Summer Vacation 2010, Part One

Our vacation this year started out with an engagement party for John Mark and Jamie in Valdosta on Saturday.

It was a wonderful show of love for my sister and family hosted by friends. It was good to see friends of the family that I had not seen in many years. Another great aspect of the party was that it was hosted by a couple that happened to live in Doc Holliday’s (yes, the famous friend of Wyatt Earp) childhood home. It was absolutely stunning. They have done a wonderful job restoring the house.

On Sunday, Eric and I celebrated our 12th anniversary. It is hard to believe that is has been 12 years. When I look back at the years and see all that we have shared, I am truly blessed. I have a loving husband who gives all to provide for his family and has given me 2 wonderful girls.

I Love You Eric!

Sunday afternoon we traveled to St. Augustine for our yearly beach trip. Unfortunately most of the time I forgot to take my camera with me but I did get some good shots when I did remember. We spent Monday getting settled and shopping for the week. 

Tuesday morning and went to “Old Town” and walked around. The chicklets and I found this cool shop called Bath Junkie on one of the side streets. You pick out what you want (lotion, scrub, shampoo, etc.), scent and color and they mix it up for you. It was so neat. Chicklet 1 made shampoo, chicklet 2 made sparkly lotion and I made whipped hand cream.

After our stroll downtown, we went to the beach. Eric fished while the chicklets played in the surf.

  Eric laughed at me because I am the only person he knows that can go to the beach and not need to rinse sand off of their feet at the end. I. Hate. Sand. I did not want to end up like Chicklet 2 and spend the rest of the day doing this.

Digging sand out of my pants!

I will let you rest from reading for now. I will post again tomorrow with more of the trip.

Summer is Here!

I am sorry that it has been so long between posts but other than our short trip to V-town, our days have been spent by the pool. As soon as the Chicklet’s wake up, they are checking the Weather Channel to see what the temp is for the day and if it is going to rain.

Here are a few pictures of them enjoying the summer fun.

They love the slides and diving board. I will post if we do anything interesting. Other than that, I am just going to enjoy the summer with the girls.

I am working on a few new projects so I will keep you posted on them though.

Teacher Appreciation Week

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week at the Chicklet’s school. They had such wonderful teachers that I felt like I needed to do something really special for them. I cannot take credit for the ideas themselves, but it did take my time and effort to pull it all together. I got the ideas from this wonderful new blog that can be viewed here.

Monday

I gave the teachers and para-pros each a chocolate bar that I covered in scrapbook paper and a thank you note that I had the Chicklet’s write to each teacher.

Tuesday

Tuesday’s gift was this cute little take out box filled with Swedish Fish.  The tag said, “You are o”fish”ally the best!”

Wednesday

Wednesday’s gift was this cute little candle. The tag said, “You are scent-sational.”

Thursday

Thursday’s gift was just for the two main teachers. It was this cute little jar filled with gum balls. The tag said, “Teacher’s Treats (to share or not to share).”

Friday

Friday’s gift was this cute little organizer that I filled with coordinating office supplies, hand sanitizer and chocolate. I covered the top in scrapbook paper and added a cute bow.

 

I hope all of the teachers liked their gifts and realize how much I appreciate what they have done for my chicklets this year. We will miss them next year.

Last Cake Class

Last weekend was the last cake class for Chicklet #1 and I. We have had so much fun and learned so many wonderful things. This class taught us how to make flowers out of gum paste that were real looking. It is going to take a lot of practice to get them to look real but it is something I have always wanted to do. It has been wonderful to have this time together with my big girl. For our last class, we had Mamaw with us and of course she had to get in on the fun. Leave it to Mamaw to act like one of the kids.

Everyone thought it was cool that my mother would jump right in and have fun. You can tell they did not know her.

For our cakes, we had to incorporate flowers that we had learned how to make.

 

Chicklet #1 decorated hers with vines and different blossoms. It turned out really beautiful. We did learn that you need to put these flowers on fondant covered cakes to keep them from wilting. After a day, all of the flowers on the cake were soft and droopy. Oh well, that is how you learn.

I did a flower pot full of daffodils. I think it turned out good but it was not what I had started out to do. I was going to make a tea pot cake but it ended up looking like a football. Oh well, live and learn.

I am going to miss our Sat. gang but I will keep all of you up to date on our creations. We are not going to stop making cakes just because the class is over.

Easter Kittens

Last Saturday before we went out of town, Chicklet #1 went outside to feed Izzy (the stray that took up residence at our house over the winter) and found that she had had kittens. There were three and they were the cutest things ever. There was 2 calico’s and one tabby. The tabby and one calico had bobbed tails like their mom.

Sadly, when we got home on Sunday, both of the bobbed tail kittens had not made it. The chicklets were sad but Eric explained to them that there was probably something wrong with them and that was Gods way of taking care of them. They were okay after that.

They named the kitten Checkers. It is so sweet. Its eyes are open and it is starting to move around more.

If we leave the front door open too long, Izzy picks the kitten up and takes her into Chicklet #1’s bedroom and puts it on the pillows. It is so funny. We have to be quick or Izzy is in the house before we know it.

Kittens are so cute when they are little. Now we just need to find homes for both Izzy and the kitten.

Happy Easter

This Easter we had a lovely time at the chicklets Nana’s house. They played outside in the lovely sunshine on Saturday. I walked around the yard and took pictures of all of the flowers that were blooming. It was just beautiful.

This tree was alive with bees. There were hundreds of them gathering nectar from the blooms.

The wisteria was covered in bees also. I could not pass up this beautiful shot. I wish the bees wings would have shown up iridescent like they were in real life.    

After church on Sunday we had to stand in front of the tree and have our yearly Easter picture taken. This is a family tradition.

After lunch, we all went outside for the Easter egg hunt. 

Chicklet #1 and I made a cake for Amy’s birthday. She had requested a cake with daisies all over it so that is what we gave her. It turned out beautifully.

 

 I hope all of you had a beautiful Easter too. 

 

Chicklet #1 is 10

On Tuesday, Chicklet #1 turned 10  and made her mommy feel really old. How is my little girl 10? Where did the time go?

We had a cookout on Saturday to celebrate her big day. She had a couple of girl friends over and family for some of Eric’s famous Bar-B-Que. Her birthday also coincided with our final cake in course three of the cake decorating class so we were able to use our cake as her birthday cake.  It was fun to create and even more fun to eat.  I made a yellow butter cake with chocolate butter cream icing on the outside and strawberry butter cream icing between the layers. Yum Yum.

She had lots of fun playing with her friends and we tie dyed shirts which was a big hit with the kids of all ages.

Notice the two big ones in the middle of it all. I was only helping the girls but I enjoyed it.

Amy and I looked real good going to work on Sun. night with colored fingers. The kids loved it so I guess that is the important part. 

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!