Welcome to the Celebration~Ultimate Blog Party 2008!

Hello and welcome! Come on in and make yourself at home.

Daisy, my sweet 3 year old, is anxious to entertain you with her graceful ballet moves and soulful singing. She'd be the one in the pink tutu over there. Simon, my mischievous 1 year old, is around here somewhere. He's probably climbing on the couch or the coffee table since he knows I'm distracted at the moment. My husband's in the kitchen, celebrating his Norwegian heritage by brewing coffee so black you can't even see through it. Please don't feel like you have to drink it!

Can I get you a slice of triple layer cheesecake? How about a lemon bar? It's my mom's recipe and they were one of her trademarks. I'll be sure to get you the recipe before you head out.

A little info about me? Hmm....what can I tell you? In shortened form anyway!

After a less than desirable childhood, I graduated from college with a degree in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, and Kindergarten education. I married my boss' cousin and taught preschool for four years.

My mother was diagnosed as terminally ill in 2001 and she passed away just over a year later. She had a lung disease that decreased her lungs' ability to function until they just shut down. Three weeks after my mother's death, my sister (and only sibling), got married and moved over 1000 miles away.

After adjusting to the new normal of just my husband and I we became foster parents in 2003 and had our first child in 2005 (that'd be Daisy-in the tutu). Simon was born almost two years later. I'm ready for number 3 but my husband's not too sure about being outnumbered. I've been a stay-at-home mom since I was pregnant with Daisy.

Enough about me, I want to hear about you! I'd love to come by your place and hear part of your story. Leave me a link and I'll stop by soon.

Thanks so much for coming! Oh, and here's my mom's lemon bar recipe. Careful, they're very addicting!

Lemon Bars

2 c. flour

1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 c. butter or margarine (softened)

4 eggs (beaten)

2 c. sugar

1/3 c. lemon juice

1/4 c. flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

Crust:

Sift first two ingredients and cut in butter until mixture clings together. Press into a 9x13 greased pan. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.

Filling:

Beat together eggs, sugar, and lemon juice. Sift together the 1/4 c. flour and baking powder; stir into egg mixture. Pour over baked crust. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with addition powdered sugar. Cool and cut.