Cake Camp

For, four days in the middle of September, I was able to attend California Cake Club's Cake Camp! It was four days of cake classes, a Vendor room filled with "cake toys" and great people!

I had so much fun! I met some wonderful people, learned some great new things and was able to hone a few skills I needed work on. The teachers were amazing! I was exhausted after the four days were up, and could barely walk each night when I stumbled home :) but it was worth it...

I wish I would have remembered to take more pictures, especially of the people I met, but of course I always forget (that's why Lloyd does it :).

This is a few of my Yummy Art Pals. It wasn't all of them that were there, but we had a class by Tammy Utley right after this just for the YA members. It was great to meet them all in person after reading them on the forum for a couple of years...

This little fairy hippo princess is what Tami Utley taught us how to make. it was a lot of fun... she was very patient with all of us :)

I had ten classes (counting Tami's) and I remembered to get pictures of TWO of the instructors! Ugh... I am so bad about that. This was Kathy Scott... she taught quick and easy side designs. She was so much fun and funny too.

This is Roland Winbeckler. I had two classes with him. Writing Made Easy (hahahahaha, you need good penmanship to have good icemanship, which I don't :P ) and an Airbrush demonstration. He makes it all look so easy... but I am anxious to try some of his tips and such out.

I also took classes in ...

Painting on Sugar-Watercolor, pen & ink and oil effects by Ruth Rickey.

She so full of energy! I don't know how the lady does all the things she does and is involved in... I was tired just thinking about it!

I also took a class in making Cattleya Orchids by Janet Foster. She is the sweetest lady from England. I just wanted to take her home with me! This is her example. I didn't get mine all the way done in class, so I was going to finish it at home (giving it color). I dropped it! I was so upset. It shattered into many little pieces. One of the pitfalls of working with sugar!

I also had a class by Dianne Gruenberg on how to make life like apple blossom branch. It was so fun and informative. You could tell I was a novice at gumpaste flowers, for I took a long time to do this and the orchid above :)... I need way more practice to to a bunch at a time!

I also took a class in buttercream roses by Linda Bills. They were one of those things, I knew how to do, but didn't feel like I did very well.

Break the Mold - Make It! by Marina Sousa

And finally a class on building, owning and operating a successful cake business by Lori Vreeke.

She was really helpful and full of information and experience from her own venture. It gives me a lot to think about and consider.

Now it's time to use all the things I learned (and bought :) and put them to good use!

Four Pillars of Preparedness

Kittens, kittens and Chiwa?

Here Kitty Kitty!

Lloyd holding Cali and Rex...

The last time we visited my dad we came home with not one but two kittens! They are pretty cute and right now they are very playful and mischievous. The are everywhere and into everything. In fact right now Cali won't leave me alone!

This is Cali. She is the sweetest, loviest kitten. She has the loudest pur ever!

This is Bailey holding Rex. Rex is the most rambunctious kitten! He get into everything and loves to make trouble...

Chiwa has decided that they are her kittens however. She is very concerned about where they are, what they're doing and she loves to play with them.

Chiwa getting ready to wrestle with the kittens...

Puppy kisses anyone?

Mom...It's not a job...It's an adventure!

Mom's

My mom with my oldest sister...

Lloyd and his mom...

Don't you love when someone asks you "So what do you do..."? Sometimes, I feel like being really sarcastic (Gasp...I know not me! :), and telling them something like, what don't I do, or I pick up stray kittens off the side of the road and do experimental research on them. (Disclaimer...I would not really do that, I love kitties and have a few myself that are spoiled rotten :). I just feel like making something really outrageous up.

My sister Lynne with Dom...

Heaven forbid you tell them you are a mom and housewife. I actually had someone tell me once, that no he wanted to know what I did for work! Hello? Most women I know have more than one "job". A lot of them two or three. Some do have an outside the home (or in the home) paying job that they do for income. But they also have the all time consuming 24 hour a day, 7 day a week, 356 day a year non-paying, usually under-appreciated job of wife and mother. I once received an e-mail with a calculation of what a wife/moms monetary worth would be if even payed minimum wage for the service rendered in her week. It was shocking, yet society today doesn't seem to appreciate what they do not only around the house, but with nurturing our future generations.

My sister Tonya feeding Bryana...

One time, a friend of mine (an awe inspiring woman with 13 kids) told me her husband came home from work one day and asked her, what she had done all day? She was so upset, but she didn't get huffy or bent out of shape, for the next several weeks she kept a notebook of every little detail of her day, from how many diapers she changes, meals she prepared, squabbles she settled, loads of laundry she did, boo-boos she kissed better, dishes she washed...you get the idea. The next time he asked her that, she just handed him the notebook calmly and let him see. He never questioned her again about it. Granted most of us don't have that many children, but for many (like me) it's hard to keep up with the ones you have.

Me taking a nap with Ashley...

It's easy to forget the little things that have to happen to make a home operate smoothly. Sometimes things get pushed aside or postponed (for me its ironing :). Eventually it does get done...my house might not get dusted as often as I'd like or my garden weeded when it should, but I hope I make a difference in all the lives of those who come into our home. I love talking to the kids when they get home, or playing with the babies, whom I get the privilege of watching several days a week. For me, that is what's the most important. The hugs, the kisses, the chats about their day the little things that you don't always see, but can make a bigger influence in the lives around you. It's not always just your own kids you mother either...You may have as many kids in your home any given day as my friend with 13 of her own! I know I have before.

Morgan with her son, Alex...

So, kudos to all the Moms out there. (And all you future moms!) Know that you really are appreciated for what you do. (Yes, I know there are also awesome dads that do amazing things, maybe next post will be about them. ;)

Slacker...

Okay yes, I have definitely been a slacker when it has come to my blogs. I mean really where does the time go? It doesn't seem like its been months instead of weeks since my last blog. I have been crazy (not that that is anything new :) but hey who's life isn't?





Round up and branding were late this spring. So that's what we did for Mother's Day weekend. It was a lot of fun as always. Lloyd and Alex were really having a good time. I think Alex wants to grow up to be a cowboy :) Don't tell his mom...


I've been busy watching Tiggy and Alex and making cakes. Check my other blog for updates on those. I can't believe another school year is almost complete! It goes by so fast. Especially when your the mom and know you'll have kids at your house all summer :).

Inspiration Day!

Okay here is a link that is pretty cool. Finish Strong!

http://www.maniacworld.com/are-you-going-to-finish-strong.html

Need a little inspiration?

Hey guys, I am still really here :) Just been pretty preoccupied with a few things here and there. Here is a really great video clip. Well worth the 12 minutes to veiw it!

Forgiveness

This is so good I had to share it with you.