Hippity Hoppity Easter

This post is soooooo late but here are a few pictures of our little egg hunter.

Rollerskating Date

Cameron had a date with her boyfriend, Jobe. The two went to the rollerskating rink for a few trips around the big floor. The first few attempts were not too successful, but after a change of skates to ones with wheels that didn't turn quite as easily, Cameron and Jobe were skating fools. They had a great time together as always. It was fun to see the two of them trying to keep from falling. I think Jobe's mom and I got the biggest workout helping them. My arms will be sore tomorrow!

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Here is a recipe we tried while we were home in Mathis. Clay and Cameron had the best time licking all of the utensils and bowl. You may have to bake it longer than the recipe says depending on your oven.

1 (8) oz block of cream cheese
3 sticks butter
3 cups of Swans Cake Flour (very important to use this!)
3 cups of sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
6 eggs
DO NOT preheat the oven.
1. Blend softened butter, cream cheese, and sugar together in one bowl.
2. Add in teaspoon of vanilla
3. Begin to fold in cake flour and two eggs at a time and blend until smooth
4. Once all is in and blended smoothly pour (or scoop) into a greased Bundt pan. (I prefer to use Crisco shortening and then pour some cake flower in the pan to dust over the shortening. Make sure all the shortening is covered in flour especially the center of the pan or the cake will not come out well.)
5. Once the batter is in the pan and you have licked all the utensils then put it in a cold oven and set to 225 degrees for 30 mins
6. At the end of the first 30 mins, bump the temp up to 350 and cook for another 30 mins. After the first 15 or so at 350, peek to see if the top is getting too brown. If so, put a piece of Reynolds wrap over the top and continue cooking.
7. Check every so often with 10 mins left. Once done to your liking, take out and let cool when not much is left on the cake tester. ( I like some on there for the gooey part of the top!)
8. Let cool for a 5 mins or so, then turn upside down and should come out easily if the pan was greased well.

Hope everyone will try this recipe. It was scrumptious!!!

Spring Break part 3

On the final leg of our trip around Texas, we made a trip to New Braunfels to spend some time with Uncle Clay and Aunt Jo. We visited Landa park and rode the train, played at the park, looked at the Comal River, and finally visited a Safari at Natural Bridge Caverns. It was a jam packed two days. We had a blast and can't wait to spend some more time with them soon.

Check out the cool picture of the mama deer thingy with her new baby. It was so new, its little legs were still quite wobbly.

Down on the Farm (Spring Break part 2)

While at Papa and Grandmama's, Cameron got to see all the new baby calves frolicing in the pasture. We took the gator out to get a closer view. (Thanks Uncle Glenn for letting us borrow it.) She and Papa also had a tea party. He is such a kid at heart that it didn't take much for him to get into the role.

A great grandmother's love

I just loved this picture of Cameron and Memaw. They have a very special bond that only happens between a great grandmother and her great grandchild. I think back to my own experience with my great grandmothers. Grandma Jostes used to drag a heavy school desk down from the attic just because we wanted to play with it. Grandma Sliva always made sure you never left her house with an empty stomach. I don't remember too much about my Granny O'Neil, but I do remember her baby grand piano and that she could play music by ear. Oh what great memories. I hope one day Cameron will look back on her time with her great grandmother, Memaw and Gigi, and smile because of the wonderful memories they made together.

Kids with Kids (Spring Break part 1)

Cameron and I went down to Mathis for a visit during our spring break. It is my mission to make sure my little city girl gets to experience country life like I did as a kid. While staying at Nana and Granddad's, one of our visits was to the Funke's house to see all of Pud and Elmer's new baby goats. It didn't take much persuasion for our kid to pick one of their kids. Cameron absolutely adored the little critters, and I think she would have taken one home with us if she could. I wouldn't mind then we wouldn't have to mow!

Pink Eye

Cute little white bunnies are supposed to be the only things with pink eyes, but unfortunately this is not the case for poor Cameron. This morning she woke up with a very droopy, pink right eye. After a short trip to the minute clinic at CVS, my instincts were correct and she does have conjunctivitis (pinkeye) We have some great eye drops that are supposed to clear it up quickly. Now were just spending the day coloring, watching cartoons, and playing My Little Ponies. We are washing our hands like crazy to keep anyone else from getting it.

On a side note, I would highly recommend the CVS minute clinic to anyone not wanting to wait 2 hours in their pediatricians office. Of course we'd have gone to the regular doc if I hadn't been sure of what was wrong with her. But, for pinkeye and other minor ailments the Minute Clinic is my preference!!!

Little Red Riding Hood

Cameron has recently become enchanted by the old song "Hey There Little Red Riding Hood". Everynight before bed she will watch the video on Youtube from Eric's iPhone and sing along. She really enjoys the remake that is faster than the original, but it sometimes goes too fast for her to sing along. Here is the next American Idol singing her favorite song. (besides Britney's Womanizer)

This one is for you Lena Elaine! (TAG)

My dear lifelong friend Elaine reminded me of all the wonderful memories our moms captured on film. My mom probably has a Rubbermaid tub full of just pictures of Elaine, her brother Gus, me and my bro Clay. Here is one I just happened to have a copy of here at my house. I think I'm pointing and laughing at those short shorts Gus was wearing.

Ready for the Catwalk

We got some new dresses for Christmas and this one happened to be a big hit with our supermodel wannabe. She strut her stuff before church and we were lucky enough to catch a few of the poses. Thanks Auntie Marla for the new duds. She obviously loves them and thinks she's smokin hot!

Bathtime or Syncronized Swimming?

Cameron has a dog bath toy that wears goggles and swims in the tub if there is enough water. Well tonight, she decided that she too needed to wear her goggles to see under all the bubbles. This was so funny to us that we thought we'd share w/you all.

I've Had Enough, MOM!

I've been experimenting with the settings on my new camera. Well unfortunately for Cameron, she has had to be the model for my practice. From the looks of the second picture, I think she's getting a little tired of my "practicing" on her.

Christmas in Mathis

Jingle Bell Jog

Cameron and mom did the Jingle Bell Jog 1 mile fun run to benefit our scholarship foundation for the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw school district. It was cold and windy and mom was pulling a wagon with Cameron and her friend Hannah. After a short while into the race, Cameron decides that mom is not going fast enough despite her words of encouragement. "Come on mom you can do it!" and "Faster Mom, we're not winning!" So, she and Hannah get out and run the rest of the way. Only hopping in one more short time to take a break and then back out to finish the race on her own two legs because mine were too slow. After all was said and done, Cameron had finished second in the race and Hannah was third in the preschool girl division. She was so proud of her red ribbon!

Happy 4th Birthday, Cameron!

We celebrated Cameron's 4th birthday with her BFF Hannah who was also turning 4. The girls had an awesome time painting pottery at Sunshine Glaze in Southlake. The best part was that the mess was cleaned up by someone other than Hannah's mommy and me. It was a blast. Destination birthdays from now on!

Happy Halloween

We had an amazing Halloween. Batgirl loved passing out candy just as much she enjoyed getting it.

girly girl

BIG FISH

Eric has been a fishing fool since gymnastics season is over. He has hit the catfish jackpot the last three times out to check the trotline. Three nights ago he came home with 2 fish over 20 pounds along with a 15 and 12 pounder. Last night he had another 20 pound fish on his line, but today he struck it rich. He caught a 60 POUND yellow catfish and a 20 pound blue cat. Our freezer is getting mighty full. As you can see from the pics, this ain't no fish tale.

Camping Out

Cameron and Dad spent the afternoon "roughing it" in the backyard. They've been planning for weeks to have a camp out, but when the time arrived to actually have one, Dad realized the old tent was missing a few important parts. After a trip to Walmart, they had a new tent and the camp out was on.