the masterpiece (my first attempt)

How to make a pretty princess birthday cake (Emali style):

1. Make 2 cake mixes according to box (bake in 2, 8-in round pans and 1 pyrex bowl)
cool, then stack on platter and carve to make a dress, shove long glass down the middle to make room for the barbie. cover with butter cream frosting; freeze



2. shove barbie in cake and realize the cake is too short, SHOOT! Quick throw ANOTHER 2, 8-inch rounds into the oven and throw in to freezer to cool quickly. Look at clock and realize it's been more than 5 hours since you've started this cake and it's still not decorated, it's going to be a long night. remove previous cake from platter and figure out how to stack the new cakes on the bottom. Note: we are now at 5 layers of cake! frost bottom. Knead pre-made fondant, add flavoring and food coloring. roll out, realize it's not big enough to cover entire cake, swear, roll into ball and start over with fondant. repeat this last step a couple more times...



3. Cover cake with fondant and shape to make dress skirt. Cut off bottom of skirt to make even. Use remnants of fondant to make details on skirt. Figure out how to put frosting and tip inside a decorators bag, get Lance's help (he's actually helped a little bit throughout). Add Cinderella. Pipe details. Display. Enjoy!



Obviously it's my first attempt but it was pretty fun... pastry school here i come (as soon as I practice a bit more)

Happy Birthday!

happy birthday!! we love you!


Michelle (today)
(I'll let lance take over and say a few things: )

-ok, so today is a day that I look forward to every year. My sister and I were born exactly a year and a half apart ( almost to the hour) and so her birthday marks the halfway point to mine every year. But that is not why I look forward to today. I look forward to August 3 every year because at our house growing up, on our birthdays we could do whatever we wanted to. Whether that meant sleeping in, going to the movies, having our favorite meal, or even putting our feet in the sink!(uncle steven reference) My birthday is in February so most times I had to go to school on top of doing what I wanted, but Michelle's B-day was always in summer and I always looked forward to her wanting to do something fun and my getting to tag along. I also loved to tease/ annoy/ bully my sister growing up and so I didn't get to make her happy a lot, and maybe because she is the oldest and a girl and was therefore wound tightly, but her birthday was always a time when Michelle would just let go and relax and have a little more fun. It was the her day and still is and I wish we were together to spend her Day doing whatever she wants to do. I love you Michelle, Happy Birthday and Raspberries when you least expect them!!!!!





and Jared (yeah, I know it's two weeks late, but better late than never!)
I couldn't be more proud to be his sister! I have a terrific brother who was probably more excited that I was having a little girl than I was (if you can believe it, and imagine how it was when he found out he was getting his own little girl, man will she be spoiled!) Even though I have to endure his endless torment of pokes, tickles, and teasing I still love you bro!

Breaking Dawn (aka hanging with the teens)

Whoot-whoo!! Today is the day!! Last night some of the WSCC wives went to the midnight release party. I love these girls! We had a blast trying to fit in with the teenagers! :) Boy, was I wiped this morning! I was so happy that Grace and Kami miraculously let me sleep in. I've ordered my book but it hasn't arrived yet!! ARGH!!

**additional note: I accidentally ordered an alcoholic drink at Red Robin last night with the girls and on the way home I realized that I didn't get carded. OH MAN! Am I really too old to be carded?? WHAT!!?? That seriously bumms me out! (by the way I didn't partake of the forbidden drink, I had her bring me the MUD PIE and take back the MUD SLIDE. They seriously need to change one of those names!

(thanks crystal for the fangs!)

Blessing

We got to bless Kami in AZ! We were very fortunate to have so many family and friends share this special day with us.

Here is Kamryn Melissa with her namesake (my cousin), Melissa

New Record

So, I've been hitting the gym as much as I can, which isn't as much as I'd like. Beggars can't be choosers as I have to wait until Kami is 3 months until I can take her into the kids klub, so I go when Lance is available to be home with her and usually I take gracie with me. Ok, that's not the point. So Monday night I did NOT want to go, although deep down I knew I really wanted the results. I was in a sour mood, and was really down on myself about weight, dieting, food in general and I was beating myself up over it. Ok, that's not the point either! Lance convinces me to go and I get there around 8:00 or so and I tell myself that if I can run a 9:00 minute mile 8-months prego I certainly can do better than that now. So I start the usual warm-up pace and realize it's not quite fast enough, and run harder. I push and push and yes, it pays off and HOLY CRAP, I just ran a 8:02 mile!! WHAT??!! I think maybe it's just a fluke so I go back today thinking, I slowed down a couple of times to take a gulp of water (in reality I was spilling water down the front of my T) so I can go faster, maybe break 8:00 minutes?? and what happens???


7:35 (that's not a typo: seven minutes, thirty-five seconds)

that's right folks, this non-runner hit an all-time personal best. I never ran that fast in HS or Jr. high!!

I thought I would share the happy news! Hopefully next time you AZ residents see me again I'll have my mommy-fied slimmer body back!
Cheers!

For Alexa

Dear Alexa,

We've missed you this week!

love,

Gracie, and Kami

Garden Update

Dad this is for you!

Front "yard" (really a patch)

Backyard: never mind the browned tulips, they have run their annual course

the fruits of my labor

Pleasant Memories

Janey's Wedding March 2008
(please note that I am 8 months prego and jumping higher than most)


Janey, Me, and my girls Summer 2008

New Niece!!!

WELCOME BABY RYANN!!

I was lucky enough to be able to delay my flight to Portland to meet my new neice. I happened to be on my way to the hospital to check on Kathy when she was born, so I was able to see her minutes after she was born. HOW BEAUTIFUL IS SHE??? I am such a proud aunt! So happy Jed and Kath finally got their girl!! What's even better is she and Kamryn are only 6 weeks apart! I can't wait for them to be buddies when we get back to AZ! CONGRATS!!

Summer Swim

Oh, how we miss the hot AZ days (I'm not kidding either) and even more we miss swimming with our friends! So glad we got an opportunity to see and hang out with friends while we were here. Thanks for the good times!

FLYING GRACIE!

Grace, Kiley, Blake and Alexa

Here's the Gang:

Kiley, Macey, Lucas, Brian, Laura, Shana, Jaxon, Celynda, Kade, Nicole, Ben, Kami, Stuart, Blake, Lance, Emali

I also had the opportunity to hang out with some girlfriends (and kids) from good old MHS. We had a great time swimming and playing, thanks Mac!


Raegan, Macy, Gracie, and Belle