Cake Boss Day!

Another thing on our summer to do list was to have a Cake Boss Day.  We love that TV show as a family and the kids always have wild ideas of what kinds of cakes they could make.  They each wanted to make their own cake and had all these big plans.  I squashed the fun a bit and made us stick with one cake doing it together.  We've never used fondant before and I thought we'd keep the insanity as controlled as possible.

Our theme--Minions from Despicable Me
These kids went to town creating minions, which actually involved a lot of steps.  They turned out great and then the kids moved on to making a unicorn, a bike and a garden.  It was a lot of fun.

  I also enjoyed seeing them realize how hard making cakes is--it was definitely harder than they expected.  Maybe one day they'll realize how much work I really do put into their birthday cakes--ah the joy of childhood, just assuming awesomeness and not giving it a second thought that a parent couldn't deliver. :)
 

 

 

 

 

 

Not bad for some amateurs.

4th of July

A friend called a few days before the 4th and said they wanted to do something for the 4th but didn't have the yard space and essentially encouraged me to have a BBQ.  I'm all up for that.
We had a few friends come over and the kids played, got wet, and played some more.  We ate good food, lit a fire for smores and then did sparklers and fireworks as it got dark.  We really do have a great yard for hosting.  I am always amazed how the yard doesn't seem that full with a lot of people in it.  I should do it more often!
 

 

 

 

Happy Day!

Despicable at the Drive In

One thing on our summer to do list was to go to the drive-in.  I think the last time I went I was 2 or 3 years old.  Happy day that Wednesday nights are $20 a carload.  We invited a bunch of friends and had a big group of us to go see Despicable Me 2.  We arrived early, played at the playground and hung out for a while.  And hunkered down for it to start at 9pm.  Start time didn't actually occur til 9:30 (grrrrr) but everyone stayed awake and was happy.
 

 

The double feature was World War Z, so we opted out and headed home.  Bedtime at 11:30 meant I knew I'd have sleeper-inners.  And we did.  The earliest woke up after 9 and the last got up at 11.  Sweet!

Last Day of School--Back Yard Camping

Last day of school was June 21 this year.  Way later than I prefer but way better than a few years ago when it was like June 27.  We kicked off summer that day with a campfire dinner and backyard camping.  Always fun and always happy kids when the words 'camping' or 'smores' are mentioned.
 

 

 

 

So happy for summer to finally arrive.  I just wish there was more of it.  It's already slipping out of my grasp.

Cookie Bouquets

I got this wild hair to make cookie bouquets as end of year thank you gifts for teachers, bus drivers and nurses (Andrew is at the nurse probably 2xs a week--they needed a thank you desperately)

I'd never used royal icing before so this was a new adventure.  I loved it!!!  I was up til way late making these because I chose to make 3 different types of cookies instead of being a sane person and making just one.  That said though, I think they turned out nice!

 

Before and After

Andrew's room is huge.  Andrew's room has gotten a few new additions thanks to the headboard I made, the new dresser I just painted and some new Lego shelves.  What it was lacking in was semi-normal carpet.
 

Our friends just moved and in the moving process got all new carpet.  Sadly for them, the people who bought it had plans to gut the house.  We stepped in and got some brand new carpet out of the deal--a piece that fit Andrew's room practically perfectly.

After--

 

Halleluia!  6 years later it looks normal.  I'm really loving it.  Hopefully a fresh coat of paint come fall will perk things up even more.