A Trip To The Country

Last week we took two days and went out to the country. It was wonderful to see a new side of Korea.

Is it a boy? Is it a girl?

My mom sent me these darling outfits. Which one do you think the baby will wear?

30 Weeks

For me, the thirtieth week of pregnancy is a huge mile marker. It means I've reached the top of the climb and it's all down hill from here. It's one of the four magic mile markers of pregnancy. To celebrate my 30th week, I put the baby's crib together. I'm getting excited! Now if I can keep James and Margaret from untieing the bumper. James said, "If it's a boy, he won't want these bows." "You had bows" I responded. "Yuck", he said.

Han book Holiday

The girls' school has a week when they celebrate Korean culture. During the week they make Korean crafts, eat traditional Korean food, and learn more of the language and history. When Friday comes, all of the children are invited to wear Han book (traditional Korean dress). The school has built a new gate over the parking garage and it was dedicated as part of the Friday celebration. Miri absolutely loved wearing the han book. Anna wished she had one (next year, Dear). Gracie was perfectly happy in her Tae Kwon Do uniform. Anna and her good friend Rafaella, she's Peruvian.
Miriam and her good friends. Tabea (left), she's German. On the right is Bridget, she's American. Gracie with Mr. Pearson?

Autumn

These are some of my autumn favorites.

My Grandpa in his Garden

Grandpa's Carrots

My Grandpa Daniels was a gardener. Every fall he would bring a gigantic bag of carrots to our home. These homegrown carrots were crooked and knobby and covered with Grandpa's garden dirt. Whenever I saw Grandpa's carrots sitting on the ledge in the garage, I knew how my mom felt about it and that still makes me smile, maybe even laugh.

Now that my dear Grandpa is gone, this memory is very tender to me. I love carrots.

So, what to do with all of those knobby carrots?

Susan Grace’s Delicious Carrot Cake
1 and a half cups oil
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 and a half teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups grated carrots
*optional 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
Preheat oven to 375. Cream together oil, eggs, and sugar. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and add to creamed mixture. Add vanilla, carrots, and nuts. Bake in two loaf pans for 55 minutes. Cool before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting
2 cups powdered sugar
4oz. cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 and a half tablespoons butter, softened
*optional ¾ cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
Cream together all ingredients except nuts. When well-blended, add nuts and mix well.

This recipe comes from my mother-in-law, Virginia Oldroyd (its original name is Marcia's Delicious Carrot cake). I don't know Marcia, so I renamed it, in honor of my new baker/pal, Susan-Grace.