Lovin' from the Oven

Mid-May is always a busy time in our house. Eighteen years ago our oldest daughter was born on Mother's Day, the day before our 5th wedding anniversary, which means this year we had three days in a row of gift giving and celebrations.

Mother's Day was great! The kids came up with wonderful and thoughtful gifts. Handmade beaded bracelets, potted geraniums, books and a picture diary of my life put to music (DD2's specialty!). The "fam" even made dinner and didn't ask me to lift a finger. Gotta love that!
Monday was DD1's birthday. Her birthday wish was simple.....she wanted a new printer for the laptop computer that she saved for and purchased this month. One more thing checked off the list before she leaves for college in the fall. DD1's other request was her favorite birthday cake. We usually bake this cake in the Dutch oven surrounded with hot coals. No time this year so I improvised and baked it in the kitchen oven. You take a regular chocolate cake mix and bake it as usual. Then 10 minutes before the cake is finished baking you sprinkle a package of semi-sweet chocolate chips over the top, followed by half a package of coconut and a bag of minature marshmallows. Bake 10 more minutes and then serve warm. YUM!!!
Instead of a birthday party, DD1 opted for an early morning breakfast for her and her friends. They're a busy bunch of kids trying to get though high school finals. This is one of our family's favorite breakfast casseroles. You know, the type you start the night before and finish up before tossing it in the oven an hour before breakfast.
These are my favorite sweet rolls. Don't they look great?! I'd like to tell you that I made them from scratch but, to be truthful, they came from the frozen foods department in the bakery. I set them out to raise before I went to bed and then woke up at 5:00 a.m. to pop them in the oven. Cinnamon rolls are on the right and orange rolls are on the left. I know that Rhode's frozen bread doughs are a "made in Utah" product, so I'm curious if there are similar products in other parts of the country.
After 23 years of marriage DH still knows the way to my heart. I have a weak spot for "apple pie" caramel apples. Nothing like a little fruit for breakfast this morning. LOL!

Am I the only one who finds this card funny? This describes our relationship to the "T". My sweety still has a sense of humor. He has to to put up with me! :-)

Now the celebrating is over. I guess at some point I need to do some house cleaning...and this is the day!