9 posts tagged “cake”

My hubby's birthday is today and my brother's birthday is Thursday so they opened some of their presents yesterday.

My parents got Ray coordinating exterior lights for our house!

My brother and I made use of his new present and headed to the golf course.  He hadn't golfed since middle school so wanted to do 18 holes. 

I've only once ever golfed 18 holes and it was only my 2nd time golfing this summer so my arms weren't quite in shape.  By hole 10, I could hardly hit the ball.  A couple behind us gave me a great pointer that I'd never heard before and it helped so much! 

 

My mom made an angel food cake for dessert.  My arms are still killing me today.

 

Our wonderful friends, Bluebird & husband, hosted a wonderful Going Away party for us at their home last night.  The amount of food was just crazy but very delicous.

They even had a cake.  I didn't realize we were color coordinated until I looked at this picture. The party went from 7 - 12:30 am.  I think there were about 24 people there.  Next weekend is the kids' party!

You're the best!

*Disclaimer - I did not make the cake.  She loves butterflies so I just found a picture of one.

"What is your favorite memory of your grandfather?

My paternal grandfather died before I was born.  My maternal grandfather lived 2 hours away from me growing up.  So, I mostly saw him on holidays but he is still living so that's a treat.  The grandfather I'm going to write about is technically, my step-grandpa.  He was married to my Little Grandma.  When I was preschool age, I have very fond memories of them taking me on drives and picking wildflowers.  My grandpa was retired at the time so he often took me to the park.  All of his biological grandchildren lived 2 states away so I guess you could say I was his pride & joy.  Some of my other favorite memories of him:

• Coming over to visit and him telling me to look in the bathtub.  There I discovered a giant snapping turtle floating around the tub.
• Sticking out his false teeth at the dinner table (just for my reaction).
• Always calling my Fruit Loops.........Poop Loops
• Calling snakes...........tnakes (I don't recall how that came about).
• Telling me my "boyfriends" ate color crayons
• Turning 5 was a big deal to him.  Every birthday after that was 5+1, 5+2, etc.
• His little, yellow Toyota pickup that always had his Engelbert Humperdinck 8-track playing.  Hearing "Release Me" puts me right back in that pickup.
• His stash of "vitamins" (pink wintergreen candies) that he kept in the pickup glove box.  You didn't dare go through a day without your vitamin!  Whenever possible, I keep my own stash of those little candies in my glove box now.  (Of course, I don't refer to them as vitamins as that could be dangerous).
• Trying his chewing tobacco.  Once was enough to cure that curiosity for me!!
• Rubbing his rough whiskers against my cheek.  I bet he never imagined that 5 o'clock shadow would someday be the style.

Around my 6th birthday, grandpa was diagnosed with emphyzema.  He was basically house-ridden from that point on.  He lived on the couch in their living room and had nebulizer treatments several times an hour.  That didn't keep him from playing with me, though.  He and I took numerous "trips" to Minnesota on that couch.  I'm not sure why we were always going to Minnesota but that was the destination.  He was also awesome at playing house with my dolls.  National Geographic was his favorite magazine and tv show.

When all of my step cousins from Washington came to visit, grandpa would have a stack of $1 bills beside him on the couch.  To earn one, you simply had to give him a kiss on the cheek. 

When I was 12, my grandpa's brother came to visit.  He told my grandpa that he was having one of his legs amputated.  It was a terrible shock to my grandpa and he collapsed.  I visited him in the hospital and he seemed to be coming back around.  Several days later, I was walking home from school when my little grandma pulled up beside me.  She didn't need to say a word.  I just burst into tears.  Thankfully, he passed with his loved ones surrounding him.  My best friend and I sang "The Lord is My Shepherd" at his funeral.  For the past 12 years, I have celebrated the day he died as it's also the day Ray & I were married.

Grandpa, my brother, and I.

 

 

 

What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?

When I turned 30, my brother was working as a chef at the Rainbow Ranch Lodge in Big Sky, Montana.  We all went there for a ski trip and my brother had a special dinner prepared just for my birthday.  I think it had about 8 courses.  Here are some photos of the restaurant.

Dad & I thought we'd lock ourselves in the wine cellar. Now, I'm not a very adventurous eater but my brother had gone to a lot of trouble so I was brave and tried everything.  I had my first caviar (didn't much care for that).  Buffalo (below) It was probably my favorite.  Then, there was another course that was ostrich with a swan liver bile sauce.  I still tried it!  Gourmet food just really isn't my thing, though.  The finale was my cake. I was proud of myself for trying so many new things and sure felt special that my brother went to all that trouble.

Gift certificate to a spa.  Think I'm getting my first facial!

Back massager! If only they'd brought the Wii!  We got me the kids this for V-Day. And I got this for my birthday.

I guess now we'll find out if I'm really any good or not! 

After prime rib & hashbrowns at my parent's restaurant, we came home for cake.  I was bummed when I heard it wasn't german chocolate cake but I'd forgotten my other favorite.......ice cream cake!  Mmm!

 

He opened his presents from us and grandpa & grandma in the morning.

 

 

We went to Perkins for lunch.  Then, the big party started at 5.  There were 12 of Jace's friends plus our family.   Craziness!

 

I bowled horribly, just a 106!  I wonder if the Wii is messing up my real bowling.  I rarely bowl under a 200 on it and my high game is 253!  The bowling alley has a bar next to it and they provide pizza & pop.  Then, we had cake.

 

 

 

I thought this was so cute.  They must've ordered Jace a Steelers shirt and it didn't come in time so they put this in the card with the note "to come".

The party ended at 7 but 3 of the boys came home with us to spend the night.  I was so wiped out.  Lily and I fell asleep on the loveseat at 9:15!  Can't tell you the last time I was asleep before 10.  Ray picked up Lily and took her to bed, then returned and carried me to bed!  Chivalry is not dead :)  I felt bad leaving Ray to fend for himself with the boys.  He said the last time he heard them was midnight!

Jace was born at 1:04 pm on February 9.  He was 6 lbs 13 oz and 20 inches long.  Cody greets his new baby brother.

His birth announcement.  I think it was a premonition of things to come.  The outfit he's wearing came off a teddy bear! 6 months old 18 months 2 years 3 years 4 years (do you sense a theme) 5 years 6th Birthday His 7th Birthday are the photos at the top with the monster truck cake.  Of course, I have to have a picture of his wrestling accomplishments.  Here he is with his Triple Crown Trophy he earned in 2006. We have basketball this morning and then his party is at the bowling alley this evening.  We love you, Jace!