Much is happening!

I have some great, albeit old, news!

My sister, Lindsay, gave birth to Kate Mae on Tuesday, May 19 at 6:12pm. If you know my sister, you know she's tall and thin and from looking at her you wouldn't imagine that an 8 lb, 10 oz, 21" long baby could fit inside her cute frame. Kate's a big baby. She's also perfect and gorgeous! D and I are driving down to Oregon tonight to attempt to avoid some of the Memorial Day weekend traffic. I have to work for a few hours tomorrow morning but he has the day off.

I'll quit talking and show some pictures. This first one melts me. Doesn't my mom look like she's about to explode with stars and rainbows? I don't think there was a happier granny in the world when this photo was taken. Mom, make room for one more! Think she'll be able to fit Amelia in there? I've got an inkling that she'll manage!

And here is sweet Kate. First just her cute little face then one with her proud Mom and Dad.


Here's Anna when she was brand new. I think Kate & Anna look similar, although Kate definitely has some of her daddy's coloring.


Onto to less fun things. Since I wasn't able to be with my family when Kate was being born, I decided to keep myself busy and make some pear coffee cake. D & I bought a big bag of pears at Costco but they were too ripe to begin with so they ripened up very quickly when we got them home and soon became unappealing to me. So I peeled and diced them and decided to try a new recipe.

I used 2 bread pans rather than a fluted tube pan just because I wanted D to take a loaf to work and I wanted to take a loaf to work for our respective coworkers. I just watched them but I think they baked for about an hour - maybe more.

Pear Coffee Cake

INGREDIENTS
2 cups sugar (I cut back the sugar by 1/2 cup and it was delicious. 2 cups would have been way too sweet for me)
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped dates (I didn't have dates so I left these out)
3 cups chopped peeled pears
1 cup pecans, chopped (I used walnuts)

DIRECTIONS
In a mixing bowl, cream together sugar and oil. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift together flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda; add to creamed mixture. Add vanilla. Bay hand, stir in coconut, dates, pears and pecans (batter will be thick). Spoon into a greased and floured fluted tube pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until cake tests done. Cool on rack until cake comes away from sides of pan; remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

That's my coffee cake in the picture. It was yummy. D had a coworker eat at least 3 slices then eat the crumbs off the plate and ask when I was going to make more. Then he asked D if he bought the apples (D told him 3 times that they were pears), would I make him some more? Ha.

I have a sweet friend in Texas who sent this for Amelia. Who doesn't love smocking? Really. I'm in love with this little dress - I can't wait to see it on our baby girl!



Have a wonderful holiday weekend!