Starting my week off...

I hope you are having an encouraging Monday so far!
I am so dog tired it is comical.  I am, totally all by GOD's grace, attempting to get back into the routine of rising before the kiddies to read my Bible.  So Trill called me at 6:30 am this morning for my Quiet Time call.  Good thing b/c I totally forgot to set my alarm!  Thanks Trill!
Plus we had a family over for dinner last night and they were here till 9:30pm.  And yes, the kids were up that late too.  So there has been MUCH MUCH whining, crying, demanding etc...from the kiddies.  To be expected though.  I knew it would happen.  But it was worth the fun times and fellowship the night before!

But I am so tired it is not even funny.  And coffee ain't doing anything to remedy that!!!
So to keep myself awake and alert...I have started spring cleaning.  I know...I am a mad mad woman.  Whiny kids and me re-organizing closets.  Madness..

 These pics were not part of the spring organizing extravaganza.  I just think they are funny...
Have a Happy Tuesday !!!

Sleepy faces

I love it when my kids first get up from nap time.  Ella Reese comes to me with her blankie covering half her face and always smelling it.  No words, no greeting.  And she will want me to hold her.  Her face is all puffy, nose a bit stuffy, and her little cheeks so warm and soft. I could just eat her!

But I especially love it because ER's hair is usually in these long wispies around her face and she looks much like her baby days.  And of course, every mom thinks their little girl is beautiful...and I do think she is the prettiest thing when she wakes from her nap.

So the other day, I carried her upstairs and plopped her on our kitchen counter and pulled out my camera.  We have this skylight thing in our ceiling in the kitchen, plus a window from one side...the light is great at 3:30 in the afternoon.

Here is my puffy sweet girl!

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Did I also mention that she usually is not the happiest person when she wakes as well.  It takes her a while to chipper up.

So like any good mother...I give her a cookie to try to get some smiley happy pictures.

It It does not work right away so I tell her if she looks into my camera lens that she will see my eyeball.  She takes the bait...and holds still to gaze into my lens.

A A little teeny tiny grin...

And it's coming...!There it is!!!!

My little Reeseie pie!  She is such a gem!!!Then Dean comes up and has awaken from his nap.  Dean's turn!  Plop on the counter...

I give him a cookie right away.  He is always all smiles when he gets up...unless he has lost his beloved pacey.

 

Cuteness and cheesy smiles are all what this boy is made of! 

Here is his deer in the headlights face.

My sweet boy.  That smile warms my heart!

Blog-over

Okay, so I did a bit of a blog make over. What do you think? Not as pretty as before.  But pink really isn't my color...or our family's color.  I may change it again.  Just trying it out.....
Have a great weekend all!!!

Cake Boss

Our church celebrated it's 20th Birthday last Friday.  So along with a special church celebration, there was a "Cake Boss" competition, after the TLC show.  All the Care Groups came with a cake with a Happy Birthday CCK theme.
I have always loved decorating cakes.  Making them...I am not so awesome.  I just buy a box of cake mix.
But I jumped at the challenge because I so love decorating cake.  I had some help with the baking...
Now let me confess something.  I am ambitious when it comes to creative things....and contests of all things.  So I researched some cakes and I made up a plan that was highly ambitious.  First, I was going to attempt to use Fondant icing.  This beautifully smooth rolled icing that you usually see on Wedding cakes.  And I wanted to make my own butter cream icing.  I know...crazy huh?
But I did it!  And I am hooked.  I love Fondant.  And the recipe I used is awesome and yummy! 
The very next day we went to Sharon's house for dinner and I whipped up a Birthday cake for her and used some left over Fondant to cover the cake.  I did not get a picture b/c we were in such a rush.  But it was oh so cute and delish!

Here is what was submitted in the contest.  The little house on top is suppose to be our church building.  Before the bushes were added, it looked a bit like a Hobbit house.