Taylor's First day of School!!!

Today was Taylor's first day of preschool! Craig and I dropped him off this morning and took this pic right before we went in for his first day. He gets to go Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9am-1pm. It worked out great because I had a dr. appt today and it's also Craig's birthday, so Craig and I got to go to lunch!! How great is that!? Weekly lunch dates! I'm so excited! Taylor had lots of fun at his school!

Apple Festival and parade!

For Labor Day we went up to Hendersonville, NC with Casey and Christina Eichorn (fellow Buckeyes)to the Apple Festival and parade! It was really fun. We got there around 12:30 and got some great "fair food". The best find of the day was the apple beinets. YUM YUM YUMMY YUM! Like indian fry bread, but with apples inside and covered in powered sugar! We came home with apple butter and fresh apples to make apple pie and apple crisp and apple muffins. I need to learn how to can so I can make and can mom's apple sauce! The parade was fun and before the parade we ran into the "burger king" handing out coupons! wow, huh? I wonder how long it takes his beard to not be hot pink anymore! The man with the 'stache' was near us while we were watching the parade. I think he was local, what do you think? Loved the dancing cop video! Good times were had by all (even though Taylor cried way too much! We almost sold him so we could buy more fair food). Our new stroller was a hit too! It's a Joovy caboose with a place for a kid to sit or stand on the back! Oh, I attached a picture of me in all my prego glory, just for you megan!

So cute!

I came in from my shower the other day to find Katie reading a book to Taylor on the couch! so cute! You gotta love moments like this. Sorry that the pic is blurry, I was carrying laundry too I think. It was a one-handed pic. Too bad since it's so cute!

And the rain came down....all week!

(Sorry that I forgot about the video not working in portrait). We were lucky enough to get a week of rain from hurricane fay last week. Here's the result (in our "sandbox"). Luckily, we had already emptied out the sand and washed it out, and we hadn't bought new sand yet! I guess we're still in a severe drought, but I'm sure the rain didn't make it worse. It was nice for a change, even though it never cooled off.

Thanks Donna Starkey!

Thanks for the bracelet Donna! I LOVE it! It was so sweet of you to make it for me (and one for Lara too!). I really think you should sell them! I buy them for me and for Katie's school teacher and for me!!

Mom's Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Here's the recipe for the fabulous zucchini cake pictured below!

3/4 c. butter
3 eggs
1/2 c. milk
2 c. shredded zucchini
1/2 c. cocoa
1 1/2tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp cinnamon
2 c. sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 c. walnuts (optional)
2 1/2 c. flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt(optional)
chocolate chips(optional)

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, milk, zucchini. Sift flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder and baking soda, cocoa...add to first mixture. Grease and flour a bundt or angel cake pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hr 15 min(the original recipe says 45 min, but mine is never done until half and hour later. go figure). I also add this glaze recipe:

1/2 c. powdered sugar
2-3 tsp milk
1/4 tsp vanilla
Blend until smooth. Spoon over hot cake.

Soccer Season

Soccer season has officially started here in SC. Katie is playing this year (Taylor won't be old enough until next spring). Craig is coaching again this year. So far so great. They had a skills day on Saturday (those are the sunny pictures) and then our first practice was on Monday. The first 10 minutes were dry, but they were rained on the rest of the time. They still had a great time though!