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Barry's birthday was last Thursday. We went to Red Robin after he got off of work: We signed up online so he could get his free burger on his birthday. It was fun to have his family there to celebrate too. Warren enjoyed eating Grandpa's fries and has found a new love for balloons! I really wish I had brought our camera, because they sang to Barry and made him wear a pair of balloons under his neck: Priceless.

I found a red velvet cake recipe that I wanted to try out. Oh my goodness...it was delicious!!!

I didn't realize the recipe called for 5 tablespoons of red food dye. I was barely able to squeeze out 1 1/2 tablespoons, so it's not nearly as red as it's suppose to be. I think the best part of the cake was the frosting! It is the best frosting I've ever had. Here's the recipe if anyone is interested.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup shortening (I used 1 cup of oil instead)
  
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons cocoa (I used 4)
  
• 4 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
• 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Grease two 9 inch round pans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Cream shortening and 1 1/2 cups sugar WELL. Add eggs and beat well.
3. Make a paste of cocoa and red food coloring. Add to creamed mixtur e. Mix salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla and buttermilk together. Add alternately the flour with the milk mixture to the creamed mixture. Mix soda and vinegar and FOLD INTO CAKE BATTER. DON'T BEAT OR STIR NOW.
4. Bake for 30 minutes.
5. To Make Icing: Cook 5 Tablespoons flour and milk over low hea t till thic k, stirring constantly. LET COOL THOROUGHLY! While cooling, cream 1 cups sugar, butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat this well till light and fluffy. Add to flour mixture and beat until of a good spreading consistency. DON'T ICE CAKE TILL COOL.

On Friday we went up to a cabin in Island Park with another couple Barry knew from high-school. It was crazy to see how much snow is still up there...especially since all the snow has melted from our yard. (I never thought I would see our grass again!) We stayed up all night talking and playing games and eating way too much junk food. Then on Saturday we went snowmobiling: It was my first time! 2 seconds after we got on Barry tipped it over. He got it started and then all of a sudden we were tipped over in the snow. But after we got back up thankfully there weren't any other accidents to report. It was really pretty funny more than anything else.

It was the perfect little weekend trip!

A marble set Taylor found for Warren to play with...somehow I don't think he had quite as much fun as everyone else did with it.

Twins

Layering up to go out into the snow

Barry showing off

Me thinking I hope I don't kill myself on this thing!