Rack 'Em Up or Project #2

I told each of my nephews and niece that I live with that I would make them a surprise cupcake creation for their birthdays. I made Eric the race car, Jenna the butterflies and Alex the pool balls. I love how they turned out.

It is a relief to have the project done so I don't fell like I am behind the eight-ball (sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Butterflies in January or Project #1

It is freezing. It is so cold outside that it is hard to walk from the car to the house. I feel like my bones are frozen. I want spring to come and honestly I would like it to come really soon (like tomorrow). Spring to me is all about happiness, flowers, bees, sunshine, butterflies, etc. etc. So, in honor of the spring that has yet to sprung and in honor of my sweet niece Jenna's birthday, I made Jenna butterfly cupcakes from my cupcake book. The end result was great but making the chocolate butterflies almost made me pull my hair out. I feel that now that I have had some practiced, I could make the next batch of butterflies with a lot less stress. I bought the flower cupcake papers from Joann's but I am sure you can find them other places. I thought the flowers made a nice touch. (One of my 36 New Year's resolutions is to complete 36 new or old projects or learn a new skill. Here is project #1.)

Dear spring, please come soon.

My Lucky Number

I will be 36 years old in March of this year. Wow, I said it. The big 36! However I have felt 36 for the last year. You see I have this problem. When I turn a certain age, I start telling people that I am going to be the next age. For example, someone will ask me how old I am and I will say, “Well, I am 35 but I am almost 36.” I am not almost 36 (I wasn't when I first wrote this back in November) but it is just what I say.

I have been worried about turning 36 because it just seems old to be single and childless. I know that it isn’t old per se and I know that you all know people who have had children in their 40's but it just seems like the biological clock is letting me know that I am on the downhill, my window is closing, the sand is running out......you get the idea. I have had crazy thoughts about just having a child (adoption, etc.) but I just don't want a child to have a child. I want the whole family; the husband and the baby!

Anyway, after I wrote the post about my nephew Eric’s birthday and his lucky number, I have changed my attitude (for right now). My lucky number is 6 because like Eric I am the sixth child in my family and I was born on the 26^th. So, with my great logic and simple math (6 x 6 = 36)! 2011 and my 36^th year is actually going to be my best year yet! I am going to have great happiness and success when I am 36. (I should write fortune cookies, ha, ha.)

Please remind me of this fact come March.

Racing

Eric loves the color red and I actually think you could call it a passion for red. I have to laugh because I am drawn to the color red in almost any form. Last year I bought the books, Hello Cupcake and Hello Again, Cupcake. They are great books full of amazing creations. Most of the materials needed for the creations you can find at the grocery store. My niece and nephews LOVE spending hours looking through the book and picking out creations they would like me to make them.

Eric told me that he wanted the squirrel cupcakes or the race car cupcakes. I felt weird about eating something that looked like a squirrel and was also about the size of a squirrel so I passed on making squirrel cupcakes. I told Eric it was a surprise. Here are the result of my efforts. This creation is one of the easier creations and I am glad I got to practice some of the techniques on his cake so I will be prepared for the other kid’s birthdays which are coming up early next year.

Eric LOVED the cupcakes, the race car driver and he especially loved the fact that it was red.

Happy Birthday Eric!

p.s. Yesterday I came home late from work and Eric was playing at the table when I heard him say to himself, “I love being six! It’s my lucky number.” I told him that six was also my lucky number and explained to him that we are both the sixth child in our families. He thought that was pretty cool.

A Birthday Wish

For my brother Dan's 30th Birthday, his darling wife, Ellen decide to put together a package of 30's. 30 of his favorite treats, 30 bottles of root bear, 30 birthday wishes from his family and friends and these darling photos. Isn't she awesome?! By the way, so is the birthday boy. He is a great dad, a great husband and an amazing brother!

Amelia did not want to participate in the photo shoot which makes it so much more entertaining. I love the picture of her holding the 'Y' in Daddy. Priceless.

I asked Eric (my nephew) what he would like to give Dan as a birthday wish. Here is our exchange.

Aunt Chris: “Eric, what would you give Uncle Dan for his 30th Birthday Wish?”

Jenna (Eric's 9 year old sister): “A jet pack?”

Eric: “No.”

Jenna: “Oh, that’s what you want. Rocket Shoes?”

Eric: “No.” Eric thinking.....

Eric: “A rocking chair.”

Aunt Chris: “Why a rocking chair?”

Eric: “Because old people like to rock.”

Seriously, do I need to say anything else? Old people like to rock!

Happy Birthday Dan!

Let them eat cake. . .

For Dan's Birthday party at my house, Ellen made him an Oreo cake. Ellen made two chocolate cakes, then she whipped whip cream and poured it into a cake pan lined with plastic wrap. She then froze the whip cream. When it was time to assemble the cake, she put the frozen whip cream in between the two chocolate cake rounds and then frosted the cake with rich chocolate frosting. It was gorgeous, delicious, and it deserved some photo time on my blog. Good job Ellen, even Amelia wanted to get in on the action.

Happy Birthday Dan! May this be your funniest year yet!

It tastes like birthday. . .

As the story goes, my mom's Uncle Loran and Aunt Mary were Mission Presidents in Argentina after they lived in Uruguay while Uncle Loran worked for the State Department (I asked my mom if Uncle Loran was a spy and she just laughed and said no). While they were there, Aunt Mary learned to make a dish called Milanesa. Well, when they returned home, they brought back the recipe. The dish soon became a family favorite now for four generations. I can only think of one birthday as I was growing up that I did not have Milanesa for my birthday dinner and I would probably guess that my siblings would say the same thing. It is a special treat and even though it is a labor intensive meal, it is so worth the effort. Two weekends ago, my brother Dan and his wife Ellen, and their sweet baby Amelia came to D.C. to spend Dan's birthday weekend with me. Dan wanted Milanesa for dinner so we all pitched in and made a delicious dinner. Every time I make the recipe, I am amazed that my mom went to all the work for each child's dinner and special occasion. (Mom, I am sure you were exhausted but we all really appreciate you spending your time to make our birthdays so special!)

Now, let's get on with the show.

1 high grade boneless beef roast, sliced thin
Flour
Garlic Salt
Oregano
Marjoram (Very Important)
Parsley
Onion Salt
Salt
Pepper
2 Eggs
3/4 cup milk
Italian seasoned bread crumbs
Vegetable oil for frying
Thin-sliced ham
Sliced Swiss cheese
Tomato, sliced

Season flour with spices to taste. Mix eggs and milk in separate bowl. Place bread crumbs in third container. Dip meat slices in seasoned flour, then egg mixture, then crumbs. Fry breaded meat. Drain on a paper sack or paper towels. Arrange on a cookie sheet. Top each piece of meat with a slice of ham, Swiss cheese, and then tomato. Place in oven until the cheese melts.

I usually make the Milanesa the day before the special occasion and keep it in the refrigerator. Then I just warm the Milanesa and melt the cheese before serving. It also freezes very well. My Grandma Todd use to always have Milanesa in her freezer for a quick special meal.

Bon Appetite!

Happy Birthday DAD!

A few years ago, I was googling LDS articles on marriage for a lesson when I came across about.com's list of 10 best articles on marriage. I was quite surprised when I found that one of the top ten was an article written by my dad in 1983. My dad is a great list maker and is a great example of someone who works to make his good marriage great!

Thank you for your example DAD &
Happy 68th Birthday!

Twenty Ways to Make a Good Marriage Great

1. Night and Morning Prayer … to say thanks, to ask for help in your marriage and family, to worship together.

2. A Weekly Planning Meeting … to discuss the calendar, talk over needs and problems, decide priorities and next steps. (Write decisions in a journal, including goals and discussion topics, and reasons for each.)

3. A Daily Phone Call or Personal Conversation … to say “I love you,” to touch base, to discuss the day, to show you care.

4. A Weekly Date … to a favorite park, a concert, the library, the gym; or staying home for a candlelight dinner, a game, or a mutual hobby.

5. Patience Regardless … of missed meals, tardiness, forgotten favors, a thoughtless remark, impatience.

6. Daily Service … helping with house or yard work, mending a piece of clothing, taking a turn with the sick baby, fixing a favorite meal. (Write it down. Do it!)

7. A Budget … to tie down income and expenses, help set financial goals, and give you control over your finances.

8. Listening … not only to what is said, but also to what is meant.

9. Regular Attendance … at church—and where possible—the temple.

10. Daily Scripture Reading … to learn the gospel, to receive inspiration for yourself and your marriage, to become more like Jesus.

11. Working Together … caring for a garden, painting a bedroom, washing the car, scrubbing floors, building a piece of furniture, writing a poem together, team teaching a class.

12. Forgiving Each Other … always learning from each other, trying a different way, being the first to make peace.

13. Courtesies … like saying please and thank you, not interrupting or belittling, not doing all the talking, continuing the niceties of courtship.

14. Soft and Kind Words … of tenderness, compassion, empathy.

15. Learning Together by … reading to each other, discussing ideas, taking a class.

16. Respecting … opinions, ideas, privacy.

17. Supporting Your Spouse’s … Church callings and righteous goals.

18. Caring for Your Spouse’s Family by … enjoying their company, praying for them, serving them, overlooking differences.

19. Occasional Gifts … such as a note, a needed item—but mostly gifts of time and self.

20. Loving with All Your Heart. “Thou shalt love thy wife [thy husband] with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her [him] and none else.” (D&C 42:22.)

“Twenty Ways to Make a Good Marriage Great,” Ensign, Dec 1983, 64

Emma's 23rd Birthday!

My friend Emma deserves a post- even if this is late and now on her unbirthday. Emma is 10 years younger than me but it really doesn't matter because we have a great time together. I got invited to dinner with her family to celebrate her birthday and her family is great. I always have a great time just hanging out with them. Here are some pictures from the evening.

I walked from my office to the restaurant and walked past the White House....

Walked past the protesters...they are always there.

Hannah and Molly (Emma's sisters) drinking a hibiscus drink.
The color was beautiful but the flavor was really strong.

Molly and Emma (the birthday girl). Sorry for the fuzzy picture.

The Rents! Two of my favorite people.

Happy Birthday Emma!