Happy Birthday sweet baby

We celebrated Anna's first birthday this week. She is our little delight. "I just love this little one", said her big sister Ruby. Yes, we all agree. Children are a blessing from the Lord. This little surprise of our lives is ALL blessing!Anna got socks and sleepers and a cozy coat - things we needed. And a silly little pink musical princess "car" and a funny little bang-it popper toy and the most delightful, loving homemade treasures from the big kids.

Isaac made her a banner (out of my old business cards) and a card with a bare tree and leaves on the ground that said "as the last leav falls, there's nothin better than cudling (sic) a little girl!"

Ruby made a coloring book for her with pictures of a butterfly, ladybug, bird with worm, log with fungus and flower on it, tree, mushroom. Brilliant (can you tell we studied botany last year and flying creatures this year?). And a rainbow-striped marker-ed picture that Anna loved. And her card said "If you have a little girl, there is nothing better than her having a birthday!"

I made a cake out of the Covered Bridge Cookbook (Roann, IN - my Mom's hometown). And we all loved it and Anna demolished her whole piece and then played peek with her plate!

Chopped Apple Cake

325 degrees, 45 minutes (or a little more)

2 C Sugar

2 C Flour (I used 1/2 WW)

1/2 C oil (I skipped this -by accident)

1 t soda

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t bak powder

1/2 t salt

2 eggs

4 C chopped apples (I used the fugi's that we picked a few weeks ago)

If you skip the oil like I accidentally did, you mix all the ingred except eggs and apples. Beat eggs and stir in apples to coat, then add to dry mix. Pour into prepared 9x13 and bake 45 minutes (or until done in middle - mine wasn't quite). Delicious (with or without Cool Whip) - would be yummy with vanilla ice cream. We ate the rest for breakfast!