I knew it would happen sooner or later. I went into Courtney's class to help during stations and when she saw me her eyes filled with HUGE tears. She toughed it through her first station but when her group rotated to my station she just lost it. Poor girl was so upset and didn't want me to leave. (I can completely relate because that's how I was with my mom.) I got her through my station and she toughed it through the last station, but she was having a rough time holding in the tears.
After stations it's treats/snacks and recess. She asked me if I would stay for part of recess and I told her I would. She was fine as long as I was out there, but when she ran over to me so I could give her a hug goodbye she lost it again. Luckily, our neighbor was there (she works at the school as an aide) helping in the class too. Courtney asked if Lori could hold her when I left. It only took about 30 seconds of Lori holding her before Courtney got down and started playing without a problem.
She said she was just a bit sad and that next week will be fine. I was waiting for the breakdown but, I have to say, she handled it so much better than I did when I was her age! She'll tough it through. I love the little girl!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Cake
I made this cake for my friend's 40th birthday. Her husband ordered it and said not to go too overboard but that I could do what I wanted. It turned out good. I don't like the writing (I tried to freehand it, which I normally don't do) but I think the cake was cute. They all commented on how well it tasted.
(I really need to clear the mess before taking pictures, but oh well.)
(I really need to clear the mess before taking pictures, but oh well.)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Cakes
I realized today that I haven't posted cakes lately and I have done a few of them, so I thought I would post them. I haven't done a wedding cake for a while (I had a major bridezilla that kind of scared me, but I need to get over it) and I have been busy so I haven't minded at all.
Ethan's cake for his baptism (I may have posted this before, but I can't remember):
Ethan's locker cake for the first day of school:
Courtney's birthday cake (obviously):
My mom's birthday cake (it was a chocolate cake/chocolate pudding experiment that worked well):
Ethan's cake for his baptism (I may have posted this before, but I can't remember):
Ethan's locker cake for the first day of school:
Courtney's birthday cake (obviously):
My mom's birthday cake (it was a chocolate cake/chocolate pudding experiment that worked well):
Is it worth it?!
After spending 2 1/2 hours peeling peaches and only getting 7 quarts of pie filling I wondered "is it worth it?" I have to say that "YES IT IS!!" because I can look at those bottles and say that I did something today. And it is something that I consider a dying art because not as many women take the time to bottle anymore, even know how to bottle, or even care if they know how to bottle. Maybe it's pride, but I appreciate the fact that my mom made me stand for HOURS in a hot kitchen putting fruit into bottles each summer so we could have fresh fruit and vegetables in the winter.
Just the fact that Courtney has memories of me complaining as I peeled a ton of peaches and heated up the kitchen is worth it for me. I have those same memories of my mom.) Plus, peaches taste so much better in December!
Just the fact that Courtney has memories of me complaining as I peeled a ton of peaches and heated up the kitchen is worth it for me. I have those same memories of my mom.) Plus, peaches taste so much better in December!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
She's a Kindergartener!
Today was the first day of kindergarten and Courtney could not have been more excited!! She was up bright and early this morning ready to go. They use the first two weeks to learn their colors, so she had to dress in red today. She had it all picked out last night and ready to go. So this morning was easy to get dressed...no fights!! Then we did her hair and she had some breakfast and was ready to go to the bus stop at 7:00. Too bad the bus doesn't come until 8:21.
Bryan came home from work to see her go off on the bus and they played tag while we waited for the bus. Courtney had her place at the first of the line, but she doesn't like having people lined up behind her (usually) so she let everyone go ahead except for a few kids. The bus pulled up, she climbed aboard (pretty fast because Bryan didn't get a photo of her) and they took off. We ran to the backyard to wave goodbye again but I don't know if she saw us. She was off!!
I got in the van and drove to the school. I wanted to be there to show her where to put her bag and to wait with her until her teacher came the first time so she wouldn't be nervous. She wasn't nervous at all. She put her bag down where Ethan always did and ran to the playground like a pro. After a while, Luke (a boy from our neighborhood who is in her class and who we carpool with) showed up with his mom. He put his stuff by Courtney and then Courtney took charge. Now the poor kid has a school mom on top of his real mom! But his mom felt better knowing that Courtney would be taking care of him. They played for a while and then stopped to wait for Lia (another friend from our neighborhood in their class and who we will carpool with). Then the bell rang and they grabbed their bags to wait for their teacher to come out.
Getting off the bus:
With Luke:
Luke, Lia and Courtney:
When she did come out, she taught them to line up on the white line so they could all walk in together. Courtney got at the front of the line and was very happy to be with her "favorite teacher in the whole wide world, Mrs. Clayton!" (If she was older I would think that she is kissing up to her teacher, but she's young so it's just sincere admiration!) Mrs. Clayton had them all wave goodbye to their moms, which I was grateful for because I didn't even get a goodbye, and then they all walked into the school as happy as could be.
Getting in line:
The wave I got (can you tell she didn't miss me at all?!):
I felt a bit guilty because all the other moms were crying and so sad that their kids were in school. I was a bit sad, but Courtney was so excited to go that I was just so happy for her. I was more thrilled for myself because we didn't have a crying-hanging on the leg-screaming episode. She is a confident girl in the class of her favorite teacher ready to do what her brother does all day and she is happy. So I am happy for her!
At 11:10 I ran back up to the school to take some cupcakes to celebrate her birthday. I have my cake business license so it's okay for me to take homemade treats to classes so I take advantage of it. I made cupcakes in ice cream cones and Courtney helped me decorate them. I got there while they were in music class so I put them on the desks and debated whether or not I should wait and say hello. I waited but Courtney just gave me a little hug and told me "you can go now, Mom." So I left. But here are some photos from her room.
She rode with the carpool home and was ready to tell me all about it. She said she had a great time. They sang happy birthday to her and recess was her favorite thing of the day. They sang tongue twisters in music class and got to do centers where they colored a rainbow. We had a little tea party to celebrate (milk and sandwiches on nice china plates) then she went to play "swimming/water party" with Hayley. Ahh, to be 5!
Bryan came home from work to see her go off on the bus and they played tag while we waited for the bus. Courtney had her place at the first of the line, but she doesn't like having people lined up behind her (usually) so she let everyone go ahead except for a few kids. The bus pulled up, she climbed aboard (pretty fast because Bryan didn't get a photo of her) and they took off. We ran to the backyard to wave goodbye again but I don't know if she saw us. She was off!!
I got in the van and drove to the school. I wanted to be there to show her where to put her bag and to wait with her until her teacher came the first time so she wouldn't be nervous. She wasn't nervous at all. She put her bag down where Ethan always did and ran to the playground like a pro. After a while, Luke (a boy from our neighborhood who is in her class and who we carpool with) showed up with his mom. He put his stuff by Courtney and then Courtney took charge. Now the poor kid has a school mom on top of his real mom! But his mom felt better knowing that Courtney would be taking care of him. They played for a while and then stopped to wait for Lia (another friend from our neighborhood in their class and who we will carpool with). Then the bell rang and they grabbed their bags to wait for their teacher to come out.
Getting off the bus:
With Luke:
Luke, Lia and Courtney:
When she did come out, she taught them to line up on the white line so they could all walk in together. Courtney got at the front of the line and was very happy to be with her "favorite teacher in the whole wide world, Mrs. Clayton!" (If she was older I would think that she is kissing up to her teacher, but she's young so it's just sincere admiration!) Mrs. Clayton had them all wave goodbye to their moms, which I was grateful for because I didn't even get a goodbye, and then they all walked into the school as happy as could be.
Getting in line:
The wave I got (can you tell she didn't miss me at all?!):
I felt a bit guilty because all the other moms were crying and so sad that their kids were in school. I was a bit sad, but Courtney was so excited to go that I was just so happy for her. I was more thrilled for myself because we didn't have a crying-hanging on the leg-screaming episode. She is a confident girl in the class of her favorite teacher ready to do what her brother does all day and she is happy. So I am happy for her!
At 11:10 I ran back up to the school to take some cupcakes to celebrate her birthday. I have my cake business license so it's okay for me to take homemade treats to classes so I take advantage of it. I made cupcakes in ice cream cones and Courtney helped me decorate them. I got there while they were in music class so I put them on the desks and debated whether or not I should wait and say hello. I waited but Courtney just gave me a little hug and told me "you can go now, Mom." So I left. But here are some photos from her room.
She rode with the carpool home and was ready to tell me all about it. She said she had a great time. They sang happy birthday to her and recess was her favorite thing of the day. They sang tongue twisters in music class and got to do centers where they colored a rainbow. We had a little tea party to celebrate (milk and sandwiches on nice china plates) then she went to play "swimming/water party" with Hayley. Ahh, to be 5!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
She's 5 Years Old!!
Courtney is now 5 years old!! She gave us her birthday breakfast order last week (she just wanted us to be prepared) of crepes with whipped cream and chocolate pudding with milk. Ethan got up to help Bryan make them but Ethan was so excited about Courtney's birthday that he asked for permission to go in and cuddle with her while she woke up. I told him he could but now Courtney is complaining the "Ethan woke me up too early."
Bryan and Ethan made a fantastic birthday breakfast and we put it on a tray. Ethan wrote her a cute note and put it on the tray also. Then we took it to her room and sang "Happy Birthday" to her. Bryan gave her flowers (as he does each year, although she always gives him a "friendly" reminder) and she loved it. She was so thrilled and loved it!! Bryan cut up the crepe and she ate one of them before she was full and wanted to come out to see the decorations.
Courtney then got ready for the day and we got Ethan off to his second day of third grade!! I went downstairs to finish sewing some bags for the party (yeah, I know I should have done it earlier but I didn't have time yesterday, okay?!). I got them done and got everything out for the party. I had put all the things together last week and in a box so I would be organized and it went really well.
Courtney wanted a Birthday P"art"y where they make art stuff. I bought some crayons, aprons, glue sticks, pencil boxes, watercolors and paint brushes for goodie bags and then decided we would paint terra cotta pots and, while they were drying, make some tissue paper flowers to fill them. When the girls arrived at our house, I had the cloth bags out on the table with some fabric markers. They each got to decorate their bag the way they wanted. Most of them drew flowers, which was cute!
Then we cleared the table and got the paints out with the pots and let them to to it. It was funny to listen to them talk while they were painting. Bryan commented on how different Courtney's parties are from Ethan's. It feels like you have been hit by a train after Ethan's party but Courtney's is a lot more calm. Anyway, they painted, talked, giggled, and had a great time. While the pots were drying, Bryan and I helped them make their flowers. They had so much fun with this because I had a bunch of different colors of tissue paper and they mixed and matched their colors for the flowers. They each had at least 3 flowers made by the end. We gave them back their pots and they were able to put some foam stickers on the pot if they wanted to add a bit more decorations. They I put some foam stuff in the pots and they put in their flowers. It turned out really well.
After they washed their hands it was time for cupcakes. Bryan put a candle on the one Courtney wanted and then we sang to her and she blew the candle out...for the first time in her life. She has always had a fear of fire and blowing out candles hasn't been a thing she's wanted to do, until this year. She was so proud of herself for doing it.
They ate cupcakes and had water then it was time to open presents. Courtney got some fun art stuff and dolls. She loved it. I then took the girls outside to keep them occupied with bubbles while Bryan organized things inside and left to go back to work. I kept the girls outside until their moms came to pick them up.
Courtney said it was the best party ever! She has a cute bunch of friends.
That night we had her family party. My parents, Leigh Ann, and Don and Kathy came over and we had pizza swirls (cinnamon roll shaped pizzas), rootbeer, strawberries and salad. Then we had birthday cake and she opened presents. Her most notable gift is a FurReal cat. It's freaky! The thing has batteries in it and when you pet it, it purrs and it will roll over on its back so you can scratch it's belly. If you leave it for a while it will open it's eyes wide and stare at you, blinking once in a while. It's odd. Courtney finally asked me to turn it off and now she just plays with it like a cat. It slept in her bed with her last night too. It was cute.
I think she had a good day.
Bryan and Ethan made a fantastic birthday breakfast and we put it on a tray. Ethan wrote her a cute note and put it on the tray also. Then we took it to her room and sang "Happy Birthday" to her. Bryan gave her flowers (as he does each year, although she always gives him a "friendly" reminder) and she loved it. She was so thrilled and loved it!! Bryan cut up the crepe and she ate one of them before she was full and wanted to come out to see the decorations.
Courtney then got ready for the day and we got Ethan off to his second day of third grade!! I went downstairs to finish sewing some bags for the party (yeah, I know I should have done it earlier but I didn't have time yesterday, okay?!). I got them done and got everything out for the party. I had put all the things together last week and in a box so I would be organized and it went really well.
Courtney wanted a Birthday P"art"y where they make art stuff. I bought some crayons, aprons, glue sticks, pencil boxes, watercolors and paint brushes for goodie bags and then decided we would paint terra cotta pots and, while they were drying, make some tissue paper flowers to fill them. When the girls arrived at our house, I had the cloth bags out on the table with some fabric markers. They each got to decorate their bag the way they wanted. Most of them drew flowers, which was cute!
Then we cleared the table and got the paints out with the pots and let them to to it. It was funny to listen to them talk while they were painting. Bryan commented on how different Courtney's parties are from Ethan's. It feels like you have been hit by a train after Ethan's party but Courtney's is a lot more calm. Anyway, they painted, talked, giggled, and had a great time. While the pots were drying, Bryan and I helped them make their flowers. They had so much fun with this because I had a bunch of different colors of tissue paper and they mixed and matched their colors for the flowers. They each had at least 3 flowers made by the end. We gave them back their pots and they were able to put some foam stickers on the pot if they wanted to add a bit more decorations. They I put some foam stuff in the pots and they put in their flowers. It turned out really well.
After they washed their hands it was time for cupcakes. Bryan put a candle on the one Courtney wanted and then we sang to her and she blew the candle out...for the first time in her life. She has always had a fear of fire and blowing out candles hasn't been a thing she's wanted to do, until this year. She was so proud of herself for doing it.
They ate cupcakes and had water then it was time to open presents. Courtney got some fun art stuff and dolls. She loved it. I then took the girls outside to keep them occupied with bubbles while Bryan organized things inside and left to go back to work. I kept the girls outside until their moms came to pick them up.
Courtney said it was the best party ever! She has a cute bunch of friends.
That night we had her family party. My parents, Leigh Ann, and Don and Kathy came over and we had pizza swirls (cinnamon roll shaped pizzas), rootbeer, strawberries and salad. Then we had birthday cake and she opened presents. Her most notable gift is a FurReal cat. It's freaky! The thing has batteries in it and when you pet it, it purrs and it will roll over on its back so you can scratch it's belly. If you leave it for a while it will open it's eyes wide and stare at you, blinking once in a while. It's odd. Courtney finally asked me to turn it off and now she just plays with it like a cat. It slept in her bed with her last night too. It was cute.
I think she had a good day.
First Day of School!!!
Yesterday was the first day of school and the kids were so excited!! Ethan was up bright and early for his first day of school breakfast of eggs and sausage with orange julius. He loved it. He got all ready, practiced the piano, we read scriptures and said prayers and then the "when it is time to go outside" mantra began. Since our house is the bus stop it means that we don't have to rush as much as other kids, but it also means that Ethan hears all the other kids outside playing long before I let him go out. But that's life.
Finally, it was time to go outside and take the traditional picture on the porch. He is getting so tall!! Then he got to play with friends until the bus came. He was a bit nervous because his classroom is the only one upstairs and he was afraid he wouldn't know what door to go in, but I told him that he would be fine and he was good.
Courtney, on the other hand, doesn't start kindergarten completely until next Wednesday, so it was a bitter/sweet experience watching the bus roll off without her. Courtney had an appointment to "get to know" her classroom at 11:00 to 11:30 so I decided to take the opportunity to shop for her birthday present. I dropped her off at my parent's house to play and then ran to buy her present. I was back to pick her up in plenty of time to get her to school on time.
She had to take her backpack so she would know where to put it in the room. Then we got to meet her teacher (who was Ethan's teacher and who Courtney LOVES, so it wasn't really a "meet" so much as a "warn" ;) ), do some activities to teach Courtney where things are in the room, and then we got to go. It was fun because now she feels more comfortable in the room.
We then went home to get the house ready for a load of Priests who were coming for a dutch oven dinner at our house for Mutual. Courtney kept telling me that I could bring her presents in the house and she wouldn't peek, but I didn't fall for it. I got Courtney's family cake decorated (I baked them on Tuesday and froze them to make things easier) and the cupcakes for her party.
Ethan wanted me to make blue popcorn balls to hand out to all the kids who got off the bus after the first day of school, so I did that and discovered that I don't like making popcorn balls. But that's life!
Then I made a "locker" cake out of scraps from the cupcake batch for Ethan. He saw this in a magazine and wanted one for the first day of school. It turned out okay.
It was then time to clean up. I got the kitchen, living room, kid's bathroom and the tv room all cleaned up while Courtney played at a friend's house. By then it was time to watch for the bus (I had fears of missing the bus and having all these popcorn balls to ourselves!). I went outside with the popcorn balls to wait for the bus. Soon it came rushing around the corner and the kids all spilled off...running right to me. I guess Ethan told them all they would be getting popcorn balls so it's a good thing I did it! We even gave one to the bus driver, who is super nice.
Ethan then unloaded about his day. He loves his teacher and classroom (there are hermit crabs and betta fish in tanks); his friends in his class are nice; he had a great lunch; and the popcorn balls were the "best." He spotted his locker cake and gave me a huge hug before inhaling it before I could tell him to cut it into pieces. Oh well.
Bryan came home early to make the dutch oven. We made way, way, way too much but Bryan is loving it because he will have his favorite dutch oven dinner for the next week! The boys had fun.
We put Courtney to bed and Ethan, Bryan and I decorated for her birthday the next day. Then I went to bed because I was exhausted!!
Finally, it was time to go outside and take the traditional picture on the porch. He is getting so tall!! Then he got to play with friends until the bus came. He was a bit nervous because his classroom is the only one upstairs and he was afraid he wouldn't know what door to go in, but I told him that he would be fine and he was good.
Courtney, on the other hand, doesn't start kindergarten completely until next Wednesday, so it was a bitter/sweet experience watching the bus roll off without her. Courtney had an appointment to "get to know" her classroom at 11:00 to 11:30 so I decided to take the opportunity to shop for her birthday present. I dropped her off at my parent's house to play and then ran to buy her present. I was back to pick her up in plenty of time to get her to school on time.
She had to take her backpack so she would know where to put it in the room. Then we got to meet her teacher (who was Ethan's teacher and who Courtney LOVES, so it wasn't really a "meet" so much as a "warn" ;) ), do some activities to teach Courtney where things are in the room, and then we got to go. It was fun because now she feels more comfortable in the room.
We then went home to get the house ready for a load of Priests who were coming for a dutch oven dinner at our house for Mutual. Courtney kept telling me that I could bring her presents in the house and she wouldn't peek, but I didn't fall for it. I got Courtney's family cake decorated (I baked them on Tuesday and froze them to make things easier) and the cupcakes for her party.
Ethan wanted me to make blue popcorn balls to hand out to all the kids who got off the bus after the first day of school, so I did that and discovered that I don't like making popcorn balls. But that's life!
Then I made a "locker" cake out of scraps from the cupcake batch for Ethan. He saw this in a magazine and wanted one for the first day of school. It turned out okay.
It was then time to clean up. I got the kitchen, living room, kid's bathroom and the tv room all cleaned up while Courtney played at a friend's house. By then it was time to watch for the bus (I had fears of missing the bus and having all these popcorn balls to ourselves!). I went outside with the popcorn balls to wait for the bus. Soon it came rushing around the corner and the kids all spilled off...running right to me. I guess Ethan told them all they would be getting popcorn balls so it's a good thing I did it! We even gave one to the bus driver, who is super nice.
Ethan then unloaded about his day. He loves his teacher and classroom (there are hermit crabs and betta fish in tanks); his friends in his class are nice; he had a great lunch; and the popcorn balls were the "best." He spotted his locker cake and gave me a huge hug before inhaling it before I could tell him to cut it into pieces. Oh well.
Bryan came home early to make the dutch oven. We made way, way, way too much but Bryan is loving it because he will have his favorite dutch oven dinner for the next week! The boys had fun.
We put Courtney to bed and Ethan, Bryan and I decorated for her birthday the next day. Then I went to bed because I was exhausted!!
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