Wednesday, February 29, 2012

March is...tomorrow

6 months ago I figured that Haddon's birthday couldn't be harder than any other day. I mean, we are always thinking of him, dreaming about him, crying together about him. But, March comes tomorrow, the last month i carried him when i was so close to his due date and when i saw him for the first time, and it is already bringing knots to my stomach and lumps in my throat. Part of me doesn' t want any more than one year to go past...to look too far ahead without him can sometimes seem very dark. We are talking about his birthday lately, Ernie and i, as it's getting closer. There will be lots of writing prepared for the day. A lot of precious memories between Ernie and I will be shared together when we wake up. We will battle for faith to remember his reality of seeing Jesus Christ for who he is is far greater than planning a birthday party or tasting cake for the first time.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Pictures Lately

1. The Mountains on our trip to Sedona. So, so pretty.

2. My hubs.

3. My 26 week belly
  
4. Beautiful trails.

5. Beautiful tr...oh no it's starting to rain.

4. We are FREEZING on our walk back to the hotel!

5. 9pm frozen yogurt.



6. Maple Mini Wheats. I eat them all the time. We were watching a movie.

7. Handsome Ernie looking at all the trails.

 8. Lovely

9. Us.

10. I just love this man.

11. My now 27 week belly.

12. WINDOW we got in flagstaff!

13. Bailey sunbathing. I took this by sticking my hand out the doggie door.

14. Rufus, who'd rather sit inside and snuggle with me.

15. Silly way to fall asleep.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Earl Grey Chocolate Tea Cake


I'm excited, today I get to have women's small group at my house. Last night I whipped this together, Earl Grey (yummm) chocolate tea Cake! I cut them up into small bites, large squares of cake can be intimidating. It's like biting into an earl grey heaven. I've also made Earl Grey Tea cookies, I should post that sometime too.
Here's the cake recipe:
  • 6 Earl Grey tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose Earl Grey
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted & cooled
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • confectioners' sugar
Heat oven to 350° F. Coat an 8-cup fluted tube pan (or whatever you have on hand) with cooking spray.
Brew the tea in the water 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags or strain the leaves and set the brewed tea aside.
Using a mixer, beat the butter, eggs, and granulated sugar until fluffy. Blend in the chocolate. Beat in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, yogurt, and brewed tea. Pour into pan.
Bake 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out with a few crumbs attached. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes.
Turn out of pan and cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar.
Notes:
Melt the chocolate in the microwave for 2- 1 minute increments

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Vacation

Ernie and are out and about, away from home. For a week. A week is a looong time we have come to find. But we are enjoying so much together time after his seven shifts of work in a row. What have we done so far you may ask?

-got setttled into a cozy little place we are staying and watched a couple movies

-went to a sweet little church on sunday morning, the pastor gave such a good sermon on Acts 8.

-visited Ernie's cousin who lives in a log cabin/house it was awesome...and ate some killer gyros.

-played lots of pool and im proud to say i won 5 out of 7.
-hiked about one and a half trails. Power to those super athletic and active pregnant ladies but i'm just not one of them at all.

- Ate frozen yogurt one night and homeade prickly pear ice cream a few days later. Pictures later. Goodnight!