Three More Cake Creations

Naomi's Cake

My husband has the kindest heart. I was grocery shopping one night and Mitchell called me and asked me to pick up some marshmallows and some powdered sugar. My first thought was OH NO not this again. I knew that he was going to make a cake and I was pretty tired and it takes a lot of work and time to make one. He then let me know that the cake was suppose to be done in two hours for Lindsay and Ashley's friends party. There is no way we can do this.

Naomi's family does not have a lot of money at all and they were not even going to do a party for her so I was glad that they ended up having one. What 9 year old girl would not die for a birthday party? Mitchell asked her father if she had a cake and he told Mitchell no so he offered to make her one.

We were about thirty minutes late, but I know that Naomi did not mind.

(Mitchell taking the cake over to her house.)

When we walked in the door she was so happy and absolutely loved it. I too love how the cake turned out. We made her an orange and strawberry flavored cake, which we definitely learned our lesson from and will not make it again, but it was fun.

Scout Lodge Cake

On Friday night Mitchell went with the boy scouts to the Scout lodge overnighter. He decided to make a cake for one of his Priest's that he teaches at church since it was his 18th birthday. We searched the Internet and found a butter cream icing recipe which was so good! He put some cocoa powder in the recipe so it became chocolate butter cream icing.

He made a three layer strawberry cake with the chocolate butter cream icing. Since the cake was already three layers he left the fourth layer at home, due to the size so the girls and I were able to have some. I have to say that it was the best cake ever! So so so so good! Too bad it was such a small piece. :(

When Mitchell got home he told me that the birthday boy did not come to the lodge so they sang Happy Birthday anyways and enjoyed the scrumptious cake in which he received a lot of compliments on.

Of course, he was in such a hurry that he did not take a single picture. That is how he makes cakes, in a hurry. :)

Tanya's Cake

On Sunday Mitchell offered to make a cake for a surprise birthday party for a girl that was turning 18 in our ward. We were excited to make something more grown up and elegant.

I made a couple flowers (yes, I need to learn a new technique that we painted with our airbrush. Mitchell did a wonderful job on the fondant, it was so smooth and beautiful. The black tier was airbrushed and our girls cut out the diamond shapes.The surprise party was at Sweet Tomatoes so Mitchell walked in with the cake and Tanya was so surprised and absolutely loved the cake.

It is so fun having a hobby that the two of us, and at times our girls, can do together. We are learning more and more each day and who knows, we might get a bakery in the future. Ha Ha<>

Christmas Celebrations 2009

Our fun Christmas Festivities began with our ward Christmas Party, "Back to Bethlehem." We did the same party last year and I absolutely love it! It really makes you think about the true meaning of Christmas.

The manger scene was beautiful and so touching.
I had the opportunity of being the 1st Counselor in Primary which made me over the Activity Day Girls. I had fun working with the leaders and planning our fun Christmas Party. We made Gingerbread houses and had a fun gift exchange. I was just released as 1st Counselor and am now going to be a Sunday School Teacher for the 14 year olds. I am excited about my class and it should be a fun move for me.

At Preschool Hailey had a fun singing presentation for the parents. Hailey was very nervous but did a great job with her classmates. Wow, next year my baby will be in Kindergarten.

On Christmas Eve we have some family traditions and some new ones that we just started. Lindsay helped me make these nativity puppets at a Super Saturday activity. We had a fun time reenacting the Birth of our Savior. When time came for the Three Wise Men everyone received a new pair of pajamas including Mom and Dad!

We had a fun dinner of fondue and finger foods. Believe me, this is a tradition that will stick! Mitchell gave me this fun fondue pot for my birthday so it was fun to be able to use for Christmas.

That night the girls decided to sleep together on the floor of their bedroom. In the morning I went in and they were so excited to come out to see their gifts that Santa brought them.

When they walked into the living room it looked the same as when the girls went to bed the night before. Had Santa not come? After the girls opened what gifts were under the tree and as we were cleaning up I noticed a note under the plate that held the cookies that the girls sat out for Santa. The letter explained that since someone peeked while Santa was putting gifts under the tree he decided to hide the gifts.

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Hailey found her battery operated police motorcycle in my bedroom. She has spent hours on this and has had a blast!

Ashley found her fun Magic Kit under the living room couch. She has performed many fun Magic shows.

Lindsay found her BB Gun also under the living room couch. She was SOOOOOOOOOO excited to get her first gun.

Immediately she asked if she could go outside to give her gun a try and she made a bulls eye on the first try! We have all had fun shooting at targets and at soda cans.

After we opened gifts we sat down and had a fun Turkey lunch. My favorite part of the turkey lunch is all of the leftovers and that I get to use my China! :)

On the 26th some friends of ours called to tell me that she had tickets to The Nutcracker but she could not go so she invited the girls and I to go in her place. We had a great time and the play was wonderful!

I was worried about not having any extended family near us for Christmas but it ended up being so enjoyable. I am so grateful for such a fun year and am looking forward to seeing how 2010 turns out for our family.

Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving was very special this year because we were able to spend it with Family in California. Mitchell flew down to Hanford a week earlier to finish his parents garage that he had build the previous Christmas. I took the girls out a little early from school and drove with them. I was determined to make it to Hanford without getting a hotel. I got to Sacramento in record timing for me, but then got into a HUGE traffic jam that took me 2 hours to drive two miles. Once that let up, we were all relieved and made it to Mitchell's parents in 15 hours!!! It would have been a record anyways if not for our traffic jam.

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The first thing that the girls want to do when we get there is get onto the Four wheelers. We had a lot of fun, like always.

Hailey liked pretending that she was the tractor driver.

On Thanksgiving we were able to go to my parents house for a huge Thanksgiving Feast. While the women cooked, Mitchell and my brother decided to paint my parents bathroom. Those guys do not know what a break is. :)
Dinner was fabulous! Everyone in my family were able to be there except for Heather's and Tricia's family. It was sad not having them with us. Lindsay and Ashley loved being the oldest cousins though.
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Hailey and Ashley loved playing outside along with their cousins.

On Friday instead of Black Friday shopping we decided to go to the Beach. First stop was SPLASH! YUM! I am craving their clam chowder now.

It was much too cold to play in the water so we had fun playing in the sand.We also enjoyed a walk along the famous Pismo Pier. Chris, my nephew was able to come with us also. He is always fun to be around and the girls love being with him.

Back at Mitchell's parents home we had a huge bonfire to burn some of the wood that was lying around the barn. Yes, it was HUGE!

Mitchell and Lindsay found a spare minute to shoot a 22. Lindsay was hooked and immediately asked for a 22 for Christmas.

Mitchell is so good with woodwork and did a great job on the deck and the stairs. Next time we go to visit Hanford, we get to stay in the room that is above the barn and the girls are really excited for that.

Here is how the barn looked before we drove away. What an accomplishment for Mitchell. He can look at this for years to come and say, "I built that."