TGIF!!!

Ok so I promised some pictures, my work isn't the best but hey I'm learning right?? And I am having a great time!! The course is set up in 4 sections, each section has 4 classes. So I numbered the pics according to which class the goodies were made in, hope that helps and doesn't confuse anyone!!!

These are the cupcakes that I decorated from the 1.3 class, during this class we had to learn how to make the blue flowers you see and the pink flowers as well as how to properly ice and fill a cupcake. The one with balloons was a free handed one that we had to pick from a group of pictures and recreate. At the begging of my hubby, I used a copycat recipe for filling which was a Twinkie filling recipe. He loved them so I guess they were good!!!

 This cake is the first cake I decorated in the  1.2 class, we took the image from a piece of paper, learned how to transfer the image without the need of a special printer or edible image and then decorate the image that we chose. Fun and easier than I thought!!! Also its a 1 layer cake that we torted then filled, it's filled with dark chocolate pudding!! It was soooooo goooood!!! Glad I am able to send this stuff to work with the hubs!! I am already overweight and don't need any help gaining any more, lol. I'll do the practicing, his office can do the weight gaining :)

This pic is just for fun, I was getting lunch ready for the kids a bit ago and when I walked out in the livingroom this is what I found!! They created this all on their own with no help or hints or prodding!!!!!Its a breath of fresh air really, as they weren't bickering or fighting over toys etc., which they have been doing more than their fair share of I assure you!!!  And THE VERY BEST PART???? They are actually watching My Little Pony with their little sister, because that is what she wanted to watch!! So how awesome is that?? They built her a fort/tent and then watched a girly show with her because they are just awesome brothers!!  I ♥ MY KIDS!!!!

Ok so there are some pics for ya!! I have some garden pics too, I'll put them in another post later on!!!
Enjoy your day!! If it gets to be 100* today like yesterday, or if those severe thunderstorms they are calling for actually come in, you can find me in the tent with the kids, watching a movie!!! Enjoy your day!!!
Dana

Cake Decorating

Today is lesson 3 of the first part of the cake decorating classes I am taking. Its been fun so far and today we are moving past the basics and starting on making icing flowers, I am super excited.  We are decorating cupcakes today, I'll take some pics and hopefully have something worthwhile to post. Should be a great class.

I'm tired though, we didn't get to bed until 11:00 then baby girl was up at 3:30 getting sick, I know she isn't sick just had an upset stomach and its my fault too, I should have known better. We had tacos for dinner last night and she tore them up as well as a healthy share of red koolaid, I knew it was too rich for her tummy but she was loving it so well I've learned my lesson you can be sure of that. I had to give her a shower at 3:30 this morning. We were up and down on the couch from 3:30 till 5:30 when I just plain gave up and turned on cartoons for her, she hasn't gotten sick since and has even ate some toast so hopefully the worst is behind her, however all the yucky laundry still waits for me.

So that's my day today, cake decorating class and laundry, fun fun fun!!! :)

Have a blessed day!!!
Dana

Good Morning!!

We're a little slow going this morning. Which is ok since its summer time. But to be honest we've been on the run pretty much since school ended. So much for taking it slow and relaxing once school was out huh?? LOL We have had lots of errands and family things we've been helping out with as well as scout functions and family reunions so where as we haven't had much down time, we are still having a good time even it we are a bit tired, lol

News, hmm News..whats new?? Well the hubs decided that he wanted me to do something. Something to occupy my time,something for me, a hobby, a hobby that will make me happy and maybe in the long run I might make a little bit of money once the youngest is in school full time. So what is this new adventure???

Cake Decorating!!

And to be honest I LOVE IT!!! So far I've only taken 2 classes but I can't wait for the next one. I can already imagine making the kids next birthday cakes and cakes for family occasions. I am really excited!!!

The kids have been enjoying their time off from school playing and sleeping in a bit.

We are having water delivered this weekend for the pool!! I am super excited and dh says he thinks he can rig up a way to get the water heated up faster than just waiting for the sun to do it. He rigged up a contraption last year that worked somewhat but wasn't as efficient as he had hoped and it was a sight. I am glad he is trying something new this year. Last year he took a pump and hooked it up to the hose, he sat the pump down in the pool and it pumped the cold water up out of the pool and then he laid the hose on top of our garage roof. The black shingles absorb the heat and once that cold water ran through the entire length of the hose that was stretched out on that hot black shingles it then fed back into the pool. It worked, not as fast as he would have liked it still took a couple days to get the water warmed up but it worked. This year he things by using copper tubing and heating the tubing as the water passes through it will heat up the water faster. He got the idea from watching a show on the history channel about steam locomotives, and by using copper tubes instead of just a hot water tank they were able to get the train to travel 30mph instead of 10 miles per hour.  I am all about getting the pool heated up so we can enjoy it so what the heck right??? Besides its a lesson for the kids on using your noggin as more than a hat rack and that your imagination is a valuable tool so I am all for it!!

Today is hopefully a day at home, the plan is do up the dishes, work on the laundry and clip my coupons and work on a grocery list and menu!!!

I hope you have a wonderful day!!
Dana

First Day of Summer Vacation

Good morning!!

Yesterday was the last day of school and I am now the proud Mama of a upcoming 5th and 1st graders!!
Today being the first day of summer vacation and I am thankful for a more slower pace!!!

My focus for the day today is allow the kids to relax a little but we still have much in the house that needs done so I am looking forward in getting caught up!!!

There's laundry, dishes, and the normal every day things that need done.

But without having to run back and forth to the bus stop 3 times a day there will be plenty of time for them to just be kids and play!!!

Dinner tonight is Ham, fried Potatoes, and lima beans and corn!! I might even whip up a pan of brownies who knows!!

Have a great day!!
Dana

Menu Plan Monday

Tonight: Leftover Chicken made into a pasta dish. It's an experiment. On friday I took some chicken tenderloins and marinated them in a couple packets of Garlic, Herb and Wine marinade. Then I baked them cut them up and served it over a huge salad it was a DELICIOUS!!!  Well I have a good bit of chicken and the sauce leftover so I am going to saute' some baby portabello mushrooms and mix the mushrooms with the leftover chicken and sauce and serve it over rotini pasta and sprinkle it with parmesan cheese. I'm hoping it will turn out ok, if not there's plenty of other leftovers in the fridge that can stand in if no one likes the chicken pasta.

Tuesday: Ham, fried potatoes, corn and lima beans

Wednesday: Spaghetti

Thursay: Beef and Snow Pea stir fry, over rice

Friday: Hm pizza and bread sticks

Saturday: Cub Scout End Of Year Picnic

Sunday: Beef Roast- not sure if we want it pot roasted or just roasted, so it will either be served with mashed potatoes, or baked potatoes.

Saturday 6/2/2012

JUNE!!! Time is surely flying by!! Today is my Uncle Harold's  birthday!! We aren't that close but I still sent him Happy Birthday wishes through FB!!

Today's plans are sort of up in the air....

I just took the last 2 pies out of the oven. I volunteered to make 6 pies for the church's BBQ chicken dinner today. Not sure what I was thinking when I signed up for 6 but they are all baked now, just waiting for the last 2 to cool some so I can drop them by the church. I made 2 apple, 2 cherry and 2 pumpkin, the apple and the pumpkin were 100% scratch, but I cheated with the cherry and bought canned pie filling, it counts that its in a scratch crust right??? *smiles*

And that reminds me, I need to be sure to grow some pumpkins or else be sure to buy one in order to replenish my pumpkin puree that I keep in the freezer!! Anyone can pumpkin cubes to use in pies later? I've read that is the only way to can pumpkin so I wonder how it turns out when using it to make pies?? I would certainly like to have more of my fruits and veggies canned in order to be able to leave more room in the freezer for meats.

After dropping off the pies, I need to carry off the garbage, then stop by and pick up a gift for my nephew's birthday party which is later this evening.

Then hopefully home to relax and enjoy the evening!!

Dinner will most likely be somthing quick on the way home, unless we get out of the birthday party early!!!

But then again Hubby is sick at home again, and all our plans will be determined on how he feels, this time it's pretty bad, he's got an inner ear infection, an outer ear infection and a sinus infection in the sinus cavites in his head and down into this throat, the man is really sick. He's on 3 different supposedly very strong meds so hopefully he will recover quickly. The only way he can manage the pain is to lay down on the couch and keep a heating pad on his ear.

Garden is coming along!!!

I woke up this morning stiff and sore and just feeling like I had been ran over. After a good hot shower and a (another, ;) lol ) cup of coffee I feel human again!!!

Right now the garden seems to be kicking my tail, but all this stiffness and soreness will pay off I know it, and that is what keeps me plugging along!!

Yesterday we planted 22 tomatoes, and 37 cucumber vines, we put straw around everything we planted yesterday and put the stakes in for the peas climb.

I still have bell peppers, and more tomatoes to plant as well as cantelopes, and squash, watermelon and pumpkins, hot peppers, onions  and more green beans. But its coming along!! Plus whatever else I find to plant!! Oh and the herbs, I haven't planted them out yet either and I am thinking I might plant another crop of garlic, it turned out to be super easy and well why not?? LOL

If you can't tell I am super super excited to be in the garden!! I absolutely can't wait to see all the jars filled up and ready for winter!!

How does your garden grow???

Have a blessed day!!!
Dana