Blog Marathon - Mile 17 - Oreo & Baby Einstein

I've never been trained by a pastry chef. I haven't even taken a cake decorating class from the craft store. I've only purchased a cake from the store once (Jacob's Star Wars cake while we were in Utah). I am ridiculously determined to make the cake or cupcakes for my kids' birthdays. Then they come to me with these crazy ideas of stuff I don't have the first clue how to make.

Candy is my friend. If can use basic shapes with candy and sprinkles I can pull it off. This was the first year that I didn't do a character themed cake for James. I made an Oreo ice cream cake that was essentially supposed to look like an Oreo. It tasted SO good.

To say that Jayson LOVES Baby Einstein videos, is an understatement. He used to say "Eins" to watch a movie now he can say it perfectly clear. So I chose the little caterpillar that scoots along at the beginning of all the videos. Each section is a Jumbo cupcake although they don't look that big in the picture. I did various colors of frosting and bought coordinating sugar sprinkles. The antennae were a lucky find. The cheeks and feet are hand molded Starbursts - you just warm them up a little and they are easily shaped.

Enjoying the Birthday Showers:

Presents - this is when James got the FlipCam so he could record all his videos. Jon actually won it at a business convention. Jayson got to open the boys old Bob the Builder truck set and some new wooden hammer toys and blocks. He was also happy to get a hoop so he could play "hoops."

(We had "lost" a couple Christmas gifts, so Jessica & Jacob had something to open also).

And do most parents give their children sharp objects when they turn 11?

Happy Birthday Boys!!!

Blog Marathon - Mile 16 - Boomers Birthday

We are getting to the part of the marathon where we get to race by our birthday celebrations. I always intend to do these picture perfect birthday posts, but I've decided that getting them DONE is priority now.

Our family made plans to visit Boomers in Irvine to celebrate James' & Jayson's birthday. We got rained out. So it got put off for a few weeks. Their race track is MUCH bigger than the track in Upland. I drove Jessica and feared that a rowdy driver would bump my tail and send us spinning. Jessica didn't like how FAST we were flying around the tracks. I think she preferred the smaller cars that she could drive herself.

We had a hard time convincing a couple kids to go on the Jumping Hopper ride, but once convinced we couldn't keep them off of it.

The kids rode rides, played mini golf, played arcade inside, and ate pizza in the cafe. Very fun night with our family.

Blog Marathon - Mile 15 - Jane Too

I've passed the halfway point and it's taking forever to get to each mile marker. I WANT to do it, but I lack the endurance. We were at the beach camping earlier this week. It's taken days to de-sand our clothing and gear and put the house back together. We had back to school night for intermediate school. Boys are in the summer basketball league so we've had practices and weekly games. I took Christmas card pics today for a friend. Busy. Busy.

I FINALLY finished Jane Eyre. After reading my first Jane Austen novel earlier this year, I set out to complete Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It was a test of my endurance that I was determined to complete. I didn't LOVE it, but I didn't hate it. It was a very difficult book for me to read. I appreciated the artistry of the words - sometimes didn't get the plot - & I certainly didn't get taken with Mr. Rochester or Mr. Rivers.

I have cousins and friends that read such scholarly books and I want to be smart like them. But is it doing any good if I don't really "get" the book or love reading it. I don't know. I guess they make you study all sorts of boring things in school for your own good. So maybe forcing myself into a tricky book is good for me.

I've decided that for my next read I'll take the advice of a couple blog readers. I've purchased The Potato Peel Pie Society and will hopefully have some quiet hours once the children go back to class.

Blog Marathon - Mile 14 - World of Fantasy

Jessica & I went to Disney on Ice last December - World of Fantasy. I love it as much (or more) than she does. Just got my flyer in the mail reminding me that Disney on Ice - Magical Journey is coming in October. Love. Love.

Blog Marathon - Mile 13 - Mommy & Me Days

Today I took my SIXTH GRADER to the Intermediate School to get his student ID and textbooks. The eighth grader who was helping him get his books said something like, "you're 6th grade??!!!! I hate it when sixth graders are taller than me."

When I trip over the SIZE 11 MENS shoes in my home, I'm reminded that he's not a little boy anymore. I'm excited for him to have this next adventure and he is too. But I can't help but remember the younger version of my James.

Made me kind of nostalgic for our time together here:

From Disney Slideshow

From Disney Slideshow

From Disney Slideshow

From Disney Slideshow

Oh My Goodness!!! I saved that little shirt that Jake is wearing. It's in Jayson's closet now. I can't wait for my little Disney Days with Goose.

From Disney Slideshow

From Disney Slideshow

From Disney Slideshow

A Commercial

We now interrupt this blog marathon to bring this important announcement :)

Many of you have asked what I've done to learn photography - the answer is a big ol' list of things. One thing I'm doing right now is watching the PhotoVision DVD series. I'm a visual learner so this hits the spot. Each DVD has multiple segments with pro photographers. You can SEE them work in a photo shoot or in photoshop. They talk about their marketing, vision, and other business aspects in their interviews. Not every one applies to me - I don't have studio lights and don't have a high end fashion studio. I haven't shot a wedding. But I find inspiration to learn and try by watching them. I especially like the segments on newborn, children, and senior photography. Good Stuff!!!

If you would like to buy them too, you should use this link and enter promo code PVFAN so you only pay $39 for the complete set. Don't pay the list price of $149 - that's just silly :)

Ok. Back to the regularly scheduled programming.

Blog Marathon - Mile 12 - Bit o Honey

Saturday started off with Uncle Rich driving the kiddos in the children's parade. Then it was time to hand out the bags because the candy toss (I mean the parade) was about to begin. I like candy. I've tried many varieties. I have several favorites. One of those is BIT O HONEY. They are kind of tricky to find. I have to go to the gas station and buy two bags for a buck or one for 59 cents. So when the first float started tossing these beauties, I was sending the kids out to fetch them for momma. Here's the thing. Apparently this small town is overrun with bit o honey candies. Just about EVERY float had a bulk sized back of WhaT? - not tootsie rolls or taffy, but bit o honey. Surely this is the BEST parade I've been to!!

Blog Marathon - Mile 11 - Cash Cow

I don't think my kids have every even seen a rodeo. So what did we do? We signed them up to BE in one. For the boys CASH COW.

The contenders:

The keeper of the cash:

The chase:

Wait a minute. Who is chasing WHO???

That's better. Go get 'em.

Back and forth

Young cowboy steps up and takes the cow down.

Thankfully our boys walked away - well, kinda. Jacob was lucky enough to get a ribbon which he redeemed for $1. James unfortunately was kicked in the groin and wasn't quite as excited.

Blog Marathon - Mile 10 - AHHHH - a bear

One of the great things about morning church is that the kids have ALL afternoon to drive each other crazy. Sigh. The boys often get the FlipCam out to make one of their very interesting videos. They think they are hilarious and I sometimes do. Sometimes I find out that nearly a whole bottle of ketchup was used to cover their bodies as fake blood in my front room ON THE CARPET. I don't think that is very funny - I mean I do, but I'm the mom and I'm supposed to get mad about it.

James and Jacob particularly enjoy SCREAMING into the camera - usually with their mouths wide open and their uvula shaking in their throats. (I know words like uvula because I'm a vocalist and you need lift your uvula to seamlessly move from one high note to the next). Then they play it back repeatedly, so even though they have stopped yelling there is still yelling. They like to watch themselves flare their nostrils and bug their eyes out. I'm going to have some pretty decent blackmail footage when prom comes around :)

They take a random phrase like "it tastes great" and add their own accent to it and instantly it is the funniest thing ever and is said over and over. Jayson can parrot things back. So when Jacob was walking around screaming "AHHHHHHHH!!!!! It's a bear. AHHHHHH!!!! It's a bear." Jayson caught on.

Here watch (listen carefully):

It's loud, but we all agree that it's also adorable.

I'm not sure WHAT tastes great, but something does. The point of these series of movies as the boys explained was to just keep repeating the same phrase and they show a funny face. Truly my kids are going to be the next big thing in Hollywood.