Sunday, November 30, 2008

A time to celebrate...

Happy 23rd birthday, Amanda!!


(click photos to enlarge)

This is last year's cake, but as you know, I'll be making you the same kind this year! (It's Amanda's favorite and the one she asks me to make for all her birthdays - super easy and soooo good! Recipe at end of post)...


Just look at those chubby cheeks on you at 12 weeks old! You were the sweetest baby! (Was it really 23 years ago?)


And you were always the 'bestest' big sister...


I love how you are so gentle and loving with animals! Here you are with your sweet little Sooshi, your BIG surprise for Christmas, 1990. Just look at the two of you - love at first sight... (Several weeks before Christmas Amanda had "wished upon a star" that Santa would bring her a real dog. Since her dad & I had been thinking of getting a dog anyhow, we figured we'd look, and if it was meant to be, we'd find one... We were so fortunate to be able to adopt this little guy, who was 2 years old, in such a short amount of time - he was an absolute sweetheart of a dog!)


And just look at you and your Tiger on the very first night we adopted her. I remember going in to check on you before I went to bed, and this is what I saw. Of course I immediately ran to get the camera so I could capture this precious moment forever!


Well, here it is 15 years later and not much has changed! Tiger still sleeps right next to you each and every night. (And she is soooo happy you're home from college!)


I love your sensitive nature and the way you care about all God's creatures. Ms. Giz and Mr. O'Malley's lives were made so much better because of all the love you showered on them... Every pound dog should be so fortunate to find someone like you...


We always have so much fun on our little excursions! Here you are in Amherst at the cemetery where Emily Dickinson is buried. Remember how muddy it was and how you ruined your shoes because of it that day? And look - you still smiled!


(Central Park, New York City)
So Happy Birthday honey!! Enjoy your special day... We are so proud of you!!
Love, Mumsy
Black Forest Cake
1 chocolate or devil's food cake mix
1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
4 oz cream cheese
2 tsp lemon juice
1 can Creamy Vanilla frosting
CAKE: Bake two 8" round cake layers according to directions. When cool, split each one into two thin layers. FROSTING: Beat softened cream cheese and lemon juice until smooth. Fold in vanilla frosting. Spread frosting and cherry pie filling between each layer and on top of cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

15 comments:

~Becca~Bluebird Rose said...

Happy Birthday, Amanda!!
:)
~Becca~

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Happy Birthday Lovely Amanda!! Hope you have a fabulous day!

Donna,
It's so hard yet wonderful to see them grow up and start spreading their wings! Time flies from that first baby picture to the photo of a grown woman. May God bless Amanda and keep His hand upon her for all of her days!
hugs, Sherry

TidyMom said...

Happy Birthday Amanda! What a beautiful daughter you have! and that cake looks wonderful! I love black forest, but I've never made one! Thanks for the recipe!

~Tidymom

Claudia said...

Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter! Have a great celebration!

Cindy said...

How sweet! Happy Birthday! That cake looks so good!

Deb said...

Happy Birthday Wishes to your daughter. Black Forest Cake is my hubby's favourite birthday cake too - thanks for this great recipe ...I will make it for his next b-day :-)

Nancy said...

Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter! I just stopped by to let you know that you won my Holiday Fair Giveaway! I'll send the puppy hankie to you if you'll just email me with your address. :) Have a wonderful day. Nancy

nr7332@hotmail.com

Brenda Pruitt said...

What a pretty girl she is! In that last photo she is particularly fetching! With that dark wispy hair and sweet smile.
Brenda

cargol said...

Happy Birthday to beautiful Amanda!!

Cottage Rose said...

Hey Donna... A Very Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter Amanda. I love all the photos of her at different ages. She grew into a lovely young woman. I hope you all had a very wonderful day....

Hugs;
Alaura

Cynthia's Cottage Design said...

Happy Birthday!! and what an adorable and sweet post! I actually showed my daughter this, she's only 13, but it was so cute to see your daughter from a baby to a woman and you must be so so proud! Thanks for sharing!

Hugs, Cynthia

Shell in your Pocket said...

OH..what a beautiful girl! Happy birthday to you!
-sandy toes

Anonymous said...

Oh Donna what a beauty she is...... oh my my baby will be 33 next year how can it be..... what wouldn't I give to kiss that baby face..... but they make beautiful woman...
HUgs
Linda

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

What a precious little girl and what a beautiful young lady. Happy Birthday Amanda. This cake sounds delicious. I want to make it, but since I'm a chocoholic, I'd probably eat the whole cake before anyone else got a bite! I'm saving the recipe though, just in case I can make it when I know others will be here to help me eat it. laurie

The Rantings of a Drama Queen's Mum said...

She's really pretty.