Then & Now- Andy

Then:

This is my brother on his 5th birthday back in 1981.

Now:

This is my brother when we visited him and his family in GA back in March.

Then & Now- Mom and Dad

Then:

This is my dad and mom back before me and Andy were even born. Back in the early 1970's. Before we aged them with worry lines and gray hairs.

Now:

This is them now, over 30 years later.

Then & Now- Cindy

Then:

Cindy, when she was a toddler playing outside at our grandmother's house

Now:

This one is from a skiing trip in Colorado she went on for her birthday this year.

Then & Now- Heather

Then:

Heather curled up with her stuffed animals when she was just a little thing. She was no more than two in this picture

Now:

Heather lives out in California...her new home after serving her time in the Navy.

Family Photo Friday

I just realized that I've done a couple Family Photo Friday posts and haven't yet posted a picture of my family. So here we are. This was taken back in October. Rob had but his bandana on and Jase started calling him a pirate and said he wanted to be one too. After I put one on him, he made me put one on. So here we are...a family of scurvy pirates.

Then & Now

I have been going through some old photographes trying to find some good ones for my Friday Family Photo blogs and found some really adorable ones of some of my favorite people. So, I decided that I am going to do a "Then & Now" for everyone. I'm not gonna be able to do everyone at one time, but figured I'd do them as I find their old photos. So, If I don't do yours right away, don't think that I forgot about you...you'll get your embarassing old photos posted before too long. HaHa! In the mean time, I'll be stealing recent pics of many of you from your myspace and facebooks pages.

I decided it was only fair that if I'm going to do this, I start off with myself. So here goes:

Then:

I was three or four in this picture. I'm too sure what the deal is with the hat and gloves, but I still think I'm adorable. LOL Everyone always asks where Jase gets his blond hair from...now I think we know.

Now:

Here I am now.

Chocolate Cake Roll

I was looking for something new and different to make for dessert on Easter and came across this really delicious cake. It was really neat to make cause I've never done anything like it before. And it turned out really good. I must say it looks scrumcious and it was devoured. And I finally got to use the really pretty serving dish I had gotten for Christmas. Here's the recipe if you wanted to give it whirl.

For the cake:
1/3 cup cake flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/3 tsp salt
4 large eggs, separated
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
confectioners' sugar

For the filling:
1 8oz container of frozen whipped topping, thawed

Making the cake:
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 15-x 10-inch jelly roll pan with waxed paper. Grease and flour lined pan; tap out excess.

2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar until fluffy.

3. In a small bowl, using clean beaters, beat egg whites on high until foamy. Gradually and 1/2 cup sugar, beating until stiff, but not dry, peaks form.

4. Fold 1/3 beaten egg whites into egg yolk mixture. Alternately fold in remaining whites and flour mixture. Pour batter in pan; smooth top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 15 minutes.

Rolling and filling the cake:
1. Dust a clean cloth with remaining sugar. Turn cake out onto prepared cloth; remove waxed paper. Trim the cake's edge.

2. Starting with a long side, tightly roll up cake with cloth. Transfer cake, seam side down, to a wire rack to cool.

3. Unroll cake; remove cloth. Spread whipped topping over cake to within 1/2 inch of edges. Re-roll cake; place seam-side down on a plate. Dust with confectioners'sugar before serving.

Family Photo Friday

My Grandparents

This is a picture I have really come to cherish. First of all, it has my grandmother in it. My grandmother was such an amazing woman. She was always so full of life and fun. When I was growing up we would spend go visit her twice a year. Once in August for two weeks. During these she would sit with me for hours teaching me how to make crafts, do wood burning, paint. She would also go outside with us and play yard darts and croquet like she was one of us kids. We would also spend another week, either at Christmas or Easter. I used to look forward to these trips more than anything. My grandfather, on the other hand, died when I was a baby. I don't have a single memory of him. I've seen a few old mini Polaroid pictures of him in black and white, but those aren't real fresh in my memory either. Since my grandmother remarried when I was still a toddler, there weren't many pictures of my real grandfather hanging on the walls. Don't get me wrong, my Grandpa Lowell was as great a grandfather that I could ever ask for. But there is something about this picture that just makes me smile. I don't know whether its because it is the first real good look I've gotten of my real grandfather. Or because its because its my dad's mom and dad, a couple I never got to see together but through his stories and memories. What ever the reason, I am so happy this picture came my way.