My heart just breaks for Steven Curtis Chapman, his son, and his family in the loss of their five year old daughter. Father, comfort their hearts.

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." - Ps. 34:18

http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/thismoment.htm

In Honor of Fellow "Word Nerd" David Cook

Caroline and I had a ball last night watching "The American Idol," as she likes to call the show. During the Donna Summer tribute she was just jamming away singing,

"I need some pas-ta baby tonight

I want some pas-ta, baby this evenin' "

Gotta love innocence!

(Just to reassure some of you, last night was a special occasion.)

Some other funnies that she said this week:

1. As I was walking out the door to run errands, I was reminding Caroline to help her daddy by being a good hostess to her company. She reassured me that she would be "the most-est." That's my girl! The hostess with the most-est.

2. While at youth group rather than chiming in with amen at the end of the blessing, she joyfully closed with "Man!"

3. Over the past few days she has been over-enunciating her L's in every word that has one. Don't know what that's about but it's quite cute.

Super Fudge! (Do you remember that book?)

My sweet friend and neighbor Cindy just surprised me with pumpkin fudge! Love this stuff! Thank you so much for the gift, girlfriend!

Cindy's Pumpkin Fudge:
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin

2 tablespoons corn syrup

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 (12-ounce) package white chocolate morsels

1 (7-ounce) jar marshmallow crème

1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Stir together first 6 ingredients in a 3 1/2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer registers 234° (soft-ball stage) or for about 12 minutes.
Remove pan from heat; stir in remaining ingredients until well blended. Pour into a greased aluminum foil-lined 9-inch square pan. Let stand 2 hours or until completely cool; cut fudge into squares.

April 2008

April 30th, 2008

Caroline's First Ballet Recital

Woody Cracks

Nope, not a comment about an old Cheers episode. Just wanted to share that while peering into her mother's super-magnified-eyebrow-tweezing mirror Caroline noted that her eyes are "woody" and have "cracks." Translation: She has the most beautiful bright brown eyes, and if she has cracks then her momma has canyons.

Mother's Day Recap

We spent Saturday at Mom's place in Bumpass, which is affectionately known as "The Farm," all five acres of it. (Yes, Bumpass is the correct name of the "town" too.) Of course, it's not really a farm. That would mean cows and stuff, but Mom does have two Jack Russels and a fledgling garden so maybe that counts. But for we three (Mom, Aimee & I) ex-NOVA-ites, it's a farm. We had a wonderful time! Mom has an amazing gift for making every celebration beautiful. She also bought us barbecue from a locally famous barbecue pit, and we ate outside under an ancient oak we affectionately call Molly. (I guess we're into naming things too.)

Aimee and Chris inspecting Molly's nose.

On Sunday Caroline couldn't wait to wish me a happy Mother's Day with a huge smile spread across her face. A sweet surprise as she is not one to usually greet the day singing! My darling hubby fixed my favorite breakfast, French Toast, and at my request lots of coffee. After church I took a really long nap and watched a movie from Netflix that I have had for six months! (Oops.) My fam also surprised me with two rose bushes and a white porch swing for our front porch. Can't wait to sit on the veranda sipping my java with an excessive amount of French vanilla creamer! Lastly, we headed off to the Fields' where my sweet Daddy-in-law grilled steaks and strongly suggested that we could not have gotten a better dinner anywhere else! (Maybe because we were supposed to meet them out for dinner, but that's a different story.) Oh, and let me not forget that Donald's mom makes amazing potato salad! It was a really nice visit. I especially liked listening to David recount stories of his grandmother and his experiences of growing up in the coal fields of WVA.

This is what the kids made for their Grandmas.

To top off the day, my darling stayed up late with me to watch the movie 27 Dresses! I love my man! Thanks darling, for giving me such a special day. I know that behind this "great" mom stands an even better dad.

Divine Nobodies

I have a new favorite book, Divine Nobodies by Jim Palmer. My friends in book club loved it too. Very entertaining and thought provoking -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pODiiU2q0UY

A Moment of Brilliance

Just have to pass on this tidbit of domestic diva hood. When baking in a bunt pan do not pour batter to the brim, even if there is some remaining. Doing so will be taking your cake and your oven into your own hands. Somehow my gray matter didn't make the connection between the similarities of using a muffin pan and a bunt pan, or any other baking pan for that matter. Shoot! They probably aren't even called "pans"! (Opted out of taking a photo of this lovely mountaintop experience.)


-------------------------------------------------------------------


OK, just signing back on to say I cannot pop my mini bunt cakes out of their mini bunt nonstick, sprayed molds. Nice.

Caroline just asked me if the piece of overflow cake she was eating had bones in it. Really nice. Apparently she had a crunchy piece.

I am now realizing that my last baking disaster, A.K.A. "Playgroup's Brown Sugar Pound Cake" was also made in a bunt pan.

Anyone want a bunt pan?

Some Big Moments

It's been an exciting few weeks for The Fields.
Here is a list of our latest milestones:

Caroline Grace
1st dance recital

She was such a graceful butterfly, crooked wing ta-boot!)

Jackson
New Vocab: "tractor" and "kitty cat"

(He's repeating all sorts of words but is not quite ready to use them. Maybe because his mommy caters to his every whim.)

First Big Boy Boo-Boo
(Happened with Daddy and the grandparents. No one seems to know what occurred.)

Bearing His Battle Wounds

We started brushing his teeth. All 10 of them!

Mastering all sorts of new skills from waving to drinking from a cup.

Mommy & Daddy
We're pretty run of the mill these days. Donald has been brushing his teeth for awhile now and I'm still working on my pirouettes.

Treasure Found

I've been dying to show off my find from the Meals on Wheels yard sale -- two sterling silver bracelets for a whopping total of $1. Whoo-hoo! I usually skip the jewelry at yard sales too, but having arrived extra early and not wanting to appear overly eager I decided I could afford to slowly peruse the jewels for a bit since they were the first exhibit. I'm so glad I did, although the lady in front of me at the checkout found a brand new, still wrapped in plastic Cuisinart ice cream maker. Lesson learned: pride cometh before a yard sale loss!

Ta-da! Stamped 925/Mexico