Birthday cake!!!....

I spent all day making my birthday cake for tomorrow. I had so much fun. It was so much harder than I thought it would be. I have never made a tiered cake and really have not made many cakes at all. Let me tell you something.....the hardest thing about it is shaping that stinkin' cake into an even form. The second hardest thing is icing the cake smooth. I could not do it for the life of me. The cake is a Freckled Mocha Cake (mocha with chocolate pieces throughout) and the filling is a chocolate-hazelnut filling. My inspiration was from the baking book The Whimsical Bakehouse. I really love this book. It is so informative.

The steps were to make the cakes. The top is a 6" and the bottom is a 9". Then you have to cut the cakes after cooled. The 9" is only sliced in two with one mousse filling layer. The 6" is cut into 3 layers and has 2 layers of mousse. It is also supposed to be topsy-turvy on top. The bottom is supposed to be a perfectly round, smooth cake but I came considerably short of that goal. =( The next step is to crumb coat both cakes and refrigerate.

After this process I started melting all my candy melts. This was sooo time consuming. After they are all melted you then use a template or free-hand your candy decorations. You have to outline first, add small coloring effects, and then cover with more candy. The ones that are just white and funky have not been flipped over yet.

Then I mixed up my colored icings and iced my two cakes. I had to learn to measure dowels and cut them with shears to place into the base cake for stability.

Then I stacked them and added cloud trim on the base of the top tier and then green trim on the base cake to cover the boards and make it look nicer.

I do not like cakes covered completely in fondant (although I do want to do one to teach myself) but I don't like the taste much. You cannot go wrong with good ole' buttercream frosting and a lot of it. So my cake is lumpy and definitely not smooth. Thank goodness for decorations.....The finaly cake.....(drum roll) Ha ha!!I used too much frosting to adhere my sun and you can see it. That bothers me alot, but....overall I am really pleased. It is not as pretty as what I had in my head but I think it is pretty and with practice I hope to make them better and better. I cannot wait to see what Clara's 1st birthday cake is going to look like!! I cannot believe November 19th it will be one year!! I hope I did not bore you to tears writing about the cake preparation but I just LOVE it!! I would love to start doing it on the side (when time permits) for a fun-paying hobby!

Long, exhausting, scary, thankful day!!

Well today was not the best day and in another contradicting phrase it was a very blessed day. It started out pretty good. Clara has now learned to say "uh oh!". It is too cute!! I will try to catch it on video. Friday is also park day so the kids were looking forward to that (me too).


Well right before leaving I noticed Clara had fever. I called the doc and talked to them. We are still holding off on going in. She did take her first dose of Tylenol and Motrin today.....=( I think the majorirty of it is teeth, but she still has the crud on top of that too. We decided that we would still go to the park anyway...she loves the swings. Better to be sick and having fun than sick and doing nothing but feeling sick.

Well, my perfect, dream, mom-mobile (loaded Honda Odyssey) now has another car's glass thrown all over it, scratches all across the front of the car, chips in the windshield, and paint chips all over it from the showering of glass that pelted it as another car was smashed to pieces right before our eyes. It was terrifying!! It made me so grateful for God's grace! We were sitting at a stop sign of a dangerous intersection. I knew I did not yet have the all clear so I turned around to tell Christian to add Motrin to our grocery list....As I did this I heard the all-too eery sound of a loud crash and as I turned around everything went into slow motion. I saw a shower of glass flying at and over our car as I watched a woman in a red Grand Am fly uncontrollable in front of the car and turn around completely and come to a screeching stop behind us facing the same direction as us in the opposite lane. I was in a terrified pause waiting for us to be thrown in all directions horrified that we would be horribly hurt or worse. As I realized it was over...I was left wondering if we were even hit....I was completely in a state of unknowingness. I knew I needed to get my car off of the road. I yelled at Christian to call 911 and tell them our location. As I pulled the car off the road I hear this crunch and drag sound .......and just knew I would jump out and find the front of my car totaled. It was thankfully not. It was the Grand Am's back bumper and car parts I was running over. My car had minor scraping and glass rash from her totaled Grand Am parts flying all over it. There was glass all over the top of my mini van and even at the park saw some on my back bumper (as it sits in the garage it still has glass on top of it and on the back bumper). The glass completely showered the entire car. I have never seen anything like that. It is still all under my windshield below the windshield wipers...There are scrapes and paint damage all over the front hood, and along my window. I would hate to think what might have happened had the windows been open.

After I looked at the car (all happening in split seconds) I ran around expecting to see a severly injured or worse woman. There were already people from behind us that had jumped out also. My God is great....she was getting out just totally shaken up. Her car was completely totaled in the back. No back windshield to think of and her tires were completely bent inward and unmovable. The truck that she had run out in front of was crushed too but they were okay too. I just could not believe God's grace to let us breeze through this moment of terror with just an awakening of how quick everything can change!!!My car will need front end repair (minor) and a complete paint job to repair all the glass knicks....we are happy and healthy together this evening!! I just give all the glory to God. I thank Him for allowing His hand to shield us from what could have been a horrible, life-changing event. I realize that things in this life happen as it is a fallen world but I am just so grateful for this just being an eye opener.

After we arrived at the park...(yes we still went) the accidents just kept piling on. I was a nervous wreck, Clara was not being herself at all, and then on top of that Christian comes running over to me with a stick poking into his leg about an inch embedded. What else?? He had stepped on it and it sent it upward and right into his leg. I then just knew we were not going to be able to pull it all out cleanly and then we would be spending the evening in the ER having it debrided and flushed. YUCK!!! Well, praise God again after everyone so nicely pulled together for first-aid gear.....a few strong pulls later and a few loud groans from Christian, the leg was free of the stick!! We then flushed it out, put antibiotic on it, covered in gauze and tape and off he went to play. He was not going to leave that park!! We are going to keep an eye on it for any signs of infection but I think we are pretty safe for now. Nonetheless, after the park we skipped the grocery store and came home. Clay brought home Chinese and the Motrin we needed and we are here safe and sound for the time being.

So, even though it was a long, exhausting, scary day there is MUCH to be thankful for and MUCH to give glory to God for as I climb in bed this evening! Something such as this just leaves you completely vulnerable feeling. I know I have no control in this life and that God has it covered, but it is days like this that just open your eyes and make you that much more aware of how thankful we need to be for every second!!! =)

So much info....fair, pics of Pierce, cake plan...etc....

Okay, okay....sorry, sorry, sorry!! I have a ton to throw into this post and hope I can have time to fit it all in to this one.

We made our annual trip to the fair with meemaw and pawpaw and it was Clara's first time ever!! We had a great time. Clay and I left the fair early and had an evening to get dinner and watch the movie Fireproof together. The boys spent the night but we picked up Clara at about 10 or so. She was asleep on Pawpaw's shoulder as usual. Meemaw had to teach Sunday School at church so Clara would have to go into the nursery and we are not going there yet....She is not a happy camper the time we tried the nursery. Clay and I would rather be there to help her through it. She is very much a family girl. Not too keen on being left with people she is not familiar with, can you blame her?

Pay no attention to that sign in the upper right corner. =)

Hey, this fair thing is FUN!! Gotta love those corndogs!!

We had our last Beth Moore's Believing God Bible study Tuesday night. We had a little potluck and enjoyed our last evening together. I was blessed by the ladies in this study and enjoyed the growth we shared together greatly!! I will miss our weekly gatherings but hopefully it will not be the last.
Cheyna is missing and Candy are missing as they were late....;) But we have Melodees at the head of the table, to her left is Melanie, Ashley and to Melodees' right is Ginger, Rae, and Barbara (Meemaw).


Okay, I had to throw this shot of Clara's 1st mohawk in the bathtub. Too cute!! She has the BEST hair! Her little curls are absolutley fantastic. You can also almost see her first little tooth in this picture!! NOW INTRODUCING in Pictures......Pierce David!!! I did not get to hold him as Cindy said he needed his nap, but I did get some pics. He is over a week old and I am just now seeing him. We have been brutally sick and I did not want to risk sharing it with Pierce or Cindy!! The last thing they would need. I am relieved and blessed to finally have gotten to see him in person. He is just so tiny...and to think Clara was a pound smaller than him. Time just flies way too fast!!! On a side note...my birthday is Sunday. Here is a drawing of the cake I am going to "attempt" to make. We will see how close I can make it. My drawing is not the best. It is going to hopefully be a topsy turvy cake. The sun, grass, butterflies, clouds, and daisies will be made with candy melts (like chocolate). The inspiration of the cake is from The Whimsical Bakehouse. So far the flavor I have decided on is Mocha Cake with Chocolate-Hazelnut mousse filling with buttercream icing. Sounds good to me. I have not tried it so we will see.



Okay...I will try to post every day. It would be much easier!!

Sickness and school

Well I cancelled our appointment for the doc. Christian is feeling much better today, Clara just has her runny nose and great attitude, and I am hanging in there. I am old and out of shape so it would make sense it knock me off my feet. Uggggghhhhh.

Ok Amy, here is a pic of sick me in bed with Cullen doing Language Arts. I cannot believe I am posting it, but hey, this is real life isn't it??

Christian did a science lab on chemical reactions and we watched on. Here are some pics of the kids. I really like taking pics of them doing their schoolwork. I don't know why I had not thought of it sooner.

Here is Cullen's math test. He missed one problem. He is really great at math. I love being able to show off their work to everyone. I even got a pic of the other side. You guys might get sick of school pics.

I had to throw this lovely shot of the most intelligent little girl EVER!! She is doing her school work and always makes an A++++!! She is just the most precious treasure ever!! This was my quick post of the day. Hopefully I can keep it up.

Tooth, cupcakes, New Nephew, weight loss, first mile ran ever!!

Well, Clara is now 10 months old and has her first tooth, well actually today I noticed the second coming in too. Poor baby...she is not feeling too well either. I have not yet gotten a pic of it as she is not too keen on showing it off. She has not been feeling real well along with Christian and I. We have had a cold and/or virus of some type. She seems to be getting better, I am right behind her and Christian is trying to hang in there.

Christian took his first Science test today and I am amazed at what he is learning. The pic below is of him doing an experiment to learn the atomic theory and how atoms move about. He made 83%. He got 25/30. His teacher's comment was "WELL DONE!" Let me say on Christian's behalf....this test was HARD!! I do feel confident that if he can pull these classes off of English I and General Science...He will be ready for college. It is tougher than some of my college courses. Here is one of his answers to an essay-type question, "Galileo had to recant his scientific ideas because the Roman Cathlic Church did not believe and did not want to believe that the heliocentric system was right. " I am in awe of my kiddoe!! It is such an awesome wonder and an honor that God has allowed for our family to watch them learn at home. One of their friends came over today to play; we just love him to death. He is playing football for the school here in town. Today the kids had filled a shampoo bottle with pee and tried to trick him to use it as shampoo and when he refused they threw it on him!! They also hit each other with wet towels in the locker room leaving whelps on them. I am just appalled. The coach said he would take care of it by making them run some 1000 something.....I stopped Blake right there and said, WHAT!!! I think the kids need to be suspended and off the football team. Society nowadays just gives kids too much leeway. Kids get away with entirely too much and then they go off to be grown ups and become rude, selfish adults that expect to get away with murder. It just sickens me really. I am glad that my kids will not have to deal with that while they are in training to be the best Christian adults they can be!!

On a more positive note....Last night we had our Tuesday night Bible study. It is almost our last one. We threw together a baby shower for Rae and Baby Ben (making his appearance in late October)! I was disappointed that half our group could not make it but it was not because they didn't want to be here. I am so happy for Rae & Ben!! They have been waiting for a long while for God to bless them with a little miracle. I think the plans are to continue to add to the family through adoption also!! I will continue to pray God fills their home with a good handful of wonderful kids!! It was very nice.

Here is a pic of Rae with the Baby Ben cupcake. I bet Baby Ben could smell the "Twinkie" cupcake inside the womb!! He got to kickin' around after she ate one. =) Sugar rush!!

I also have wonderful news to announce and I apologize that I do not have pics to follow this!! Baby Pierce David was born on Monday at 4:58 p.m. He is my newest nephew to Clay's brother, Clint and his wife Cindy!!! I am so happy for them. Katelyn (KK) now has a baby brother. We are not feeling 100% around here so have yet to see him. As soon as I do I will get lots of pics to share. They made it home this evening! I cannot wait to hold him!!

I had started First Place For Health a month or so ago. It is a Bible-based weight loss study. It is to take the focus off this struggle with food and place it in God's hands. I have always struggled with moderation (lack there of) and have never really exercised. Well, this study has been awesome for me. I have lost 8 lbs and have been walking. Well, tonight I ran my first mile EVER in my life!! I could not believe that my God would allow me such a pleasure and honor this early on in my journey for health & fitness both physically and spiritually!!! How awesome is He!! I have not felt this good physically and mentally in a long time about the way I have treated my body. Who knows I might be running a triathlon with Clay and the boys after all!!!

I am trying very hard to lose a bit more weight faster for Matt & Candy's wedding at the end of October!! The dress is beautiful but it was not made for my body at all size 8 or 16....just not made for my thick chest!! I have never worn a strapless dress EVER!! Didn't want to either...thanks Candy!! BUT it has motivated me to do a bit more faster than I had planned. I had planned 1lb a week and that would be my goal in a year. Well on top of the wedding in October, my wonderful husband told me that for our 11th wedding anniversary in December we will be going on a cruise, just the two of us!!! The boys were not too thrilled with us as they had gone on the first one but I need some time just by myself. Homeschooling means that I am home and at work all the time. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE it and would not change a thing but I do deserve a break once in a blue moon. This will be our first vacation that was not work related without kids since our honeymoon. For those of you that have not figured the math yet, Christian is 13!! I had him at 19 and my wonderful hubby Clay is a gift from God. He adopted Christian right after we got married. Christian was 2. So we were a premade family and have never had the "before we had kids" time in our marriage. =D I am really excited to get this special time with Clay and to be able to relax alone together. I will probably be desperately missing my kids by the first evening but I am willing to try. We do not leave the kids with anyone but Meemaw & Pawpaw (my parents) for any length of time. They have also spent the night with Taffy & Papa Dave (Clay's parents) on occasion and Clint & Cindy. Clara has only stayed with Meemaw & Pawpaw. We are going to be working up to leaving her. She has stayed with them when she was much younger and had no problem. But now that she is older she is not too keen to be away from us. She is very much a mamma's girl until daddy gets home and then she is a HUGE daddy's girl!!! It is great! I love watching those two together. I don't think God could have made a better father! When I see Clay with my kids and watch the awe and adoration he has for them, my heart melts. He cherishes them, plays with them, and genuinely has fun playing with them!! God has truly blessed me beyond measure and really more than I deserve!!

Okay, I have rambled enough. I am sorry there really is no organization to this post. I just had waited so long to post it just kept building and building. I will try again to post more often....Have I said that before??

Oh, wait....I have to post this too. We thought this was so funny. Clara loves this little fan. She couldn't quite figure it out at first and thought that it should hurt and would start to get upset and then realize, "no, that didn't hurt. Lets do it again" Enjoy!! Click on the link to view the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvqbB_7Rf9g

School stuff, Park Day and bathtub fun!

Christian did his first Science experiment yesterday. Meemaw was able to be here for it. He is still finishing up his informal lab report but it was a good, successful experiment. It was demonstrating that there are atoms. He poured veg oil, water, and maple syrup into a clear bottle. They then separate into their layers. He dropped a grape, ice cube, piece of cork, and a rock. They all dispersed into their different layers. The rock on the bottom, the grape sat on top of the maple syrup, the ice cube sat on top of the water layer, and the cork bobbed on top of the veg oil. Here is a cute snapshot with Christian and his experiment.

Today was our first park day since school started. Here is a large picture of the group. It is sucha great feeling to see all these kids and know that it is a small handful of the kids in our homeschool group!!
Here is a clip of Clara in the bathtub. She loves the water. She especially gets a kick out of laying on her back and laughing. She thinks it is so neat. I have tried to get her laughing really loudly but whenever I get the camera out she gets shy!! Here is what I got. Just click the link b/c I cannot get it to post on here for some reason....urrrrrgh. There is a lso a link to Clara swining and laughing. She loves to swing!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqPUoE6D4ZU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7vBpI2V0E4

Cupcakes, cupcakes, and more cupcakes!!

Okay, call me crazy!! I just love my new-found hobby!! I cannot tell you how much I hated baking...still not too crazy about it b/c it is so stinkin' messy, but I LOVE to decorate 'em all up!!! I am now lookign into FIRST birthday cupcakes for my little princess!! I cannot wait...a year has flown by. I guess I should have known with kids time just keeps slipping by and with a third the flood gates open up that much more. LOVE it though!!

I made 30 cupcakes for a birthday party for a little girl. I was so excited to be asked to make them. I made the little flip flops out of fondant and used royal icing for the straps and flowers. The beach balls are large gumballs, and the sand is graham cracker crumbs. I was so pleased with how they turned out. I cannot explain the satisfaction of knowing you made someone's day even that much more special. The little girl, Audrey, was spending the night with her grandma when her mom called to tell her she had emailed her pics of them. She squealed with delight when she saw them. How neat is that?? Here are some shots of them!! I also was featured on Cupcakes Take the Cake for these beach cupcakes and also my key lime cupcakes. I felt like I had won an award or something....cheesy, huh??

As you can also see I love taking pictures of food...why not combine your two loves?

I then proceeded to make 100 or so more cupcakes (I made too many somehow). It was for my brother and future sister-in-laws' wedding shower, Matt & Candy!! I cannot tell you how I was about to cry at about 2 in the morning when I thought I would never make burnt orange frosting turn out right. In the end, I was pretty pleased with them. The shower turned out really nice I think. Candy and Matt hit the jackpot with gifts and will not be able to move around in their little apartment until the day comes they jump in and get in debt for life with a house. Sounds fund, huh?

Little Clara had her first Sea Doo ride. Let me tell you, this girl just loves excitement of any kind. We knew she would love it b/c anytime she hears the noise she tries to imitate it. She is really growing way too fast. She is traveling on things and waving "hi" and "bye" consistently. She is no longer taking a bottle either. This happened this past week. Tierra...she also loves her baby doll. She will give it sugars consistently then I ask for sugars and it is a no go. She will not even think about it. She will only kiss her baby doll and also we discovered that she loves Addi (future cousin-in-law) and will kiss her. Of course, when we got out the camera they both clammed up. At least Clara would move and interact but Addi shut down completely until I turnend off he camera. =) Clara also tried on her flower girl dress for the wedding in a month. She is so CUTE in it. Words cannot express. I cannot wait to see the wonderful pics that Michele Jones from Picture This gets of her. http://www.picturethisbymj.com/ She also did our family pics that I have posted on our site. She cannot take a bad pic!!

I also took an "artsy" shot of Candy's engagement ring and was pleased with it. It is beautiful and I thought I would share it with you guys.

Until next time....eat a cupcake...;)