Our Glenwood Trip

We took our annual Glenwood trip this summer with the Wernlein clan two weekends ago.  It was a hiking, swimming, adventure filled weekend, as usual.  This is our after the hot spring pool picture.  Unfortunately, all four of us ended up a little crispy, but we had a wonderful time and can't wait for next year.

Colorado Springs Vacation '12

The kids and me at Garden of the Gods

Over Father's Day weekend, last month,  we vacationed to Colorado Springs and did the local tourist thing.  We visited Garden of the God's, Cave of the Winds, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and drove up Pikes Peak for a 14,000 foot view of our state.  It was a wonderful trip and great to get away for a few days.  A week after we got back the area we had just visited was overcome by one of the worst wildfires our state has seen in almost 10 years.  Some of the areas we had just visited were threatened by the Waldo Canyon Fire, and other were safe.  We felt lucky to have visited and made the memories we did, and are praying for all those affected.

Happy 4th

From our family to yours...we hope you had a very happy and festive 4th of July!

Frank's favorite cake

I am taking this cake to my parent's house for their 4th of July BBQ tomorrow.  It is one of Frank's favorite desserts and really easy.  I decided to post it here because I really thought I had lost the recipe, and thought it would be helpful to have it posted somewhere.  Enjoy!

Brown Sugar Cake
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 pkg. (3.4 oz) vanilla flavor instant pudding
4 eggs
2/3 C sour cream
1/2 C oil
1 C brown sugar
2 tsp. powdered sugar

1. Heat oven to 350.
2. Beat first 6 ingredients with a mixer for 3 min. or until well blended.
3. Add brown sugar; mix well.
4. Pour into 12 cup fluted pan.
5. Bake 60 min. or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into center.  Cool cake in pan for 15 to 30 min.  Loosen cake from sides of pan; invert onto wire rack.  Remove pan; cool cake completely.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving.

Summer fun!

July!?  What?  Already?  We've been having so much fun this summer that I haven't had time to sit at the computer and even think about posting on the blog.  Here is a quick pic of Frank and I from last weekend at my brother-in-laws surprise 40th birthday party.