I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! Saturday we spent the day at this little historic town nearby. I take the boys there often for root beers (or floats if fasting permits) I love it there, it's like Mayberry. It literally takes you back in time. We did some window shopping and had lunch before heading back home to have cake for my MIL's birthday. I posted the recipe to the cake I made, which I have made 1/2 a dozen times before, but turned into my biggest baking blunder yet. A friend of mine said to me just last week that everything I bake turns out perfect. I reassured her it did not. This cake is proof. Just so everyone can agree with me, I am posting my proof.

It started out just fine, I baked both layers and had them on the cooling rack (the top layer did have a teeny tiny crack in it but nothing the icing couldn't fix), my meringue icing whipped into perfect peaks. Then we ate dinner, I cleaned up and added the lemon curd and rinds. Well, that did it. I shouldn't have let it sit because it got very runny. When I attempted to ice it that teeny, tiny crack turned into the Grand Canyon. So I put the lid on it and stuck it in the fridge. All was lost. We had ice cream sundaes instead.

We had planned to go fly kites at the park for Mother's Day, but last minute we decided against going it since it was destined to be jam packed and we didn't end up leaving church until after 1:00. So we went to our friendly neighborhood flea market, which is always loads of fun for me. I found lots of little treasures including some beautiful miniature teacups and saucers, a porcelain Peter Rabbit nightlight for the nursery, some great greeting cards and two really cool coffee mugs. All for a grand total of $3.25. This always makes me so happy! Flea market finds are the best, especially when they have authentic old stuff and not the made in China garbage.
A snapshot of my goodies-minus the nightlight which is already in use, as is the one mug shown

After that we headed to Dairy Queen for some ice cream and then came home to relax. We did get caught in the rain while out feeding the chickens. You should see how big the chicks have gotten already! One of our hens was sitting a few weeks ago and hatched 2 more baby chicks. Now two more are sitting so we'll see how many more we get. It's such a beautiful thing to go fetch the eggs in the morning and find new babies! The mother hens are so protective. It's amazing to watch their motherly instincts. We had (actually dh had, I just watched...and giggled) the hardest time getting the two babies away from the mama hen. We have to separate them from other hens and roosters because they'll trample them. We put the mama and chicks in a different area. They're getting big already too, feathers are coming in slowly. They sit on their mama's back and she gets food for them and literally protects them under the shelter of her wings. It's beautiful.
Here's a pic of the new mama and her babes...

I just thought this pic was funny, all the hens were lined up like ladies in waiting as the rooster surveyed them.

For the past two weeks my sister and I have been secretly slandering the USPS for losing a package she sent me. (this has happened several times before and we're still not wise enough to add insurance) Well, yesterday morning DH came in the house and said "Is this the package you've been waiting for from your sister?"

As it turns out, DH got the mail one day (which I have repeatedly asked him not to do) and left it in his truck (yes for two weeks, which is why I ask him not to get it) and the package slipped under his seat.

I couldn't get too upset because at least he found it. I did, however, feel (only) slightly guilty for the nasty things I said about our (maybe not so ghetto) post office here in the boondocks where we live.

In any case, my beautifully decorated envelope contained a sweet little note from my sister (who I still refer to as Gigi) and these absolutely adorable little wax delicacies for my tart burner. Though I'm a hoarder and will most likely save them along with all the other totally cute things I had to have but refuse to use because they are just too cute to consume. Does anyone else do that? Here's a pic:

Maybe I will burn 3 of the cinnamon rolls and just save one and the little cupcake.

Overall, we had a nice, relaxing weekend.

Things I'm thankful for from this weekend:

God for blessing me so abundantly despite my unworthiness
Root Beer floats
Both of my little guy's handprints in plaster
A card addressed to Mommy-written by Ace for the first time
The handmade card he made me
Dodging the rain and laughing and screaming until we reached cover
Feeling the cool rain and soft breeze on my face
A heartfelt card from my husband
All the hugs, kisses and kind Mother's Day wishes from family and friends
Blowing bubbles
Finding the long lost package from my baby sis
Flea market treasures

There are so many wonderful gifts that we receive every day, we just have to take the time to look. The first time I told this to Ace he said, "Wow so Mommies have secret spy glasses!" LOL. I guess we do, we just need to wear them more often.