Daddy Time

I don't think I give him enough credit, but Wes truly is one heck of a dad, husband, confidant, friend, and so much more.  He gives unselfishly of his time and energy.  Whenever I can't take the pressure or my patience is faltering he's right there to meet my cry for help.  He supports me when I feel like I'm not such a great mom and gives me the encouragement to believe in myself again.  He listens to me whine and takes orders well!

He is the fun dad.  The one who rough houses with the kids like dads are supposed to do.  He's the one who initiates sports-related play so that I can stay inside and bake or cook.  He insists on giving me "me" time just when I need it most.  I'm a really lucky gal!  I love you, babe.  

Oh, and he's head of the Grammar Police, so he's taught me a thing or 2 over the years (I had a lot to learn!).  I thought of that because I would not have put that comma in between you and babe in the last sentence, but now I know better :)

These pictures are from 2 months ago, even though Colin is sporting some Christmas pajamas!  They were hand-me-downs from his cousin, so anything new must be worn immediately.  Incidentally, Sawyer's pj's didn't even come with matching pants, but they were also from his cousin, so who cares if they match!

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake and Happy Birthday, Wes!

As I mentioned in my FYI Friday post, last Monday was Wes' birthday.  He's now not only older than me (well he always is) but now he's closer to 40 than he is 30.  That one hurts.  Not as much as I bet the big 4-0 will though!

I have a coworker who's birthday falls 2 days before his and I almost always bake her cake as well.  Year after year, Wes says he doesn't want me to make him a cake because I had to make hers, blah, blah, blah.  But who can have a birthday without cake?  That's sacrilegious!  So I donned my Betty Crocker apron and whipped up 2 cakes in 1 day.  That's how the big dogs do it.  I guess I'm officially a big dog.

   

I went with the old standby, one of our family favorites, a Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake.  I've made this about a half dozen times and each time it tastes slightly different than the last.  The key is all in the caramel.  You have to let it cook until you think it's reached the point of no return.  If you think it's burning, that's ok.  You're probably just reaching the finish line.  I've made it in the past when I didn't cook the caramel long enough and the icing lacked flavor.  Just seconds before the burning point, when it's deep golden brown, that's where it's at.

A terribly fuzzy picture of the birthday boy, but who could write a birthday post without so much as a blurry shot of the birthday boy himself?! 

Without further ado, the cake of all cakes, the lick-the-plate-clean-if-you're-a-2-or-5-year old, the cake that will add 5 pounds to your waistline and you won't care, the...

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake

{Print recipe}

Ingredients:

For the cake:

2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
For the caramel:
4 tablespoons water
1 cup sugar1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt, kosher or sea
For the salted caramel icing:
1 1/2 sticks butter, at room temperature
8 ounces or 1 package of reduced fat cream cheese, at room temperature
2-3  cups powdered sugar
1 cup salted caramel

Directions:
For the cake:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer two minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely before frosting.
For the caramel:

1. Combine the water and sugar in a deep saucepan and cook over medium heat. Stir together with a wooden spoon until the sugar is incorporated. Cover the saucepan and let it cook over medium heat for 3 minutes.

2. After 3 minutes, remove the lid, increase the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Do not stir from this point on, but it is important to carefully shake the pan so that one area of the caramel doesn’t burn. Continue to cook until the caramel turns an even amber color then remove from the heat and let stand for about 30 seconds.

3. Carefully and slowly pour the heavy cream into the mixture. The mixture will bubble up significantly. Stir the mixture and add the butter, lemon juice, and salt. Stir until combined.

4. Measure 1 cup into a Pyrex measuring cup. Stirring occasionally, allow to cool until thick like molasses and warm to the touch, about 20 minutes. This recipes makes slightly more than 1 cup of caramel. You can reserve the rest for drizzling, like I did if you wish, or just eat it with a spatula!

For the caramel icing:

1. Bring butter to room temperature by letting it sit out for 1 or 2 hours. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed until creamy.

2. Sift 1-2 cups of powdered sugar into the butter/cream cheese mixture and beat to combine. Add 1 cup of the salted caramel and beat to combine. Sift remaining powder sugar, in 1/2 cup increments and beating between each, until you arrive at the thickness and sweetness you desire. I used somewhere between 2-3 cups. 

3.  Frost in between the layers and all over the top and sides.

Store at room temperature for optimal freshness.  When you store cakes in the refrigerator, they dry out.  This cake will still taste delicious, the cake part just won't be as moist.

And for a little extra birthday bonus, some good old rough-housing with 2 of his favorite monsters!

**Linking up to What's Cookin Wednesday.

Happy Easter (recap)

I feel like it's been much longer than a week and a half since Easter!  I think it's because last week was Spring Break and that threw us off our routine (that I love so much) and it just makes it seem like a long time ago.  Nonetheless, I wanted to share some pictures of my handsome men in their church attire.

The serious side.

The silly side.

The happy family - quite possibly one of the only decent family pics we have had lately!  We can thank Wes' iphone and Facebook loving sister for her mad camera skills :)

Wes and I - another rare shot that actually is decent!

Wes' family, his brother's son, and us.

All the kiddos.

And this shot cracked me up too much to not include.  I actually had to crop out Sawyer because he was on the move and was a blur.  This is what I was left with.  Doesn't it look like a Glamour Shot (or an Olan Mills picture for those of you from around here)?!

Christmas, Part 2

Our Christmas in pictures.

Terrible picture of me but I wanted to remember that I was actually there too!

Wiped out after a full day.

30 Days of Thankfulness - Days 14-18

Today's thankful post is all about my amazing husband.  When I really stop and think about all that he does for our family, I realize just how much I take for granted.  In an effort to show my appreciation and sincere gratitude for him, here are some of the things that often go unnoticed that I am thankful for.
1. I am thankful that he warms my car for me in the mornings when it's cold outside.  Our new house's garage is barely standing and we choose not to park in it.  That leaves our cars exposed to the elements and it doesn't take too many mornings of a cold tush to realize how much we took our old garage for granted.  Well, my tush isn't quite as cold thanks to my thoughtful and caring husband.
2.  I am thankful that he has taken care of the diaper pail since the day Colin was born.  Sure, I've taken out a bag here and there, but for the most part that's his thing and I am incredibly relieved I don't have to smell stale urine every week!
3.  I am thankful that he does the dishes every night without complaining.  I'm not sure how the whole cycle ever started but his thought process is, I cook the food, the least he can do is clean the dishes.  Amen to that!  I realize not everyone thinks that way, but I sure am glad he does.
4.  I am thankful that he eats the food I put in front of him without complaining.  Not only does he eat the food (now mostly vegetarian), he compliments some aspect of it every meal.  There aren't too many men out there that would be willing to cut out steak and burgers as willingly as he has.  So I am impressed, relieved, and thankful that he has not only accepted it but understands and appreciates why we're doing it.  
5.  I am thankful for the daily love texts he sends.  Sometime throughout the day he sends me a short little note to tell me he loves me or something of the sort.  Just to know that he's thinking about me makes me smile.  It may be short and sweet but it makes my heart flutter every time my phone dings.  
I seriously could go on and on but I'll refrain.  What are you most thankful about in regards to your spouse or loved one?  Have you told them you appreciate them lately?  Guaranteed to put a smile on your face and warm their heart.

Fearrington Inn

I don't recall the year, but the memories will never fade from the first time my mom introduced me to Fearrington Inn, in Pittsboro, NC.  I believe I was in high school and how she discovered this luxurious Bed and Breakfast is beyond me, but I'm so glad that she did.  

Years have passed (more than I care to count) since then but it's always been in the back of my mind that I'd like to take Wes there someday.  Thanks to the generosity of my Mother,  I was thrilled to finally get the chance to share this little piece of heaven on earth with Wes.  

Upon entering the Inn from the road, you are greeted with their famous "belted" cows.  I wondered if the images I had stored in my head would match the way the grounds actually were and my memory served me pretty well.  

The farm part of the estate is the first thing you see, but hidden in the lush greenery you'll find The Fearrington House Restaurant.  They bill themselves to be "one of the south's most venerable farm-to-fork restaurants" and I couldn't agree more.  They are the only AAA 5-diamond restaurant to be Green Certified and are ranked in the top 50 U.S. restaurants according to OpenTable.  The food at the restaurant is sublime and deserves a post of it's own another time.

In addition to the restaurant, they have a quaint village of a couple of smaller restaurants, a bookstore, a home interior store, and a spa.  Each are beautifully maintained and are reminiscent of an old-fashioned small town.

Perhaps one of the most vivid recollections I have about this place are the grounds.  I remember thinking that one day I'd have a flower garden similar to theirs, but alas, I've lived in my own house for 11 years and I've had dead shrubs in my front yard since July!  This trip just revived that desire and I've already started researching various plants for our area.

As if all of that isn't enough, their accommodations exude romance and country elegance.  From heated towel racks, to evening port and house-made truffles, to Egyptian cotton linens, and plush bathrobes, not a single detail has been overlooked.

The courtyard leading up to our room.

As a breakfast lover, the real creme de la creme for me is the complimentary breakfast that is served each morning.  Served in the side porch area of the Inn, the dose of sun provides a magnificent start to the day, not to mention the tremendous breakfast fare that is served!

As we exited down the long road, I found myself already planning our next trip.  Hopefully we won't let quite as many years lapse as I did between high school and now!

Still Alive

Remember me?  Remember these guys?

Getaways are nice and all, but I find myself backpedaling for the next week or so trying to catch back up (including, but not limited to, haircuts for my children!).  I have a big project planned for myself that I plan to share with you and I hope to make that big reveal soon.  There are also stories from our trip, including a big milestone for me that involved a few tears, frustration, and success.  I also have lots of gorgeous pictures to share and mouth-watering cuisine from our 5-star dining experience.  So stay tuned and I'll be back shortly.

Oh what a night!

I know I'm not the only mother who has stressful days.  I'm not the first or last one to eagerly put the kids to bed so I can enjoy a few minutes of peace and quiet.  I'm not the only one who has fits of frustration and acts out irrationally, only to have regrets later.  I'm not the only mom to feel guilty that I work and that I'm not home with fresh baked cookies waiting on the children when they get home from school.  And I'm certainly not the only imperfect mom.   Even though I know these things, I still make mistakes daily.  I still have moments where I wonder what the heck I'm doing wrong and wish Nanny 911 would come and solve my life's problems.  Even though I know I'm imperfect, I still strive for perfection.  I think it's possible to strive towards perfection, but I'm here to tell you, I don't think it's attainable in the current world. I wanted to share an excerpt of a somewhat typical night at our house.  Not all nights are this chaotic, but there are far more than I'd like.  I share to give you hope that you're not alone, but also to seek advice to see if there's something blatant that I'm missing that could make our routine smoother.   From an email to an understanding friend:

Last night felt like Grand Central Station at our house.  When I drove up, Colin was waiting for me outside with a couple of tomatoes and immediately started in asking about his garden, if the tomatoes were ready, can we pull up the dead cucumber plant, why do the bugs like the plants so much, etc.  I managed to answer all of his questions – even in a rather peaceful manner.  Then I go to the door and Sawyer and Wes are sitting right inside the door, tying Sawyer’s tennis shoes (which are new to him and are practically impossible to remove from his body without him throwing a conniption).  Apparently Sawyer wanted to go out to meet me too.  So he was none too pleased that I was already in the house and he hadn’t gotten to go out.  He begins to wail.  Wes immediately launches into telling me about Colin’s homework assignment that is due in 2 days and that he can't believe they didn't give us more time, blah, blah – all on top of Colin’s incessant tomato talk and Sawyer’s wailing.  Great, I’ve been home 2 minutes and I already want to pull my hair out!

The fun only continued from there.  I began to cook dinner, while Wes “worked” with his stuff spread out all over the kitchen island.  Colin was still babbling and both he and Sawyer wanted to “help” me cook dinner.  Colin was talking a mile a minute and I could not even think what my name was.  Somehow, Wes was managing to actually work?  The boys are moving chairs, cutting with plastic knives, washing vegetables, all within a 5-foot radius of me (and on me)!  I somehow still managed to keep it together and get dinner on the table.  At one point I did tell Wes, “In case you ever wonder why I’m harried when you get home, here’s your answer!”

So we eat dinner and then I delve into Colin’s homework assignment.  At first I didn’t think it was a big deal that it was due in 2 days, that is until I realized he had soccer practice the next night and that only left tonight to get it done.  Well by this point, Sawyer was an absolute mess because he was worn out from his first day at school.  He was crying at my feet, I was trying to read the directions out loud, and Colin was practically doing a handstand in his chair.  Wes was doing dishes for a while and then standing across the island just watching, somehow tuning out the melee that was ensuing.  I bend down to get Sawyer and he’s just like a wet noodle, he’s so tired.  The smart thing to do would have been to stop then and there and put Sawyer to bed but I already had my eye on the prize and I was going to tackle this “project” right then.  Somewhere in the mix, Sawyer accidentally scratches my incision (another story) and I nearly fell out of my chair.  I put him down and am trying to keep my screeching to a minimum.  Well he starts screaming a) that I put him down and b) because he hurt me.  Wes finally picks him up and manages to come up with the idea that he’s tired and should go on to bed.  Hey, great idea!  After more wailing and consoling, Wes gets his milk ready and they’re off upstairs.

Well in the meantime I have come unglued and am totally frustrated with Colin because he’s not listening as I read the directions.  I stop and tell him that I’ll continue when he’s ready to listen because I’m only reading them once.  He finally settles down and we’re able to complete his family tree.  It was supposed to be something that the whole family participated in.  Yes, we sure did!  Not exactly in the manor they probably intended, but we were all present and accounted for. 

Of course after the boys were in bed, the guilty feelings took over and I began to relive the whole process and dissect how and what I should have done differently.  Short of a miracle, I’m not sure I could have done anything different.  What I learned is that we’re going to have to come up with a better way of doing homework, lest I lose every ounce of my patience and sanity.  Just another reminder that there aren’t enough hours in the day!  

  **FYI Friday will return to it's regularly scheduled programming next week.  Pinky swear!

First Day

This week marked a very important, yet sad milestone for us.  Sawyer started "school."  I've never really had an issue with being done having kids.  I feel incredibly blessed that I've been given the 2 darlings that I have, but I've always been content with 2.  Lately, however, I've been feeling a few more tugs at the old heart strings when I look at little Sawyer biscuit.  I find myself rocking him a little longer as I give him his nightly milk, squeezing him a little tighter before I put him to bed, and just trying to soak up every breath of that adorable high-pitched squeaky voice.  Knowing he's our last baby has made me really appreciate the fact that once he graduates from certain milestones, I likely won't be experiencing them again until perhaps my grandchildren.  
Wes has decided he needs to actually go into the office 4, maybe 5, days a week.  He had been working from home a couple days a week and kept Sawyer on those days.  It was an incredible opportunity for him to him to bond with the boys (he's done it since Colin was a baby) and the boys loved getting to stay home with Daddy.  He was also a tremendous help to me, as he ran errands, did the grocery shopping, and was available to drop off/pick up the kids from various places.  

I knew the time would come when he'd need to work more and I truly hated to see him having to occupy his nights and weekends doing work he could have done during normal business hours during the week.  We knew Sawyer was getting to the age where he needed social interaction with children his own age, so he could learn important fundamentals...like sharing!  He has had a few sitters and been to the nursery at church, but other than my mom, he had a very small network of social interactions.

The timing has worked out nearly perfectly, as the daycare right in our backyard had one part-time opening available.  This was huge because they have a waiting list of 50-60 children at all times.  If any part of this process was easy, this was it.  It was obviously meant to be for him to attend this school.  Wes and I have heard nothing but wonderful things about this school and that made the transition that much easier.

I began "prepping" Sawyer about school this weekend and he seemed very excited.  I told him it was his school and he nodded in agreement.  He went on to say, "Saw-Saw's school.  Not Bubby's, not Mommy's, not Daddy's, but Saw-Saw's."  I heard this no less than 20 times, so I felt my work was done.

The morning of, he was still raring to go.  I was afraid that would come to a screeching halt once we got to school but he proved me wrong.  One thing about that works in my favor with Sawyer is that if he hears another child crying, he won't cry.  We walked into a room of crying kids, so I knew I was safe!  Sure enough, his little lip did quiver when I left, but no tears.  At least not from him.  I was more relieved than anything else that I didn't have to see or hear him cry, so I think that helped distract me from getting emotional.  Wes felt sad and somewhat guilty about it all but we both know this is for the best and it won't be the last hard parenting decision we'll have to make.  It sure makes it easier knowing he was okay and that he has already adapted.

His teacher gave him a glowing report and said that no tears were shed.  She sang his praises loudly.  Sawyer was still very excited to see Daddy when he went to pick him up though.  Wes said they were just all sitting in a circle and Sawyer was just smiling away at something.  When he saw Wes, he jolted up and ran to him.  What a wonderful feeling!

Our first day of school photo shoot.  The shoes were a must.  Those are his new-to-him-shoes that he has only taken off to sleep.  He was a tad more receptive to the shoot than big brother.

Looking to Daddy for instruction.

Take your thumb out of your mouth.

Look at Mommy.

Smile.

Sometimes you have to be patient to be successful!