Sarah Palin

Finally, there's someone to get excited about. John McCain announced this morning that his running mate for the 2008 election would be Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska. She's 44 years old and the mother of five children.

She gave birth to the youngest last April. He has downs syndrome. Talking about her son, she said to a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, "When we first heard, it was kind of confusing . . . very, very challenging." But she added in a note, imagining what God would say to her family, "Children are the most precious and promising ingredient in this mixed-up world you live in down there on Earth. Trig is no different, except he has one extra chromosome."

Voting for McCain this November just got A LOT less unpleasant. I might even smile in the voting booth.

Zucchini Cake

I already posted several other zucchini recipes but I found this recipe for zucchini cake the other day and it is just so good. My sister and mom asked for the recipe so I decided to post it here too. And since I still have tons of zucchini, I'm going to make it again today. It's great frosted with cream cheese frosting. I actually frost it with my Great Aunt's Caramel Frosting--but sorry that recipe is a secret. It also makes great zucchini bread if baked in 2 loaf pans.

I actually found it on www.allrecipes.com.

3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped walnuts (I, of course, leave these out.)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease one 13x9 inch baking pan.

2. Combine eggs, oil, sugar, zucchini, and vanilla. Beat until well mixed. Stir in the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon and mix until just combined. Stir in the chopped nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.

Back to School

Obviously, I completely flaked out on giving any more fun summer ideas in August. Things around here got so busy and even though I didn't run out of ideas (there are just so many fun things to do in Utah), I didn't get the chance to sit down and blog. Sorry. Maybe next summer. :)

And now, we're back in school. My oldest son started back to school yesterday and my kindergartener will start next Monday. I know that several school districts in Utah actually do year-round school, but how do the rest of you feel about starting school so early in August? I have to admit that I'm feeling a little sad that summer is over already.