DISNEY ON ICE: TOY STORY 3

I took the kids to see Disney On Ice: Toy Story 3 last weekend. It was my first time going to one of those and it was AWESOME! I couldn't tell who loved it more, me or the kids! :P Every time one is in town, I never find out about it until after the fact, lol. This time was perfect, Jeremiah was gone to Reserve duty all weekend so it was a great thing for me to do with the kids while Jeremiah was gone. Joley was absolutely amazed, I loved watching her reaction to everything. She kept waving at the characters and asking if she could go hug them. Too sweet. ♥ :) Caleb loved it too, but since he's older he wasn't quite as excited, haha!

Of course we bought the overpriced souvenirs, but that's all a part of the fun, right? Joley picked out a Jessie cowgirl hat and Caleb got a light-up Buzz Lightyear sword. Caleb got popcorn and Joley got cotton candy, and the cotton candy came with a little Toy Story alien hat, so Joley let Caleb have that. They also got the souvenir Woody cups, because popcorn and cotton candy make ya thirsty and the lines for other (probably cheaper) refreshments were ridiculously long. But hey, again- all part of the fun. ^_^



I couldn't figure out what was wrong with Buzz's eyes. I thought the actor was intoxicated or something, it looked like his eys were rolled back into his head. But once I got home and edited my pics, I could zoom in and see it was actually a crap-ton of white make-up right under the dude's eyes, which made his eyes look freaky during the show, lol.




Joley's favorite one!




After the show... both kids unamused at me wanting to take MORE pictures, and Joley was seriously lacking a nap. ;)


The show was FANTASTIC. I loved every minute of it. The only thing that sucked was the cramped seating... I wish they had spread the chairs out a little more so I wasn't sitting in the lap of the person next to me. :P we bought really good seats too, right on the ice! I cannot wait for another show to come to town, that was soooo much fun!

JEHIAH'S BIRTHDAY

My baby nephew Jehiah turned 1 recently and my sister had a party for him lst weekend. I can't believe he's that old already, it seriously feels like it was yesterday that she had him!! These kids grow up entirely too fast.

Birthday boy! So cute!


My handsome man!


My nephew Jeremiah

BUSY BOY

With the school year coming to an end and summer close, Caleb's been a busy boy! His school finally had their Field Day (the previous date was rained out). It was super hot and muggy that morning, but the kids enjoyed it!

A classmate and Caleb


Caleb and Joley


Parachute! I used to LOVE this when I was a kid!






Caleb also had hs last soccer game of the season. Hard to believe its over already! He did really well that game... my little defender. :P





His "why are you taking my pic?!" face :P


LOVE this! Focused!


Last team huddle!


Tonight Caleb's school had their End Of The Year celebration thing. We went to the classrooms and got all his artwork for the year, talked with the teacher, etc. It was a good time, and totally hard to believe my little man will be a 2nd Grader soon! *shock*

At his desk!


Caleb and his classmate

MOTHER'S DAY

Joley helping daddy wash my car for Mother's Day ^_^


For Mother's Day my mom, aunt, cousin, grandma and I all went to Sips N Strokes. It was so much fun! I can't wait to go again!

My mom and I with our wine glasses I painted for us!


My cousin and grandma


My aunt


All of us with our paintings!


First...


Halfway through...


My finished product


I had several orders for Mother's Day. One friend ordered tuxedo strawberries for her mom, delicious!


Others ordered wine glasses










I also made this for my son's teacher, to hang in her classroom


I made this for our living room, since we got a new area rug


Super cute!


A friend ordered this for her baby's nursery

CAKE TIME!

I've been wanting to get more into baking lately, but never really knew where to start. It seems so involved, and I didn't want to shell out hundreds of dollar buying all the tools and supplies I'd need. I figured I should start with some cake decorating classes that are usually offered at the craft stores here in town. But honestly, with our crazy schedules, when will I ever have time for that?

Over the past few days I tossed around the idea of making a Mother's Day cake for my family to enjoy next weekend. I convinced myself to buy the few cheap tools/items I'd need. Then I talked myself out of it. Today I decided the hell with it, I'm making this dang cake! I told myself it'd be easier and cheaper if I go with buttercream frosting instead of fondant, mainly because I've never used fondant before and I know I'll end up with it everywhere and I'll get frustrated, etc. Trusty ol' youtube provided me with some wonderful ideas on how to get a smooth finish with buttercream frosting. Particularly this video. And she also posted her buttercream recipe here. I just added some almond extract along with the vanilla to make an almond-y flavored frosting. It is DELICIOUS! The cake turned out super cute, if I do say so myself. Not perfect, but not shabby for it being my first attempt! The cake tasted wonderful, much better than anything we've ever bought anywhere.



This evening we decided to use the grill for the first time this year. We made hamburgers! Yum! Per the kids' request, we all ate outside and enjoyed the nice, warm evening.

EASTER

We never pass up an opportunity to bake some goodies for holidays. Easter was no different. ^_^ Joley and I made a bunny cake.







Easter was all Joley could talk about for the past couple weeks. She asked all sorts of questions about the Easter bunny and the baskets he delivers. The night before Easter she decided she did NOT want the bunny coming into her room at night, because "that's scary". I guess as a kid I was too excited about the festivities to worry about how creepy it was... Santa coming into the house to leave gifts, the easter bunny leaving candy and baskets, the tooth fairy leaving money and stealing your teeth. I guess when you look at it that way, it is creepy. Leave it to my child to look at it this way. :P So the night before Easter she kept getting out of bed, asking all sorts of crazy questions about the easter bunny. Finally, she had this conversation with my husband:
Joley: Daddy, I want you to make the easter bunny dead.
Jeremiah: What?
Joley: I want you to make him dead.
Jeremiah: Joley, are you saying you want me to kill the easter bunny?
Joley: Yeah.

!!!! Geez. So I promised her that I would stay awake long enough to tell the easter bunny NOT to put the basket in her room, to leave it in the living room. Apparently that was enough reassurance, she went to sleep not long after. Easter morning she came into our room, bright and early, and we went to hunt down her easter basket. That bunny left them in the living room, near the fireplace, just like I told him to do! Good job, easter bunny!





Of course, we had to try out the bubbles!


We got all cleaned up before heading to my dad's house.






Caleb was with his dad for easter morning, but was coming with us to my dad's for easter lunch and an egg hunt, so we brought Caleb's basket over there. Like Joley, he loved all his easter stuff.





Forget the Star Wars Wii game, he was most excited about his new watch!


Caleb and Joley with their cousins, Joseph and Jeremiah. Caleb thought the boys were too cute, all dressed up in suits!


Caleb got a kite from grandma and pawpaw.


Ready to hunt eggs!


Pawpaw let the little ones get a head start...








I see it!!!


All done!


Caleb found the silver prize egg!




Inspecting their loot.


Family ♥


Typical.


Me and the kids with my dad.


Bubble time!