shades of pink & green...

A couple weekends ago, we had a baby shower for my cousin Hannah! I am always excited to go to any shower or party at my Aunt Deb's house. It's all about the details for her, and the food is always delicious. Hannah is having a little girl (due March 3rd), and has decorated her nursery in pink and green. Of course all the adorable shower decor and food coordinated with that color scheme!

My favorite thing...the punch! I need to get the recipe from Aunt Deb, but it I know it had champagne, cranberry juice, raspberry jello mix and lemon-lime soda.

Hannah is naming her baby girl Lainey Jean. I think it's precious, and am thrilled to have another namesake! We have a many "Jeans" in our family, and I think it's so special! My Aunt Clara Jean, my Aunt Debra Jean, my cousin Hannah Jean, {me} Laura Jean, my niece Emma Jean, and now Lainey Jean!! LOVE IT!

Aunt Deb's candy buffet! I love this spot in her kitchen/dining room. It's dangerous...it's always filled with homemade sweets and treats!

And...baby Lainey's new bassinet! Do you believe that Barrett slept in this same little bassinet?!? Don't worry, it wasn't pink at the time! My parents, along with my Uncle Rick & Aunt Deb, got this bassinet for my Aunt Clara when she had her last little boy, Gannon. After that, she handed it down to me. It was so nice to have, but not nearly this cute. When I had it, it was all white with a blue gingham bow around the skirt and matching basket liners. My Aunt Deb spruced it up a bit! I think it turned out so cute! I love that she even painted the baskets black! I'm hoping if I have a girl, I will get to use it again!

Here is Hannah with her dad's side of the family. Mamo wasn't able to make it, because we had a huge snow storm the day before the shower. We were all really sad to not have her there.

me, Audrey, Aunt Deb, Hannah, my mom, & Aunt Clara
(NO idea why I have my hand on Audy's waist...I just noticed that, and it makes me laugh!)

Sisters...

I love my cousins! These girls are so much fun. AND it's even more fun now that we're all married and starting families! Makes me a little teary-eyed! Seems like just yesterday we were all little pip-squeaks running around Mamo & Bapo's lake house in our swimsuits for days on end.

Audy just got married this past summer, and she's an OB nurse in Nebraska! So of course she has lots of advice for Hannah :)

It was a beautiful shower, and Hannah got lots of great stuff for the baby! I am so anxious to meet Miss Lainey Jean...and take her pictures, of course!! Congrats, Hannah & Jake! You will both be amazing parents.

Hunk of Burnin' Love

Valentine's Day is just around the corner...
and Barrett's got some {love} to share with you!

We don't have any big plans for the holiday of LOVE yet.
How are you planning to celebrate?

I'm just still in shock that it's been a whole year since I made these:
Barrett's 2009 Valentines
With those adorable, yet embarrassing, pictures of B's cute little bum!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO YOU!!
p.s. Barrett has received a much needed hair cut from Mimi since these pics were taken!!

Lemon Goodness!

I obviously have a love for all things lemon, and this cake recipe from my mother-in-law has quickly become one of my favorite lemon desserts!! She's been making it for a while now, and it was always a treat when she had one at her house we could enjoy. But I just recently got the recipe from her, so now I can make it anytime I want...and I have already done just that!

Saturday night at 11:30pm, I decided I HAD TO HAVE some lemon cake! I'm just crazy like that. 11:30pm may sound a little late for baking a cake, but in "Laura time" it's really pretty early. I was editing a session, and watching 27 Dresses. Justin and I had been out for a nice date-night dinner earlier in the evening. Barrett was fast asleep in his room, and Justin was playing ping-pong and watching a tv fight at his friend's house. Yes, that is a pretty common scenario in our house these days. My "work day" begins at 8pm when Barrett's in bed. Usually during the week, Justin hangs out on the couch with me while I edit and we watch our nightly shows together. But on the weekends, I'm glad to know that he can head a few blocks away to hang out with his friends. I seem to be more productive, and enjoy watching girly movies, HGTV or Bravo while I work. Our typical bedtime on the weekends is after 2am. During the week it's anywhere between 11pm and 1am :) What can I say...we're night owls!

So anyway...I whipped up my cake at 11:30pm and was enjoying a nice warm piece by 12:30am while I worked. That's probably not a great diet plan, but oh well! I'll work it off at spinning tonight!

So, if you're in need of a little lemon goodness in your life...enjoy this yummy recipe from my mother-in-law's kitchen!

Grandma Sandy's Lemon Cake
(a.k.a. Laura's Late-Night Lemon Cake)

1 box yellow cake mix (or lemon if you want even more lemon flavor)
3.4 oz. pkg. instant lemon pudding mix
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup water
4 eggs, beaten
Garnish: powdered sugar

Combine all except powdered sugar; mix well. Pour into 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Immediately poke holds through cake with a fork. Pour glaze over cake (recipe below). Dust with powdered sugar

Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
2 T. butter, melted
2 T. water
1/3 cup lemon juice

Combine all ingredients and stir until smooth