconds longer.

5. Divide batter into pans, bake until just firm in the center, about 25 minutes for rounds and 30 for 9x13. Assemble and frost once cool!






Bern blowing out the candles on his spider-man cake.







Little miss and her tinker-bella cake.

First Post!


Hello everyone! After enjoying other people's blogs I've decided to try my hand. I am not a very good writer but will mostly post pictures to update family and friends, and will add recipes that I like. I've not worked professionally in over 5 years (and some of that time has been spent watching the wiggles and lacking sleep) so my brain function isn't what it used to be!

This is Bernard, he is 5 and started school this week!! He LOVES digging up worms, which is what he is so proudly displaying in the photo. He is wild card, just last week I caught him sitting on an egg (trying to hatch it), of course it broke so he flooded the kitchen trying to clean it up. My fault for trying to blow dry my hair!

He has a great heart, just very curious and it gets him into trouble. He loves his sister Bella, but that doesn't stop him from bothering her.



This is our Bella. She is 3 and loves all things pink and purple. She is a girly girl who loves dresses, babies, and cake. She also has a mild obsession with shoes, which she might have gotten from her mother. She is our little sweetie and balances out our family.


That's all for today, we are heading to the gym!