Sky Diving (sort of)

I have an irrational fear of heights.  I don't know why or what caused it but, even the thought of going up a ladder sends shivers up my spine, this is why I'm glad I have tall men in my life, they can reach things for me.....but I love roller coasters (even though I am getting a bit too old to ride them because they make me hurt so much the next day) go figure!!!!! 

I know I did not go sky diving, I will save that for the crazy people I know (Marcia) but secretly, I'd love to have the courage to really go one day but in the mean time, I did something else fun today.  It wasn't near as scary as I thought it would be, I went to a sky diving simulator.  My friend Misti wanted to take me to do something for my birthday, first we thought maybe a shopping trip to Ikea but, we can do that any day, then I saw pictures she posted about going to a gun range but, Michael has his heart set on taking me, then... I had it!!!!  After a bit of apprehension back and forth on the phone, she booked our "flight"! 

It helped a lot that we had a little kid in our group, he was probably 6, I couldn't show fear if he just jumped in, literally!!!!  Misit went first... I started to freak out a bit, a minute really isn't that long (I don't know why my kids bitch when I say "In a minute!"  it's really over in a heart beat) and I didn't really pay attention too much to her first flight.  Before I knew it, I was on my feet, arms across my chest, about to go into the wind tunnel.  OMG, it was awesome!  Our instructor, Willo, was awesome.  He was hilarious and very encouraging.  It took a bit of time for us to find my "natural" flight posture but we got there and  I actually remembered it for the second flight and was able to control my body better. 

Misti's second flight was a bit interesting, she crashed  bumped into the wall but Willo was her hero (just for the day, her real hero will be home from his deployment soon enough) and caught her and got her back on her belly.  My second flight was just as fun and I can't wait to go again!

As soon as I figure out how to edit and reformat the video, I will load it up here.  Until then, here are some pics...

Next up, a zip line......
Thanks,

from Heather

Organization

My kids have no idea how to organize things!  Their rooms are a mess (to me), their backpacks are disgusting (to me), and the way they allow all the toothpaste to come trickling down the tube is well, gross (to me)!  I just spent the last 30 minutes with Madelyn explaining to her how much easier life would be for her if she would just put her homework/classwork/notes in the corresponding notebooks I bought for her at the beginning of the schoool year (those are lost, probably somewhere in her room).  I remember having this same conversation with Conner....several times, to no avail.  I want those words back (if we do, indeed, only have a set number of words to use in our lives) and the time.  I am pretty sure that if they could learn organization skills, they would be more successful in school.  Right now, at this very moment, Maddie's backpack is organized.  All the loose papers are neatly tucked away in the proper folder but I am left wondering how long this will last. 

As I was looking in the container of extra school supplies for folders, I made the comment to Michael, "Why are my kids so unorganized?"  To which he responded "Because they are my kids too!"  I appreciated this comment more than I realized, for that simple sentence is what drove me to write in my blog tonight.  It's his subtle way of apologizing because had he really said he was sorry, I probably would have blown up about his lack of organization as well but I didn't because, well, he knows!  He really does get me.  He understands that if everyone just put things where they belonged, I would be a much more pleasant person!

Thanks, from Heather

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Contempo Grad Graduation

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Cooking

Y'all know I love to cook and I try new recipes all the time.  Today, I made a dessert (which is very rare) from scratch and I thought I'd share it.  It takes a while to make but is worth it, I do not know if you can substitute ingredients or not, it was great just the way it is. 

Stacked Apple Sauce Cake (wish I could remember where I got it so I could give the person/book credit)

3 cups all purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cups unsweetened apple sauce
2 large eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla
Cinnamon Whipped Cream (recipe follows)

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly coat three 9 inch baking pans with baking spray and coat with flour. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.  Set aside.
Beat butter on med-high for 1 minute, add sugar and beat until blended.  Add eggs and vanilla, beat 2 minutes.  Reduce speed, add applesauce and flour mixture alternating 1/3 cup at a time.  So, 1/3 cup applesauce, 1/3 cup flour mixing well in between.  End with dry ingredients...
Spread evenly in 3 pans.  Bake 35 to 40 minutes.  Remove and cool for 10 minutes, then turn out on cooling rack until room temperature.  Layer cake with cinnamon whipped cream.

Cinnamon Whipped Cream
2 cups very cold heavy cream
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Mix everything together until soft peaks form.



What I may do differently is:  I may make a cinnamon cream cheese frosting....I may make it like a banana nut bread.....But it was really good just the way the recipe is.....

Thanks, from Heather