My Newest Passion

Back in February I took a beginning cake decorating class (Susie's Pretty Petals in Seymour).  This is my newest passion.  I have always loved to try to decorate cakes and cupcakes(try being the operative word there!)  This baking and decorating passion is where the inspiration came from for going ahead with the cake balls (well, my cousin Andrea gave me the idea, then I started looking it up and went a little crazy with them! see blog post Who Poopy on that Plate, Mommy!) and my inspiration for making the cupcakes a couple weeks ago (I had them posted on Facebook.)

I decided before Wheeler's first birthday that I wanted to make his birthday cakes (at least as long as he will let me.)  The first one was actually cupcakes put together to look like a space ship.  I don't think I did too bad for my first attempt. (Someone too one of the cupcakes before I got a picture.)

I used those same cupcake holders to make my nephew's fourth birthday cake.  I thought it was cute.

This is from my first class cake.  I didn't think it was too bad for my first attempt at a cake.

This was my final cake at the end of the class.  It had strawberry filling in it, and I really enjoyed making the flowers.  I donated it to a Relay for Life bake sale at work the next day.  I don't remember how much it brought in.

This was the Cars cake I made for my nephew's fifth birthday.

And this is the cake I made during a second cake decorating class.  I had planned to take it to my mom's work, but I dropped it before I got there (sorry mom!)

I made a Micky Mouse cake this weekend for my nephew's third birthday, and in a few weeks I will make a Buzz Lightyear cake for Wheeler's third birthday.

Ahhhh! Summer!

Maybe now I can relax a little.  I've been working furiously at night for the past month trying to finish the coursework for my Ed.S.  It is done!  I have one last class left this Saturday and it's over.  While I am glad I completed the year long program, I am also glad I am at the end of it, and not just beginning.  It wasn't as hard as I had thought it would be, just time consuming.  Looking back at some months, I wonder how I got it done.  I thought summer would be easier, since I wasn't working.  I had grand plans to get things finished early so I didn't have to worry about homework.  Ha!  I learned just how well I can procrastinate.  I am truly shocked I am done five days early.  Actually, if it weren't for John pushing me yesterday I wouldn't be done.  He kept Wheeler busy so I could get finished.  (In reality he was procrastinating, not doing his own homework!)  I couldn't have done this without him this past year, though.  He was always willing to forego a cooked dinner, take Wheeler out to play, or just give me a nudge to get things done.  I am truly blessed to have him. 

I love that Wheeler will come to me when I am working and ask "You doing homework momma?"  I love that he can see his mom and dad working so hard for something.  We tell him like my mom and dad told my sister and I, "WHEN you go to college......."  We want him to be driven to follow his dreams.  If his dreams are a trade school, then that is fine, as long as he knows it's important to work hard for what you want, which I think we are showing him, even at 2 (almost 3, but that's another post!) 

So, what does this new degree mean for me?  Well, I would love to teach at the college level. I'll have to look into how to get into that.  But, in the near future, it means a pay raise! 

With three and a half weeks left until school officially starts (realizing that, I just got a bit depressed!), I plan to watch a few movies in the evenings, take Wheeler out for more fun, and set up my classroom.  Oh well, no rest for the weary (or wicked or whatever! LOL)

Summer Yumminess!

Is that even a word?  Yumminess.  I don't care if it's not, that's how I would describe my morning today.  My sister and I went to The Fruit and Berry Patch  in Halls this morning and picked blueberries, peaches, and apples.  The blueberries were so sweet and juicy, it was hard not to constantly eat off the bush!  I went to pick last year at a different place, and while the berries were good, they must have been a different kind because they weren't near as sweet or big.  Maybe it's the difference in the weather, but I don't think so.  We picked peaches, while getting dive bombed by some sort of insect, we never could figure out what they were.  The peaches are so sweet and they smell so good.  I can't wait to get my hands in them tomorrow.  The apples were just starting to ripen, but I think we got enough to try our hand at some homemade applesauce.  The people at The Fruit and Berry Patch were very nice and very helpful.  I am glad we decided to go there.

Tomorrow should be fun!  First we are going to start on peach preserves.  This will be our first time trying this.  I had never even made jams or jellies until this summer.  I grew up watching dad make jars and jars of jams and jellies, but never really participated.  So far the bluberry jam and strawberry preserves I've made this summer have been delicious.  We are hoping to get done with the preserves to make the applesauce.  The blueberries went into the freezer for blueberry cobblers, syrup, dumplings, and to go into smoothies later in the year!  I love savoring summer's goodness all year long.

Our Day Off!

Today is only the second day this summer that we haven't had anything to do.  So here is what we did.....

We put together the train tack and played trains.

Although not too thrilled about it, he insisted mommy be in a picture.  

We made chocolate chip cookies.

He helped me mix.

 He wanted to eat his cookie in front of the refrigerator!

We also made blueberry muffins.

Fun with a paper towel tube.

We found a creature in the sandbox.

Then we found a bazillion ants on the sandbox.

And our sandbox fun was brought to an abrupt end!

All this before lunch!  I am not sure what all happened after nap.  I also took a  nap.  Daddy let me sleep (til 5!) while he and Wheeler played.  All I know for sure is that water shots (the new super soaker water guns) were involved and their clothes are strewn over the front porch.  The nap was much needed, and much appreciated!  I wish we had more days like this.

5 Years Ago Today

Five years ago today I married my soulmate.  If you had asked me ten years ago what I saw for myself in 2011, it wouldn't have been this.  Ten years ago, I was miserable.  I didn't realize how miserable at the time, but I was.  Today, I can honestly say that each day I am happier than the day before.  God led me to a man who is perfect for me.  Then, two years later, God gave me the most precious gift, Wheeler.  I know both of these events in my life were God given.  I also know, had it not been for all the trials I had before meeting John, that I wouldn't be where I am today, and I would quite possibly be taking for granted what I've got.

I don't take anything for granted.  I have the love of a man who adores me (and all of my many flaws!)  I have the love of a man who thinks I am perfect just as I am (bless his heart!)  I have the love of a man who would walk through hell and back, just to protect me, make me happy, and give me my every whim.

I also don't take for granted this wonderful man I speak of also had a hand in giving me my most precious gift.  I have a beautiful, handsome, healthy little boy who never ceases to amaze me.  Every night (and many, many times a day) I thank God for him.

I know how lucky I am to have this.  I know not everyone has what I have, I didn't have it ten years ago.  I also know how lucky I am to have found the man I have, because I saw, through my own daddy, how I should be treated.

I thank God every day for leading me to John.  I dream of growing old together, of spoiling our grandchildren, and being this happy the rest of my life.

My perfect little family!

Some of Our Summer Activities

So as I posted before, we've been busy.  I didn't even mention (as my friend Nancy pointed out! LOL) that I am finishing my Ed.S. and I'm in school this summer.  I have done homework, promise!!

Our summer began with the sweet wedding of my cousin.

We have done our fair share of time at Dollywood.

We've been to the playground.

We played in the fountains at The World's Fair Park and had a picnic afterward.

We've had fun in the backyard.

I've been trying my hand at canning and growing a small container garden.

 Mmmmm.  Strawberry jam!!  We even went and picked the strawberries!

 A bird got to our first red tomato, but I think another one is ready to pick!

 Blueberries....for the fun of it!

Peppers!  Yum!

And then there's game night!!!

 That leads us up to the Fourth of July!!

We made red, white, and blue chocolate covered popcorn!

And to think....we're not even going on vacation this year!!!

I hope you've had a fabulous summer, too!!!