such a cutie

This morning I spent some time with this cute little man. He is going on 3 months and does not like tummy time so we spent most of our morning taking any pictures other than on the stomach! This was my first time to play with textures/overlays and I'm loving them :)

three layer cake

My mom is so proud. I have made my first ever three layer cake. Good thing you can't see under the top layer of icing because the top layer of cake came out of the pan in several pieces :) Matt loves chocolate cake so hopefully it will be a happy surprise when he gets home from the farm. And let me tell you....the icing is TO DIE FOR. I was tempted to eat the icing without putting it on the cake, but I think it would have been obvious if the cake was "un-iced".

In case you are wondering how I made this heavenly icing, well it's simple. Just buy a box of Betty Crocker Home Style Fluffy White Fat Free (see, a little healthy) frosting mix in the box. Here's the kicker..instead of mixing it with boring ol' boiling water as it calls for, mix with a small carton of heavy whipping cream (fattening I'm sure, but at this point, who cares). Mix together in a blender, and then try to not eat the whole bowl, but do take time to indulge in a piece of heaven.

Oh, and the cake is milk chocolate cake mix. Simple indeed!

**As my Mom so nicely pointed out, you use a mixer, not a blender. Duh. I know the difference and DID use the mixer! Oh, and please don't judge my icing skills down the side of the cake. I'll do better next time.

Muster

"We gather today, Aggies all, to recall our past, to strengthen our ties, to honor those who have passed before us...We come today to affirm our commitment, our love for this place, and all that it represents." - Jack M. Rains, Muster Speaker 1984

Today is a day held dear to Aggies from Texas A&M University across the world because April 21 is the day for Muster. Aggie Muster is celebrated in more than four hundred places worldwide, with the largest ceremony on the Texas A&M campus in College Station.

"Muster is a time to look to the past, present, and future…not only to grieve but to reflect and to celebrate the lives that connect us to one another. A gesture so simple in nature yet so lasting in spirit, Muster is the lasting impression every Aggie leaves with us; it reminds us of the greatness that lies within these walls, of the loyalty we possess, of the connection that binds us, and of the idea that every Aggie has a place of importance – whether they are present in flesh or spirit."

My first Muster was on the A&M campus during my time in College Station. There are no words to describe the ceremony. You sit in silence. The Muster ceremony includes the Roll Call for the Absent. The Roll Call honors Aggies that have fallen since the last Muster roll was read. As the names are read, a friend or family member answers 'Here', and a candle is lit to symbolize that while those Aggies are not present in body, they will forever remain with us in Aggie Spirit. It's a very moving ceremony.

Century-old roots provide the basis of Muster as Aggies know it today. It has changed, yet the Spirit in which it was established remains the same. Since the beginning, every Aggie has lived and become a part of the Aggie Spirit. What is felt today is not just the love of a fellow Aggie, it is the spirit of hundreds of thousands of Aggies who have gone before. Muster is how that Spirit is remembered and will continue to unite Texas A&M and the Aggie family. A&M may change, but the Spirit never will. (taken from the Texas A&M website)

A good Aggie friend and I will attend our first Arkansas Muster tonight at 6 PM in Little Rock to honor the 200+ names on the Aggie Muster Roll Call list. Should make for a special evening.

a surprise visit!

On Saturday night about 7 PM I got a phone call from my Mom asking if Matt and I had time to go to the Carlisle airport before we had dinner with the Kelly family. I was a little confused, but said yes and asked why. Reason being...my Dad was flying in! One of his friends recently got his pilot's license so he called Dad up and asked if he wanted to go flying...Dad said yes, on one condition...that he flew Dad to Carlisle to see Matt and I. Needless to say, I was excited! It was getting late when they landed so we had a short little visit, and back to Texarkana they went, but I was so glad I got to see big Gary and I think he was happy to see his baby girl :) ....and her husband!

And yes, Carlisle has an airport. A very little airport.

for sale

Anyone need a really cute house in a tiny Arkansas town??

(Side note: The picture of my cute farmer was taken with my faithful little Canon point and shoot, and it just doesn't do the job like my big Canon!)

Our "first house" is officially for sale! Matt and I bought the house around the the time we got engaged and I have to say it's been a great first house for us, but it is time to move on. We closed on a lot two weeks ago and are excited about the chance to build a new house. Yesterday he showed up at the shop with a flimsy for sale sign you put on a car and then found a stake and he was going to make a homemade sign...it didn't have much hope...so I convinced him to take me to dinner in Little Rock and make a stop at Home Depot for a new sign :) We put the sign in the yard at 7:30 this morning and I've already had someone stop by the shop inquiring about it!

I'm really excited about building a new house, but I think I might cry when we actually have to move out! It was our first house together and I'm a little sappy about things I get attached to...my little pink dollhouse will forever hold a place in my heart.