Happy 22nd Birthday

Today is Chris's 22nd Birthday. Having grown children is so wonderful. But, I have to ask myself, where did all that time go? It seems like yesterday that we brought Chris home from Hermann Hospital in Houston to the house on Branard Street. He has matured into a wonderful young man and Denny and I are very proud of him. That he will graduate from SPU this year and start working this summer, preparing for his future, makes us feel that all the hard work has paid off.

We didn't see him today until late afternoon. He had other celebrations with friends going on but we did have the opportunity to treat him to a wonderful dinner out at Ray's Boathouse on Shilshole Bay. Great seafood! Then we came back to enjoy a piece of cake and a round of "Happy Birthday" before he headed out for more mini-celebrations with his "buddies" as he calls them. He has so many friends that mean so much to him.

Chris asked for the traditional "Maher cake": white with vanilla icing. This has been a staple cake in this family every since I met Denny. I've learned that there is something lovely about a plain white cake with white icing even though I always grew up with chocolate cakes. This cake is like a snow ball, pristine and melt in your mouth good. Virginia Maher always made Denny a white cake with her amaing homemade "fudgy white icing" on his birthday. I've kept up the tradition and now Chris has decided this cake is his favorite for birthday celebrations just like his Dad. This frosting is like none other; it is made from a roux (love that word) base with flour and milk, heated on the stove until thickened. Then, comes the good stuff like fat, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla and just that "dash" of salt. Amazingly easy to spread on a cake, it looks and tastes great. I'm hooked. The cake tonight was great but we sent it out the door with Chris when he left. No need to have that temptation sitting around here.

Happy Birthday Chris!