S.L.U.T.S.

Jann went to New Orleans last week. She knows I collect coffee mugs and so she usually brings one back to me as a souvenir. I've seen the t-shirts that say 'GRITS' (Girls Raised in the South) but I've never seen this one. We've laughed all week about it......
In case you can't read it, "Southern Ladies Under Tremendous Stress" (SLUTS). HAHA

Weekly Wrap-up

It's been raining here for 2 days straight. Nothing heavy or dangerous, just a good old-fashion steady rain. You know what they say, April showers bring May flowers. Everything is really starting to green up. However, my azaleas did bloom this past week along the back of our house and I ran out there and took a picture one morning (before the rain started a day later). Joe was so sweet to plant them for me. It really reminds me of home. Too bad I can't go out there and enjoy them very often, the dogs just want me to play; they don't care that I may want to relax and look at the flowers.

Last Sunday, we had our spring Prayer Shawl Ministry tea. The two ladies who started the ministry MAKE all the goodies we eat (and they are GOOD too). Here's a sampling of one of the plates they fixed. So we eat sweets and drink tea for an hour and share stories and have fun.

Here's some of the ladies, Andrea (the lady in purple) is a friend of mine from church and the high school. We've served on the NHS orchestra board together, we're in the same prayer shawl circle, and we go to Zumba together. And we're the same age. She is Native American, but I can never remember which tribe she's from. Her son is a senior in HS this year and was in the orchestra with Kaitlyn.

Susan Carruth (in the pink hat) founded the prayer shawl ministry at our church. Her daughter, Amy (in the peach dress) recently graduated from college and is a Kindergarten teacher at one of the local elementary schools. Christy Fisher (on the left) teaches knitting and crocheting to people in our Fall Academy classes.

I've also been to Zumba class 5 days this week and I'm planning on going today too. I'm on a streak, we'll see how long this lasts. I haven't lost any weight yet, but I've sure sweatted out some toxicities in my body!

Easters Past

Here are some of our family pictures from Easters past. As you can see, the girls have never gotten too old to hunt eggs. They still do!! Kristen must have been almost 2 in this picture. I don't think she was walking when she was 9 mos. This had been my Easter basket when I was little.

Here's Kristen with Pa-po (Joe's step-dad. She couldn't say Papa Joe). She must have been almost 3. They must have been getting ready to dye eggs.

This was the same Easter in our back yard. I made the little dress for Kristen for Easter. I was about 7 mos pregnant with Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn and Muzzy (Joe's mother) at the Southern Hills CC Easter Egg Hunt and brunch. Kaitlyn was about 9 mos old. I've always thought this picture was cute. Kaitlyn was imitating Muzzy.

Kaitlyn and I at the Southern Hills Easter Egg Hunt. She was about 21 mos old.

Kristen and I at the SHCC hunt.

A picture of the girls together in the club house. I had made Kristen's Easter basket. It was little bunnies with a braided strap.

As the girls got a little older, they still are out in the back yard hunting eggs. Only now the eggs contain coupons for Abercrombie clothes, Beanie Babies, candy and some money.
In this picture, I think they must have spied the same egg at the same time and the race was on! A picture of us before church one year. Kristen has started her growth spurt.

Joe likes to give instructions before the hunt, the "rules" if you will.....
These last two are from this year. Even college girls like to hunt eggs when they only have money in them! Both girls ended up with $70+ and coupons for free Cracker Barrel breakfast with the parental units, free car wash by dad, free load of laundry by mom, and $20 towards a manicure/pedicure, and $40 towards a hair appointment.

Bunny Cake

I decided to do another bunny cake for Easter this year. Last year's cake turned out much better. I knew I was in trouble when the WHOLE cake didn't come out of the pan very good.

You cut the round cake in half and put them together. I used the best two halves I had.

You can decorate it with coconut or color the icing with pastel colors. I just went for the simplest way with what I had on hand. Side view:

Front view:

It turned out okay. I think I did a better job with last year's cake.