Fireman Suit

I didn't buy very many new things when my children were little, but I splurged and bought this little raincoat set for Nathan.  I am assuming he was about 3 when I got it.  I've kept it, since I have a very hard time getting rid of things I've paid full price for.  And Nathan used it to play with for a VERY long time.  Zane is so much bigger than Nathan was that I got it out for him last time he was here.  He didn't want to stand for any pictures.  A coat meant outside time and he was OUT in a hurry.

Zane is not yet 2 1/2

And away we go.

I went looking for pictures of Nathan wearing this rain suit. But I don't have very many.  I found some I forgot I had, though.  These were taken when he was 5 1/2.

Original scrapbook page.

Lynette's Vanilla Bean Ricotta Cake

I white cake mix ( I use french vanilla, since I don't use the vanilla bean) and stuff to make it.
1 pint whole ricotta cheese
1/2 cup white sugar
1 vanilla bean (optional)
1 egg (plus those used in the cake mix)
1 sm pkg instant cheesecake pudding
1 cup milk
1 sm container frozen whipped topping, thawed, or whipped cream
Fresh berries or mint (optional)

Prepare cake mix as directed on the box, scrape seeds from vanilla bean and whisk into cake batter until evenly dispersed. Pour batter into a 9x13 pan or two 8" round pans. Set aside. Combine ricotta cheese, sugar and egg. Blend well. Drop by large spoonfuls into pan evening and swirl with a knife to mix. Bake at 350 degrees, for about 50 minutes.

After cake has cooled, blend pudding mix and milk until thckened. Blend in whipped topping. Spread over cooled cake. If desired, top with fresh berries.

It is best if refrigerated for a while before eating, and I store it in the fridge.

Fifteen

The trouble with Fifteen, is the difficulty of finding photos they like of themselves. 

I think she's beautiful.

New Craft Post

If anyone is interested in seeing what my current finished projects are, click on the Crafty Gramma page.

Sequels

I don't know what you think about sequels. I mean the ones where an author takes a book I love and after a hundred years writes one. I'm not usually a fan of sequels, or rewrites, but it depends on the book and the author, and how well the book is written. 

I did like this book, it doesn't take Sarah Crewe any farther in life, although she does make an appearance.  It is about life at Miss Minchin's after Sarah is gone.  I don't think it has quite the charm of the original book, nor the depth, but it is a well written book, and very good read, and kept me interested to the end.  In fact, the ending was VERY unexpected.  I think you'll enjoy it if you like books about girls.  I did.

Zane Again

When my daughter was married, we knew we wouldn't see Zane nearly as much.   We are really lucky to have them living only 45 miles away. I was pretty tired out looking after Zane along with my other mom duties, so the rest of every day Zane is nice.  But, we sure enjoy seeing him when we can.  Lorene came down the last two Saturdays, while her hubby is working until late.  Zane gets a chance to play all over our big yard, and she gets to eat a meal she hasn't cooked and help looking after her busy boy. 

I notice changes now that I don't see him everyday.  His vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds so I can tell what he's talking about now, what he wants to do and where he wants to go. 

I had cookies when they came and they were the first thing he saw. "Cookie", he says, grabs one and out we go out to enjoy the hottest day of April. Zane loves this little car, but it is hard to drive with a cookie, so he kept hopping out every little bit, to get it from the little picnic table to take bites. So, he would play a little while and say, "cookie!", and want to run in and get another.  I let him get three, but the cat ate one.  I had to hide the rest.

Zane just loves to throw the basketball into the net.  It's just too bad, we don't have one his size.  It's hard work to let him play.

And then, what little boy doesn't like to play in water?

Lorene was a bit annoyed when she saw he was wet, and I asked if she had some extra clothes for him. She didn't, but there are too big clothes saved downstairs. When he comes to our place, he gets dirty. There was water in the seat of the car to sit in, water at the base of the basketball hoop to jump in, sand under the trampoline to throw and sit in, and a dusty gravel drive to drive his loader in. It's hard to take pictures with all that dirt and water, but we got a few.

That's MY boy, and I'm enjoying watching him grow up.  This age is a wonderful age.