Biscotti anyone?

Doug and I decided to make biscotti last night around 11:00 p.m.  It is actually very simple to make.  I like it becuase you can throw extra goodies in and not screw up the recipe.  We made Apricot Cherry Pecan biscotti.  I had a little dark chocolate, so I chopped that up and added it at the last second.  We also added some almond extract, love the stuff, and end up adding a little to most desserts.  We also made Chocolate Walnut biscotti with mint chocolate chips.  And they must have been pretty yummy, because there are only a few left less than hmmmmm...........24 hours later :-)

 Yeah, I have my jammies on, but that does not mean I plan on going to bed anytime soon!

And she's off; Our girl is walking!!!

April 22nd, 2010. Chloe is 10 months and 3 days old today and decided it was time to take a walk. We were so excited and caught every moment on video. Excuse the poor video, dark lighting in the house.

Here are some shots from last weekend.  More mushroom hunting and hanging out by the bonfire.  It was Mom and Pop's birthday weekend.  We had some friends over to celebrate. We had a nice, laid-back time with good people and good eats.   

 Chloe turned 10 months old yesterday and  her first "toofer" broke through the gum today (that is what Doug calls a tooth.  Everything has a baby name with him.  I think it is too funny how men turn into softies around their babies). She has also started pushing around a mini shopping cart.  She thinks she is big stuff and she gets really excited when goes around the island at Mamaw and Paw's house all by herself. 

Hanging out on the porch, enjoying the beautiful sun

A "few" photos from Monday April 12, 2010

Another wonderful day with Bear Pie

Today's Findings, 84 more!

Happy Birthday Mom!  Doug, Chloe, and I made Mom this Hummingbird cake for Mom's birthday.  It is a pineapple, banana, pecan cake with cream cheese frosting.  I usually don't have a ton of luck with homemade cakes, but this one turned out very well and was super delicioso.

Our friends Brook, Corey, and Lily came over today and we took the girls to the Aquatic Center for a dip in the pool.  We had a great time and took full advantage of the water slide.  Brook and I got quite a kick out of standing in line with a bunch of youngsters waiting to go down the slide.  Hey, what's the fun in growing up anyway?  

Chloe and Lily looked so adorable in the bathing suits that we had to get a photo and what better place to do that than in a huge patch of creeping phlox.  

It's Hunting Season

Spring is my favorite time of year and hunting for mushrooms is probably one of our favorite things to do.  Doug and I get so into it. We search on our hands and knees turning over leaves and gently moving the baby groundcover to see if there are any hiding.    We get so excited when we spot one and wait  until we are both there to witness the picking.  It is especially awesome when you find three or four growing right together. Chloe is a good little shroom hunter too.   She had a big stick and was sweeping the leaves all around and uncovered a little mushroom, so she officially found her first shroom today!  When we picked her up to head to the house, she was sitting on another one!  Doug decided she is our good luck charm.  I remember last year, I was 8 months pregnant out  hunting, and we were daydreaming about how next year we will have a little sprout with us traipsing around in the woods.  Time is flying by so fast nowadays and we are having such a wonderful time with our little bear. 

We found 104 mushrooms today in a little over an hour!