tough week

[flea]

This week has been kicking my ass - between re-entry after vacation, my summer class starting, Casper having a swimming lesson after camp each day, which has meant dinner at 7:30 and late bedtime, and then the fleas, so most waking moments at home involve washing or vacuuming something - well, I'm ready for the weekend.

And tomorrow is Dillo's birthday and party and I'm not really ready (what the hell am I going to do about a cake?), and then Sunday mr. flea needs to work to make up the time he took flea-bombing the house on Wednesday. And the fleas are not all the way gone, which means we need to keep working at it.

But Casper LOVES the swimming lessons and is really making progress and is so proud of herself. She's an excellent elementary backstroker now, and can tread water and dog paddle (they don't really practice the "rocket" she learned at the beach at the Y). Two weeks ago she couldn't float on her back and wouldn't put her face in the water. I hope we can go to the pool on Sunday so she can get some more practice and show off for me.

I am very excited to meet Dillo's friend Colin at the party. Dillo LOVES Colin. Talks about him every day. Aside from the slow potty progress, he's doing great. I love our morning snuggle times - he wakes up all soft and sleepy and wanting to snuggle. Needs a haircut, and I need to do something about a 3 year checkup for him (although he's not due any shots, it makes sense to take him in - he hasn't been to the doctor since his initial appointment last summer, since he's been healthy.)

Comments

[wandsci.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

You could do cupcakes for the party. I have a super easy recipe that works as a cake or as cupcakes:

Swedish Butter Cake

2 cups + 2 tbs sifted flour (I often cheat and don't presift. It doesn't seem to matter)
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup butter (not margarine) at room temp (it really helps if you bring the butter to something close to room temp before you try the recipe)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour the pans if you're doing a regular cake.

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt

Cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each.

Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk, beating after each addition, beginning and ending with flour.

Stir in vanilla extract.

Spoon into pans or cupcake cups. It is a thick batter. Fill the cupcake cups about 3/4 full if you're doing cupcakes.

Bake 50-55 min for tube cake, 30-35 min for layer cake, about 20 minutes for cupcakes. Top should be golden and cake tester in the center will come out clean.

Cool in pan ~10 minutes, then invert onto a rack and finish cooling there.

The recipe is from "A Piece of Cake" by Susan Purdy.

And it just occurred to me that it is way late where you are, and you've probably solved your cake question already. But I'll submit the comment anyway, since I typed up the recipe!

I hope the birthday party goes well.