Happy Birthday, Grandpa Merrill!

Grandpa Merrill is turing 78 years young tomorrow. He has made it pretty clear that he doesn't want any presents because, as he likes to tell us, by this point in life, he has everything he needs or wants. However, he did tell me that I could make him a little birthday treat. So, what did I do? I made him a birthday present cake. (Ha)

A few lessons I learned with this cake:
*Buttercream frosting made with real butter tastes good
*Shortening made with beef tallow will not produce frosting that holds together
*Don't attempt homemade frosting with less than 2 pounds of powdered sugar in the house

Just Another Grandpa Funny

Tonight, on my very first try, I successfully made some delicious crab cakes from scratch. (Thanks for the recipe, mom!) Grandpa Merrill really enjoyed them- he ate an entire cake. Considering his appetite hasn't been too big lately, this is a good thing. As we were sitting at the table, Grandpa asked if the crabmeat I used was real. Yes, it was real. Then he asked if the crabmeat was fresh or frozen. Psh, like I'd make crabcakes with previously frozen seafood. I assured him that it was fresh. When he inquired further about how I knew, I was getting ready to tell him what I'd read about texture and the ability of fresh crab to flake when he stopped me. "Ooh, I know how you can tell. It was spelled with a "C" instead of a "K." Nope, no Krabby Patties in my meal! Maybe you just had to be at the table.

Grandpa Merrill Quote of the Day:

The end of a mission is like watching your mother-in-law drive off a cliff in your new Cadillac. 

Everyone else is doing it

...Posting today, that is. I love reading my friend's/family member's blogs. (Erin- you haven't updated since September! You've had so many fun trips & adventures with the boys that need to be shared with the world!...or just me & mom.) Some are neat, organized and have lots of thoughtful things to say and others are fabulously random. I think I'll go with random today ;)

Reasons why we can have our baby now:

• Car seat cover is done! 
• Craig was ultra awesome and took me to get a pedicure. He even stayed with me and talked sports with the two (very straight) men who were working at the salon
• Craig put gas in the Passat & even started cleaning it out
• Car seat base is in the car
• Our hospital and diaper bags are both packed. And waiting. 
• The Pack & Play is set up in our room- on Craig's side of the bed
• Winter guard is running right on schedule (How? Not really sure...small goals, I guess)
• Erin gets back from Seattle today
• At my check up last week, I was 2cm dilated and 70% effaced
• I'm sort of getting tired of bugging my mom because I don't know exactly what it is I'm feeling and the changes going on
• Craig can't wait to have his little girl around-he is so excited. Every day, several times a day, he asks if we're going to get our baby today. 
• I'm really quite tired of being pregnant

Reasons we can't have the baby yet: 

• Grandpa is out of "dairy food"