Monday, April 04, 2011

Light at the End of the Tunnel


Last Monday night we had a little celebration for our big boy Silas...



Happy Birthday-ing to Silas:
(Kristi, I sincerely apologize on behalf of your brother for the way this video ended...)



The cake might not look spectacular but it was DEE-licious!
(If I do say so myself.)


I used a banana cake recipe has been a Harder family favourite for a long time. It is so moist and cream-cheesy and delicious! I usually make it in a baking sheet, but this time I just did it in a 9 x 13 pan, then cut it in half and made a layered cake.
I can't remember if I've shared the recipe before, but it's worth sharing again...

BANANA BARS
1/2 cup margarine
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 ripe bananas

Cream margarine and sugar. Add eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl and gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in bananas. Spread into greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

FROSTING
Beat together:
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese
1/2 cup margarine
2 tsp. vanilla
approx. 3-4 cups of icing sugar

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On Sunday, after a particularly stressful week, we decided we needed to take the kids and get out somewhere. Even though the weather has been miserable (seriously, is it still January??), we decided to brave the outdoors. We've always wanted to venture to the Othello Tunnels just outside of Hope and so that's where we headed. It definitely exceeded our expectations!

We hiked through the old train tunnels - so dark in the middle of some of them that it was a little frightening! And then we came out over top of a bridge with rushing water winding beneath us and towering walls of rock above us. Beautiful! We'll be going back there for sure.


Pausing for a little rock-toss before reaching the tunnels.

The mossy trees reminded me of something out of a Dr. Suess book.






The view as we came out of the first tunnel, looking towards tunnels 2 and 3.



Silas felt a little tentative here. I don't blame him. This narrow bridge was suspended over a 50 foot drop down into a raging river. Silas kept saying, "I see dat big-big water!!"

The things that make a mother's heart pound...

Othello tunnels get a "must-see in BC" from the Toews family!



Now we're looking for the light at the end of the tunnel with the sale of our house. The subject removal has been a little bit stressful and we are hoping and praying that the sale does not fall through! Hopefully I'll have a good update on that in my next post...

11 comments:

kelly ens said...

that cake recipe looks DELICIOUS! i will HAVE to try it :)
never been to Othello Tunnels before either. i think we'll have to make a trip out of it :)

Bonnie said...

Definitely going to try that cake recipe sometime! Sounds delicious!

We also love the Othello tunnels! The beauty of that place never gets old!

Andrea said...

The cake recipe sounds amazing--thank you!

Othello tunnels is about 5 minutes from our house--that river runs right by us! We love to go there too, one of the most incredibly beautiful places I've ever seen.

Trev and Rebekah said...

Hoping with you that the sale doesn't fall through.

We may have to take a trip to those tunnels. Looks like fun!

The Keowns said...

just made that cake. My kids FAVORITE!!

praying the house thing will all work out!

Rosanna Toews said...

Made the cake for potluck this week... that and your wings. Both were a big success. Just another example of the fantastic presence you are in my life. Praying for the final steps. Love you.

KDees said...

Wow, looks like a totally cool place - those tunnels. If/when we come visit out your way, that will have to be a stop for our family, for sure!!
Praying for the sale of your house as well. Hope the final conditions can be removed this week!
And, another big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your little cutie!

GSFALK said...

Yes, we've been to the tunnels a couple of times. Beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Just noticed that I hadn't read thisblog about the tunnels. Yes, they are a must-see. Praying for you today, that all goes through. Love all the pics. Would sure like a few!! Love mom

Jen Glen said...

I love the Toews harmony! At our family gatherings, it's me and my mom belting it out...and that's it! I also had to laugh at myself when I started to blow with Silas when you were telling him! And Craig LOVES the Othello tunnels. Definitely one of his favourite places in BC to go. We've gotten wet in that water a few times. It's the coolest (and I mean heat wise) place to go on an excrutiatingly hot summer day!

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