getting close...

the Relay for Life walk is almost a week away (it's next Fri/Sat) & our team is sooooo close to reaching our team goal!

we just had a fundraiser at my office today...we made a home-cooked meal & took free will donations...& we raised almost $500!!!

that puts us about $75 shy of our $2,000 team goal...we're getting close!

please go to my page & give what u can...no gift is too small or too big!

& remember...i will award a prize of one free cake order (to serve up to 25 people) to the person donating the highest amount to my personal goal!

so go give!!!

i found out that our final "bank night" is on May 3rd - that means that any money collected by that day will show up in our grand total at the walk...we can still take donations up until the walk (& even after), but to have it factored into our grand total, i need it by Monday...however, this contest will run until the walk on May 7th, so u have plenty of time to give...i will announce the winner here on May 10th

(not so) wordless Wednesday...African dance from our Mom & Me weekend...

~Gabby was tired by the time i took this video (with my camera)...we all learned the dance together (moms & daughters - that alone took a while), then we performed it together about 3 times...this video was after all that - when they had the girls do it alone...& i think she was done by then (i know i was exhausted!)...after the girls, they had us moms do it alone too! no video of that, but Gabby snapped some pics of me dancing with my phone...more to come tomorrow about our Mom & Me weekend~



~this one was at the very end...our last time around...Gabby seemed to catch a 2nd wind too...i took this 1 with my phone - i held it, & danced at the same time - just not doing the motions with that 1 arm ~lol~ we musta did this dance about 15 times, & we were sweaty messes by the end...but it was so much fun to do this with my baby girl!!! ♥~

field trip with Jaden...

yesterday, the 3rd grade went on a field trip the the Science Museum of VA in Richmond...i chaperoned Jaden & 2 of his classmates (who happened to be girls)

we had a great time...this stuff is right up Jaden's alley!

the glass elevators were actually one the kiddos' favorite "exhibits" ~lol~

& outside, they had an old train station with different train cars that the kiddos could climb on...& down the way a little was an old submarine...the Aluminaut!

in the lobby was one of those Foucault Pendulums...as we were gathering there to get back on the buses & head home, it knocked down one of the pegs...it was cute how excited all the kiddos were as it built up to knocking the peg down!
(sorry the video is sideways...i'm still learning my new phone)

weekend cakes...

Friday night, my sweet hubby delivered this cake to his sister in Maryland...her daughter is having a baby any day now - Kia's very first grandbaby! i guess that means i'm going to be a great aunt!!! ;0)

it was yellow cake, iced in buttercream...i decorated the baby with buttercream & made little fondant sports balls to accent the sides

then on Sunday, Curtis made sure this cake got to my nephew's 6th birthday party...Gabby & i were out of town at a Mom & Me conference (more on that soon), so we were unable to attend the party...but i hear the cake made it safely & Bryan was thrilled with how it turned out!

it was fudge chip cake, iced in chocolate buttercream...i made the monster truck out of rice krispie treats & covered it in dark chocolate fondant...the i hand painted the image on with edible colors...the little cars are toys

thx for looking!

look who got a haircut!!!

before...

during...

after...

he actually looks like a Schnauzer now!

Corinn says that the bandanna makes him look like he's from Texas
;0)

wanna see Rocket in action?

wedding anniversary...

another year down...

...MANY more to go

;0)

wordless Wednesday...i love Spring in the country!

weekend recap...in pics...

weekend cakes...

Saturday, i had 2 wedding cake consultations (tis the season)...then i met up with Lukas' mom to hand off his farm animal cake...

it was marble cake, iced in buttercream...the hay pile & mud hole are also buttercream...i made the fence & animals out of fondant

then on Sunday, i delivered this Spongebob cake to Jathan's party...

it was almond flavored cake, iced in buttercream...the sand is brown sugar & graham crackers...the shells are not edible (doesn't that one up front on the right look like it might be Gary? ~wink~)

Jathan's mom even got some Krabby patties for the kiddos to enjoy!

these are made using yellow cupcakes (buns)...i make the patties from fudge chip cake, smashed up with a little chocolate syrup added as a binder...the cheese & lettuce is fondant...the ketchup & mustard are buttercream

Curt has a hard time eating these little cheeseburger cupcakes...he says he expects to taste a mini burger (thinking White Castle), then gets a mouthful of sweetness & it totally thrown off ~lol~

of course, the kiddos have no problem!

i made sure to make extras so they could each have one...as soon as breakfast was over on Sunday, they were begging me to let them eat theirs ;0)

meet my new nephew...

Levi Dow Wilkins
born 4/16/2010
8lb 13oz
20 inches

& he's a thumb sucker!!!
my brother & sis-in-law better watch i don't walk away with this one!
;0)

i got the text message announcing his arrival (including a pic - gotta love living in 2010!) as i was on my way to pick up the kiddos Friday evening...so we got to go visit Katie & CJ, & meet Levi, only hours after his birth!

we came bearing lillacs from our front yard ;0)

this is Nana's 7th grandbaby...

all 6 of the older first cousins, lined up to hold the newest member of their crew...

from oldest to youngest...Jaden, 9

Deandra, 9

Gabrielle, 7

Corinn, 6

Bryan, 6 (on Sunday)

& big brother Matthew, 3

little Levi looks just like Matthew...& he's so lucky to be have this guy to look up to! Matthew has been sooooo excited for Levi to get here...i bet he'll be the best big brother ever!

we're so glad Levi is here & healthy!
welcome to the family buddy!

♥

*edited - i totally forgot to mention the weight pool...no, i did not win...i guessed 8.8 (even tho my gut was saying 8.12) & my dad beat me by 1oz! (he said 8.9) oh well, at least it was Grandpa that won ;0)

Levi will (most likely) be here today!

my sister in law, Katie (CJ's wife), is in the hospital right now...she just got an epidural, then her water broke...& she's now 5cm dilated...my new nephew, Levi, will (most likely) be here today!

Jaden has been counting down to Levi's due date (4/20) for months! he cannot wait to meet his new cousin...& i can't wait to pick him up after work & give him the news that Levi is on his way!!!

say a prayer that the rest of Katie's labor goes smoothly...that Levi is born healthy (& preferably weighs in at 8lbs 8oz, so his aunt Sharon can win the weight pool ~wink~)

we can't wait to meet him!
(u know i'll post pics here as soon as i get a chance)

wordless Wednesday...a boy & his dog...

weekend recap...North Carolina picture marathon...

since it's already super late on Tuesday night (darn near Wednesday) & i'm obviously just now getting to our weekend recap...i think it goes without saying that things have been a little hectic lately...the bustle of Summer is setting in (even tho it's only April - i think we just skipped Spring this year?) & we're being pulled in 20 different directions!

on top of our busy every day lives...we've had field trips left & right recently...the girls' dance recital right around the corner...i've got this big project coming up soon...& we're also busy trying to plan our Summer beach vacay too

luckily months ago, we'd set aside this past weekend to make a trip down to see our dear sweet friends, the Matthews! we try to get both of our families together at least once, sometimes twice a year...we always have soooo much fun! & the weekends always seem to fly right by!

since i don't have time to tell u about all of the MANY fun things we did together...& since u'd probably just rather see the pics anyway...here's a North Carolina picture marathon...thank u Misty, Shane & Willow for another fantastic visit!!!

(pics taken by both Misty & i...on our digital cameras & cells)