Wordless Wednesday

38 weeks...

no comparison shots this time...

Avery was born at 38 weeks!

Just waiting to see when this one will arrive...

Have your cake...

...and your frosting too!

Let's face it cakes & cupcakes are really just a means to the frosting anyways, right?

I don't care about making cakes from scratch, a box mix is fine by me.

But frosting is a whole 'nother story.

Have you had really good, homemade frosting?

It can't be beat!

Here are my three favorite basic frosting recipes:

Chocolate Buttercream

5 1/3 C powdered sugar

1/2 C Hershey's cocoa

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1/2 C milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

Stir together cocoa & powdered sugar in a large bowl.

In another bowl, beat butter & 1C sugar-cocoa mixture;

add remaining sugar-cocoa mixture, milk & vanilla; beat to spreading consistency.

(from the Hershey's Best Loved Recipes cookbook)

Vanilla Bean Buttercream

1 stick unsalted butter (room temp, but not too soft)

1 lb powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp real vanilla extract

3 Tbsp whole milk

pinch of salt

1 scraped vanilla bean

Cream together butter & sugar; add milk, vanilla, salt & vanilla bean scrapings; mix until thick and creamy.

(Thanks to Heather for sharing this delicious recipe!)

Cream Cheese Frosting

8oz cold cream cheese

5 Tbsp butter, softened

2 tsp vanilla

3C powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese, butter & vanilla until combined;

gradually add powdered sugar until you reach a spreading consistency.

(found here at slashfood)

Getting ready for baby

In preparation for being the ever helpful Big Sister,

Avery has been helping us get ready for baby...

by trying on his clothes

testing the capacity of the infant car seat...

and making sure his bath tub can hold all the essentials...

Wordless Wednesday

Happy 4th of July!

Saturday night Avery & I headed to my friends Jennifer & Jason's house for their BIG 4th of July Party. They live out in the country and had everything you could want for a 4th of July shindig!

Smoked BBQ, Fireworks, & Live Music! sparklers...

fireworks...

dancing...

& kittens...

Sunday Mike was home and we headed to our friends Billy & Julia's house for an afternoon of swimming & fun with friends

We left their house in time to catch the fireworks show over Grapevine Lake on our way home. It was a busy, but fun weekend!

Hope everyone else had a great 4th of July!!!!

here comes the rain...

...more like here is the rain.

It's been raining on and off all week!

At least it has dropped the temperatures and watered our thirsty plants.