Jack's email inbox this morning....

It's official!! The ceremony is Nov 3rd.

Dear Cadet Second Lieutenant Jackson A _________


CONGRATULATIONS! You have earned the Brigadier General Billy Mitchell Award in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. Statistically speaking, you are now among the top 15% of all cadets nation-wide.

Your commander will pin the Cadet Second Lieutenant insignia onto your uniform at the next squadron meeting, if he or she has not done that already.

To view your newly-updated cadet record, please visit eServices.

As a Mitchell cadet, you may:
- Apply for college and flight scholarships - see cap.gov/scholarships
- Apply to attend Cadet Officer School - see cap.gov/ncsa
- Qualify for the grade of E-3, should you decide to enlist in the Air Force
- Qualify to enter the CAP senior member program as a Second Lieutenant, upon turning 21.

A high-ranking CAP officer or distinguished leader in your community will present you with your Mitchell Award certificate, which will be mailed to your squadron in the next few days. Please see your commander to discuss the details about your awards ceremony.

Needless to say we are quite proud of Jack. He's been working for this for almost 3 years.

No reminders needed...

of what today is. Pray. Remember.

Men in Uniform

Inspired by Margaret :

Wordless Everyday

Due to a (hopefully temporary) handicap which makes typing (at least decent typing) difficult, I thought I'd post some photo only posts for a while. Different themes.

Another Sweet 16

Katie is in CT for the last few days for her BFF's Sweet 16. Katie and Katie have been friends since they were 6. We all met one day in November 1999 at Wolfe Park in Monroe, CT. It seems like yesterday. I miss the F's but am very grateful that we are able to keep in contact and the girls get to visit once or twice a year.

Three beautiful girls, inside and out!

Katie F.-16, Katie K.-16, Sarah F.-14




P.S. We found my Katie's dress for $19.99 at Ross. SCORE!!

Black Bean Chocolate Cake

Yes, BLACK BEANS!
This was recommended on a list of gluten free recipes a friend compiled. I found the idea intriguing and the reviews glowing so I thought.... what the heck!
I have tons of beans as Chris brings them home from work all the time.
I made it and it is FABULOUS. No, we are not going gluten free in our home but who can balk at losing the nutritionally poor white flour and replacing it nutrient rich beans??

I used the recipe from this blog:Black Bean Chocolate Cake

Healthy Flourless Chocolate Cake (slightly modified from original at Healthy Indulgences)


Makes a single 9" layer cake.

Ingredients:
1-15 ounce can of unseasoned black beans
OR 1 1/2 cup cooked beans, any color
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
6 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup erythritol plus 1/2 teaspoon pure stevia extract OR 1/4-1/3 cup honey plus 1 teaspoon stevia OR 1 cup Splenda OR 3/4 cup regular sugar
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon water (omit if using honey)

Mint Chocolate variation:
2 teaspoons mint extract (in place of 2 teaspoons vanilla)

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9" pan.

Drain and rinse beans in a strainer or colander. Shake off excess water. Place beans, 3 of the eggs, vanilla, stevia (if using) and salt into blender. Blend on high until beans are completely liquefied. No lumps! Whisk together cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder. Beat butter with sweetener until light and fluffy. Add remaining two eggs, beating for a minute after each addition. Pour bean batter into egg mixture and mix. Finally, stir in cocoa powder and water (if using), and beat the batter on high for one minute, until smooth. Scrape batter into pan and smooth the top. Grip pan firmly by the edges and rap it on the counter a few times to pop any air bubbles.

Bake for 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Cake is done with the top is rounded and firm to the touch. After 10 minutes, turn out cake from pan, and flip over again on to a cooling rack. Let cool until cake reaches room temperature, then cover in plastic wrap or with cake dome. For BEST flavor, let cake sit over night. I promise this cake will not have a hint of beaniness after letting it sit for eight hours!

I used regular sugar, butter etc...pretty much the same as a basic chocolate cake but instead of flour I used liquified canned black beans. I served it 'frosted' with Nutella :D It was divine. I don't do well with subsititutes, I find Tofurkey revolting, don't even show me margarine or 'butter substitute'. Either it's traditional/real or I would rather skip it. Trust me, this cake does NOT taste like beans. It is a 100% better than any box cake and is just about bakery quality in moistness and flavor. Try it. Let me know what you think.

Half monkey, half-mountain goat

Half monkey, half mountain goat. This is what I tell people my children are made of.
Tristan is keeping the tradition alive. At 14 months old and weighing in at a whopping 20lbs he is capable of getting anywhere he wants (and usually shouldn't) be. This includes on all benches and chairs in the house which leads to to finding him on the kitchen table and trying to climb over the back of the couch. He doesn't say a word though, as is also typical of my kids at this age, with the exception of Emma (and anyone who knows her isn't surprised by that). He is very expressive and gets his point across just fine, just without language. It is interesting to observe how different children develop and now that I am a much more secure mother I can observe and enjoy the differences. When I was younger I would worry and feel challenged if a child the same age as one of mine was doing 'more'.

There is a beautiful little girl that shares space with us in the cry room almost every Sunday. She is a first and only (for now) and just precious. She is 3 weeks older than T. She talks. "Up", "Down", "Baby"....and Tristan...he does his best imitation of a clam. Just stares at her with his big blue eyes, thumb in his mouth, Smith in his other hand. (Smith is his lovey) and then he runs away while she sits. She doesn't walk yet. Her mom seems a little anxious about it and seeing mini-T running about makes her almost apologize for her daughters lack of walking. I wish I could tell her not to worry, in a year we probably won't be able to tell who walked first or talked first and in 5 years it certainly won't matter. Enjoy your little one, they grow up SO fast. When she walked and talked and ran are small, small, moments in the life of a child and parent. Like every other mom I dutifully filled in the baby books (at least for Katie) with first tooth, when she sat, when she rolled, when she walked, when she talked. Where are the lines to fill in the first time she shared without being told, prayed without being asked, comforted a friend in need, volunteered her time, stood up for what is right, asked a question I didn't know the answer to....and where are the pages and pages to enter all the things that I did and learned through her??