I think I can...

ok tonight I attemped to play with poured/pulled sugar. one word describes my attempt, well maybe 2
Ouch! and Grrr!
Thankfully no third degree burns but we will see how my hands feel tomorrow. (that is the ouch)
The Grrr is for the frustration I feel doing something I really have no idea how to do, let alone have the right equipment for! Now I have more to add to my wish list.
(brulee torch and a warming box to name a couple)

I am making a cake for someone and wanted to put a waterfall on it with poured sugar. I did so much wrong. That is good though cause it means I am learning... right?

Only Time will tell.

Now if I can just keep my kitchen clean so if the desire overcomes me to try again I wont have to spend an hour making room to do it.

I will post the cake when it is done.

Cookie Kits

I have been thinking of selling Cookie Kits for a couple of years now and my sister in law gave me the insentive to get them started. She asked me if I would help her by making them so she could sell them as a fund raiser for her home school co-op. Of course I said yes!

these are the ideas I came up with

they are 2 sheets of rolled out sugar cookie dough. With 4, 2 oz packets of frosting





(I didnt get a picture of this color combo with the cookie sheets)


These ones are have 12 pre-cut cookies






these are the flier and order forms I made.

Art? appreciation...

Kevin has been taking an art appreciation class to finish off his bachelors degree and had to go to some art galleries. He invited me to go along so we left the kids with the in laws and headed out. I knew that I have a narrow view of what are is but i couldn't believe what passes at art these days. For example this is something I've been doing in church since... well for a long time

put it on a 5x5 foot canvas and you have a 2500 dollar art piece









ok I can kind of see how that can be considered art... anyone want to buy mine?




But this...






When did the bar code on my groceries turn in to art?


I saw a canvas painted blue, granted different shades of blue, with 7 of these bar codes pasted on. They looked like they could fall off at any moment too.
Anyone want to guess what the artist was asking for price was?

20?
no
30?
no
50???
nope
100???
wrong again :)
ill just tell you cause this could take awhile...


950.00


Tell you what,

let me make one for you and Ill only charge you 900, mkay?

This is all opinion so I hope I haven't offended anyone reading who may enjoy art that makes a statement. the statement I like my art to make is... I'm obviously a mountain scene, or an ocean seen, or a person lounging on the beach or... well I think you get my gist

I am done!

I think I may just be done changing diapers. Well,my own kids, I still have to change the babe I am watching daily. Now back to my kids though,
I believe Ally is finally potty trained! The lights went on in her head on Monday and she has been dry the whole week and through the night the last two days!
What a relief it is... such a weight off my shoulders... I was beginning to think she was going to turn 4 in pullups :)

need a laugh?

This is HILARIOUS! Call the Nestle Chocolate Hotline at 1-800-295-0051. When asked if you want to continue in English or Spanish, wait quietly for about 10 seconds and you will smile. Keep going and press 4. Then press 7. If you comment on this, DON'T GIVE AWAY THE SURPRISE!

Marcia Lynn McClure (my all time favorite author!) posted this to her Facebook profile, I had a hard time getting through but with patience it is worth it for a laugh. I havnt tried the other options but plan on it :)

your tummys what?

Elijah: I'm starving mom... mom, I am starving
Mom: Get something to eat then
Elijah: Ok
Ally: Im farting mom... my tummys farting

oh the things kids hear wrong

"Nothing?"

mom, seeing a brown covered face and fingers being licked: what are you eating, Ally?
Ally: nothing?
Dad: what was it covered in?
Ally: Chocolate!

christmas talent

I made chocolate covered. mint ganache filled, homemade marshmallow for the family Christmas talent show on the 23. this is the end result

and this is the inside.


I made the marshmallow and before it set up I spread it thin on a pan with flour packed in to the bottom (firmly)let it set and dusted the top with flour. Then used cookie cutters to cut out the shapes. (the kids loved the leftovers in their hot chocolate) then I took ganache I made with andies mints the day before and piped it between two layers of marshmallow. next came the chocolate coating, and let me tell you I made a real mess with this step! lastly I decorated with colored chocolate. If you want a recipe I will be happy to pass them on.

where have I been?

I was told be a good friend today that I need to update my blog... I wonder why. couldnt be because it has been 2 months since the last one could it? And not because I missed a lot of good things in the last 4... right?
Some of the highlights of the last four months have been

• Allyson's birthday

My baby turned 3. I realized that I am now in a new stage of life, raising my family instead of having one. I am happy with what I have, but it is weird to realize this.

• Elijah's Birthday

He turned 5 and is excited to go to school. He is still a heavy weight, weighing in at 53 lb when last checked.

• Halloween Party

That was a blast! at least for me. Hopefully the kids had fun too.

• Thanksgiving

Family Food and Fun need I say more

• Christmas

With all the parties that come with it. I made marshmallow things (I think the name the kids like was chocolate covered ganache filled marshmallow) and bite size eclairs and a sweet bread twist thing (lots of "things" this year)
I think that will catch up on my life :) for now....

boy and girl

Just now I had the chance to see the inherent difference between my niece and my son.
(boy and girl)
They are playing with moon sand and there is a girl mold. Janna made the girl first and is very gentle with her. If she breaks an arm she hurries to fix it.
Elijah decided to make one himself and had it ask Janna's if it wanted to play.
She answered "no"
His response? No begging or asking again.
He just said "aaah I am breaking"
and proceeded to smash his in to bits.