It's Your Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Titus!

Leaving  your threes and starting your fours...

You're full of stories and music and more.

Ideas abound; enthusiasm, too.

We can't wait to see how God will use you!

What Are YOU Reading?

I wonder what our OTHER grandchildren are reading?  Send me your picture reading your favorite book!  Grandpa and Grandma are reading, too!

Simple and Sentimental Craft

Here's a craft idea for you, Moms!  It reminds me of a Christmas wreath one of our daughters made in third or fourth grade. I laminated it, cut out the center, and hang it proudly every Christmas.  Be sure to date these little hands!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Besides a telephone call with Happy Birthday sung to him by John and Ross, Grandpa received several things in the mail  (or hand-delivered, in the case of A & T's card).

The paint on C's painting seemed to sparkle!  It must be a special kind of paint.  Grandpa loves the color blue, by the way!

This card said it all!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Celebrating a 31st Birthday at Das Essenhaus

Amber and Brenton, relaxing after dinner...

while Grandpa doled out pennies to...

spin in the spinner!

The animals were lovable...

large, and tame.
Das Essenhaus, Middlebury, IN.  A  wonderful place to eat and shop.  It is a half-way point for us to meet our children and grandchildren.  We have celebrated Amber's birthday here for several years!

Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too!

Moist, delicious and a gorgeous shade of pink - perfect for Valentine's Day!

Easy Valentine's Day Cake

1 box (18.25 ounces) white cake mix
1 package (3 ounces) red Jell-O powder (Strawberry, Raspberry, or Cherry flavor)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Buttercream Frosting (recipe below)  or you can use prepared frosting
Assorted candies for decorating (optional)

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees  Grease one round 9-inch cake pan and one square 9-inch cake pan and dust lightly with flour; set aside.
*In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, Jell-O powder, milk, butter, eggs, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for one minute. Increase mixer speed to medium and continue beating for another two minutes, until batter is smooth and well blended.
*Divide batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until very lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool cakes on wire racks for about 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely.
*When cakes have cooled, create a heart-shaped cake by turning the square cake so that it looks like a diamond. Cut the circle cake in half to make two semi-circles; place one half on each of the top two sides of the "diamond" to make a heart.

Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened
3 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar, sifted
4 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
liquid food coloring (optional)

*In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on low speed for about 30 seconds, or until light and airy. 
*Add the sugar, milk, and vanilla. Beat on low speed for one minute; turn the mixer to medium speed and continue beating until frosting is fluffy, about another minute.
*Add food coloring, a couple of drops at a time, and continue beating until desired shade is reached.  If frosting is too thin, add more confectioner's sugar (about a tablespoon at a time) until desired consistency is reached. If frosting is too thick, add milk using the same method. Use immediately.