THE Chocolate Cake

I have the best father-in-law and mother-in-law in the world.  I’ve known them for more than half my life.  I love them.

I can count on one hand with four fingers left over the horrible things my mother-in-law has done to me.  And that one and only thing was to wait over fifteen years to introduce me to this cake.  

She made this cake a lot when Josh was little.  If my father-in-law would go out of town they would get to missing him so bad that this cake was the only thing that would get them through.   I’ve heard many stories of this cake.  How they had to make three of them during one trip.  How they ate it straight out of the pan with forks.  And on and on the stories go.   

Apparently by the time I came around into their lives my father-in-law was not going out of town or something because I never had a chance to taste this cake until this past May.

My dear sweet mother-in-law made this cake for my sister-in-law’s high school graduation party.  After all these years, I was FINALLY going to have the chance to taste this wonderful cake that I had heard so much about.

Before I could get a piece and shove it in my mouth I heard my sister-in-law from across the kitchen, “OH.  MY. GOSH.  WHY HAVE I NEVER HAD THIS CAKE BEFORE!?!?!”

Um, what?

SHE had never had THE Chocolate Cake either?!?!

That's plain wrong.

I quickly got me a piece of that cake and bit into it.

And my response.

“OH.  MY. GOSH.  WHY HAVE I NEVER HAD THIS CAKE BEFORE!?!?!”

And there you have it.  My sweet sister and I were bonded by this horrible act of no one sharing this cake with us before that moment.  I’ve not come to terms with it yet.  And neither has my sister-in-law.  In fact, she told me she has not had it again since May.  And again, that's plain wrong.

So, my friends, do NOT wait until someone you love goes out of town (or graduates high school) to make this cake. 

Make it now. 

Seize the moment!

You will not be sorry.  And if you want, add sprinkles like I did.  (I'm addicted to sprinkles)

Charity, get in the car, travel 1600 miles and come and get some cake!  I will share with you dear sister-in-law.

**I did obtain permission from my mother-in-law to share her recipe, which is really an old family recipe from her grandmother.  I also let her know I am still hurt over not having it in my life sooner.  

Grandma Brawley's Chocolate Cake

Cake:
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons shortening
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup cold water

Mix all together and bake at 350 degrees in a 9x13 baking dish for 30 minutes

Frosting:
2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 stick margarine
1/2 cup whole milk

Bring to a rolling boil and then cook for 2 minutes.  Beat until cool.  Pour on cake.

Sprinkles optional.

The Circus

We  bought tickets to the circus a while back and honestly, I had forgotten about it.  We've had a lot of unexpected things come our way lately and so the circus was just not on my mind.

But, circus day came and it was just what we needed.

A night to be crazy and have fun.

A night out with The Sister and her family. 

We went out for dinner and then headed to the circus early so the boys could go down and get close to the action.

The circus is just not the circus without a colorful snow cone!

We had such a great time!!

Luke Quotes -- Olympic Edition

Luke LOVES watching the Olympics, which is good, because so do we. 

He starts watching first thing in the morning when he gets up.  When I pick him up in the afternoons he tells me all about the events of the morning.  About the guy who flipped over his canoe, about the soccer team that won that morning, and asks me by the way, did I even KNOW that canoeing was a sport!?!?!  The evenings are filled with Olympic watching too.  Watching them is fun in and of itself, but listening to Luke comment just cracks me up.......

Do you think he can do FIVE swirlies?

Oh....I don't think I could do that.  I can't do the twirls.

Whoa, THAT would have given me a headache!

I'm calling her macaroni!!  Let's go MACARONI!!!  (McKayla Maroney)

Are they speaking another language??

It's the LAW that you watch the Olympics!

Nope, I can't do that.

I have a feeling she is about to do something cool.  WHOA!!!!  Now THAT is what I call awesomeness!!!

I am pretty sure I can swim almost that fast.

Do I play STAR WARS toys or watch the Olympics!?!?!?
(and of course I was thinking, I thought it was the law that one must watch.)

Him:  GO JORDYN BEIBER!!!

Me:  It's Jordyn Wieber.

Him:  Oh, I thought she was  married to Justin Beiber.

Him:  Go Great Britain!!! 

(I gave him a dirty look)

Him  What?  Their flag is really cool.

Did you know in soccer you can hit the ball with your head?  You can.  I think you can in volleyball too.


Him:  Is there a karate flag in this?
Me:  What are you talking about?
Him:  You know, a karate flag.
Me:  What????
Him:  You know at karate, there is that flag beside the American flag.  Is there one of those in this race?
Me:  I have no idea what you are talking about.
Josh:  He is asking about the Brazilian flag.  And no, Luke, there is not one.
Him:  Okay, thanks.

I would like to point out the following regarding that conversation:

1. I've been taking that boy to karate all summer and I have never, not once, noticed there was a Brazilian flag.
2. I love that Luke just talks to me like I even know what he is talking about.
3. I love that Josh just let it go on and let me be confused.
4. I love that Josh and Luke are on the same page and I am lost.....
5. I love that Luke calls it the karate flag. 

Hope you and your family are enjoying the Olympics as much as we are.