THE TASTE OF LOVE AND AUTUMN... AND GOODBYE...

to me!

I love birthdays!  And I love celebrating my own too!  And every year my sweet husband makes me my traditional birthday cake.  Grandma T made me this cake every year for my birthday for as long as I can remember.  And Scott carried on the tradition after she passed away.  I've always imagined that if love and autumn had a "taste" it would be this cake.  Love because it is a time and labor intensive gift.  Autumn because my birthday ushers in cooler temperatures and fall colors!  I'm soooooo blessed that my family loves me enough to make this cake.  (BTW I'll post the recipe at the end of this post - so you can share in the DELICIOUS, Love and Autumn tastes of my birthday!)

I'm sooooooo spoiled!  I definitely feel loved!

This week has been crazy, busy getting Key Lime Pie ready for school in Colorado.  It has also been very emotional as she has had to say goodbye to some of her dear friends for a time.  After each "goodbye" she has cried (which makes me cry too!)  But I am truly grateful there are so many other people in her life that love her almost as much as her father and I do!  They will miss her too!  These wonderful friends have given me strength as well as helped us raise this beautiful young woman!

The Coolbears are AMAZING!

And Key Lime Pie will really miss them.

She has grown to love this great family in such a short time...

They "fit" right in with our crazy!

Taffy, Kotten Kandy

Fig Newton, Key Lime Pie, Maple

Apple

Last night, Key Lime Pie wanted to eat Thai food with Fern before she left...

So we did!  It was delicious!

And the Schmids joined us too... for another goodbye...

The Schmids are like family!

Key Lime Pie is really sad she'll miss these best friends....

They are fun, loving, accepting and terrific friends/family!

She's leaving them with her two sisters to take care of....

Kotten Kandy, Fig Newton, Key Lime Pie

Rice Krispie, Guarana, and Asparagus

And here are three pictures that just make me smile....  (Key Lime Pie hasn't said goodbye to the Bettenhausens yet...  That's tomorrow.  And there will be many tears shed!)

Jelly Bean coloring Iron Man - his hero!

Marmalade coloring Harry Potter creatures!

Kotten Kandy and Jelly Bean are too cute for words!!!!

Here's my birthday cake:

SUNDY'S BIRTHDAY CAKE (FROM GRANDMA T and SCOTT)

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

2 cubes of margarine

1/2 cup water

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. soda

2 cups grated apples

1 cup chocolate chips

1 tsp. vanilla

2 Tbsp. cocoa

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Beat eggs, margarine, sugar and water until fluffy.  Sift together: flour, cocoa, soda and cinnamon.  Add to the creamed mixture.  Fold in nuts, chocolate chips, apples and vanilla.  Spoon into a well greased and floured bunt pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes.  Cool upright for about 30 minutes and then remove.