let them eat cake

I've made some good cakes.


And some not so good ones too.


I've just used plans I found on the internet. Fun cakes. Theme cakes. Made for great kids cakes. For a long time, I've wanted to learn how to do traditional cake decorating too. This month I finally seized the opportunity. I took a cake decorating class at Michael's with my sister-in-law Angie. Angie has lots more natural ability than me. Our instructor oohed and aahed over her work while encouraging me to keep trying! The key thing I did learn though is that with proper tools and practice, I can do it too.

Not to mention that my cakes look pretty good too as long as they're not sitting next to Angie's!

seeking spring

My children don't seem to understand that it is still winter. Frozen, cold, in-the-middle-of-February winter. They are out jumping on the trampoline all the time. They like to take blankets out there and play who knows what kind of game.


One afternoon, Sawyer even took a three hour nap out there under all the blankets.


Slade runs around all the time without shoes.


And all of them seldom wear coats. We are all anxiously awaiting the warmer weather in the coming months. However, my children apparently have learned how to create their own spring in the middle of winter.

12 on 12 | february

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--We recently started this reward system for getting the morning routine done on time. If the kids get dressed, make bed, eat breakfast, and complete chores and practicing by 10:00, they get one point. They earn donuts with 10 points.
--These are the Valentines we made for our homeschool group party today. I got the idea here on Inchmark Journal. I was delighted by how creative the kids got with these. Unfortunately I was in a hurry this morning and only grabbed this boring one to shoot but there were all kinds of cards in our box with rainbow hair, mustaches, hypnotic eyes, and so on. Super easy and cute.
--Emma is the only one who would participate in the relays at the Valentine party. Slade played Hot Potato at the beginning but the rest of time the boys sat on the side.
--The kids brought their Valentine boxes home and promptly proceeded to eat through them all, discarding trash all over the floor.
--Sawyer is obsessed with wearing dresses. He begs me to let him wear his princess dress. Today he went into Emma's closet and found this skirt. Should I worry?
--There was a lot of technology-as-babysitter going on today at our house. What can I say? It was just one of those days.
--This book along with a few others arrived in the mail today. I've heard great things about it. It is the book choice for book group this month. I'm excited to read it.
--I got my hair dyed and cut today. Finally. It has only been six months or so. Yikes. It looked pretty scary. The color is rather dark but hopefully will fade slightly. I really liked this new stylist.
--Nathan is finally walking on his foot. Not with his full weight but at least he is actually putting it on the floor. At least he is when he isn't playing video games.
--Dinner tonight included one homemade pizza and leftover Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup. Good stuff. The kids made sure all the cups and bowls matched tonight when they set the table.
--Emma asked if she could take some pictures and took my camera outside. She took all kinds of random shots but came in so excited about this one of the trees with the sunset. A budding photographer?
--We let everyone stay up way too late watching the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics. I love the Olympics!

tiny evil toothpicks

While I was at my first cake decorating class last Tuesday, Dave was home with the kids. Nathan was running and managed to run right into a toothpick. Half of it broke off. The other half was jammed completely into his foot. Well, actually there was the tiniest bit poking out still. Dave got tweezers and tried to pull it out. When it didn't budge, he decided he better take him to the doctor instead. He hustled the kids into the car in their pajamas, minus coats or shoes, and sped down the hill to the urgent care clinic. They gave Nathan a shot for the pain and were going to attempt to pull the toothpick out when it instead lodged deeper inside his foot. Now there was absolutely nothing still sticking out. So they sent him to the ER.

This is when I received a phone call from Dave, telling me to meet him at the ER. I was about twenty minutes away. When I got there, I came in to find all the other kids in the waiting room, jumping on couches. Dave was in the triage room with Nathan who at this point was totally calm probably as a result of the shot. I gathered up the kids and took them home. Dave returned about an hour later. They weren't able to do anything because they weren't sure where the toothpick was. They told us to follow-up with a doctor in three days. He had a rough night that night because he couldn't lie down. His foot would start hurting unless he kept it hanging down. Poor Dave had a rough night too.

note the lovely pink toenails courtesy of big sister

I called the doctor the next morning to set up an appointment. Since the doctor would be out of the office on Friday, they suggested we come in that same day (Wednesday). Dave took him in on his lunch hour. Nathan was totally wiped out after being up all night and fell asleep. The doctor recommended that we wait until Monday. He wanted the wound to fester a bit so that he could tell where the toothpick was lodged. The other alternative was to put him under general anesthesia and try to find it. We opted to wait.

He wouldn't even move for the first few days. Dave or I had to carry him everywhere. Finally by Saturday, I had had enough of that and told him to start crawling or hopping or scooting on his bottom because I couldn't carry him all the time. He didn't like that idea so much but eventually resorted to crawling around.

On Monday, we called the doctor and set up an appointment for the next morning. At his office, they gave him two majorly painful shots, sliced open his foot and retrieved the toothpick. Nathan had an inch long piece of toothpick up inside his foot for a week. Ouch.


He got stitches and is all bandaged up now. He is still crawling and hopping around. He has a little walking boot that he can use but he doesn't like how it feels. The stitches come out in ten days.

So beware of those tiny toothpicks. They seem quite harmless but can sure wreak havoc on your foot.

one day at a time

I've been meaning to blog. Really. I blinked and suddenly almost two weeks have gone by. How does that happen!? I'm resorting to posting a random sampling of what we've been up to around here.

I'm on a diet. A six week challenge if you will. No dairy. No sugar. No wheat. Lots and lots of vegetables, chicken, fish, and oats. In addition to oats, I've added quinoa to my nutritional repertoire. I like it. I do NOT like fish on the other hand. I have faltered and succumbed to temptation more than once but for the most part have stuck to it and I'm losing weight.


We put up rain gutter bookshelves in the basement hallway.


I'm taking a cake decorating class. It makes me feel totally uncoordinated.

Nathan has a toothpick shoved up inside his foot. Full story to follow soon.


Slade received his orange belt and has been begging to quit. I finally let him. I decided I just couldn't fight him about it twice a week. Am I a bad parent? Of course the karate people seem to think so.


I was not at Slade's belt graduation because I went on a date with my sister. We went to see Colin and Amy perform their pre-tour showcase. My date was exceptionally great. Love her. The show? Not so much. Except for Colin and Amy, of course.


Emma is trying to teach Anne how to walk. She will walk short distances on her own but definitely prefers crawling.

book 1 recital

On Sunday, Emma had her Book 1 Recital. She played through the 14 of 17 pieces that she has been learning since she started. She is already well into Book 2 but we hadn't done her recital yet to make her an official Book 1 graduate.

There was much weeping, wailing, stomping, and throwing herself onto the couch during the practice sessions leading up to the recital. Her performance itself though went very well. Emma gets distracted easily so playing in front of people is not easy for her. Neither is playing duets which she did with her wonderful teacher, Lauri Driggs. All in all, it wasn't note perfect but when she made mistakes she kept going! A big accomplishment for her. She played very well and felt successful at the end.

We appreciated our family coming to show their support. In total we had about 20 people there with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Emma felt loved. Much thanks to Colin for video-taping the performance. Much thanks to Keri and Amy for providing me with all the pictures that I missed.
We had soup, rolls and treats afterwards.

We're so proud of you, Emma!

P.S. I just want to document how badly my food preparations went this week. First I made sugar cookies and something was just not right. They didn't roll well, they were undercooked, and something just didn't taste right (although they did all get eaten by my family when I said they were fair game). Then I made mint brownies. I tried to take a shortcut with box mixes for the bottom. Again, something was off. Too oily or undercooked or something. Then on Sunday, I made Broccoli Cheese Soup and Beef Stew plus rolls. I cooked my stew in the pressure cooker and it completely burned on the bottom, leaving the stew with a decidedly unpleasant, charred taste. And my rolls were semi-burnt on the bottom too! At least the cupcakes were totally delicious!

let's party

I am obsessed with parties. I love to think about them. I love to plan them. I love to drool over party ideas on the internet. I could (and have) spent hours looking at decorations, and tablescapes, and desserts, and favor ideas. Oh yes. I love it. It is interesting that an introverted homebody like me would have such an obsession. For being so inspired by so many ideas, I don't entertain all that often and my parties rarely reach the vision I had in the beginning. Usually because I think and think about the upcoming event but fail to actually do anything about it until it is too late.

Oh well. On to the eye candy. Let me direct you to some of my all-time and recent favorite party finds.

First, I never tire of seeing the work of the queen of dessert tables, Amy Atlas. She made the dessert table famous, I think. This poolside table with all of its green goodness is one of my favorites from her.

Dessert tables and candy buffets are all the rage. This one was even featured by Amy Atlas on her blog because it really is so great.

Here are a few more from my inspiration folder.


I am always astounded at the creativity to be found on the internet. Like using Jell-O for darling centerpieces or scrapbooking paper to make plain Jane paper plates into something with far more cute factor. It seems so simple. Why didn't I think of that?!


I love seeing how creativity and attention to detail take ordinary celebrations and make them something wonderful. Take for example, this first birthday party turned Grinch Party found here, here and here on the Blonde Designs blog.

Perhaps it seems a little ridiculous to some of you to put such effort into parties that will be quickly forgotten. Rather, I agree this mother's sentiment:

"And while Oliver will likely have no memory of all the party-details, the time and thought we put into this celebration made it feel all the more special to us."

So if you're like me and you love such things, check out these other great party resources.
Party Perfect
Hostess with the Mostess
The Celebration Shoppe
and a bajillion more....

Now let's party!

the lake isle of innisfree

Recently Emma and I read this poem by William Butler Yeats titled The Lake Isle of Innisfree.

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

In our discussion, we talked about how the author was describing an ideal place, where he would love to go and could find peace and happiness. I asked her if she thought this place sounded ideal to her. She replied with a definite no. When asked to describe her ideal place she said, "The city with lots and lots of people."

12 on 12 | january

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--I woke up at 4:45 in the morning. I fed Anne and put her back to bed. Then I went to the Rec Center with three other women to swim. I haven't swam laps in years! YEARS! I panicked a little during the first length but then all those years on swim team came back to me and it felt natural again. Since, I was up so early this morning I was able to see the beautiful morning sky.
--The kids had cereal for breakfast. The rule is that they have to eat a bowl of non-sugar cereal before they can have one of sugar cereal.
--Anne is quickly becoming a Master of Disaster all. over. the. house!
--I probably should have taken a picture of Emma sprawled out on the couch in tears just moments before this. She did not want to play her review pieces. I made her play them all. I'm so mean.
--Slade does not like doing schoolwork and it is a struggle everyday to get him to actually finish.
--Nathan is learning how to read. I'm so glad that I get to be the one to teach him.
--Sawyer crashes on the couch in the afternoon almost every day.
--I'm reading The Makeover of James Orville Wickenbee for book club. I am not enjoying it at all. I guess I've outgrown my love of LDS fiction.
--I saw a blog post about sock curls and Emma wanted to try them. I felt very uncoordinated putting them in. Having a daughter who generally refuses to let me do anything with her hair has not given me much practice with hair.
--Mess on my bathroom floor courtesy of my two darling daughters.
--When the boys listen quietly during SSP at night, Dave gives them piggy-back rides downstairs and tells them a story.
--I can't seem to go to bed without getting on the computer. Tonight, I finished editing a sneak peak blog post for my neighbor, checked email, browsed a few forums, and read lots of blogs. I'm an addict.

today

Outside my window...it's dark.

I am thinking...that I really love technology.

I am thankful for... how well Singing Time went today in Senior Primary. I was teaching I Know That My Savior Loves Me and telling them the story of 3 Nephi 17. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them this quiet and attentive. The Spirit was very strong and I got very emotional. It’s hard to sing when your crying.

From the kitchen... Colin and Amy made pork roast. I made the vegetables in my new pressure cooker (love it!), Keri made fruit salad and dessert and Emma made rolls. I made the dough in the bread machine and then left her instructions to shape and bake them while Dave and I took Slade to his Baptism Preview at church. They turned out perfect.

I am wearing...a grey shirt with black pants. I’m really loving the color grey lately in clothing, in photos, in home décor. I want to paint my master bedroom grey.

I am creating... a picture a day album using the Project Life kit from Becky Higgins. I started out strong last year and made it through the whole month of January. I really, REALLY hope I can do it the whole year this time.

I am going...to start getting up between 5 and 5:30 each morning. I am starting to train for the triathlon I’ll be doing in May. I am excited. I’m scared. I’m going to miss my late nights.

I am reading...The Makeover of James Orville Wickinbee for book club. I just finished reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane to my kids. We all loved it. I’ve been trying for long time to establish reading aloud as a regular habit. This was the first book that they seemed really excited to read. They were asking me to read and then begging for more chapters. When we finished Slade said, “We should do that again.” I am at a loss to explain why this particular book elicited such a response but I am thrilled.

I am hoping...to start losing weight again soon.

I am hearing...Anne crying, the kids playing Super Mario on the Wii with Lane and Josh, and the adults playing Dominion at the kitchen table.

Around the house...Anne is making messes everywhere. Pulling books off the shelves, emptying the cupboards, dumping out boxes.

A few plans for the rest of the week...a trip to IKEA with Keri, swimming on Tuesday, spin class on Friday, my niece’s baby blessing this weekend.

A few pictures to share...

married

Anne and I just returned home last night from a four day trip to Maine to watch my little sister get married on New Year's Eve. I was so lucky to be there. Merrit looked amazing and radiantly happy. I finally got to meet Matt who is awesome. And I got to take pictures! While a full recap will be coming shortly(ish), I must show my mother how much I love her and post at least a few pictures for now.