Teachers Gifts/Cake Balls

This year for end of the year gifts, I decided to make cake balls. I made them for Harper's school teachers and both girls' CBS (bible study) teachers. I LOVE how they turned out...I even dabbled with a little bit of fondant to make the letters. I am in the process of searching for a job to go back to work in the fall but deep down I have this crazy, creative baking drive that wants to be doing this full time. We will see what God's plan is for our future.

I put the cake balls in the boxes two different ways

#1

#2

with #2 I felt like they stayed in place better

I made up 9 different boxes this year. Here they are all ready to go to the teachers

Oh and here is the tag I put on each of the boxes

CBS Performance

Last Wednesday during CBS (Community Bible Study) the two's class, which is Adeline's class, sang. I guess they made an announcement the week before about them singing but we were absent so I was not prepared. I didn't have my video camera or my nice camera to capture the experience. I was bummed because all I had was my camera on my phone. Adeline was a little "ham". She sang right along with all the words and knew all of the motions. If you can't tell, she is the one in the turquoise dress, white leggings and a big white bow (left side of picture). We missed Harper's class performance a few weeks before (we in Tulsa for my grandma's funeral). Oh and an exciting thing happened at CBS today, Adeline pooped on the potty. She asked to go potty all by herself. We haven't started potty training her yet and I hadn't planned to until next fall/winter but I guess someone is ready:)

Doing the hand motions to "Jesus Loves Me"

She spotted Mommy...

Napkin in her lap

Apparently, I am doing something right and teaching my girls a few manners. This is Adeline a few weeks ago when we were eating at Chili's. She asked for her napkin and quickly put it in her lap!

Bubbles

One day last week, we spent some time outside playing with bubbles. We couldn't go to the playground-we had to stay near my car because we were getting the windshield repaired (a rock hit in on Mother's Day and it got a huge crack. Luckily, the cracked was filled and we didn't need a new windshield).

The girls love bubbles. Adeline was cracking me up with the way she blew bubbles.

30 Things

I was following another blog and she did this so I thought it would be fun to list 30 things (since this is my last day to be 30) that most people don't know about me (in random order):

30) Moving to Minnesota is the BEST thing that has ever happened to me, my family and my marriage---I am slowly realizing this more and more each day.
29) I do at least 1 load of laundry everyday
28) I love a strong Oklahoma thunderstorm
27) Peter once tried to buy me an old icee machine from QT
26) I do not like change, I love routine, I like to have an agenda, I want to be in control---hence, God is teaching me a lesson by moving us to Minnesota
25) I begin each morning with a glass of chocolate milk. I'm not a coffee drinker but I need something to kick start each day.
24) I LOVE to shop especially for my girls and you can never have too many pairs of shoes. I love a good deal on a great piece of clothing
23) Bubble baths make everything better
22) My phone is always with me
21) I like reality TV
20) I LOVE Chick-Fil-A---I could probably eat it every day (if I ever needed to). We don't have one in Minnesota so when we get to Oklahoma; I have to get my fix
19) I still sleep with my blankie (yes, it's over 30 years old but it's still perfect in my eyes)
18) I'm not the biggest fan of texting, I would much rather talk on the phone
17) I would like to run a 5K (but that would mean I would need to start running)
16) I love designing and creating new things-my dream is to open my own little note card, invitation, party planning store. Scrapbooking is a way for me to release my creativity and it helps me relax
15) Lately couponing has become a huge competition between Peter and I (we try to see who can find the best deals)
14) I do not like getting up in the morning...I'm much happier when I can sleep in. I also love naps.
13) I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Vanilla Diet Coke's from Sonic. I have even driven 30 minutes in Minnesota just to get my fix.
12) I believe all birthdays are a HUGE deal and deserve a very large celebration
11) I love watching baking (Cake Boss, Cupcake Wars, Ace of Cakes) shows, which leads to me to #10
10) I would also love to open a quaint little cupcake shop with my mom
9) I slept in a dresser drawer as a newborn
8) I rarely leave Target without spending at least $50
7) I love chocolate and could probably eat it at every meal
6) My first concert was Amy Grant
5) My favorite indulgence is a pedicure and my toes are always painted
4) I hate surprises
3) I want to go on a mission trip one day soon
2) My family is my life...I love being a stay-at-home mom. I honestly can't remember what it was like working 3 days a week
1) I asked Peter out first. We've been together for over 11 years. He is my best friend.

What DID you SAY?

So, I will keep the name of my friend and her daughter off the blog so protect her identity but here is a little story about my sweet, lovable Harper (who I thought always had very good pronunciation). We have some wonderful friends in Tulsa and while we were there visiting for a week in April, Harper truly embarrassed this mommy. It was Palm Sunday(during the service) and the lobby to the children's department at the church was empty (THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU). Harper saw a picture of our friends on the wall (their daughter had been recently baptized). Harper screams, "LOOK there's baby Vagina!" Apparently, then came a roar of laughter. Obviously, that is not the name of our friends' daughter. I was not there to witness it but my mom, a few workers and another friend watched the whole thing. I guess after Harper said that, she just looked around at the ladies who were laughing. Harper has never heard this word and I don't want her to hear it anytime soon. The next time she saw this little girl, she called her "Baby Pajama"-this mama and her mama like that name A WHOLE BUNCH BETTER!

Pinkalicious

On Saturday night, we had the privilege to go to Pinkalicous at Stages Theater, here in Minnesota. Our wonderful friends were gracious enough to get us tickets (Jill knows "important" people). So we ALL got dressed in pink and went to the show.

Thanks again Jill! We had a wonderful time!!Harper keeps talking about it to everyone she sees.

Mommy's lip gloss

Yep, that's right...Adeline was just busted for putting on mommy's lip gloss. I love how she sticks out her tongue to put on lip gloss or chapstick.

Customer in Training

Adeline is definitely my "little helper" and a "Customer in training." We went to CUB foods today while Harper was in school. I let Adeline pick out any cart and she chose her own mini one. She pushed it everywhere and all of the groceries had to go in the cart.

Ready to shop

Stopping to smile and wave at people


Leaving the store

Mother's Day 2011

Yesterday was Mother's Day. It was a good day but also a hard day;I struggled with several things yesterday: being away from my mom, knowing it was the 1st mother's day for my dad without his mom and talking to my Paps and realizing how much he misses Grams.

Before we left for Scoops, I had this wonderful idea to get some "GREAT" pictures of the girls and I together-things didn't go as planned but I did get one picture of them giving me kisses that I treasure!

Harper

Adeline wasn't feeling too well yesterday. She didn't want to smile for the camera and got rather upset when I wanted pictures...here is the best one of her by herself

Sisters

Kisses for mommy!

SCOOPS Kids Spa

My wonderful Mother's Day present was a day with my girls at Scoops Kids Spa. It is an amazing concept. I keep telling Peter that if we ever move back to Tulsa, I want to open one of these. It is such a unique and kid friendly spa experience. As you can tell from the picture below, it's Ice cream themed. All of the things in the salon are ice cream flavored-vanilla, chocolate or strawberry. The pedicure chairs look like banana splits. When you start your day, you get a tiara and a fun pink robe.

My little girl who poses anytime we want to take her picture

The girls in their tiaras

Harper getting her robe

Ready for our pedicures...Adeline looks thrilled

Harper and mommy

Adeline and mommy

Getting her feet tickled with the sherbet scrub

Adeline getting her feet tickled with the sherbet scrub

Again, my little girl who loves to pose for the camera

It was such a fun day and we will totally be going back.

Scoops has manicures, pedicures, haircuts and birthday parties.

Before I Was A Mom

I love this poem. It always circulates this time of you and it's a wonderful reminder of how privileged and honored I am to be a mom.

Before I was a mom,

I made and ate hot meals

I had unstained clothing

I had quiet conversations on the phone

Before I was a mom,

I slept as late as I wanted

And never worried about how late I got into bed

I brushed my hair and teeth everyday.

Before I was a mom,

I cleaned my house everyday

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby

Before I was a mom,

I didn't' worry about if my plant were poisonous

I never thought about immunizations

Before I was a mom,

I had never been puked on

Pooped on

Chewed on

Peed on

or pinched by tiny fingers.

Before I was a mom,

I had complete control of myself;

my thoughts,

my body

and my mind.

I slept all night.

Before I was a mom,

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could take x-rays or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep

Before I was a mom,

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't' stop the tears

I never knew something so small could affect my life so much

I never knew I could love something so much

I always knew I would love being a mom

Before I was a mom,

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body

I didn't know how special it would be to feed a hungry child

I didn't know of the bond between a mother and a child

I didn't know something so small could make me feel so important and happy

Before I was a mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a mom,

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much

Before I was a mom.

Spring Fling

We just returned home from the Spring Fling at Arbor Lakes shopping center. The weather was AMAZING. It is finally starting to feel like spring. There was lots of stuff for the kids to do and see (finger painting, petting zoo, planting flowers, a balloon artist, etc).

Harper hugging Hello Kitty...as we all know, Adeline is terrified of anything in a costume so she was hiding:)

Harper petting 1 week old chicks.

Harper petting 6 week old bunnies....again, Adeline was scared of the animals.

Playing with sidewalk chalk

They both got suckers and LOVED them.

Harper asked for a pink crown

Adeline asked for a green frog

Adeline's frog had popped by the time we got to the car so now they are fighting over the crown!

An Evening of Pictures

I did a post a few days ago...the Photo Opportunity (the pictures taken in Peter's parents backyard). I forgot to add these photos from that evening.

Adeline with Granddaddy

Harper with Granddaddy

The girls with their granddaddy

Adeline dancing with Granny. "And they all fall down...."

Girls dancing with Granny

Harper with Granddad

Easter Egg Dyeing 101

While we were home, we dyed Easter eggs at my parents house. This is something that I always remember doing with my parents, especially my dad. He was/is the expert-he always came up with new ways to make fun designs. We have never attempted this with the girls but we decided it was time.

Watching to see how it's done.

Gently placing the egg in the drying rack

The girls had a blast dyeing the eggs. Thanks Grammy and Poppy (Pop-O)!!