Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Toby had his second birthday today.   We celebrated it on Saturday when Brian was in town for the weekend.  I happened to have some zucchini in the fridge that needed to be used, so I went online and looked up recipes that called for zucchini.  I came across Chocolate Zucchini Cake and it had great reviews.  So, since most of the family likes chocolate cake, that’s what I decided to make.  

It was a really easy recipe and the cake turned out very moist and chocolaty!  I don’t think anyone would know unless I told them.  The chocolate hides the green specks that appear in zucchini bread.  I didn’t tell Jamiee – hee hee hee!!

So, now I’m eating way too much cake and telling myself that “hey, it’s healthy!”…  it’s like saying that brownies and cookies are good for breakfast since they’re made with eggs.  It’s a good thing we have company coming over tomorrow morning.  I’m going to make sure they polish it off so that I don’t!!!

Published in:  on August 27, 2008 at 7:02 am Leave a Comment
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Patience

Brian left yesterday morning for the start of the school year.  Yesterday wasn’t bad because I still woke up with him, but today was a bit harder.  Lots of little things just seemed to make me lose my patience today, and I think it’s all related to him leaving.  I know that I will adjust, but I enjoy the partnership that we’ve shared since we’ve been married and especially since we’ve had kids.  We gave living apart an unintentional trial last winter when I was in Texas with the kids and he was in Circle, and it was rough.  I hope that this year goes smoothly and quickly.

Published in:  on August 16, 2008 at 8:05 am Leave a Comment

Two boys

I went to Lowe’s today to buy some blinds for the living room and took Jacob, Toby, and Sarah with me.  Sarah was snug as a bug in her front carrier.  The boys were happy for about two minutes in the car shaped cart.  Then Jacob wanted Toby’s steering wheel and it all descended from there.  They weren’t horrible, but they were a bit loud and restless.  At one point, the saleswoman that was helping me called another employee over to entertain the kids so that she and I could continue working on my order.  Jacob was entertained by an adult giving him her full attention.  Tobias… what can I say??  At least he’s REALLY cute!

Now that Brian is back at work, I will have to figure out how to keep them entertained when we are all out during the day.  I imagine we’ll be spending a lot of time in our own cozy home!!!

Published in:  on August 15, 2008 at 6:21 am Leave a Comment
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Laundry

Just a quick note to say WOW!  We sure can generate a lot of laundry.  I don’t want to imagine what it’s going to be like in another few years when the boys are changing clothes a couple times a day because they’re completely muddy or whatever else!  

It’s 1:05, and I’ve just finished folding the last load.  Off to bed!

Published in:  on August 6, 2008 at 9:05 am Comments (1)
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Berries

Raspberries are one of my favorite berries.  I rarely buy them at the store because they are so expensive, so I’ve looked forward to being able to pick them here in Fairbanks.  I was planning on picking around the University this summer since I learned where they grow last summer, but I lucked out!  We have raspberry bushes in our backyard!!

The kids and I have been picking them daily, and I have been really surprised at how they just keep coming.  At first, we were just eating them, but I’ve started to make raspberry freezer jam.  It’s pretty much just raspberries and sugar cooked to 220° and then jarred.  I’ve never done the kind of jarring jelly that would make it shelf stable, so this works just fine for me.  Maybe I’ll learn the other method next summer.  It tastes great and we go through it.  I suppose if I was actually going to freeze it, I’d need another storage container, but the glass jars work pretty well right now.  Here’s a pic to make your mouth water!  :-)

Published in:  on August 4, 2008 at 7:22 am Leave a Comment
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Still working on it

Brian has always been one to journal.  For as long as I’ve known him, he’s kept a journal.  For the past four years, it’s been in the form of a blog.  He enjoys writing and does a great job at chronicling our life.

I, on the other hand, am terrible at keeping a journal.  Always have been.  I start many, but have yet to keep up with them in any meaningful way.  Often a year will go by, and I’ll find some journal that I was keeping, so I’ll write a spontaneous entry.  They often start with “Wow, it’s been a year since I wrote in here!”  And then, they go on to tell about everything that has happened in the past year.  Not very interesting reading!

So, I’m giving it one last go here.  No summary of my life or the past year, just some quick blurbs about what is happening today.  I’ll try to include some photos from time to time (I have some now actually!), but for the most part, I’ll just try to share some tidbits on a regular basis.

Since this is a test, I’m not telling F&F yet – I don’t want to be asked why I haven’t written in a while.  So my audience is just whoever happens to stumble across this for a little while.

After all, I’m still working on it!

Published in:  on at 7:04 am Leave a Comment
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