Smells like chocolate cake, sounds lonely

Javanna's cake ... this was before i helped her finish putting on the icing
Rolland, Caleb and Brayden playing video games.

I took Von to spend the weekend at his dads today. Ann's kids Javanna, Caleb and Rolland went along for the ride as Ann had to play Football Booster mom and work in the concession stand.

Javanna decided to play Betty Crocker when we got back home. I don't know if my oven knows how to act with all this recent baking. She wanted to make Chocolate cake and she has the house smelling delicious!

It's odd how quiet it is without Von. I was thrilled with the thought of having a whole weekend without having to watch Dora or Diego, but it's really a little lonely, even with a house full of kids crowded in front of the television playing video games.

I need to download some pictures from this week, but I think I'll be lazy tonight and go watch "Wild Hogs." Tomorrow will be time for work around the house and more blogging.

Good night!

The family

Hanna and Aunt Barb check out Brayden's new YoYo

Grandma and Nela

Yes, she can hold her feet and roll!

Brayden took this picture of Nela in the tub. I don't know if you can tell or not but she was kicking and having a good time!

Von and Hanna

I love taking pictures of my niece Hanna and Von. They're so funny!

For those of you who sat through me taking multiple shots like this one, this was actually the first one when both were facing the camera. Pretty cute!

We relit Braydens cake so Von and Hanna could blow out the candles. I don't know if Hanna actually blew any out ... by looking at the pictures her arm blocked all the air.

He's 7!

He made it everyone, Brayden is 7 years old. He wanted an all chocolate ice cream cake and that's what he got.

He also wanted a Nintendo DS ... and he got that too!

Church promotion

The second graders at Roscoe United Methodist Church received their very own Bible on Sunday. Brayden is on the far right taking a peek.

Sleepover at Barbs

Brayden had a sleepover at Aunt Barb's house. When I arrived the next afternoon, Brayden was in the pool with Shade and Sage (who managed to fit into the bucket).

This is Barb holding Nela. She said not to take her picture because she's not photogenic, I disagree.

Hello Betty Crocker

Some people know I love Chocolate Chip Banana Bread thanks to former Tribuneite Rachel Streitfeld. Well, after weeks of purchasing loaves of the good stuff at the local Farmers Market, I decided to whip up a batch of my very own (and when I say whip up I don't mean adding a couple ingredients to the boxed breads). I went totally from scratch.

What I found out was I'm a pretty good baker. The bread was perfectly done, the chips didn't all sink to the bottom, and it was pretty darn tasty. I also made a few loaves of Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread ... and it's not bad either.

Perhaps tomorrow I'll take a shot of me enjoying my bread to post, but for tonight, it's getting late and I'm going to sign out.

Good night!

New school year

Brayden is a big second grader this year.

You can't see it in the picture, but I think they knew Brayden was a tall kid .. his desk was noticeably higher than his classmates. You may not know this either, but the same shirt Brayden is wearing in this picture, is the same one he wore the first day of school last year (and with the same backpack).

This is kinda fun

Dad and the german chocolate cake he wanted for his birthday

Dad with the movie "Road Hogs"
Loren (Derek's girlfriend) eats homemade ice cream for the first time

Von helps grandpa with his gifts

Ann holds Nela at Saquores scrimmage (Aug. 23). Saquore made five touchdowns!

Just learning

OK. So the page doesn't look that great. I'm on vacation. I just want to put the stuff up and not sit here forever to learn how to do all the features correctly.

Kirby, if you're out there and can give me tips on how to correctly put the photos up where I can put captions under them, drop me a note!)

Vacation near end

Cousin Sage gives Brayden a marker tattoo!




I've been on vacation all week and it's been pretty productive. We celebrated dad's 60th birthday with a bash for friends and family on Sunday, and followed that up with a small family dinner on Monday (his actual birthday).

My dressers are neat and tidy, the kitchen cabinets are cleaned and organized, and the kitchen and living room carpets have been cleaned. Movies have been watched, laundry has been done, and Kujo's check has been spent :.)

I think I'm going to need the next few days to recuperate!

Vacation promise

One of my vacation goals was to learn how to create my own blog or web page. It's Monday and I've already completed the task. Now I'll just have to learn about using this thing and uploading my photos. This will hopefully eliminate the numerous e-mails with photo after photo. Take care - VAL