Good old days

I just got Sage down for a nap, Jaxon is watching a movie in my room and my house is SILENT!!! Sweet wonderful bliss. So what do I choose to do? Blog of course. This one is for Kelsey. I apologize for making you see mutant Rhodes Rolls for so long.

So I am working on a little project for my friends for Christmas, and have some fantastic pictures that I just am dying to show the world. I've been friends with these ladies for a really long time, and I just feel so blessed to have been in such an amazing group of friends. Yes, I'm talking about you: Kelsey, Sarah, Melissa, Lisa, Lacey and Tashina. So enjoy this little blast from the past. I love you all! Now, please forgive me for the embarrassing pictures you're about to view.

I'll start with me, it's only fair. This is in 6th grade (I think)

Me and Mel....one crazy night at Wendy's

Here is the 7 of us. It's the only picture with us all in it. We need to change that ladies.

One of the earliest pictures of me and Kelsey. Gosh, it's been a long time huh?

Tashina...she's honestly probably the most beautiful person I know. That's why I feel 100% okay about posting this picture.

I think we were trying to be funny. We sure had fun back then huh Lis?

Lacey was probably the funnest roommate I could have ever hoped to have had in college. This picture just tells it all.Here's the gang at my 15th birthday party...nearly 11 years ago. It was a murder mystery, hence the cosumes.Well, there are so many more, but I'll leave you with that. Thanks for all the memories. I can't wait to keep making more!

This is what a bag of Rhodes Rolls looks like when it's been left out overnight. I thought it was pretty interesting.

This wasn't even a full bag!

Thats all.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving yesterday. It started when Jaxon and Sage joined Jake and I in bed. I love mornings like that. When we asked Jaxon what he was thankful for, the list went as follows:

1. Nice seamonsters (who's not thankful for that!)
2. Scuba Divers
3. Nice sharks
Then, after some prodding,
4. Jesus
5. Mom and Dad
6. Baby Sage


I then had to start on my list of food items I was in charge of for dinner. One of which was an eight layer jello, which takes forever to make. I was in the best mood all day. I LOVE HOLIDAY'S! Jake and Jaxon went fishing, and Sage took a nap, so I was able to get all my cooking done without interruptions, which was really nice. Finally around 3:00 we headed off to Heidi's house, with my jello, green bean casserole, and tomato mozzarella salad. After waiting for everyone to arrive, we ate at 5:00. Dinner was delicious! Thanks to my dad for being one of the top shoppers at Fred Meyer, and winning us a huge Turkey. I guess our Thanksgiving was pretty typical, but if you ask me, there's nothing better than a typical Thanksgiving.

Here's our beautiful table

Jake and I, not so patiently waiting

The dinner party, just add Dad

Sage was stealing Holly's toy.

Mom and baby Sage

Sage is WALKING!!

Well, my baby is officially walking. She's not too proficient at it yet, but she's been practicing more and more lately. And, she's only 9 months old! Why is it my kids are so anxious to be all over the place? I guess God thinks I'm up for any challenge!

Wedding Cake #1

Here are some photos of the first wedding cake I made. My brother just sent me an email with these pictures and told me that I should add them to my blog! How cool is it that my big brother reads my blog! Love ya Bud!

So the story of the cake goes something like this. My brother, Mark, and his finace (Mikalann), came to Oregon for Christmas last year. We were doing wedding dress shopping and there was lot's of wedding talk, so I just threw out the suggestion that I should make the cake. Mikalann didn't seem so keen on the idea at first, but said that they would think about it. After I offered my services, I quickly regreted it. I didn't know how to make a wedding cake! Surly I would destroy anything I tried to make. Well, I few weeks later Mikalann called and said that she would love if I made the cake. Oh great! So I proceeded to make a practice cake, which turned out not so bad, and then the big day came, and.....here it is! The flowers really are what made the cake, and I didn't do that part, but the finished result was awesome. I was so proud. And it even tasted good. YEAH!! So here are the pictures. Thanks for the chance expand my talent Mark and Mikalann!

I Love Tuesday's!

Let me tell you about Tuesdays.

Tuesday is a special day.

For the past year I have spent my Tuesday evenings dining at my sister Heather's house. Sounds fantastic right? Let me continue.....

I eat dinner at her house only after she has taken my kid, sometimes kids, for a few hours beforehand. Sounds even better? Well,

I always come home after dinner to a clean house, and extremely tired children, who practically put themselves to bed. AND THEN, (yes, there's more),

Dancing with the Stars elimination is on at 9:00! YEAH FOR TUESDAY'S!

And a big thanks to my big sister for making it all possible. Love ya Hed!

Heather and the kids

Delicious dinner

This is one of the kids Tuesday activities. My sister had them put on a little play, costumes and all, on a little stage they found by a park. It was so cute. What a cool aunt.

Jaxon and Emily all dressed up for the play

Wedding Picture

I found this picture today and I wanted to post it and share. It's always good to remember your wedding day from time to time.

Cinderella

Last night I spent the evening is pure bliss as I listened to the beauty that is opera. My sweet father bought us both tickets to go see Rossini's Cinderella at the Keller Auditorium, and it was unbelievable! Because I studied so much opera in college is really is a passion for me, and I am hardly ever exposed to it so I literally sat on the edge of my seat most of the night just enthralled by the voices, the language, the orchestra, and every little bit of the whole experience. The best part was my dad's little stories about the different opera's he'd seen in his life and what they were like. He saw the Barber of Seville in Germany with an outstanding cast. I feel so blessed to have a father who wants to go to the opera with his daughter. And he kept telling me how happy he was that I would go with him! I think this might have to become a little tradition of ours. What do you say dad? Thanks for the amazing night!

Finished Product!

When I dropped the cake off, and I told the bride not to look to close because it wasn't perfect she said, "Imperfections are perfect!" It was exactly what I needed to hear to put my mind at ease. So here it is! And here is a link to the last wedding cake I made.

Well, I did it! Wedding cake #3 is complete, and it even looks pretty good! It will have red roses on the top, as well as under the base. I think it will look really elegant. This is my first wedding cake with buttercream, and it's hard for me because it's just not possible to get it completely smooth, and that's what I want, but I'm still happy with it. It's such a great feeling finishing a cake. I just sit and stare at it. It's a little bit like having a baby! Okay, that's an exaggeration, but you get the idea....

And here is the not so glamorous aspect of the cake business....the MESS!! It's 11:09pm, and I've conquered about half of the kitchen. I had to take a little break and blog a bit.

I'll get some pictures of the finished cake with the flowers and all and post them.