What better way to pass the time...

Than by making a mother's day cake!

Strawberries macerating, butter softening

My first attempt at French buttercream frosting. This is a cooked frosting, and less sweet (though not by much) than the traditional American "buttercream" which is usually crisco, some butter, and powdered sugar. French buttercream gets most of its body from eggs beaten with the butter, and then is sweetened with a simple syrup.

The cake awaiting frosting.

Strawberries on top of the first layer of butter cream.


And the finished product. I didn't do any piping or anything, so it looks a little amateur, but, I am sure it is going to be good!

Boys and rainbows

While getting ready for bed, and trying to get the blog together, I ran outside to get the camera, as I had left it in the car. And what did I see when I walked out the door?

A rainbow!

The boys really liked it!

Things to do while waiting for a baby to appear

As of today, I am six days overdue. Statistically most women give birth between 40 and 41 weeks. I've got a couple of hours left to be in that group! But, Since watching the clock is no way to pass the time, I thought I would share with you all what I am doing!

Thinking about market strategy. When to buy, when to sell, and are we going into another superboom after a sideways market?
Moneyshow article on the Dow at 38,820

Bake bread and cake!
Look at the beautiful dogwood. It's been a great year for the flowering trees!

Watch the asparagus grow. I swear, it grows two inches a day

Strawberry plants as ground cover

Wiggles on the slide!

Ben has gotten really brave/coordinated and good and getting around on the playground. He's so proud of himself!

Waiting around, and some excitement

We went to mom's for breakfast on Sunday, my due date.

And then after breakfast we were off to the ER, because Zach cracked his head on the corner! The cut doesn't look that bad from this angle, but it was pretty deep.

4 hours at the ER, four stitches, and a good night sleep later

We seem to have recovered pretty well!

Waiting waiting

We've been in a holding pattern around these parts. Baby doesn't seem to be showing up any time soon, despite 2 miserable weeks of pro-dromal labor (That means plenty of strong contractions that fizzle out after about an hour, multiple times a day). But, the boys are cute and we are all doing ok

Spring! Time for short sleeves and sandals

Ben gets a little tired from playing outside

And falls asleep during the pre-dinner reading!

Zach is really getting good at building. Now, my mom built a lot of this structure, but Zach was really into figuring out how to make it taller.

Happy Spring! I hope to have baby news soon!

Zach's Birthday

A little before Zach's birthday, but would ya look at that bruise? And we have no idea how he got it.

Birthday Munchins!!



Well, if your feet can't reach the pedals, it makes trike riding a wee bit hard.

Goggles. The boys were over the moon at them.