Pineapple Cake

The week before we left Texas, a woman in my MOPs group made this cake and we all loved it and got her recipe. It has taken me this long to try it, but it was a success! And so easy.

Pineapple Cake

1 yellow cake mix
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, slightly beaten with fork
1 (16 oz.) can crushed pineapple with juice

Grease and flour a 9"x13" pan.
Combine all ingredients with a spoon.
Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Cool completely.

Topping

1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip
1 (6 oz.) pkg. instant vanilla pudding
1 (16 oz.) can crushed pineapple with juice

Combine pudding mix and pineapple.
Fold in cool whip.
Spread on cooled cake.

When I originally read the recipe for the topping, I assumed a package of pudding mix, unmade. But then when I got home to make it, I thought about it too much and decided that what it meant was the actual pudding. Now that I have typed it out, I think it did mean pudding mix.

I thought you would be interested to know what my cool whip and vanilla pudding look like, so here ya go:

Good times and yummy food!

The Day Savannah and I Made Cookies

            

This day started out as a good day. I don't remember what happened in the morning, but after lunch, Emily went to Arabic class and Savannah and I made cookies. Savannah loves to cook and bake and just be in the kitchen helping in general. And she is quite the fun little helper. You do have to be prepared for messes, but the maker of those messes is so cute, the messes don't seem to matter as much.

The day progressed, although nothing really stands out until after Brian and I had put all three girls to bed. We were just settling down to relax when Emily came in to the room, all wide-eyed.

"I just think you want to know that Savannah is making sounds like she is throwing up in her bed."

Uh-huh, I think I want to know that.

Five minutes later, Emily threw-up.

Five minutes after that, Brian disappeared into the extra bathroom.

For the next 3 hours, I changed sheets (at least 6 times), gave multiple showers, rubbed backs and put Sophie back to bed twice.

About midnight, Brian and Savannah were in bed, sleeping, or at least trying to and I was finally starting to feel the sickness creep in.

Emily and I threw-up for the last time around 7:00 that morning.

And that concluded the most miserable night I've had during our 8 months in Egypt.

Who knew that a post that started with such cute pictures could end so nastily? Sorry about that.

Such is the way life goes.

But we do have some yummy cookies to eat, now that we are all feeling better. :)

Dinner Tonight

During dinner tonight we had a couple of funny conversations:

Emily: Daddy, can we go back to Houston in 7 days?
Brian: No, honey, I'm sorry. We can't.
Emily: Why not?
Brian: Well, because I don't have a house or a job or a car there.
Emily: How long do you think it will take you to get those things?
Brian: Maybe about a one or two years.

Poor Emily has been hit with a hard case of homesickness.

Savannah walked past where Sophie and I were still sitting at the table:
"Mommy, I think we should keep this one." She said to me.

Which is good, because I think I like her too.

I Hate Bugs

... particulary ones that take up residence in the hair of my offspring.

While in the taxi today, I absent-mindedly ran my fingers through Sophie's hair. And that is when I discovered the multitudes living in her beautiful baby hair. So I brought her home, dumped her in the bathtub and doused her in... well, actually, the box is all in Arabic, so I don't actually know what it is that I put in her hair.

But it stinks.

And seems to kill the bugs.

Luckily, it seems to be easier to get the bad bugs out of baby hair.

But it still isn't any fun.

Dreaming Arabic Homework

During one of my recent dreams I was battling the bad guys with Arabic endings.

The endings were colorful glowing swords, but the trick was that I had to use the right ending on the corresponding female or male "baddie". If there were more than one, I also had to use the plural ending correctly.

I woke up laughing at myself.

Arabic homework has taken over...

Sophie's First Birthday

My sweet baby had her First Birthday on December 30th.

She loved her first chocolate cupcake :) 

She is growing so fast! Her top two teeth are finally starting to come in and she is taking steps alone! Savannah always counts her steps and I think the highest count so far is 6!

Maw Maw sent a book to her for Christmas and she loves to sit and read it.

She is one of the sweetest babies I have ever met. She loves her sisters and her daddy and gives hugs and snuggles all the time. Today when Brian and I came in from class, I was holding Sophie to tell her "hello", but Brian was standing down the hallway talking to the girls. Sophie started fussing and calling and finally wiggled out of my arms. She made a quick bee-line down the hallway to Brian and patted on his leg until he picked her up and loved on her. 

We love this baby more and more every day. I cannot imagine life without her. It is a pleasure being the Mommy God chose for this little girl.

Bad Things - Good People

Yesterday, I went about my day thinking of a fabulous post. I had it all planned out... dinner, Brian goes out, time with girls, then bedtime, then I get to pour it all out on paper.

Except. Last night one of my friends pointed out to me that Emily had a head full of lice.

I've never had any experience with lice. Last night I had 3 hours of experience with lice.

Poor kid.

How did I not see this?

Its only January 7th and I've already blown my chances at Mommy of the Year Award.