Guess Who is Being a Big Baby?

If you guessed Pooldad you win a prize.

Seems the poor soul thinks Wallene and I are going to perish [or something] while camping [gasp!] alone this weekend.

The questions I have been asked in the past 3 hours:

• Are you going if it rains? [YES]
• Oh, it is thunderstorming. Are you driving tomorrow if it is storming? [YES]
• Phones. PHONES! What about a phone? What?...oh, yeah you can take mine. Okay.
• Are there locks on the cabin doors? [YES]
• Sure you don't want to take Scooby? Well, y'know...he is pretty big. [NO]
• [Looking sadder by the minute] What do you mean you are leaving a day early and at 11 am? What? ['Cause I reserved an extra night. Love you honey, but gotta' go.]
• Don't forget your inhaler, okay? [Um, duh?]
• What do you mean y'all are going to Carl's Ice Cream without us? ['Cause we can and we will be there. hee!] Ask me about Carl's sometime. VA institution, worth it's reputation.
• When I asked him for the quickest way to 95 south from his work [since I am dropping him off] he tried to map me onto BACK ROADS so as to avoid as much highway driving as possible. I rolled my eyes and said "No. Quickest way to 95. Not the Daddy route, okay?" He acts like I don't drive. I am the one that keeps our insurance rates low.
• Do you need any tools? [NO]
• I really don't think you will go without me. [I just waved at him, oh, so gently to indicate "Wanna bet?" hee.]
• Why are you giggling? ['Cause you are funny?] What are you typing? [About you] Is this a blog about me? [You betcha']

Can't wait 'till he gets to work tomorrow and reads this. Hi baby! I love you! [Waving again!]

It is incredibly endearing. This will be the first trip I have taken since I was diagnosed - anyone remember the extreme roadtrips I used to take to my Mom's in SC? Yeah, so he knows I can do this, but good christ he is driving me nutsy. LOL. And I can guarantee this is really going to pick up in the morning. The man seems to forget that I raised two babies by myself before he came along and have spent many, many a long day, night alone while he worked. With Wallene [who is the most capable and protective kid I have ever met] we will be just fine.

Stand by for updates on the Big Baby. I can assure you they will be forthcoming. ;)

I Have a New Crafting/Internet Surfing Partner

She loves to sit on my lap when I am on the computer. This is where I do all of my crafty things [see my board and all my cups full of crafty stuff?] But I have no idea what she thinks she is doing. She just likes to sit and stare at my computer. heehee.....

Shhhhh....Don't Tell

I just reserved a camping site in Fredericksburg, VA to take Wallene camping on Saturday night. Yvo she was THRILLED that you asked about the guest blog [the squeal? 5.6 on the Richter scale, 'kay?], but I am suffering cabin fever and need to get the heck out of here - so would you consider "Wallene Does Camp Cooking" instead of the dinner she was going to cook for Pooldad and me? :)

I can't wait to surprise her in the morning - it is a great campground with a nice pool, game room and AWESOME fishin' hole [our favorite thing to do together]. So it will be Wallene and me in the "wilds" of a KOA this weekend.

Can't wait. She is a great kid and very deserving of a little Mommy time.

PS- before anyone accuses me of doing this because the child has stuffed me full of sweets - you are wrong - she has been SO bored - as we only have one car, Dad is at work, Sis is at band practice etc. - that she has been baking her lil' heart out. So I figured a weekend fishing, swimming and playing cards [she is a darn SHARK at Rummy...lol - I am taking bets on who wins the 500 Rummy tournament this weekend and don't bet on Skippy, kay?] we would have a great time. So not a payoff for the baking so much as I just want to be away from here and enjoy my baby.

PSS - for those wondering why the Eldest and Pooldad aren't going? They would prefer to sleep through the weekend. They have no desire to be awake before 1 pm. We don't want 'em. The fish bite early, y'know?

And the Baking Streak Continues...

[stock photo, not my own]

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And my waistline is feeling the pain tadpoles.

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Today's delicious desserts are [again] courtesy of Wallene and they include an Apple Pie [no pic' because I have already posted a pic' from a previous pie making adventure] and yes! yes! yes!
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My baby made Beignets! The honest to goodness, New Orleans styled, may I eat ten and be covered in powdered sugar wonderfulness that is a beignet.
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And no picture now. Because as much as I don't mind a black and white computer at the moment while I type this I hesitate to try and get the memory card out of my camera with my hands covered in powdered sugar.
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We're all getting fat...giggle...Wish you were here?

Happy Birthday to Sis'

Wallene has been on a baking streak and it all began with her sister's birthday cake. The eldest picked Red Velvet Cake and Wallene happily obliged. I just have to say moist-y goodness. Yum.


Red Velvet Cake
Recipe from Southern Cuisine

2 ½ cups plain flour
1 ½ cups sugar
1 tsp. cocoa baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 ½ cup vegetable oil
1 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla flavoring
1 tsp almond flavoring
2 eggs (medium or large)
1 bottle red food coloring (1 oz size)
Directions:
Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda and cocoa powder into a big bowl that you’ll use to mix the cake.
Using a hand or table mixer, put in the milk. Mix.
Add oil and mix.
Add vinegar, vanilla and almond flavoring. Mix.
Lightly beat the eggs in a small bowl. Add and mix.
Add the food coloring. Mix until the batter is even in color.
Grease and flour 3 cake pans – size 8 inches.
Evenly pour the batter into the three pans.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until the center tests done with a toothpick.
Let the cake cool and then frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

½ cup margarine (softened)
8 oz. cream cheese
½ tsp vanilla flavoring
1 box of confectioners sugar (1 pound)
1 cup pecans (may also want some extras to sprinkle on top)**

Directions:

Beat the margarine and cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl until light and creamy.
Add vanilla and confectioners sugar and beat well.
Hand stir in pecans.
Spread cream cheese icing between layers of the Red Velvet cake, up the sides and on top.
If you have lots of pecans, then sprinkle some pieces on top.
The pecans are especially good toasted a bit in the oven for this recipe.

And of course my computer is being stubborn and won't let me download the lovely cake, arghh. [I'm a pirate :)] I will try later. **We didn't use the pecans on this as no one is a big fan.

Tonight we are finishing off the Key Lime Pie and Wallene will make an apple pie for Pooldad. Life is just full of sweetness tadpoles. Pure sweetness.

Tsk! Tsk! Taco Bell

Please explain to me how this makes sense:

The Eldest had a school meeting last night at a local pizzeria which just happens to be next door to Taco Bell. Mmmmm, cravings. Pooldad said he would pick me up my favorite on his way home after the meeting. YAY! Cheap fast food. Yes!

My favorite is one bean burrito and one bean soft taco with a small Pepsi. Easy peasy, right?

You would think.

Upon ordering Pooldad was informed that Taco Bell no longer makes bean soft tacos. Yes, DOES NOT MAKE bean soft tacos.

Um, excuse me? Do they not have a soft taco tortilla, beans, lettuce and cheese already handy? Pooldad inquired.

The clerk was adamant no they don't sell them anymore, so no bean soft taco for Skippy. Sigh.

No worries. Our taco bell is attached to a KFC. So Pooldad [lovely husband that he is] brought me home the bean burrito, the Pepsi plus an order of mashed potatoes and an order of green beans from KFC.

Quite the dinner, eh? Best part tho' was dessert - Wallene made Momma her all time favorite dessert - Key Lime Pie. Yum!

My New Favorite Quote

"There are two ways to pass a hurdle: leaping over or plowing through... There needs to be a monster truck option." - Jeph Jacques

Just perfect.