Long Days

So I guess its been awhile since I've updated this. I've been really tired this last week and having lots of headaches so sitting and thinking about what to write hasn't been a top priority. I haven't really done much this week, I did teach preschool Monday and today. Thank goodness for the Internet, it helped me get lesson plans late late at night the night before both times. Why do i save things like this for the very last minute? I don't know, just do. But it went really well, better than any other time that I have done it actually. The only hard part was Parker climbing on things, in the playpen and excersaucer, on the table, and jumping around. The whole time laughing and saying "Oh I am so funny, look at me! look at me!" Oh the pleasures of life with a hyper active child, always wanting to be the center of attention. He is so fun, I love his big personality, but at times like this I can see too much of myself in him and it makes me scared for whats to come as he grows up. But I guess that's the mothers curse huh, a kid just like you. I think my mom must derive some sort of pleasure in seeing the struggle we have with him sometimes after all the years of saying "I hope one day you have a kid just like you!" As if that would be punishment enough for all that I put her through. Thanks Mom.
Parker has gotten a lot better though and for that I am very thankful. I guess there is a lot to be said for the terrible 2's. He has so much fun with KC. I love having 2 kids, I think how sad it must be for all the only children out there. All the fun they miss out on with siblings and the trials of learning to share, etc. Today Parker decided that he should get to feed the baby. So for lunch and dinner he stuffed KC full of whatever baby food he could find in the cupboard. Poor KC was getting so much food at once he could hardly swallow any of it. I don't think he was a very big fan of the new way of getting his food, but it sure was cute to see Parker so excited to take care of him. Parker also thinks he can pick KC up now to move him around. I am not liking this at all. KC doesn't seem to mind though and hasn't even so much as flinched the few times Parker has set him down rather hard. I think he loves the attention he gets from Parker, and Mommy making sure he's okay.
KC is into everything!! I forgot just how busy they are when they learn to crawl. He is getting really good at moving all over the house and finding any bit of anything left on the floor. Poor guy has been spending a lot of time in the play pen these days.
Well it seems there is so much more to write but not a whole lot to really say.
Today has been a rather slow day, mostly just relaxing at home after preschool and getting some much needed cleaning done. I did go to the grocery store to get some things to make dinners for my dinner co-op (we all make a bunch of meals then trade) and while I was there I talked to a girl I used to work with. She's 16 and has a 4m old baby. Shes looking for a babysitter and so I was offering, then she told me she needs someone to do it for free because she just got kicked out of her house and has no money. She's been staying with her boyfriend and just kinda passing the baby around to anyone who will tend him. I am tempted to babysit for her anyway, for free, just so that poor baby can have some stability. But I am really good at taking on more than I can really handle and then feeling upset about it, so for now I told her I can do it sometimes. I hope she calls. I know she has dropped out of school, so maybe I'll offer to do her day care for free on the condition that she gets back into school.
I feel so bad for kids that have to grow up in these kinds of families. And I am so grateful that I have a loving husband and we have a stable loving home for our children to grow up in. Even if we never have tons of money to give them lots of things, at least we can teach them good values and correct principles and help them have a foundation to build their lives on. I am grateful that my little girl has such a great family to grow up in and that her parents are teaching her all that she needs to know and that she isn't being bounced around between me and some scuzzy boyfriend. When I see these girls that are pregnant and planning to keep their babies with no real plan of how they are going to take care of them it makes me sad that they don't have, or don't choose to have, the knowledge that maybe they aren't supposed to raise that child and that they can love their baby by giving it a good home. I just realized as I finished typing this that maybe some of you reading this don't know all this about me, but I guess now you do. I had a little girl 5 years ago, just 8 m before I met Aaron. I placed her for adoption and it has been such an amazing experience for me and for her family. She is so beautiful and happy. This is an old picture of her but its the only one on my computer.
So anyways, thats all i really have to say today, sorry for the ramblings.. but I guess it's my blog so that waht you get :)

Fridays Cake

This cake is for a couple that is already married but being sealed on friday. They just needed something small since they are only having a dinner with family. The woman didn't care what it looked like so I got to have fun decided what to do. I'm really excited about how it turned out. It gives me hope that I might be able to do a real wedding cake. I have to deliver it bright and early tomorrow morning but then it's all done. Then I'm cake free for the next few weeks. I'm sure I'll find plenty of practice stuff to do, but nothing big. Time to be just Mommy for a few days. It'll be nice to get a little break.

The silly things kids do

This morning as I was doing my hair Parker got out the vacuum attachment that makes such a good microphone and started wandering the house singing into it. When he decided he was finished he stopped and bowed. Then said "Thank you very much, I love you". It totally cracked me up. I love when they do things like this, it just makes me laugh.

A few days ago he got a hat and my sun glasses and wanted them on almost all day. He said he was a mail man. He even built a mailman fort(whatever that it), with the couch cushion. Our couch has days where it rarely has the cushion on at all. He loves to play with them. When he's done building he takes me on a little tour. He shows me the door, and the place where you sleep, and the part you jump off of onto the rest of the couch, etc. I'm glad we have an old couch so I don't mind so much if he plays with it. Making forts out of the furniture and blankets is one of my favorite childhood memories. I even remember a time when my dad helped us turn the couch upside down, I'm sure my mom loved that, and he crawled through it with us. I don't know how he fit, but it was tons of fun.

Here are some pics of my first try at doing a wedding cake. I used some of the dummies that I made. It was kinda rushed and I couldn't figure out for the life of me the border I wanted to do, but I think for my first try it's not half bad. What do you think?

ARGH!

so I just typed in a huge long post and then hit some button and managed to erase it all and can't figure out how to get it back, oh well. Here it goes again.

Big news!! KC is crawling!! It's slow going but he is definitely moving forward now and sooo happy about it. It's a little stressful for me as I am realizing just how un baby proof we have become since Parker has gotten older, but as least KC isn't flailing around on the floor anymore trying to move forward and usually just going backwards. I can't believe how fast he is growing. Today he even got to have some pancakes for breakfast with the rest of us. He loves being able to eat food with his hands. He tries to put it all in his mouth at once and looks like a chipmunk.

Aaron is at his 2nd infusion right now and hopefully it goes well for him. They pump him full of benedryl before hand so the medicine doesn't hurt as it goes in through the IV so he'll get a good nap. He told me that he hasn't felt this good since before he was ever diagnosed. I am so happy for him!! The only bad thing is that he asked his DR. last week how long they think he needs to be on it and they said forever. I guess it is really bad to go off and then go on again later, it has a harder time working or something. So that's crappy, but we'll keep praying it keeps working and that he can not have the bad side effects like cancer, tuberculosis, etc, and be healthy. It's scary, but I am so glad he has found some relief from all the pain and discomfort he has had.

Well this week was supposed to be my slow week. Just take it easy and enjoy not having to much to do. Well so much for that. Why can't I just relax, why do I need stress in order to feel motivated enough to get anything done? I guess if I took my ADHD meds it would probably help that, but then I actually have to remember to take them and then actually do it. That's the hard part. I almost always remember, but for some reason I just don't ever take the next step and actually do it. I think I do that with a lot of things. I'm trying to work on that.
But I did a little advertising and now have 2 cakes I'm doing this week and it's looking like possibly a wedding cake in April. the wedding cake is just going to be really simple so I'm not to worried about that. but any tips would be helpful. Cory this means you. Please send some expertise my way! Or maybe just send yourself, that would help even more :). The cakes I am doing this week are one for a couple that has been married for a while but they are getting sealed and having a dinner with some family, and the other is for and anniversary/ birthday/ graduation party. That should be interesting. But they both want me just to be creative and do what I want with the cakes, so that is fun.
I also have my class, a appt. with the psychologist for Parker, a financial workshop Aaron and I are taking, and playgroup at our house ion Saturday. Not to mention these 2 kids I might try to take care of. One of these days I really will make sure I have a slow week.

My favorite find this past month has been freecycle. If any one out there isn't using it you should be. Unless of course you are morally opposed to using other peoples old things. Which I am defiantly not. So far I have acquired
2 bags of little boy cloths just perfect for KC
baby socks
7 jars unopened baby food
lot of Styrofoam, why would i need this? to make cake dummies of course, they are way to expensive to buy
And as of today a new/old fridge. My cake antics are over running ours right now so another one was badly needed. And I posted I was looking for one, and within minutes someone offered their to me. So excited. Hopefully it will work for awhile. And then we can actually have real food too and not just cake.


And this is what I am the most excited about. To some of you this may not be that exciting but I can hardly contain myself. On KSL classifieds I found an add for tons of cake decorating stuff for almost nothing. Well 200$, but considering what it is worth it is almost nothing. It has tons of things for making wedding cakes. Cake plates, pillars, a fountain, books, a video, every tip you could imagine, and tons of other stuff. I figured it out if I bought it all separately and its probably worth around 600-700$. So my dear sweet husband said that if I promise to use it we can get it. I called they guy and he still has it for sale and said I can get it. He has to find it in storage since he's in the middle of a move, and then I have to drive to Ogden to pick it up, but I can't wait. I have a lot of pans and tips that my Grandma gave me, but this is a lot of other stuff I don't have and would be great to use. I also found some really cute cake boxes I want to get. They are pink! I love it. But you have to order them by the case. So that will need to wait a little while.

Girls Day In

Today Aaron and a friend went golfing all afternoon. While they were gone my friend Evelyn and I, (Aaron was golfing with her husband), made cakes for the guys. We had a lot of fun. Our kids are the same ages so the kids were entertained and so were the rest of us. It's been so fun to have a good friend that I have so much in common with. We even grew up in the same town, but we never knew each other then. We get together a lot, and I don't know what I would do with out her. So if you read this Evelyn, thanks for being such a great friend. Your like my sister and I absolutely love you.
hope you enjoy the pic... :) I would have put Evelyn's on here too, but her's was not as modest as mine. :)

New Blog

I've decided that I am having lots of fun making cakes and I'd really love to find ways to advertise so that I can do more and learn as I go. I learn the best by doing it for other people because it pushes me to do the best I can. I think I might get some cake dummies too so I can practice different things and then not have to make so much cake, or at least not eat so much cake. :) So I made a new web page with blogger that I am using as a website of sorts. Check it out and let me know what I can do to improve it. Post your ideas on this blog since the other is just for advertising. I'm going to put a link to the new site on some online ad places like KSL.com classifieds and make some little business cards to send with the cakes that I do. I figure the best way to advertise is word of mouth so I want to make sure people know how to find me.
I know I still have a lot to learn, but I figure I don't charge that much so I can learn as I go.
The new blog is www.cakeventures.blogspot.com
I'll still put pics on here but more about my family and stuff like that.
What do you think?

Office Cake #2

Here is the office cake for this month. It was hard to know what decoration to do. Here were the ideas I was given: Dogs, hearts, or scouting. Ya.. see my problem. So I decided just to make a few little dogs and put fresh flowers on it. I put the flowers on for a pic and then took them off. I'll put them back on before Aaron takes it to work tomorrow.
The cake is choc. with vanilla filling. Choc buttercream frosting and choc. ganache on top. Luckily I have lots of extra frosting so I might make a little one for us tonight. Yummmm.
Its nice to have it all done for this week.

Last night Parker was eating some crackers and wanted to save one. So he went to get a baggie from the drawer. This pic is what he ended up with. It was pretty funny. He said he just wants to save it for later.

Going Camping...

Done! It only took a few hours to complete. And KC slept the whole time and Parker was at preschool. So nice to have a few hours totally uninterrupted to get something done. The only thing it is lacking right now is the snowmobile which I still need to paint (with food coloring). I didn't have enough room so I had to forgo the stream, but maybe next time.

Cory's Twin

Hey Cory, I bet you didn't know that you have a twin out there! I went to my Wilton class last night and I swear the instructor is related to you. She could be your twin sister, not identical but very close. You personalities are very similar and even the tone of your voices. It was so weird. the class what a lot of fun. There are a lot of people in it, from those that can't figure out how to even bake the cake to begin with to people who have been decorating for years and come to take the class with their daughters. I'm really excited about it and hope that I get a chance to learn some stuff from these ladies that have been doing it for a long time.

I've decided that just having cake stuff on here is kinda boring. Maybe not for me but for anyone else who might read it. so I'm going to start putting more on ere from our everyday lives, although that may not be anymore exciting. But oh well. I've really enjoyed being able to read other peoples blogs. It's so fun to get to know everyone a little better, you just don't really get to do that when you only see each other for maybe an hour or 2 every year.
So here's our update. Aaron started his Remicade last week and is feeling so much better!!! He hasn't had any bad side effects other than some tiredness occasionally and so we are really excited about it. It has been so great to see him be happy and have energy. The kids are having lots of fun with him. I know hes benefiting a lot because he feels so much better, but I almost think I got the better end of the deal. He's so much more easy going and fun to be with. It's so nice to have him back. He goes in for his next treatment on Monday and hopefully it will go as well. Then he only has to go every 6-8 wks.
Parker is making me crazy getting into the pantry. Any ideas how to lock it? Its just those big doors that slide open and fold up. Every time I turn around he is climbing up in there. It drives me nuts because we live in a pretty old place and I don't think the shelves are very sturdy, I'm afraid one of these days it will all come crashing down with him in the middle of it all. And it's so hard to get him to eat at meals as it is, when he snacks all day he won't eat a thing for dinner. I almost don't want to ever buy him fruit snacks or things like that because he won't leave them alone. Poor kid. I feel like the snack nazi. He just wants treats and bread and I'm always trying to make him eat cheese and yogurt or other things. But have you seen that show on TLC "Honey we're killing the kids." I can't believe the way some people let their kids eat. It's so sad. Plus it's hard for me to try not to eat all the treats when we have a lot of them in the house. :) Maybe cake decorating isn't the best hobby for that.
Anyway I just think it is hard to eat healthy as it is as a grown up, I want it to be a little easier for my kids.

Well that's enough for now, but I'm finishing the camp cake today and I'll post a picture when it's done. I might try to get the office cake done too since I need it on Friday. It should be fine if it has to sit for one day. We'll see. And Bruno, I like the little stream idea, I just might have to do that. :)
I want to make a cake for Aaron next week just for fun. Any ideas of what to do or flavors to make. Sarah I wish you were closer I'd make you one for your birthday. Maybe you should come and visit your mom.

Class

I start my class tonight. I'm excited and I hope that it's fun and that I learn some stuff, I'm sure I will. And for only 12$ even if it's mostly stuff I already know its okay.
This last weekend Aaron got me a really great bakers rack. I actually bought it, but since hes the one making the cash I figure he got it for me in a way. It's so nice to have all the cake stuff off the kitchen counter and have a place to store stuff. And my Grandma, who is one of the greatest ladies I know, came to visit on Saturday and brought me tons of decorating stuff. Tips, books, and pans and more! There is so much. I am so excited. If I'd had to buy it all it would have cost me so much money. Thanks Grandma!!!!
Now I just need my own separate refrigerator. :) Aaron complains that when I'm making a cake there is no room on the fridge for us to actually have food. But hey, if he wants to eat cake there should be some sacrifice right?
I'm making a cake for a lady Aaron works with. The guy who's birthday it is for really likes hunting, camping, snowmobiling, etc. So it has been really fun to work on. I made a bunch of trees and a little campfire. I made a guy in a sleeping bag and a little tent for him to. and all but the tent frame is edible. I also made a little snowmobile for it. I'm going to make a little camping scene on it and make lots of snow on it too. If it turns out the way I see it in my head it should be really cute. Things don't usually turn out quite the same way I envision them, but I think this one might actually be close.
On another note, to keep with tradition, KC woke up with a cold this morning. Coughing and sneezing, throwing up etc. And he keeps trying to rub his ear like it itches. Its really cute. He tilts his head and rubs his arm on his ear, it looks like he's trying to wave at you. But he's happy and not running a fever or anything so we'll see. Silly guy. And luckily, for me not Aaron, I had just left to go walking this morning when KC lost all his breakfast all over Aaron. Its only fair that I'm not the only one getting soaked with various bodily fluids right?
Funny for the day--- Last night at dinner it was Parker's turn to say the dinner prayer. He started with the usual thank you for the food, and for Mommy's food, and for Daddy's food over there, and KC's food way over4 there(pointing at everyones dinner as he went). Then he usually(when hes really wanting to pray all by himself) goes on about random things to be thankful for. Last night it was "Thank you for ours brains" It's so funny to hear the things they think about. But as silly as it seems it really is a good reminder of how to be grateful for all the little things that come our way. Kids are so fun, even if they drive me nuts half the time. I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

YEA!

Enrichment was great and everyone loved my cake! It was so fun. I had lots of people tell me that it tasted great, even better than their wedding cakes had tasted. And I even had people asking me to do cakes for them. The cake was a white cake with a little almond flavor to it, a strawberry cream filling, and a raspberry almond buttercream frosting. It was yummy! I'm especially excited because I didn't have a chance to taste it all put together so I was just hoping that the flavors would all come together good. I even have some left in my freezer that I haven't frosted of anything yet, so I might use it today and make a little cake for us since it was so yummy and Aaron didn't really get to have much of it. This is so much fun. But I have to admit at times I am a little insecure and so I am a sucker for praise. I just love when people tell me that they like what I have done. It's so fun. It makes me excited to be able to learn more and do better.

So I'm thinking mabe I don't like the green so much. I might scrap it off today and do yellow dots instead for the border on the bottom of the orange layer.