weekend recap...

Saturday, we woke up to this...

actually, the kiddos woke up to snow...we woke up to the kiddos screaming - very excited about the snow! ;0)

it was coming down hard...big, fat flakes...wet, dense snow

the forecast said 2-4 inches...i think in the end, we got more like 5 or 6

our rugrats couldn't wait to get out in the stuff! they were dressed & heading out the door, well before 9am!

the girls made snow angels first...

then started a snowball fight...

Jaden's concentration was on making a "giant snowball"...we suggested he make a snow man with his giant snowball, but he's was so not interested...the only goal was to make the ball as big as he possibly could!

he enlisted some help as the ball got bigger...

but his help was quick to take breaks...for important matters...like eating snow ;0)

finally, they had pushed it as far as they could...it wouldn't budge another inch

time to rest...

now, what do we do with it?

i was tempted to join them...cause i really wanted to help em get that ball rolling again - to make it even bigger! but because i was trying to finish up this cake, i couldn't (i took those pics from right outside our front door)...they didn't mind tho...they had plenty of other fun things to do without me

about an hour later, they came inside - soaking wet! all 3 layers dripping...& freezing!

after getting into dry clothes & gobbling down some cocoa & brownies, everyone was feeling much better...Jaden broke out his very favorite Saturday activity - video games! (we don't allow him to play them during the week) & the girls snuggled up with their music...

later (when i had finished the cake), we started pulling out some Christmas decorations...i'd promised the kiddos that we'd get the tree up Sunday evening, so i started pulling things out of the attic to prepare...Gabby went ahead with putting up our nativity...

see, we already had plans for Saturday evening...my brother Joe was coming over to feed the kiddos dinner & watch em til bedtime...cause Curt & i were going to my office holiday party

we (i'm on the Social Committee at work) were worried that the snow was going to keep a lot of people from coming...but we only had 11 of the 68 that RSVP'd not be able to make it...the food was amazing & the DJ did a great job! we had a really awesome time!

Sunday was our Hanging of the Greens service at church...u may remember last year's service - this year's was very similar - the kiddos even had the same parts...they sang two songs, then acted out the nativity...they did a fabulous job & looked so darn cute too!

after church, we had a surprise 50th birthday party to attend...my aunt Brenda suffered a brain aneurysm last year & we're actually very lucky to have her here, celebrating another birthday with us! she's the sweetest person ever & we were thrilled to be able to attend her party! most of our fam was there...

Brenda insisted the girls help her unwrap presents...they were happy to help! ;0)

we went home after the party & began putting up our tree (we go fake - cause Jaden would seriously be upset to see us kill a live tree!)...as the kiddos & i got all the branches spread out put on the base, daddy worked with the lights - discovering only 1 or the 3 strands we had were working...he fooled around with the other 2, but was never able to get em to work

well, u can't put the ornaments on the tree before the lights...so we went ahead with the star & the tree skirt...we put up our advent calendar (hey, only 5 days late!)...hung decorations here & there in the house...then made plans to pick up some more lights the next day & finish the tree then

i was telling Nana about our light situation & she suggested we use theirs...now that they live in a smaller house, they don't put up a big tree...they set out a mini tree & a few decorations inside, but there's no room for the full sized tree inside or even her blow up Christmas yard decorations outside...so last evening, i picked up what she can't use & took it home

we've got lights on the tree now, & i also strung em all over the house...inside tho, not out...don't get me wrong, we plan on putting up lights outside, but nothing is better than having that colorful glow all throughout the inside of the house during Christmas time too...u know, where u can see em every day!

i strung lights around the living room & in both kiddo rooms too...they LOVED it & squealed as i put em up! the girls immediately decided to have a "ball"...they turned off their overhead light, turned on some music & danced the night away in their twinkling room

Jaden decided the Christmas lights were "the coolest night light EVER!" & couldn't wait to go to sleep! ~lol~

we still didn't get ornaments on the tree (not enough hours in the day, i tell ya), but we'll be working on getting the rest of the house (inside & out) decorated this week...here's a sneak peek that i snapped with my cell phone...i swear, it's so darn pretty, it makes me want to sleep in the living room! maybe Curt & i need some Christmas lights in our bedroom too ;0)

weekend cake...

the dance company where my girls take classes had a Christmas ballet performance this week (the girls take Tap & Acro tho, so they didn't participate in this performance)...i made the cake for the reception following the show...the theme was "Let There Be Light" & another parent had drawn up a dancer design for the fliers...


i tried to match the design best i could...the girl on top is card stock, covered in gum paste (so not completely edible)...then i hand-painted the dancer image on with black food coloring paste

the cake is 3 tiers of fudge chip, iced in ivory butter cream...the stars are made from fondant/gum paste & dusted in edible gold dust (yellow stars) & white sparkle dust (black stars) - the picture really doesn't pick up the shimmer tho

the dance director was thrilled with how the cake turned out :0)

the diagnosis...1 year anniversary...

pic taken after my 1st radiation treatment (on my wedding anniversary at that!)...just call me the Snake Lady ;0)

on election day last year, i went to Emergicare for some lumps that i had found on my neck a few days earlier...the left side, near my collar bone...they just popped up one day, & it seemed as tho they were getting bigger by the day

the doc at Emergicare took an xray & found another mass around my left lung...he immediately told me it was likely Lymphoma...he said it could be other things like infectious lymph nodes, but probably not

from there, i was scheduled 2 see a Pulmonologist (because of the mass in/around my left lung)...that visit really rocked our world...i appreciated the honestly & frankness of this doc...he made me realize just how serious this likely was

then, the ball rolled at lightning speed...

the very next day, i had a PET scan & meeting with my surgeon all in the same day

then, they rushed me in2 having my biopsy (which was super annoying at the time) the day after Thanksgiving/Gabrielle's 6th birthday

then, finally, a year ago 2day, i got the official diagnosis of Hodgkin's Lymphoma...a bizarre day really...but i remained optimistic throughout both my chemo & radiation treatments...& it really is awesome to be able to say exactly a year later, that...
I KICKED CANCER'S ASS!!!

not only that...but more importantly, i'm already back in full Mama Skates mode! the hair's back, i have no lasting side-effects from treatment, the doc appointments r pretty much over (i'll always have check ups & scans every few months - but that's waaaaay better than pulling up to that cancer center every damn day!), i'm back to making cakes & running around, dancing with the kiddos...life is good!

sometimes the lights all shinin' on me
other times i can barely see
lately it occurs to me....
what a long, strange trip its been

*note - if u'd like 2 catch up & read about my entire journey, click here...that'll bring up all the posts i've tagged as having something 2 do with my cancer...remember that the 1st post will b the most recent (this post)...u'll have 2 scroll down & click 'older posts' until u get all the way back 2 November 08 to start at the beginning

holiday/birthday weekend recap...

Thanksgiving morning, we got up & headed north to the in-laws'...the kiddos love visiting Grandma & Pop, but hate the ride! it's about a 2hr drive & usually i'm hearing "are we close?!" about 1/2 hr into the trip! this time wasn't too bad tho...Corinn even fell asleep before we could get there

their very fav thing to do at Curt's parents' is play their Wii...Pop kept em busy pretty much the entire time with those magic white controllers ;0)

while Curt & i cuddled on the sofa & watched whatever boring football game was on that day ~lol~

i tried to help in the kitchen but my mother-in-law & her sis (Aunt Faye - pictured below) wouldn't allow it...u ought to know tho, those 2 women can throw down in the kitchen!!!

we sure filled our bellies before the long ride home...& i was glad Curtis was driving! i may or may not have snored the whole way back ;0)

it was nice visit! we spent almost the whole day there & Pop even went out on a grocery store run alone with the girls...somehow, they managed to come back with goodies too - a Barbie for each of the girls & a Lego set for Jaden (that he LOVED!!!)...they swore that it was Pop's idea to buy the presents! ;0)

Friday was Gabrielle's birthday...we spent the day working on her cake & getting the house ready for company & her sleepover

Nana (Grandpa had to work), aunts, uncles & cousins came for the party...& Gabby invited one of her BFF's that moved away a couple of years back...it usually works out that she's in town over Gab's birthday since they come home to visit family for Thanksgiving...check out the cute matching tops - Gabby's was a birthday gift from Callie

everyone singing Happy Birthday...

she played a trick on me this year & blew her candles out as fast as she possibly could - so i missed the shot...u can see her hair whipping back after her speed blow...that little stinker!

Gabrielle got tons of cool gifts! lots of fun clothes & accessories - right up this little diva's alley!

i found these super cute leather boots that i knew she'd love!
pssst...they were only $15!!! ;0)

& the gift that was on top of Gabby's list...an iPod!

it was the number 1 thing she wanted...i was afraid it wasn't going to happen this year (money is really, really tight!), but my sis totally came thru for me!!! she & her hubby got each other new iPod touches for an early Christmas present, so she handed down their old Nanos to us (at a VERY reasonable price!)...i just ordered some new silicone skins, loaded em with the girls' favorite tunes, & viola! brand new (to us) iPods!

oh, the other one i'm talking about? it's hidden in my closet...Corinn is also asking Santa for an iPod for Christmas ;0)

i had wrapped Gab's gift up in tissue paper...put it in the bottom of a small gift bag...then put some new earrings on top of it...folded up the gift bag & put it inside of a taped up box...then i put that inside of another taped up box...which i wrapped...she had absolutely no idea she was getting an iPod, & she had to work to get to it...but she was THRILLED when she saw the surprise!!!

& that's literally all she's done since Friday too - listen to that iPod...i think the ear buds have fused to the skin inside her ear...i had to remind her at the sleepover that she needed to entertain her guests, or she would have spent the entire evening like this...

the girls had a great time tho...of course, there was a lot of Barbie play time, make-up, singing & dancing, giggling, etc.

at 1:30am, i finally had to use my i-mean-business-voice & make the girls go to sleep...& guess what time they slept til the next morning? yep, up & at em - at FULL VOLUME - at 6:30am!!!

after breakfast, they got in some more play time...busted out the dress-up clothes & make-up once more...even ventured outside for a bit...everyone was sad when it was time for Callie & Deandra (my niece) to go home, but i think the sleepover was a big success ;0)

that evening, we headed back to WVa for Thanksgiving with my side of the family...we do it on the Saturday after every year...there, the girls were reunited with Deandra & all 3 sat with ear buds in their ears again ~lol~ (Corinn is hoping & praying Santa comes thru with her iPod & is using my Shuffle in the meantime)

there was tons of good food! & afterward, we all played a fun dice game that my aunt brought along...i honestly have no clue what it's called (i want to say revolving hearts?) & it's way too hard to explain...but basically, u team up with another person & there are quite a few rounds of play...u're constantly switching seats & competing against all the other teams of 2...it's fast paced & pretty darn fun...in the end, my brother CJ & Curtis (they were a team) kicked all our butts! i think they cheated ;0)

on Sunday, we picked up Callie again & headed to the skating rink...since we no longer do the huge parties where the kiddos invite all their friends from school (i learned my lesson early on!), we take them on a fun outing & the birthday boy/girl gets to invite one friend along...it's a whole lot cheaper (the skating rink has a family deal on Sundays - $15 for the whole crew!), & the kiddos really do spend more quality time with their friends that way...birthday parties are always so chaotic & stressful...they get way too many gifts & no one really gets to spend 1 on 1 time with the birthday boy/girl...i'm really glad we choose to go this route now

Curtis & i didn't skate this time...we hung out in a booth & watched the kiddos go round & round...our only complaint was the teeny bopper music - 3 hours of that stuff & u want to shoot urself! but hey, the kiddos love it!

everyone had a fab time!

i think the end was their favorite part...right before the 3 hour block is over, they section off a part of the rink so that the kiddos can come out & dance in their socks...

this is when they play the cha cha slide, the macarena, the cupid shuffle & the electric slide...the DJ insisted the parents join in on the electric slide, & since it was the only dance the kiddos didn't know how to do (yeah, imagine that!), i went out to show em how to do it

it was a pretty great weekend...busy, but full of fun family time!

how was ur's?

(almost) wordless Wednesday...full moon at only 5pm!

i took these pics at 5pm yesterday...my whole ride home, the Full Long Night Moon (which was official at 2:30am) was shining big & bright in the sky - at some moments feeling so, so close! it was weird to be able to seen the moon so clearly, so early in the day, with the sun still shining so brightly...when we got home, i had to snap some pics of it

it doesn't look quite as big in these pics (i swear it was HUGE in the sky!), but u can see just how bright it was already! i know the sky looks darker as i zoomed in closer, but these were all taken at the same time

did u go out to see the full moon last night? go check it out tonight!
also, another neat time to check out the moon will be on Dec. 31st - it will be full again that night, but it's an extra full moon that comes around every 2 or 3 years...it's called a Blue Moon

cakes from the long holiday weekend...

Wednesday, Gabrielle's 1st grade class celebrated her birthday since there was no school on the actual day (Friday)...i made 2 dozen fudge chip cupcakes for her to share with her friends

she had a little accident getting them to school...she dropped the containers on the bus & one opened, allowing 2 cupcakes to roll out...she said she was sad when she had to throw them away, afraid that there wouldn't be enough left...but luckily, several kiddos were absent that day ;0)

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last Monday just so happened to be my in-law's 25th wedding anniversary (insert standing ovation here!)...so when we visited them on Thanksgiving day, i brought along a simple cake to celebrate (per Pop's request - a surprise for his wife)...when i asked my father-in-law what he wanted the cake to say, he said that the number 25 was enough...i agree - the simple fact that they're celebrating their silver anniversary, speaks volumes!!! ♥

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Friday was my baby girl's 7th birthday (more on her bday celebration in my next post)...in preparation for her big day, she & i had sat down & designed the cake she had in mind

1st, she drew her cake...it was to be 2 tiers & have cacti on it...that was the thing she wanted most - "a cowgirl cake, with cactuses on it" ;0) so in trying to come up with a theme & incorporate those "cactuses", i asked her what she thought of a desert sunset...i added a sun & started coloring...

she liked that idea, but she wanted mountains...& i experimented with having a sunset at a different angle...then we added a guitar & boots to tie in the whole cowgirl theme...

in the end, we decided to keep the sun rising from the top...& the boots changed to a hat...we also added a bottom tier of sand so the cacti weren't just growing out of the sky...but overall, we kept Gabby's original design...

this cake was also fudge chip (her fav)...all iced in butter cream...the accents are fondant & gum paste

Gabrielle helped make the flowers for around the base...she cut out most of the mountains...& she sat watching me the entire time i painted the guitar & hat

she was thrilled with how her cake turned out - & that's all that mattered to me!!!

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Saturday, i had an order for a baby shower cake...i made this cake for Amy - a long time customer & friend...she's expecting her 4th boy! God love her! ;0)

the theme for her shower was a winter wonderland...& i've got to tell ya - the party decorations were amazing! white lights & snowflakes...different shades of blue...shimmer & class...it was so pretty! & i couldn't believe how well the cake matched the decor

the bottom tier was almond cake & the top was strawberry...all iced in blue butter cream & sprinkled with edible glitter (these pics don't show the full shimmer effect)

i made the snowflakes out of gum paste & the little topper is fondant...she wanted to incorporate the baby theme, so i replicated the centerpieces she had on the tables - a stack of diapers, tied together with ribbon & 2 silver snowflakes on top...also, the baby's name is painted on little fondant snowballs


thx for looking!
sharon