Happy Birthday Nick!

Today, Nick turned 31! He requested a key lime cheesecake for his birthday, so on Friday I got busy baking. I hand squeezed the key limes and took a perfect looking cheesecake out of the oven! I was excited that it had turned out so lovely. Well, then the directions said that I should run a knife along the edges, releasing the sides. I did this and thought, "I guess I can release the sides." I took the springform ring off the hot cheesecake. Well, anyone that has made a cheesecake before can guess what happened. My beautiful cheesecake totally collapsed all over my stove. I was almost in tears. I loaded the kids in the van and went to the store to get the supplies for cheesecake number two! My mother-in-law said that I should add that you aren't supposed to take the ring off the cheesecake until it chills for 8 hours into the recipes, but I told her that it is a lesson that I am sure not to forget soon! The second cheesecake turned out fine and the kids had fun seeing how many candles were on the cake. They are all wearing sun glasses because it was so bright! Nick's real present this year was his new iphone, but he couldn't wait to use it, so the kids and I wrapped up some of his favorite candy so that he would have something to open on his birthday. We had a really fun day together. I feel so blessed to have such a great husband who is my best friend. He is a wonderful father who loves to play with his kids. Happy birthday

Running Vehicles

Well, Nick and I are the proud owners of not one, but two car batteries. That is what was wrong with both of our vehicles. We thought mine needed a new starter, but it just couldn't be jumped by Nick's car because his battery wasn't in good shape either. We were just so happy that the problems were so minor. It gave us a pretty good scare though!

More Car troubles!

We have had a really bad day as far as cars go! First, my van wouldn't start at the school parking lot, then Nick's came home from work and said, "I bet it will just start right up for me." He didn't have any luck because my starter had died. He then called around to about ten auto parts stores and finally found one that had one in stock. He dashed up to the auto part store bought the part and then went out to his car and it wouldn't start! Someone at the auto store gave him a jump and he made it home. My brother-in-law, Sam, came over to help him and to our biggest dismay, the problem is not the battery and his car will not start at all! So, they left to go try and replace the starter in my van which is at the school parking lot and it is dark out! We both drive 2003 Honda's. They aren't junkers....I guess we just have bad luck. I may be biking Blake to school tomorrow. At least it is only a mile away.

First Day of Kindergarten

Blake had his first day of kindergarten today. He is in the morning class and it starts at 8:00 am. I have been blessed with children that like to sleep in, so Blake was a bit shocked when I peeled him out of his bed at 7:00 am. He is not the best morning person, but he was pumped to go to school. He already knows one girl in his class because they were in preschool together. I was happy about this because the starter in my van died in the school parking lot after I picked him up. Luckily Blake's friend's mom was still there and she gave me and the kids a ride home. I am glad that it didn't die before I got him at school. Blake may have been a little panicked if I didn't pick him up!

Lake Owen 2008

Nick's family vacations every year at their lake home at Lake Owen in Cable, Wisconsin. Everyone is always surprised when we tell them that we are going to go on vacation to Wisconsin, but it really is our heaven on earth. The kids and I went up a week before Nick and then Nick joined us a for the second week. We spent our time water skiing, tubing, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, reading, eating, and spending time with our friends and family. We missed Mike and Emily this year and we are looking forward to many more yearly trips to Lake Owen.