YAY FOR DELAYED FLIGHTS!

This week has been crazy to say the least.  Booger Head (A.K.A my sis) arrived from Alberta on Monday with Baby Squidney (who is barely 1 month old!)  We went to Saint John right away to see Dad (so he could meet Squid for the first time)  To say he was overwhelmed would be an understatement.  Dad had his Bypass on Thursday.  They did a quadrupal bypass, and had to put plates in his sternum.  It went well, though, and I've been told that today he walked to his new room and is doing very well!  Rumor has it that he'll be home on Tuesday!  (that scares the crap out of me!!)  Aside from all that...I got to wrack up some serious cuddle time with my baby niece.  She's soo freakin cute!!  And tonight...we took them to the airport to find out that their flight was cancelled!!  YAY!  FOR KEEPING BABIES!  My poor sis, though...she can't get a flight home until MOnday now! :(  in the mean time, though, I got some super cute pics of babies! :)  Wanna see?? 

How do you lose a turtle??!!!

She's gone!!!  I can't find her anywhere!!!  I made a turtle for my niece's birthday and now I can't find it!!!  I have almost finished all the babies and when I went to grab the Mama turtle to sneak them inside...she wasn't there!!!  I want to throw up!  Where could she have gone??!!  She was in the exact same place for the last 3 weeks and now - vanished!  :(

Introducing the Pink Teddy Bear Cake!!!!!

She's delivered and done!  Until 2:00 this afternoon, I thought that there was nothing cuter in the world then this cake...but then I got to meet the Birthday girl and she's WAY cuter!!!  :)  What a little muchkin!!!  She smiled soooo big when she saw her cake - my heart melted - and THAT is why I love doing cakes! :)  I don't get to see the "look" very often - in fact, I almost never get to see the birthday kiddo see their cake so this was a real treat!  Thanks Birthday Momma for letting me share that! 

So now - without further delay - Here is the Pink Teddy cake!

This is the left foot.  I was so excited when I remembered that I had fondant writers in my tool box!  I Love the "Happy Birthday" on her toes.  This was also the first time I tried making fondant flowers.  I don't have any of the fancy tools, so I used the back side of a mellon baller! he he - I may be part genius??  I picked up the "4" candle, cuz with 3D cakes you're limited on where you can put 4 sepearate candles.  Where do they go?  Out of the top of her head?  Her feet?  the arms are RKtreats so they wont' punch through...I had originally thought I'd make a cup-cake to put in front of her, and then my inner scrapper / Momtographer kicked in and I thought - No!  If I put the candle in front of her - how will they get the pic of her blowing out the candle??  and so - I stuck it on her toe...but it needed something more and so - she got a posey on her tosey for the 4 candle to perch on. :) 

 This is the right foot -Notice the quilted look on the bottom?  I was able to do that for the inside of her ears, the bottoms of her feet and her super cute tummy!  I used a tool from the kiddo's play-doh box.  Clever eh?  (and yes I washed it first.)  The little heart was an after thought...but I liked it.

 Here's the view from the top.  I didn't have any white frosting left, so I used yellow M&M's for the centers of the flowers.  You can also see where I had to mix a 2nd batch of pink frosting.  She turned out much bigger then I originally planned so you can see where the different batches started.  I tried to keep it even...I was thinking I could cover it with more flowers...but figured less was more and stopped with the 2 on the head.  Also - there's a giant plastic dowel that runs down through her middle.  The very top white petal covers where it pokes out.  (I left it poking out so that cake cutter person could easily find it)

 Here's the back view (like the heart on her bum?)  this is where you can really see the different colors of frosting (Sorry Birthday Mom).  It was less obvious last night. :(  She's still crazy wicked cute, though, so I don't think it matters much.  :)  I tried hard to blend it all together, though.  It can be really hard to make a big enough batch of frosting all 1 color.  This little pink bear used up 8 cups of butter, and a full cup of cream to make all that pink.  Needless to say - low-cal teddy, she is not!  (But that's how you know she's yummy!)




 Her right side profile...

 And her left side profile...

And finally...TAA-DAA!!!

Isnt' she just the cutest??!!!  :)  I'm so proud of this cake!  I've decided that this is how all cakes should be.  This cake reminded me why I started doing them - and also why I stopped.  From now on - the only cake that I want to do is fun cakes like her!!!  Dare I dream? :) 

And so I'm hoping that the birthday girl had a terrific 4th birthday - that the sleigh ride was a hit, that the party was a blast and that her super cute birthday bear cake made her smile inside :)  And I hope that if Birthday Momma calls me for the 5th birthday cake...that I have enough creative frosting mojo to top the 4th cuz it's not gonna be easy! :)

Happy Birthday Kiddo!

from Hollee

*Update with sneak peek* Pink Teddy Bear Cake

YAY!  SHE'S DONE! SHE'S DONE! AND I LOVE HER!!!!!  Seriously - if she is the last cake I ever do, I'm perfectly happy with that cuz she's the nicest cake I have EVER done and I LOVE her!!!  She's sitting in the fridge, keeping my milk company and every time I open the door she makes me smile!  I LOVE everything about her and am very proud of myself (which is cool cuz I dont' ever give myself credit for doing something well).  Unfortunately...I can't post pics yet cuz she hasn't been delivered - so the sneek peak of the previous post will have to do till tomorrow after noon-ish. :)  I have to warn you though...SHE'S REALLY FREAKIN AWESOME!!!  Oh and quite possibly way more cake the the birthday girl is going to need. :)

*Update*

Ok - so I just got off the phone with Birthday Momma and sent her some pics of her wicked cute cake, and soo...I feel I can safely post at least 1 sneak peek of her wicked cuteness!!  :D 

Distracted by frosting...

Dad had a bypass scheduled for this morning, so I had booked a personal day to be with the family.  The Bypass was postponed, but I kept the day off anyway cuz I really needed it.  I was soooo looking forward to having a day to just poke away at a cake and do nothing else...a lazy day of just me and frosting - but then - DH got the flu (on top of everything else) and school was cancelled - Ugh!  There goes that plan! 

Overall, though, today was pretty good. The girls and I went out for breakfast, swung by Simms to pick up a can of paint - then off to the grocery store and then home to start decorating a teddy bear cake!  I had her all baked a couple nights ago - but today I got to build her.  I have to say that she went together soo easy, was absolutely no stress at all and I've loved everything about her - every step of the way! :)  I really think that she was my fave and most fun cake ever...and she's not even done yet! (I had to break to feed the girls and figured I had better eat something too :)

I don't normally post pics before I deliver a cake (I figure the cake getter should be the first to see) but she's just way too cute- I can't help myself!!

Obviously, I still have more work to do...but I'm Loving the crap out of her so far! :)  she's all cake, except for her arms, ears and muzzle. 

And now...I'm off to finish her cuz I just Love her to bits!!     

My brain is full...

I am the master of shoving crap to the back of my brain and focussing on what is immediately in front of me.  Whatever happens to be going on around me...I just need some place to send my brain and voila!  Mental chaos averted!  I thank God for this talent, as there is always some form or chaos or drama or crazy going on in these here parts...Last year alone (in addition to sick hubby) January started with me smoking a J-Walker!  February - HUGE behavior issues with oldest DD which carried through till March - in April, we lost Lucy, and I rear ended a guy when the gas pedal on Moms car took off on me...in May we got Daisy...but found out in June that she had a bad hip...and on and on and on....one thing after another - straight through till January of this year when the Well exploded etc. and Drama and chaos continue to make frequent and unwelcomed appearance.  Anyway, there is always something and so - God gave me the ability to focus on other stuff to give my brain a place to go.  The trouble is...when you are always shoving stuff into a place - at some point you need to take time to clear it out.  I haven't done that in a while and I'm pretty sure I'm full.  Had I known what more was coming, though...I would have cleaned up a little.

Dad had a heart attack on Saturday - the day before his birthday.  He's still in Saint John, and is stable - but he needs a by-pass and Dr's are waiting for his heart to get a little stronger, though, before they can go in.  He's in for a loooong road.  Dad is a great big guy with diabetes and 1 kidney - who drives truck for a living and reeely likes his groceries.  If he makes it through this, I know the needed lifestyle changes will not be easy for him.  I can only hope and pray that he pulls through with flying colors and we benefit from many more healthy and happy years together...or my heart will be broken forever.

Anyway - if you have any prayers in you, please send one up for my Dad...and if you happen to run into me in the next little while and I spontaneously burst into tears...or am a total space cadet...or start rambling about nonsense - bare with me - m'kay?  Cuz I'm pretty full right now.

God was distracted when he made Saint Bernards

I really only ask 5 things of any dog that becomes part of our family.


1. Be nice...please be nice. If you've got a mean bone in your body - drop it off at Value Village and forget you ever had it. Being nice also includes things like...snapping treats out of hands or invading personal space...Jumping and nipping and nocking people over.  Be kind and gentle...not bossy or pushy or mean - don't be mean - not ever...or you can not be my dog.

2. Stay home. Please don't take off...you have a yard, it's safe - and it's pretty big too! Lots of space to run and play and poop and dig and sniff stinky things...you'll even have a Noonie next door who is happy to see you if you visit...but please don't take off. It's just so much nicer for everyone (and much safer for you) if I can trust you not to take off. A leash is a drag, I'll use one if I have to but it's less room for you and you'll be stuck in the back yard.  I know it's fenced in, but if you try to escape, you'll have to be tied and that's even less space to run and play so please...just stay home.

3. Please come when I call you - that's all. I don't really care if you dont' know how to lay down or sit...roll over, play dead - doesn't really matter. Please just come when I call you. Chasing you is not fun for me...You won't like me when I catch you and it makes me like you so much less when I do. If I call you, there's a reason...just come when I call.

4. Please don't wreck my stuff. I'll give you tons of chewies...just leave Barbie's face and my purse straps and the heels of brand new Christmas Concert shoes alone. It's not too much to ask - I'll even tolerate thermos size poop and snail trails all over everything...fur balls the size of a billy goats and the most gawd awful of sinus staining farts! I'll tolerate it all...just don't wreck my stuff.

5.  Have some manners - this one is a big one...and I know it mostly comes down to what I teach you, so I'll be sure and take the time to show you how to behave...but please remember your teachings.  Everyone - including me - will like you soooo much more if you're polite. 

God Made puppies cute, so that you would forgive them for doing terrible things...so that when they look up at you with big sad eyes, you'd imagine that they feel awful for their crime and instantly Love them far too much to scold them.  I guess God figures that by the time they out grow the cuteness, they will have learned the house rules and figured out what's what enough that we will still marginally enjoy and (dare I say) like the grown up 4 legged fur bag they've grown into under out watch...I guess God got distracted when he made Saint Bernards...

At 115lbs, There is not enough cute in the world to help her!  She is not the sharpest crayon in the box and when she learns a "rule" she does not understand that a rule is long term.  When I tell her to get off the chair- she grumbles and moans...she creaks and groans...she sprawls and streatches and very sloooowly climbs out of the chair and wanders in whatever direction I point.  I turn my back for 2 seconds and baaaack in the chair she goes.  Again I tell her "OFF!" and she gives me a look like..."Huh?? so when you said get off the chair you didn't mean just then??"  She does have manners, but it's a full time job on my part - so I don't ever get to have fun with her cuz I'm always on "Mom" duty.

She's very friendly - but has zero concept of personal space.  She does not get that my bubble extends beyond the fabric of my clothing and must be in my way at all times - but she does not have a mean bone in her body.  When you're 12, though, and wake up at 3:00 in the morning and can't move because there's a HUGE Saint Bernard layong on your covers with her head on your pillow...drooling and snoring into your ear...chances are you don't really care that she's friendly.

She does not come when she's called.  Not only does she not come when she's called - she deliberately ignores her name.  At the dog park - strangers have to grab her for me so that I can get her out cuz she will not even acknowledge me at all.  At home, if I start listing off names of food - she'll eventually give me her attention...but only comes close enough to be sure that I'm actually holding what I named and stays 1 step out of arms reach...I like her much less when this happens.  We tie her now - when she's let out to pee.  Even then, she wont' come when we call her...unless we take a single step onto the deck.  (she has learned the she must make it to Mommy before Mommy makes it to the red rope :)

She has improved, but the road has been long and she still wrecks stuff - Ken has moved out of the dream house cuz all his shorties have chewed off hands and feet!  And - we have to keep a baby gate up in youngest kiddo's door to keep her out...cuz she will eat all her toys in no particular order and will climb on the bed and lay on her while she sleeps (and isn't smart enough to understand that the screaming suffocating 8 year old she's landed on is not having fun!) 

She's funny, and goofy and friendly and annoying all in a giant hairy, drooly stund ball.  Honestly, I think I would enjoy her more if I didn't have to be the "warden" all the time.  I'm frustrated by how stupborn she has been and how difficult she has been to train...and I really really miss Lucy......

I worry that Diasy will never be smart enough to just play along.  I worry that she'll never outgrow the obnoxious 115lb toddler phase.  I worry that our home is way too crazy to have brought a Saint Bernard puyppy into...but then...I see something like this...and my guard comes down for just a second  (click on "read more" to see what I see:)

Jessie Cookies

This is one of my fave cookie recipes.  I scored it from Mom a few years ago and it's always always a favorite.  It's one of those icky sweet - 3 mugs of milk worth - but can't stop eating them cookies.  They whip up super easy, though, so I make them quite often...and eat them as often as I make them. (sorry muffin tops!)  The recipe goes like this...

Itroducing Luna!

 I must first say that this all started with a Monkey named Marty.  Aint he sweet?! I fell in LOVE with this pattern, and because of my pattern purchase, I found out when Zeb was born! I had to have him and quickly made him mine.  As I starred into Zeb's beee-autiful zebra eyes, all I could think of was "Holy Crap!  He'd make a cute unicorn!!!"

Crochet for a cause...

I've been crocheting my brains out forever it seems. I usually wrap up my project - pleased with the results and ready to move on to the next one. To date, though, I've been chosing my projects based on what looks fun and only (pretty much) cuz it looks good to me - not necessarily for someone specific or for a specific purpose. I've decided that it's time I put my talents to good use. During our most recent trip to ER with DH, one of the ladies at the hospital mentioned that the volunteers have been making little bears for the kids in the pediatric ward. That's when it hit me - I could be making things that would maybe make a difference to a sick kiddo! I know I could make premie hats and booties...but what else could I do? My brain is reeling with all the possabilities - but I have ahabit of biting off more then I can chew and so - if you're out there - and if you're reading this post...please give me some suggestions. Pretty please! cuz I'm anxious to crochet for a cause. :)

Say something nice...

I'm voting tomorrow to be Say/do something nice for your DH day. If you've never had a reason to face the possability of not having him in your life - be thankful. If you've never imagined it...take a second and try...then...take another second and hug him and squeeze him and appreciate him (if only for a second) and remember why you picked him in the first place.

Life is a funny thing...and it would be very sad to miss out on something so simple - cuz the regret of not would be very very sad. Be kind to your hubby today :) (if only for today ;)