how to bake a cake on the stovetop

ruth's birthday came before we got our power back. she was saying she really wanted a cake and was bemoaning the apparent fact that it was not going to happen. i had purchased a cake mix from the store (operating on generators) the day before and planned to cook it while she had a nap. after i mixed it up, i realized that i wasn't going to be able to light the oven (no knob for the gas). drawing on all that macgyver we've been watching, i filled a large skillet with a layer of crinkled tinfoil. on top of that i put a spring-form cake pan with about 3/4 the batter in it. i put the lid on the skillet (glass lid lets you watch without opening) and turned the gas to medium-low. nothing happened for about the first half hour or more. but then bubbles started coming up, and after about an hour it was done. the bottom was a little burnt. i cut it off, and the rest was fine. i had it frosted and in the freezer (cooled with ice) before ruth woke up. but i overlooked some of the evidence, which she quickly spotted. so it wasn't a complete surprise.

two 'ears owd

happy 2nd birthday, hazel!! she has started telling everyone that she is 'two 'ears owd', while holding up three or four fingers.

hazel in her big girl birthday bed

grant's birthday cupcakes

ruth's stovetop-baked birthday cake

7 bits of g&r trivia

in response to brenda's challenge, here y'all go.

grant's list:

1. i once had an extensive collection of sports cards and my hero was bo jackson.

2. as a sixth grader i listened to kriss kross and wore my clothes backwards.

3. i actually purchased a nintendo gameboy and a pair of reebok pumps.

4. in high school i hated to read.

5. on a particularly rough and rainy day of tracting, when a woman said she would not leave the cover of her doorway to come talk to us at her gate, i asked whether she was afraid of melting.

6. i got a c in american heritage and a c- in astronomy one spring at byu, was put on academic probation, and had to meet with an academic counselor before i could enroll again.

7. some drag queens used to live in our apartment building not long ago and they stopped by the other night to see what renovations the new owner has made.

ruth's list:

1. mom used to pull my hair into the tightest side ponytails you've ever seen, like deb's.

2. i can eat unlimited amounts of airheads and otter pops. mmmmm.

3. as a senior in high school, i claimed that in ten years i would be in a successful career (not computers, sorry dad), leading an exciting life, not thinking of marriage or children.

4. i could sleep all day.

5. i used to annoyingly link any subject to a movie quote, until i married someone who didn't watch movies.

6. i never told my parents (but maybe they knew this already?) that i slid the green car into a ditch once. i did have permission to drive but when asking for said permission, i hadn't told mom that it was a blizzard outside. i got the car out myself without too much hassle.

7. i actually used the cliché "it's not you, it's me" to break up with someone.

little did i know...

so i was looking for pictures to add to the blog when i noticed the date on this one. it was taken exactly one year ago. it made me think about how much my life has changed and how fast. when this was taken last year, i felt like everything was under control. i was busy planning hazel's first birthday party. i was looking forward to grant graduating and applying to different schools. i was excited to move. there were few thoughts about a second child. this picture was taken 28 days before i found out i was expecting lucy. what a dramatic difference she made. i am glad i have her.

very verbose

hazel is growing up so fast. it seems as though she comes up with a new sentence everyday! i thought it would be fun to make a list of her cute and not-so-cute phrases.

1. i did it!
2. how 'bout...hmmm
3. wake up!
4. hey!
5. so fun?
6. there you go.
7. nigh-night
8. ta-daa!
9. watch a movie?
10. quit it!
11. my turn
12. come on, mommy!
13. weave it!*
14. beat it!
15. hug?
16. wub you, mommy/daddy/woo-cy*
17. cuddos?
18. see you later!
19. ok, mommy?
20. where it go? find it?
21. crash! oh no!

*in case you are wondering, hazel frequently replaces 'l' sounds with 'w'.

for he's a jolly good fellow...

which nobody can deny! happy birthday, grant! xoxoxoxox