Bake Like a Champion Today

Scott was so excited about the “Opposite Cakes” episode coming up on Kid’s Baking Championship that he had to have cake, and Barbara came through. Chocolate with vanilla cream cheese frosting, yum! Frankie was inspired to do the decoration, but then she didn’t want us to eat it.

This is some good cake!

Christmas in NYC

For a combined birthday present, the whole family spend the weekend in New York City, checking out old stomping grounds and reveling in the Christmas spirit. We had a blast watching Late Night with Stephen Colbert, skating at Rockefeller Center, doing a lot of running in Central Park and Riverside Park, and eating pizza, Korean, and more pizza! 🍕🍕🍕 🎄🎄🎄

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Hot Memorial Day

Today is the first day over 90°F in Lansing for 2018. Here’s a reminder of record for days over 90:

That’s an average of 9.5±7 days over 90 per year. Last year we hit 90 on 14 days, and in 2014 we never went over 90. I still remember 4th of July 2012 when the temperature hit 103- that was the day we decided to get AC in the house. The record, though, belongs to 1988, when it hit 90 38 times with the longest streak of six days in a row (also starting on 7/4). I spent that summer in South Bend, and I remember it being pretty hot there too.

Emergency mute surgery

Bee had her last band concert of the year Friday, and as of friday morning found herself with a cork-less mute. The cork is important because it keeps the mute inside the bell of the horn.

Family to the rescue!  Frankie suggested cutting up a wine cork as a replacement.  Angie did the cutting, Scott used his super strength to get the hot glue gun working, and Bee glued the corks on.  Chocho and Chile were helpful in that they did not bark.  Here is the result:

It turns out that Bee needed her mute to perform a solo during the last song!  This song was Simple Gifts, and she wanted it to be a surprise. It was! Hopefully we’ll get a recording soon, and we’ll be sure to share it.

Rain

We had a lot of rain this weekend, especially Saturday, when we had 3 inches.  Unfortunately, Bee’s Marching Band competition was cancelled due to rain!

We’ve been a ahead of schedule on rain all year, but with a dry late August and September, we were almost back to our average. Not anymore!