Thursday, February 25, 2010

Course 1 .... Complete!


I finally did it... I learned to make a rose! Not the easiest cake skill in the world, but doable. For me the trickiest part was the consistency of the frosting. Who knew that was the hardest part of cake decorating... not too hard, so you can actually get it out of the decorator bag and not too soft or you end up with the pink roses on my cake - looking like they are melting :). All of the roses were supposed to be pink, but that frosting was having trauma...
so white will have to do :).

I think this was my best effort :).

Now on to Course 2 ....

**Thanks Loni for getting me to take this class it was tons of fun!

Random

I just want to grow up....

Abigail and Dallin came downstairs the other day all dressed up. Not in dress-up clothes, but looks like they raided Mom and Dad's closet this time. Abby said "We're you... Mom and Dad!" Pretty cute... I thought :).



Reading ... again

I took this picture the other day from around the couch.
I just love these three kiddos.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MYLIE!!!!


We love you, Mylie!!!! Hope you have the BEST Birthday EVER! Wish we could be there to eat cake with you... sing to you... and watch you blow out your candles. We will be thinking of you all day long! Hugs and Kisses to our Mylie.... WE LOVE YOU!

Love,
Auntie, Uncle John, Abigail, Dallin and Connor




Special Messages from your cousins....


Dear Mylie,

I hope you have a good princess birthday. I hope you like the videos. Have a good princess day!

Bye, Bye...

Love,
Abby

Mylie,

I just have a message for you... I love you! Happy Birthday!

Love,
Dallin


Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Happy Birthday Grammie!

Thinking of you on your special day...


Hope you are having a fabulous birthday, Grammie (Mom)!
We love you!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Finally...

A Valentine's Photo that turned out...

Happy Valentine's Day!
We love you!

President's Day at Brazos Bend State Park

The sun had finally emerged after a long week of clouds and rain... so we decided to get out and enjoy the weather. It was still a bit chilly and quite windy, but we still had a great time...
there is nothing like being outdoors.

We headed a little farther south to Brazos Bend State Park. We have been there before during the summer, but we were not able to really see any of the "wildlife" last time, so we decided to give it another try. This time the park did not disappoint.

Before we left that morning, Dallin was very worried that the alligators were going to get him... and he was not too sure about the idea of going to a place where they lived. Finally we convinced him that these alligators were more like the one in the movie, Princess and the Frog :)... we were hoping :). The kids were actually really excited once they saw the alligators.

After our fun hike, we headed over to the Nature Center where the kids were able to touch all kinds of alligator bones, turtle shells, snake skins and more. But I think they were most intrigued by the corn snake and baby alligator the volunteers were holding outside of the cages. They were able to touch each of them and boy were they excited about that. Abigail said her favorite was "that silly corn snake that kept going under that lady's arm...silly snake." Dallin said his favorite was the baby alligator... "I even touched him, Mom!"

All in all, the day was a success. We are definitely heading back. Maybe in a month it will be warm enough for camping :). We are crossing our fingers.



Below: Can you see how close that alligator is??? Just sitting there in the water!



This big fella was sunning himself on the other side of the bridge. He was really only about 4 feet from the edge of the bridge!

There was one other alligator ... sitting really low in the grasses and water... you could just see his eyes and the hump of his back. He was only about 2-3 feet from the edge of the trail (Not the bank.. the trail)!


Climbing the Observation Tower: It was SO windy up there. The kids went up and really just wanted to turn right back around. We made them look over the edge :).




Climbing - what kids do best

A boy and his sticks...

Friday, February 12, 2010

Reading

John captured this picture after dinner tonight.

I am so glad and grateful that our children enjoy books. I love it when there is silence... I begin to worry as I am climb the stairs... knowing that most likely the silence is not good... and to my surprise I find them all snuggled on Abigail's bed reading to each other. It doesn't get better than that. I can only hope they continue to love books.

{Of course, Connor had to look at the camera Daddy was pointing at him}

Traditions

Every year the kids and I make sugar cookies for Valentine's Day.
And every year I am the last one at the table finishing the cookies :).
Abigail almost made it to the end, Dallin was able to fill a plate for his Primary teacher (not bad), and Connor - well we just let him sit in the highchair with some sprinkles and a cookie.

I was amazed at the recipe we used this time... we ended up with about 70 cookies!!!


Here is a sampling of their efforts. Pretty good, I think. :)


I also had to include Abigail's Valentines for this year.
I thought this idea was really cute.. and it did not disappoint.
Abigail loved the idea and jumped right in.
Here are her lollipop flowers.




I think we are just about ready for Valentine's day.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Wednesday Nights in February

Thanks to a friend, I am doing something I have always wanted to do... take a cake class.
Here is Class Assignment #1: Character Pan Cake decorated with Stars.
Just so you know.. my hand was killing me. Cake decorators must have serious hand muscles.
I think it turned out alright.. still some things to work on, but cute overall.

They're Off

The Valentines are finally in the mail.... Hooray!!!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Valentine Photo Shoot...


This was our attempt at taking a "Happy Valentine's Day" picture ...
not so good :).
Better luck next year... hopefully.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Super Bowl Sunday 2010

The Tradition continues.
It was nothing grand.
Just our little family
enjoying some yummy "Super Bowl" grub
and enjoying the game.