Wow! "Stickers!"

 

On Saturday, i decided to clean the kitchen. Emma was off playing somewhere in the house with her animals, so i figured that i should take the chance to clean up while i could.

As i was cleaning the counters, i could hear Emma pulling up her stool close to me to see what i was doing. I was so busy trying to get the kitchen done, i didn't look down when i started our conversation....

Me (still not looking down): Hi, sweet girl! What have you been doing?

Emma: I was looking for suckers in your purrrse! I found dees stickors! I loooovvvve deeess stickors!

Me (finally looking at Emma and trying not to laugh at where her "stickors" were put): Wow. That is some 'sticker' you found!

Emma: Do we have moooore of deese stickors?

Of course, to embarrass her when she's older, i had to get Robert to snap a quick photo.

It's never really boring when you're a Mommy, is it? :)

Emma and Mommy Vacation Photos...

...from the first annual Emma and Mommy Vacation. Lots of fun, lots of giggles and yeah, kinda a lot of work, but SO worth it.

I can't wait to start planning for next year's trip!

A ramble....

I have to be honest. I've never wanted to live in Florida. It's too hot. It's too muggy. I don't sweat like a lady, i sweat like a man. It's not a pretty sight. And this is year around. Florida just doesn't seem to have any seasons, either.

But...

...dang, is it beautiful here. The clouds are amazing. Big, white and fluffy. The sky is a beautiful baby blue. The sun, well, is hot. And the beach?

Beautiful.

I think that i could truly sit on the beach, in a sun chair with a book and a bottle of water, all day long. Lots of sunscreen layered on, big floppy hat, and my favorite sunglasses on. Listening to the surf is so relaxing. I close my eyes and just listen to sounds of the surf.

Oh. Wait. That's not what i've been doing here.

I'm visiting my sister. And between us, we have four children.

Yes. That was FOUR. CHILDREN.

Even though Claudine and i are out-numbered, i am still having a blast. Emma is loving hanging out with her cousins. The kids are really a lot of fun and they are always ready for the next adventure, the next walk to the beach, the next craft, the next fun thing to eat, the next fun place to visit. There is a lot of energy with four children, but with that is a lot of giggles, a lot of hugs, a lot of yelling, a lot of running and a lot of singing.

It's been fun.

The week has really flown by so quickly but, thankfully, we still have a few days left. I've taken a few photos and need to get a bunch more.

My sister and i have laughed in the kitchen this week, like we use to do with my Mom growing up. We've made my Mom's rice pudding together. We've also had some Spanish-type of sandwiches for lunch. We also have plans to make a Spanish tortilla like my Mom would make for us. My Mom, it seems, is all around the two of us...and while comfortable, like a fluffy, warm blanket that surrounds Claudine and i, it makes the both of us miss her even more.

When i think of how much Claudine and i miss our Mother, i start to realize the gifts that my Mother passed on to us. Isn't that what all mothers want? To pass their unique and special gifts along to their children? The special gifts that become the glue that holds family together....the traditions that make one feel loved. Whether it's the gift of cooking or baking together, singing together or taking holidays together, these are the moments that make life what it is...

...and what makes it beautiful.

Often these kind of gifts are passed on without instructions. They are just things that mothers do with their children. Most of these things, Claudine and i picked up from just watching my Mother. It's interesting that both Claudine and i remember thinking that my Mom was the most beautiful woman ever. That she was elegant. We also remember the Chicken & Stars soup my Mom would make when we felt sick. And how she always put us first. Always.

I don't think that my Mom ever realized how much my sister and i watched her. I realize, now, that all children watch their mothers. Those little ears and little eyes pick up things when you least expect them too. I need to remember that a little more often.

So, this time with my sister has been a good thing. And something that i need to make a point to do more often. Her life has had some challenges these past two years but she is blessed with friends who have shown up in her life to look out for her and love her. Claudine will be fine...and my Mom would be proud of her.

Just as i am.

Missing "da beach"....

 

 

 

...and so, tomorrow begins the first "Annual Emma and Mommy Beach Trip".

Notice that there is no "Dada" on this trip to help me keep my sanity. It's just us, Emma and i, on our very first road trip together.

I have it all mapped out; where we are stopping, where we are spending the night, what we'll stop to see. (Yes, i do have control issues, so don't ask....) I am nervously excited about this trip. While i know that tons of Mommies travel every day with their children (and often more than one child!), this is my first solo trip. I'm sure that with lots of Red Bull and Diet Coke, i'll be up for anything.

I am thankful that Robert will be flying down towards the end of our trip to drive the entire way home to see my sister, my niece and nephews. I had to be extra special nice to him to get him to agree to this as taking off from work for him is a no-no, no matter how much i try to convince him to take a day off.

I'm almost all packed. All i have left is me and to pack the Honda. Oh, and to pack snacks and drinks. And i have all of the sing-a-long CDs that i could find so we can sing our way through traffic. I'm sure that i will forget something, but hopefully, it won't be important whatever it is that i'll forget.

Most important, it'll be me, Emma and my camera.

With my newest lens.



Oh, yes, this lens is a beauty. Many thanks to Nancy Barton for the recommendation on this lens...she's right, it truly is the bomb. I can see why it's one of her favorites!

Off to finish packing...

"The" Most Amazing Icing....

 

 

 

...according to the Pioneer Woman's blog.

She's right. It is amazing.

And odd.

I've never seen an icing made with flour and granulated sugar.

But i do think that this will be a "go-to" icing recipe for chocolate cake.

Yeah. It IS that good!

Here's the recipe for "The" Best Icing I've Ever Eaten from the Pioneer Woman's site:

1 cup Milk
5 Tablespoons All-purpose Flour
1 cup Butter, Barely Room Temperature
1 cup Granulated Sugar (not Powdered!)
1 teaspoon Vanilla

In a small pot on the stove, whisk the flour and the milk together until it thickens. Keep whisking until it comes together and looks kinda pasty. Pull off stove and let cool for 10/15 minutes or so. Add the vanilla and whisk again. While your pot is cooling, mix the 1 cup of butter with the 1 cup of granulated sugar till it's light and fluffy. Pour the flour/milk mixture into the butter/granulated mixture and beat till REALLY fluffy, like whipped cream.

I think that what i like best about this icing is that it isn't overly sweet to the point where you don't enjoy the cupcake. I suppose you could use this icing on other baked items (i've seen it on a recipe for banana cupcakes) but i think that it works best with chocolate cupcakes.

And so did Emma! :)