Happy Birthday Laura...

I can hardly believe that my baby girl is 18 today! The years have flown by waaay too quickly. Not that I would choose to go back to diapers and all that.. but .. how can my children be young adults already? Its true what they say - the time seems to go faster as you get older. Being an only daughter, with older brothers, I always wanted a sister..never got one. And as long as I can remember, I've wanted a daughter. I had her name picked out years before she appeared on the scene...

At right is one of my favourite pics of her as a little girl. This was taken in our backyard, wearing her favourite hat at the time.. and the next shot was taken when she was.... about 5, I'm thinking. This was just before we cut her long hair- she tells her friends that she had no arms when she was little - haha.

And - here she is today, all grown up. This is one of her Grad pics, taken by MaryEllen Nealis. She's into photography, so here she is with her beloved camera. Because she's so busy with school and summer work, she really hasn't had much opportunity to take courses yet, and is pretty much self taught. I think she has a really "good eye" and I'm sure that when she gets around to some serious study of photography she will do some incredible work. You can check out her current work at

www.flickr.com/photos/lkhubbard

All the dreams I prayed you'd be,

are all the things you are.

You were once my litle girl

And now my shining star!

Happy Birthday Laura! I love you....

Being a family of chocolate lovers, the birthday cake is usually chocolate with thick fudgey chocolate frosting. But Laura chose another family favourite for her cake this year- Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Cake. It really is yummy and it never lasts long. Here is the recipe:

Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Cake

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup sour cream

2 cups flour
1 tsp. each baking powder and baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

Topping: 1/4 cup white sugar mixed with 1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Mix as usual, alternating dry ingds. with sour cream. Spray tube pan with Pam, and spread half of batter in pan. Sprinkle half of cinnamon sugar over , and spread with half of nuts and chips. Top with remaining batter, then rest of cinnamon sugar, chips and nuts. Do not stir. (I'll be honest, I'm more generous with the nuts and chips - I use probably a cup of each). Bake at 350F, for 40-45 minutes.

What I like about this cake, as well as it's yumminess - is that it's so easy - no frosting required!

I'll post a few more pictures tomorrow of my little darlin' Laura. Then it's on to some crazy quilting! I did a little stitching last night- it felt good!! I've started another miniature quilt too, but it will be a few days before it's anywhere near ready for pics! Stay tuned!

Piece,

Linda

A daughter may outgrow your lap...but she will never outgrow your heart.