Hi girls! Mom, here.
I am so enjoying you both right now. I wish I could bottle up your cuteness and keep it forever- save it for the days when you are grown up and no longer my small little minions. Sigh. But at 2 years 4 months, and 4 months and 1 week- I still have a while with you both before you get big.
Look at that mop of a dog. Small pony, actually as he is approaching 80 lbs. with a full coat of dreads.
We’ve been spending our summer days together, playing with Denver (read: jumping on him, poking his wet nose, chasing him around the house), baking treats, playing red light green light on the deck, and checking out how the garden is growing. There aren’t too many “exciting” things happening but every day is perfect with you two.
“Mom, can I PLEASE have a juice box!”
There you are, “writing your homework” as you like to tell me.
Lilly bug: I love your words right now. Some of our greatest conversations take place in the car where you happily question the entire world and list every little single thing you see.
Lilly: “I see a car Mom. I see a blue car Mom. I see a tree, a yellow line, a green light, an airplane, Mom. I don’t see a motorcycle Mom. I see a cloud Mom. I see a sign. I see a bug Mom. I see a red car Mom. I see a lady waving at me Mom! That lady is funny Mom.”
(I never get tired of you calling me Mom)
I love our who’s girl are you game. Are you Mommy’s girl or Daddy’s girl? You say Daddy’s girl every time but I know you love us both.
I love how sweet you are to baby sister. You speak to her just as I do and your mother-heart is so big and kind. You take care of her and help her and kiss her smooth soft head.
You even help Grace open her eyelids. Yikes!
I love that you love to go shopping. You are my out-and-about girl. There is not one place we go that doesn’t thrill you. Pretty clothes, toys, books, groceries, the bank- it’s all so exciting and wonderful to you.
I love that I can put your hair in pigtails now. Cutest. Thing. Ever.
And my sweet Grace: You are such a happy little 4 month old! Daddy and I are amazed by your sweet little smile and so entranced by the sounds coming out of your tiny little mouth. You goo and babble and “talk” to us all day long. It’s adorable.
I love that you need to see our faces to be content. You can be crying your eyes out but as soon as you see Mommy, Daddy, or Lilly, you magically stop and that little smile comes back to your face.
You love to hold hands. Especially with big sister.
You love to be outside in the breeze.
You love to snuggle and be cuddled up close. And boy, oh boy, do we all love to snuggle you!
Life is beautiful right now.
So anyway, give these Amaretto Cakes a try. They won’t dissapoint! The recipe comes from Warren Brown’s second cookbook, CakeLove in the Morning. Definitely one worth adding to your collections!
Amaretto Butter Cakes: Recipe adapted from CakeLove In the Morning
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (don’t be scared!)
1 pinch cinnamon
1/2 c. sour cream
3 Tbsp. Amaretto
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. + 2 Tbsp. superfine sugar
3/4 stick salted butter
2 Eggs
1 Egg Yolk
Confectioners sugar for sprinkling
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Spray 15 cupcake molds or 6 mini bundt cake pans liberally with nonstick spray.
3. In medium bowl, combine first 5 ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine sour cream, amaretto, and vanilla.
4. In large bowl, cream butter and sugar for 3-4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in wet and dry ingredients in three additions.
5. Scoop batter evenly into pans and bake for 15 minutes or until cakes are golden brown.
6. Serve with powdered sugar.
I personally think these might be awesome with a chocolate drizzle and scoop of vanilla ice cream, or with fresh whip cream and berries a la strawberry shortcake. But either way- they are delicious. The Amaretto adds such a nice flavor.
Sneaking hands got into the sugar!
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