Monday, March 24, 2008
last week's cakes...
last week, i had 2 children's birthdays & 3 adult birthdays - one being my mom's....she found out recently that she's borderline diabetic, so i had my first go at a sugar-free cake.....it wasn't half bad.....everything here is edible, except for the spiderman candle, the flag pole & the worm bucket
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Happy Birthday Nana!
Yesterday, my mother turned 49. The whole family (well, except for our youngest brother who's away at VCU) got together for presents, cake & ice cream. I had to get a shot of Nana with all her grand babies. Either my siblings need to stop having kids (cause you know I'm done!), or mom needs to get a bigger chair! ~lol~ I love you mom! Here's to another year...
Monday, March 17, 2008
Weekend cakes...
busy, busy weekend with cakes! i had a total of 7 requests due thursday through sunday....some cupcakes & cake truffles for The Sweet Escape, some more truffles for a bridal shower, a couple repeat bday cakes and a few new ones.....everything here is edible!
Happy St. Patty's Day!
we're all wearing our green! (daddy stopped shaving his head long enough to snap the pic for us....he wasn't finished getting dressed yet)....and notice gabby's big cheese - trying to show off that missing tooth....too cute!
She finally lost it!
friday night, the kids were brushing their teeth for bed....gabby came to daddy with her mouth open wide, "what's this?"....daddy checked it out, "goodness girl, it's your grown up tooth trying to come in behind your loose tooth!"
gabby then came to me, "mommy look!"....i took a look in gabrielle's mouth too, "honey, we have to get that loose tooth out so the grown up tooth has room to grow in"
she thought about it for a second, and nodded her head slowly in agreement.....almost as if she thinking like me - what a great excuse to finally let mommy go for it! i had asked her several times since our first try, to let me try again - but she's been too scared.....flinching, if i even try to wiggle it
i ripped a papertowel off the roll and seized the opportunity before she had a chance to change her mind.....using my thumb, i pulled down the tooth in one swift motion.....pop! out it came, right into my hand
i immediately looked into her eyes, fully expecting to see tears.....instead, she asks "did you get it?!"
i laughed, "yep, here it is!"
she was so excited! what a big girl!!!
ps. the tooth fairy left $1
gabby then came to me, "mommy look!"....i took a look in gabrielle's mouth too, "honey, we have to get that loose tooth out so the grown up tooth has room to grow in"
she thought about it for a second, and nodded her head slowly in agreement.....almost as if she thinking like me - what a great excuse to finally let mommy go for it! i had asked her several times since our first try, to let me try again - but she's been too scared.....flinching, if i even try to wiggle it
i ripped a papertowel off the roll and seized the opportunity before she had a chance to change her mind.....using my thumb, i pulled down the tooth in one swift motion.....pop! out it came, right into my hand
i immediately looked into her eyes, fully expecting to see tears.....instead, she asks "did you get it?!"
i laughed, "yep, here it is!"
she was so excited! what a big girl!!!
ps. the tooth fairy left $1
Friday, March 14, 2008
Bugz (pre-k thru 1st grade spring musical)
Last night was the spring musical at Jaden & Gabrielle's elementary school. The pre-k, kindergarten & 1st grade classes participated, so both my babies were in it! :0) Jaden was an army ant and even had a speaking part. Gabrielle was a firefly & got to wave a cool light around in the dark while singing one of their songs. I got a few pics, but the place was packed and we weren't sitting in a great spot for pics. Jaden took his part so seriously - one of the teachers was the commander ant and gave orders. Jaden was making the most serious face ever and really got into it! Gabrielle was a little nervous in front of all those people, but she did great too! She sang all the words and did all the motions. I'm so proud! :0) Even Jaden's kindergarten teacher from last year commented on how great he did. She said she couldn't believe how far he'd come. We would have never imagined he'd be able to not only memorize 4 lines, but recite them in front of such an audience! The cutest thing was when he first got up to the microphone - he cleared his throat before speaking, to make sure he got his lines just right. ;0)
my army ant...
my firefly...
Corinn being a good girl in the audience...
shouting back orders to the commander ant...
salute! seriously, check out that serious face!
singing 'going on a picnic' and making her bug wings....
a video of Jaden's part....his lines were...
Look at all this food, my friends.
Just see what we've discovered.
It must be almost time to eat,
since they've left it all uncovered.
LOVED it!
my army ant...
my firefly...
Corinn being a good girl in the audience...
shouting back orders to the commander ant...
salute! seriously, check out that serious face!
singing 'going on a picnic' and making her bug wings....
a video of Jaden's part....his lines were...
Look at all this food, my friends.
Just see what we've discovered.
It must be almost time to eat,
since they've left it all uncovered.
LOVED it!
Monday, March 10, 2008
weekend cakes...
i've been asked several times how come i don't post my cake creations here.....well, i wanted to keep this blog about my family, and not my cake decorating side gig.....but because cake decorating is such a big part of my life, and because i'm proud of my work, i guess it should be included here.....i will however, not use this forum to sell/advertise/give how-to's/schedule orders/etc......if you have any cake requests/questions/advise/etc., please direct that to my website - www.sharoncakes.com
now, on to the creations.....every monday (or beginning of the week), i'll make a 'weekend cakes' post displaying the work i've done the previous week (most of my work is done on the weekends)....my mediums are of course cake, my homemade icings -butter cream/chocolate butter cream/cream cheese, my homemade fondant & dark chocolate fondant, gum paste, homemade rice krispie treats, chocolate, edible glitters/dusts....the list goes on and on
here's what i created this weekend.....everything you see is edible with the exception of the #30 - it's cardboard, covered in fondant......
now, on to the creations.....every monday (or beginning of the week), i'll make a 'weekend cakes' post displaying the work i've done the previous week (most of my work is done on the weekends)....my mediums are of course cake, my homemade icings -butter cream/chocolate butter cream/cream cheese, my homemade fondant & dark chocolate fondant, gum paste, homemade rice krispie treats, chocolate, edible glitters/dusts....the list goes on and on
here's what i created this weekend.....everything you see is edible with the exception of the #30 - it's cardboard, covered in fondant......
Friday, March 7, 2008
LOVE this blogger!
unfortunately, i missed the larry king show on autism that i mentioned a little while back (i don't have cable & i forgot to remind my mom to tape it for me)....apparently, it was more of the same....the "autism is caused by vaccinations" argument....please go visit this blogger.....The Joy of Autism blog is so informative and the author of this blog is also the founder of The Autism Acceptance Project.....her last 2 posts are regarding the vaccine argument and i found it super interesting....her header says it best...
get involved...
i came across this article on another blogger's post.....this is so sad!
i copied this straight from the ParentalRights.org site...
Sign the petition and become a Citizen Co-Sponsor of the Parental Rights Amendment. By doing this we tell Congress that we want to preserve the time tested parental rights doctrine of the U.S. Constitution and we reject the “best interest of the child” scam that really just undermines children.
i copied this straight from the ParentalRights.org site...
Sign the petition and become a Citizen Co-Sponsor of the Parental Rights Amendment. By doing this we tell Congress that we want to preserve the time tested parental rights doctrine of the U.S. Constitution and we reject the “best interest of the child” scam that really just undermines children.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
DATE NIGHT!
~grinning ear to ear~
my baby & i are having a date night tonight! :0) we've kind of gotten away from making this a regular thing (you know, with our 2 jobs each, 5 kids & all), but are trying to get back into the habit.....tonight is comedy night at The Pub and the comics are coming down from DC (Curtis' hometown) so we're psyched! plus JMU is gone on spring break - that's definitely a plus!
i'm soooo excited!!! i love spending time with my kids, but of course some alone time with daddy is a special treat ;0)
my baby & i are having a date night tonight! :0) we've kind of gotten away from making this a regular thing (you know, with our 2 jobs each, 5 kids & all), but are trying to get back into the habit.....tonight is comedy night at The Pub and the comics are coming down from DC (Curtis' hometown) so we're psyched! plus JMU is gone on spring break - that's definitely a plus!
i'm soooo excited!!! i love spending time with my kids, but of course some alone time with daddy is a special treat ;0)
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
frustrated...
this darn transmission is getting the best of me! i can't help but steam when i think about how much money we're dropping into the van right now! on top of replacing the transmission, there's a filter kit that had to be put in first & the labor for that, plus they found a "pin-hole leak" in our water hose, so that had to be replaced (plus more labor)....then they found out that the inners and outers need to be replaced (whatever the heck those are!).....of course everything took an hour or so longer than they had originally thought (labor, labor, labor).....how come every time we get a vehicle fixed, they find something else that no one knew was wrong.....and who are we to question them?.....i don't know jack about cars! but for real, these guys are legit - the guy that owns the place is good friends with my brother and no other repair places around here can beat their prices....but still!
soooooo, we're out about $1600 and i'm pissed! i know, i know, it has to be done....and it'll save us from larger/more expensive repairs in the future....but i think i'm allowed to be pissed for a lil while! i'll be cool in a minute....just needed to vent - thx for listening!
soooooo, we're out about $1600 and i'm pissed! i know, i know, it has to be done....and it'll save us from larger/more expensive repairs in the future....but i think i'm allowed to be pissed for a lil while! i'll be cool in a minute....just needed to vent - thx for listening!
An oldie, but goodie...
I just got this email again today. It's been around for a while, I remember seeing this a year or so ago. I'm not sure who the author of this is, but it's so true.
"The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question.
'Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?'
I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.
I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.
I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity.
I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flowerbeds and cocklebur's out of dad's fields.
I was drug to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.
Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place."
Lately, I've been thinking about today's children/teenagers.
Our neighbor has 2 teens (the girl is about 13 and the boy about 15) - he's a single father and I give him props for doing it on his own, but I wonder what the world is coming to when I see these 2 rarely going to school, hanging out with their friends on the porch smoking cigarettes and talking on their cell phones, cursing at their father when he does try to discipline them, vandalizing the cars in the lot across the street, skateboarding on neighboring private property, etc.
I'm just using this family as an example. I see too many kids with cell phones these days, too many kids allowed to roam & do as they please, too many parents overlooking this behavior with a "kids will be kids" attitude. I hear reports about drugs being found in the lockers at a local middle school, and juveniles being arrested for unimaginable crimes. I see reports on TV about fights happening inside the schools - and the other kids video taping the heinous act with their cell phones, instead of stepping in to help.
I'm scared to death to see what the world will be like in 7 or 8 years when Jaden starts high school. I'm so thankful that my parents brought us up in the right way - we were taught to keep God first in our lives, to respect others, to work hard to EARN what we wanted/needed, that life didn't always go the way you wanted, to go out of our way to help others, that we are responsible for our own actions and that actions always have consequences (good or bad). Curtis was brought up with the same values/beliefs and we try hard to instill these in our children. I pray that we are succeeding and that our children will grow up to be the hard working, respectful adults that our parents raised.
"The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question.
'Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?'
I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.
I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.
I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity.
I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flowerbeds and cocklebur's out of dad's fields.
I was drug to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.
Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place."
Lately, I've been thinking about today's children/teenagers.
Our neighbor has 2 teens (the girl is about 13 and the boy about 15) - he's a single father and I give him props for doing it on his own, but I wonder what the world is coming to when I see these 2 rarely going to school, hanging out with their friends on the porch smoking cigarettes and talking on their cell phones, cursing at their father when he does try to discipline them, vandalizing the cars in the lot across the street, skateboarding on neighboring private property, etc.
I'm just using this family as an example. I see too many kids with cell phones these days, too many kids allowed to roam & do as they please, too many parents overlooking this behavior with a "kids will be kids" attitude. I hear reports about drugs being found in the lockers at a local middle school, and juveniles being arrested for unimaginable crimes. I see reports on TV about fights happening inside the schools - and the other kids video taping the heinous act with their cell phones, instead of stepping in to help.
I'm scared to death to see what the world will be like in 7 or 8 years when Jaden starts high school. I'm so thankful that my parents brought us up in the right way - we were taught to keep God first in our lives, to respect others, to work hard to EARN what we wanted/needed, that life didn't always go the way you wanted, to go out of our way to help others, that we are responsible for our own actions and that actions always have consequences (good or bad). Curtis was brought up with the same values/beliefs and we try hard to instill these in our children. I pray that we are succeeding and that our children will grow up to be the hard working, respectful adults that our parents raised.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
kids say the darndest things!
i've been getting a few interesting questions/statements from my kids lately and i wanted to get them down before they are forgotten.....sometimes the 20 questions game gets kinda old, but i know i'll miss these days when they're older and think they have the whole world figured out
corinn: "mama, when i get big....i think i want a boy baby. is there a boy baby machine too?"
(i guess she means in addition to the girl baby machine that she knows already exists?)
me: "no hun, God creates the babies and puts them in the mommy's belly, remember?"
corinn: "oh yeah, well can i pray to him that i want a boy baby?"
gabrielle: "mommy, did God make himself?"
(what a question!)
jaden: "ma, everyone else has a pet but us."
(jaden has been asking for a dog for YEARS - but until we own a home, instead of rent, and he's old enough to take care of it himself - no dogs)
me: "jaden, we have a pet turtle - remember socks?"
jaden: "no ma, not him - i mean a real pet!"
(i guess this is just the beginning of all the "but all my friends are doing it" arguments i'll get to have)
corinn: "banember (this is how she says remember) when i was a baby and you changed my diaper? it stunk pretty bad, huh?"
(~lmao~ it sure did sometimes honey!)
the other word that i hope corinn NEVER figures out how to say correctly is M&M's....she calls them M-A-Lim's.....LOVE it!
corinn: "mama, when i get big....i think i want a boy baby. is there a boy baby machine too?"
(i guess she means in addition to the girl baby machine that she knows already exists?)
me: "no hun, God creates the babies and puts them in the mommy's belly, remember?"
corinn: "oh yeah, well can i pray to him that i want a boy baby?"
gabrielle: "mommy, did God make himself?"
(what a question!)
jaden: "ma, everyone else has a pet but us."
(jaden has been asking for a dog for YEARS - but until we own a home, instead of rent, and he's old enough to take care of it himself - no dogs)
me: "jaden, we have a pet turtle - remember socks?"
jaden: "no ma, not him - i mean a real pet!"
(i guess this is just the beginning of all the "but all my friends are doing it" arguments i'll get to have)
corinn: "banember (this is how she says remember) when i was a baby and you changed my diaper? it stunk pretty bad, huh?"
(~lmao~ it sure did sometimes honey!)
the other word that i hope corinn NEVER figures out how to say correctly is M&M's....she calls them M-A-Lim's.....LOVE it!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Corinn's 4th Birthday Party
Yesterday was Corinn's 4th birthday party and we had a great time! We had a baking themed party - everyone painted their own apron, and colored a chef's hat, then we decorated cupcakes to take home. We had a Dora pinata and lots of yummy snacks - and of course cake & ice cream! Corinn wanted more of the Dora cupcakes that I had made for her daycare on her actual birthday. She also asked, "Can you make some Diego heads too?". So that's what I did - we had lots of Dora & Diego cupcakes (enough that everyone got to take one of these home too), and I made a "cupcake" smash cake for Corinn - you know to go along with the whole baking theme. ;0) The poor thing didn't even stop long enough to eat cake at her party. She was so busy with presents and playing, that it wasn't until we got home and had eaten dinner last evening, that she said, "Can I eat my big cupcake now?". ~lol~ I had just assumed she had eaten one of the Dora/Diego heads at the party instead.
Now, I'm trying to get this 4 year old to understand why she can't immediately start school. Up until now, she's been told that she'll go to pre-k when she's 4. Well, she's 4 now - why isn't she in school yet?! ~lol~
Now, I'm trying to get this 4 year old to understand why she can't immediately start school. Up until now, she's been told that she'll go to pre-k when she's 4. Well, she's 4 now - why isn't she in school yet?! ~lol~
Being a Father - by Jaden Skates
This was classwork for Jaden - he's in 1st grade. You may need to click on the pic to enlarge it and read the questions.
This cracks me up. You wouldn't know he's a math whiz looking at his answer to the 2nd question. And I love his teacher's remark at the bottom (to his last answer). I wonder why that was the 1st rule he thought of. ~lol~ And by the way, Jaden's bed time is 8:30pm - now I know what he wishes it was. ;0)
This cracks me up. You wouldn't know he's a math whiz looking at his answer to the 2nd question. And I love his teacher's remark at the bottom (to his last answer). I wonder why that was the 1st rule he thought of. ~lol~ And by the way, Jaden's bed time is 8:30pm - now I know what he wishes it was. ;0)
"i need to wiggle it more"
this is what gabrielle has been saying over and over to us lately....we found out at last week's dentist appointment that my baby girl's 2 bottom/front teeth are loose....one significantly more than the other....well, ever since then, all we hear from this girl is "i need to wiggle it more"....saturday night, she finally let me take a yank at it - i swear to you, it's totally ready....u can practically lay it down, it's so loose....well, i thought for sure that i could get it out with one good yank....but i kinda chickened out - i know how sensitive gabrielle is (like her mother) and how easy it is to really upset her....i didn't want to traumatize the child, so i just gave it a strong little tug.....it started bleeding and loosened it up some more....but needless to say, she wasn't anxious to let me try again....since then, she's just going to wiggle it more :0)
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Scientists Reconsider What They Think They Know
Here's a link to a very interesting article about Autism's "language". Autism spectrum disorders range from someone with severe disability and cognitive impairment like the woman in this article, to the socially awkward & eccentric with Asperger's Syndrome, like Jaden.
Scientists Reconsider What They Think They Know
Monday, February 25, 2008
Willow's 1st Birthday!
Saturday, our family headed to Yadkin Valley, North Carolina to help celebrate my best friend's daughter's 1st birthday. I've mentioned Willow & Misty here before. Misty is not just my best friend, she's my sister! And to be able to travel down to their home and be a part of this wonderful milestone in their lives, means to world to us! Curtis & Shane are also really good friends and it's nice for them to be able to hang out some too. Of course, the kids absolutely LOVE it there! The Matthews family live in a beautiful, loving & warm home - they have a dog & a horse and live next door to a very sweet lady who owns goats, sheep, ducks & chickens - what more could a kids ask for?!
Saturday, we just visited and got settled in. Misty & I took all 4 kids next door to check out the farm and to take a walk through their big field (we do that every visit), while the men got in some target practice with Shane's guns. The kids couldn't wait to play with Willow - we brought a trash bag full of toys for her - all our Little People & Weeble Wobble towns that of course my kids have outgrown. The last time we saw our friends, Willow wasn't even crawling yet. Now, she's almost walking! (She could walk if she'd just let go and try - she's still in that 'oh no, you let go of my hands so I'm just going to sit down' phase.) The men grilled burgers and dogs for dinner and we had a great time just hanging out.
After putting all the lil ones to bed, Misty & I started on Willow's birthday cake for her party the next day. Willow loves babies - she squeals every time she sees a baby in her books. For her cake, we made a 2-tiered funfetti cake with a baby sculpture on top (that we were not planning on eating the baby - kinda morbid for a 1yr old's party, eh?) . Misty has done some cake decorating of her own, so she knows the basics and has an interest in it already. She decorated the 2 tiers and the smash cake entirely on her own. She also molded the baby's legs and one arm out of rice krispies. She made the paci and helped with the construction of the baby. It was fun doing this together - we opened up some wine and stayed up until 1:30am. I really miss spending time together! We went from working together every day and spending our entire commute to/from work on the phone together....to living 4 hrs apart and both being so busy with kids/jobs/lives that we don't get to talk every day like we'd like. I love her to death and hope that one day we get to slow down and enjoy each other more, maybe even live closer.
Misty did a spectacular job on Willow's party! She made spaghetti & meatballs for everyone and had the place decorated so cute! Willow was a lil princess and was totally spoiled with gifts! Misty's mother-in-law had all the kids put their hand prints on a poster for Willow & she had made a tiny pinata for the party. It was all so fun!
We got home late last night and are already excited for our next visit. Actually, the Matthews' will probably be coming up our way next time - wait until Willow sees all the fun stuff we have for her to get into at our house! ;0)
Saturday, we just visited and got settled in. Misty & I took all 4 kids next door to check out the farm and to take a walk through their big field (we do that every visit), while the men got in some target practice with Shane's guns. The kids couldn't wait to play with Willow - we brought a trash bag full of toys for her - all our Little People & Weeble Wobble towns that of course my kids have outgrown. The last time we saw our friends, Willow wasn't even crawling yet. Now, she's almost walking! (She could walk if she'd just let go and try - she's still in that 'oh no, you let go of my hands so I'm just going to sit down' phase.) The men grilled burgers and dogs for dinner and we had a great time just hanging out.
After putting all the lil ones to bed, Misty & I started on Willow's birthday cake for her party the next day. Willow loves babies - she squeals every time she sees a baby in her books. For her cake, we made a 2-tiered funfetti cake with a baby sculpture on top (that we were not planning on eating the baby - kinda morbid for a 1yr old's party, eh?) . Misty has done some cake decorating of her own, so she knows the basics and has an interest in it already. She decorated the 2 tiers and the smash cake entirely on her own. She also molded the baby's legs and one arm out of rice krispies. She made the paci and helped with the construction of the baby. It was fun doing this together - we opened up some wine and stayed up until 1:30am. I really miss spending time together! We went from working together every day and spending our entire commute to/from work on the phone together....to living 4 hrs apart and both being so busy with kids/jobs/lives that we don't get to talk every day like we'd like. I love her to death and hope that one day we get to slow down and enjoy each other more, maybe even live closer.
Misty did a spectacular job on Willow's party! She made spaghetti & meatballs for everyone and had the place decorated so cute! Willow was a lil princess and was totally spoiled with gifts! Misty's mother-in-law had all the kids put their hand prints on a poster for Willow & she had made a tiny pinata for the party. It was all so fun!
We got home late last night and are already excited for our next visit. Actually, the Matthews' will probably be coming up our way next time - wait until Willow sees all the fun stuff we have for her to get into at our house! ;0)
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