My first pound cake...

was a very large success! Not so much in that every member of the family thought it was the best thing that they had ever put in their mouths, but in the fact that it was truly LARGE! I enjoyed it with strawberries and even added MORE butter and toasted it for a lovely breakfast. After I had eaten half of the cake since the rest of the family was apparently bothered by a cake without icing, I decided that the next time I venture into the pound cake realm, I will make smaller cakes and freeze the majority so I won't be forced to eat the entire cake (which I could have done - much to the dismay of my hips).

A tiny dancer...

As May brings the year to a close, Mary Mauldin is set to star in her second dance recital. She doesn't remember her first one (she was three), so we are not sure if it counts. At any rate, her big performance is this Sunday and she is a bit nervous. The stage is much bigger than she imagined, the lights very bright, and the music is TOO loud. We will hope for the best and wish this tiny dance well for her debut (second time around)!

Big Dog turns 40!

It is sad to say, but Big Dog has joined me in the 40 realm! I can no longer say my husband is in his 30's! Holding true to Big Dog form, we had a small crowd to wish him well. Plenty of food (thanks to my mom) and a cooler of beverages to ease Marshall into his twilight years. Thanks to Shae and Brady for the entertaining gift of charred chicken wings - Brady's specialty from the grill. Here's to 40 more!

An Easter in Edison

Thanks to the rest of the Collins clan for a wonderful Easter. We enjoyed the bountiful spread, the engaging conversation, and the traditional egg hunt. Even though Caelan couldn't find her golden egg (all the grandchildren had a special money egg), we still enjoyed the day. Actually, Charlotte found the egg several weeks after Easter when she was watering her rose bushes. Obviously Caelan is not one for digging for eggs!

Happy Easter!

Here's hoping your Easter was

at least as exciting as Camden's was!

Sleep-over extravaganza!

The girls played host to little Kate Marie Friday night...

after they all pretended to eat pizza, the girls jumped

into the tub for some good clean fun...Ree Ree even

did a bit of a mermaid show.

Once they were dry and Ree Ree had a few sugar

cookies, the girls settled in to watch a few cartoons

before bed. I would like to tell you that they all fell

asleep before ten, but that is what I did...Big Dog

managed to quiet the girls and all was well.

Eve visits the Bluestockings...

From eve

Thanks to my dear friends for joining me on Fat Tuesday for an evening of wine, the first woman, and some very interesting food. The baba ganoush was a hit! Second only to the delicious dessert - kanafeh! Once I put out the fire in the oven, we had a large time.

...til sock be snug!