annie blog

I Love Them Like the Crazy They Drive Me

Busters.

I Love Them Like the Crazy They Drive Me

Busters.

What Accent?
I began this school year driving carpool in the mornings. It was no big thing, I didn’t mind doing it. Along with my four boys (only 2 of whom were being delivered to school) I was also driving a little brother/sister pair that we know from church. I think that they are in 3rd and 1st grade, respectively. But, after a few weeks, Jon said that he’d like to drive carpool in the morning and so I let him.

Really, who would turn down the fun of being able to continue to wear pjs and drink an extra cup of coffee? Not me.

One day a week or so ago, my #2 son said that, as he was riding home with the brother and sister, their mom said that they had been missing me driving them to school in the morning.

What? I don’t remember being particularly entertaining or anything like that. So I was wondering to myself what they were missing, exactly, except possibly that I let them listen to Kung Fu Fighting everyday on the way there.

It all became clear when #2 questioned them….

#2: So you miss my mom?

Little boy: uh-huh.

Little girl (enthusiastically, 2 octaves up): Oh, yeah. She talks like a COW-boy!!!!

What a hoot! I love it. Cowboy…Southerner…..you know.

What Accent?
I began this school year driving carpool in the mornings. It was no big thing, I didn’t mind doing it. Along with my four boys (only 2 of whom were being delivered to school) I was also driving a little brother/sister pair that we know from church. I think that they are in 3rd and 1st grade, respectively. But, after a few weeks, Jon said that he’d like to drive carpool in the morning and so I let him.

Really, who would turn down the fun of being able to continue to wear pjs and drink an extra cup of coffee? Not me.

One day a week or so ago, my #2 son said that, as he was riding home with the brother and sister, their mom said that they had been missing me driving them to school in the morning.

What? I don’t remember being particularly entertaining or anything like that. So I was wondering to myself what they were missing, exactly, except possibly that I let them listen to Kung Fu Fighting everyday on the way there.

It all became clear when #2 questioned them….

#2: So you miss my mom?

Little boy: uh-huh.

Little girl (enthusiastically, 2 octaves up): Oh, yeah. She talks like a COW-boy!!!!

What a hoot! I love it. Cowboy…Southerner…..you know.

What Accent?
I began this school year driving carpool in the mornings. It was no big thing, I didn’t mind doing it. Along with my four boys (only 2 of whom were being delivered to school) I was also driving a little brother/sister pair that we know from church. I think that they are in 3rd and 1st grade, respectively. But, after a few weeks, Jon said that he’d like to drive carpool in the morning and so I let him.

Really, who would turn down the fun of being able to continue to wear pjs and drink an extra cup of coffee? Not me.

One day a week or so ago, my #2 son said that, as he was riding home with the brother and sister, their mom said that they had been missing me driving them to school in the morning.

What? I don’t remember being particularly entertaining or anything like that. So I was wondering to myself what they were missing, exactly, except possibly that I let them listen to Kung Fu Fighting everyday on the way there.

It all became clear when #2 questioned them….

#2: So you miss my mom?

Little boy: uh-huh.

Little girl (enthusiastically, 2 octaves up): Oh, yeah. She talks like a COW-boy!!!!

What a hoot! I love it. Cowboy…Southerner…..you know.

Scenes From Our Weekend
This past weekend was lots of fun. First off, my mom flew in on Friday. Her oldest grandchild was turning 13 and she came to help us celebrate.

On Saturday, we went to the City Garden. Wow. What a pretty day. What a fabulous park. If you live in St. Louis and have not been yet, you really need to go. I think that our boys enjoyed it even more than we did.

Here is Mama Suzie and her boys upon arrival at the park.

Nothing is off-limits for climbing at the park. That suited us just fine.

As you can see, Saturday was a beautiful day.

I think that this head may have been the favorite thing.

#4 was apparently concerned for the interior of the nose…

but nothing was in there.

Come to think of it, this little creek may have been the favorite thing.

It’s not deep, which is good when you don’t make the jump so well.

I think this photo is hilarious. They look like kindred spirits.

Father and his 13 year-old. Now, just how did that happen? Thirteen seems really old to me.

We also went to the Webster Jazz Festival and checked out one of St. Louis’s famous water towers.

Then on Sunday Mama Suzie flew back to Alabamey and we had a surprise birthday party for #1.

And a wonderful time was had by all.

Scenes From Our Weekend
This past weekend was lots of fun. First off, my mom flew in on Friday. Her oldest grandchild was turning 13 and she came to help us celebrate.

On Saturday, we went to the City Garden. Wow. What a pretty day. What a fabulous park. If you live in St. Louis and have not been yet, you really need to go. I think that our boys enjoyed it even more than we did.

Here is Mama Suzie and her boys upon arrival at the park.

Nothing is off-limits for climbing at the park. That suited us just fine.

As you can see, Saturday was a beautiful day.

I think that this head may have been the favorite thing.

#4 was apparently concerned for the interior of the nose…

but nothing was in there.

Come to think of it, this little creek may have been the favorite thing.

It’s not deep, which is good when you don’t make the jump so well.

I think this photo is hilarious. They look like kindred spirits.

Father and his 13 year-old. Now, just how did that happen? Thirteen seems really old to me.

We also went to the Webster Jazz Festival and checked out one of St. Louis’s famous water towers.

Then on Sunday Mama Suzie flew back to Alabamey and we had a surprise birthday party for #1.

And a wonderful time was had by all.

Scenes From Our Weekend
This past weekend was lots of fun. First off, my mom flew in on Friday. Her oldest grandchild was turning 13 and she came to help us celebrate.

On Saturday, we went to the City Garden. Wow. What a pretty day. What a fabulous park. If you live in St. Louis and have not been yet, you really need to go. I think that our boys enjoyed it even more than we did.

Here is Mama Suzie and her boys upon arrival at the park.

Nothing is off-limits for climbing at the park. That suited us just fine.

As you can see, Saturday was a beautiful day.

I think that this head may have been the favorite thing.

#4 was apparently concerned for the interior of the nose…

but nothing was in there.

Come to think of it, this little creek may have been the favorite thing.

It’s not deep, which is good when you don’t make the jump so well.

I think this photo is hilarious. They look like kindred spirits.

Father and his 13 year-old. Now, just how did that happen? Thirteen seems really old to me.

We also went to the Webster Jazz Festival and checked out one of St. Louis’s famous water towers.

Then on Sunday Mama Suzie flew back to Alabamey and we had a surprise birthday party for #1.

And a wonderful time was had by all.

If You Need Some Chocolate Cake…
may I suggest this one?

I made 2 of them for my son’s 13th birthday party. Whoa, Nelly. Yum. And most of the ingredients can be purchased at Aldi. So, SCORE if you’re an aldivore like I am. Both the cake and frosting can be made well in advance.

Sour Cream Chocolate Cake Layers
Makes 2 9-inch cake layers

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup natural cocoa powder (not Dutch)
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
3 large eggs, room temperature
2/3 cup sour cream, room temp.
1 T. vanilla extract
10 T. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2/3 cup corn oil
1 1/4 cups ice-cold water

1. Position rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of two 9-inch cake pans. Dust the pans with flour.
2. Sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl. Whisk to combine and set aside.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs until blended. Whisk in the sour cream and vanilla extract until blended. Set aside.
4. In the bowl of a standing mixer, using the paddle attachment, mix the melted butter and oil togther at low speed. Add the sour cream/egg/vanilla mixture and mix until combined — 30 seconds or so. Add the cold water and mix to blend. Add the dry ingredients all at once and mix for another minute, until well blended, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as necessary. Scrape the batter into the prepared pans, dividing it evenly.
5. Bake the cakes for 35-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the cakes in the pans on wire racks for 15 minutes.
6. Invert the cakes onto the racks and cool completely.

Store at room temp., wrapped in foil for up to 5 days.

And, may I suggest this frosting to go with the cake. It’s good for our family because we have an anti-buttercream contingent.
Folks LOVE this.

Dark Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips or 6 oz. bittersweet chocolate (chopped)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sour cream, at room temp.
2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

1. Melt the chocolate. (I do this in the microwave at half power in one minute increments, stirring well after each minute.) Cool until tepid.
2. In the bowl of a mixer, using the paddle attachment, beat the buter at medium speed until creamy, about 30 seconds. Add the sour cream and beat at medium speed until blended and smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually add the sugar and beat at high speed until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the cooled chocolate at low speed, mixing until blended and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Increase speed to high and beat until slightly aerated, about 1 minute.

Store in an airtight container at room temp for up to 3 hours, or refrigerate for up to a week; bring to room temp before using.

If You Need Some Chocolate Cake…
may I suggest this one?

I made 2 of them for my son’s 13th birthday party. Whoa, Nelly. Yum. And most of the ingredients can be purchased at Aldi. So, SCORE if you’re an aldivore like I am. Both the cake and frosting can be made well in advance.

Sour Cream Chocolate Cake Layers
Makes 2 9-inch cake layers

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup natural cocoa powder (not Dutch)
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
3 large eggs, room temperature
2/3 cup sour cream, room temp.
1 T. vanilla extract
10 T. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2/3 cup corn oil
1 1/4 cups ice-cold water

1. Position rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of two 9-inch cake pans. Dust the pans with flour.
2. Sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl. Whisk to combine and set aside.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs until blended. Whisk in the sour cream and vanilla extract until blended. Set aside.
4. In the bowl of a standing mixer, using the paddle attachment, mix the melted butter and oil togther at low speed. Add the sour cream/egg/vanilla mixture and mix until combined — 30 seconds or so. Add the cold water and mix to blend. Add the dry ingredients all at once and mix for another minute, until well blended, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as necessary. Scrape the batter into the prepared pans, dividing it evenly.
5. Bake the cakes for 35-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the cakes in the pans on wire racks for 15 minutes.
6. Invert the cakes onto the racks and cool completely.

Store at room temp., wrapped in foil for up to 5 days.

And, may I suggest this frosting to go with the cake. It’s good for our family because we have an anti-buttercream contingent.
Folks LOVE this.

Dark Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips or 6 oz. bittersweet chocolate (chopped)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sour cream, at room temp.
2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

1. Melt the chocolate. (I do this in the microwave at half power in one minute increments, stirring well after each minute.) Cool until tepid.
2. In the bowl of a mixer, using the paddle attachment, beat the buter at medium speed until creamy, about 30 seconds. Add the sour cream and beat at medium speed until blended and smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually add the sugar and beat at high speed until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the cooled chocolate at low speed, mixing until blended and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Increase speed to high and beat until slightly aerated, about 1 minute.

Store in an airtight container at room temp for up to 3 hours, or refrigerate for up to a week; bring to room temp before using.