A new tradition???

Apparently the Fase side of the family (Eric's mom's side) has an Easter tradition of making a lamb cake. This lamb cake is made from a recipe that has been passed down for a few generations. I think it was kind of a joke gift that I received for Christmas (being that it was from Aunt Sue), but nevertheless, I love family traditions and was really excited to receive a pan so I could carry this one on. I received numerous warnings from absolutely everyone in the family that the recipe was really not good-more like really bad!-but I was excited to try it out and expose my family to the tradition since we were going to be spending Easter with the Parish side this year.
While I was making the recipe, though, something just didn't seem quite right. For instance, there were ingredients listed that weren't referenced in the directions. But I winged it and was really proud that it seemed to turn out. The cake looked good when I took it out the pan-the little lamb still had a face! On Easter, I reiterated the warnings of the awful recipe to my family. "Try at your own risk!" I warned them, but secretly I was hoping it had turned out. Well, I can't say I wasn't disappointed when everyone tried it and had this look on their face that they, too, wanted to like it, but just couldn't muster that facial expression. So a new tradition? I don't think so until I can find a recipe that bring people back to eating a lamb cake!

Making the cake...

The overall response from the family!

Yes, we are still alive!!

So sorry there have been no posts in 4 months! Yes, we are still alive, but there just really has not been anything to blog about! We work, work, work and go to school and then work some more. Sorry for nothing fun to report, but with busy season wrapping up in a few weeks (supposedly!) and Eric's class schedule being a little less so he can study for the boards, hopefully there will be a bit more to blog about in the next few months!

Pictures of our new house!

For those of you who have been wanting to see the new house, I put together this slide show. It includes pictures of before we moved in to just last weekend.

Painting Update!!!

Two weeks ago, Mom came over again and we did a little more painting. Neither of us were feeling that great, but we followed Mom's credo: "Just start by doing a little bit. If you want to stop, stop. If you want to keep going, do a little more." Those are the words Mom always says when she starts a big project. So that's what we did and before long, the living room was painted! We still have to finish the kitchen with the tan and then we'll move on to the living room wall that I want to be the "accent wall" in red. I'm excited!

Below are some progress update pictures:

Look! I graduated to using a roller!

Mom being the pro she is

Done! Well, at least for today!

Just a normal Saturday morning...

Every Saturday typically begins like this: Eric and I wake up as early as we can muster. Eric immediately heads downstairs to put on a pot of coffee and begin studying. I think of something to feed my poor husband so he can have enough energy to continue the insane pace that he has to go to keep on top of his studies. Then, we go our separate ways until we can meet up again at night. A few weeks ago, I found a cute snowman pancake mold at Crate and Barrell and thought that since Eric is probably missing the snow, he'd appreciate some snowman pancakes. So Saturday I tried out my latest purchase. Let me tell you, unless I'm doing something wrong, this pancake mold is HARD to use. Don't let the pictures fool you, I flipped over the pancakes to show the good side. I don't think Eric minded. He was fed and even got a reminder of a cold winter.

Below are a few pictures of our normal Saturday morning:

Eric studying while Chica and Little Cat bug him

The pancakes!

It's not supposed to rain in Arizona!

This weekend, Phoenix got a ton of rain. And I mean a ton! It started Friday afternoon and didn't end until Saturday night. It came down so fast that on my commute home on Friday, I had to make 2 detours because of closed streets due to flooding. Eric was excited to have the rain. It reminded him of being home in Illinois. He was even more excited when he discovered we have a moat around the house. Below are his pictures of the "moat":

Painting the kitchen

As some of you know, Eric and I bought a house and moved in Labor Day weekend. We both just love the house. My favorite part of the house, though, is the kitchen. I just love it and have really been able to get back into one of my favorite things to do-baking! Needless to say, that's the first room that was going to get decorated first! I've been really wanting to paint it but was overwhelmed by the idea of it. Thank goodness my mom has no fear of painting and loves doing it. So yesterday we began the process and Eric and I are thrilled at the way it's turning out. It really warms the kitchen and makes it feel nice and cozy. Everytime I walk into the kitchen it makes me want a good latte. We are not done yet, but below are a few picture to see how it's turning out:

The kitchen before we started painting...

Me, painting all the high areas...

Mom cleaning up...

The "finished" product (well, until we continue next weekend):

Doesn't my Delft look so good on the tan wall?

To be continued....