one year old...

We can't believe it...Rory's one year old. She's getting so big, learning so fast and getting into more trouble every day. We're enjoying fall and football weather. Rory is a good Ohio State fan and gets dressed up for the game every week.

Here she is as a mini Coach Tressel...

...and here she is in her official Ohio State jersey (as a mini James Laurinitis).

We went to visit our friend Mark in Eureka Springs and finally got to meet his wife Sabrina. They are expecting their first baby in March. Mark took some great pictures of Rory playing in the grass and of her and Papa being silly.

In September, Rory got to go on her first airplane flight when we flew to Ohio for John and Anna's wedding. Here we are on the plane after everyone else had gotten off.

For her first birthday pictures for friends and family we took a few shots in our backyard, and a few at the park on her birthday where she was doing one of her favorite things, swinging in a swing.

We had a small get together for her birthday on the Sunday before at the park. It was pretty chilly so we appreciate everyone who braved the weather and came out to join us. Rory really enjoyed getting her hands dirty in the cream cheese frosting on her cake. We used a recipe for a sweet potato apple harvest cake. It was great because it wasn't too sweet and made a really yummy spice cake. Here's the recipe if anyone wants to try it:

Rory's Sweet Potato Apple Harvest Birthday Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup cooked sweet potato puree (I baked them in the oven for about 45 minutes until they were really soft and the skins were crinkly)
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup organic suger (we used raw sugar)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce (we used homemade)

Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (we didn't include these)

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 325F. Prepare an 8-inch round cake pan by greasing and flouring it.
2. Combine sweet potato (completely cooled), eggs and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add flour, baking powder, salt and spices, stirring to combine. Add applesauce and nuts if desired, stirring again. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
3. Bake 20 - 25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
4. Cool the cake for 10 - 15 minutes on a cooling rack still in the pan, then remove from the pan and continue cooling on the rack until cooled completely.
5. When ready to serve, add frosting of choice. Cream cheese frosting is great (Rory would agree.)

Note: I had issues with the cake sticking to the pan, so I cut out parchment paper and lined the bottom of the pan with it after I greased the bottom and sides. For Rory's cake, I doubled the recipe and used two 6-in round pans.

Tonight we're going to hang out with some friends for Halloween. Rory is going to be Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. We even have some pink "ruby" slippers for her. I promise to be good and post pictures soon. Happy Halloween everyone!