Let it Snow . . .

Let it snow . . . let it snow. We love the snow!! The only thing we are not a big fan of is the ice. Thankfully, we didn't get as much ice as other parts of the state or even the U.S., but even the little bit we got kept us restricted to what we could do.

The kids have been outside playing in the snow, building forts and just having a blast. Cassie and I had to venture out yesterday and deliver the community midweek paper. About twenty minutes in to what normally takes us three hours to deliver, I turned around in a driveway and got STUCK!! So, Cassie and I tried the typical stuff -- rock the van, push the van, put papers under the tires to get traction -- to no avail. I had to call Jay to come and dig us out. Cassie was even put behind the steering wheel and coached on what to do with the gas and the brake, but it took Jay digging out the front tires and then all four of them pushing and rocking the van. The sad part . . . Cassie and I were standing beside the van and three, yes three, cars drove around (we were more than half way into the street) the van and never stopped to ask if we needed any help, and the driveway we were stuck in, the people were watching in their front window. Maybe people couldn't even fathom the idea that we were stuck at the edge of this driveway, but at least ask -- these cars had more than one guy in each of them. Well, when it was said and done, it only took Cassie and I a total of 4 1/2 hours to deliver. We defintely are not looking forward to Saturday, when we have to hang the weekend bag on every mailbox - yesterday we got to throw the papers in the driveways.



These flakes were so big and beautiful.



Kenzie wanted to catch them, but they would melt as soon as they hit her hand.



So, we used black construction paper.

The ice on this tree in the front yard was so pretty.

Everyone be safe . . . Let it snow, let it snow.

Triple Chocolate Fudge . . .

Well, last night was my last class for my level 2 Wilton cake decorating class. It has been great fun learning how to make flowers out of royal icing and the ladies in the class were enjoyable to talk with. The class was a great opportunity to have "me" time away from the house and be around "grown-ups", yeah! I did come home and practice the techniques I learned during class, and of course, Mackenzie wanted to help. I think over the next month or so I will teach Mackenzie what I have learned, as long as she wants to learn. She actually keeps asking if she can take a cake decorating class. I wish they did offer these same classes geared to a younger age level; there was actually an 8 yr. old boy in our class and he did a very nice job following along and making his flowers, and his final cake was great.



This is my blank canvas, pre-iced cake, for class. We will be learning the basket weave for our final project.



These are the various flowers I made out of royal icing and then two birds made from color flow. They can be added to the final cake.



Well, the cake in the course book was done in white buttercream icing and it looked very classy. It looked very elegant. My decorating or taste is one of a more casual, country feel. So I asked the teacher if I could do a brown basket. I originally thought I would just color the white buttercream brown. Well, as I was looking through my course 1 book, I found the recipe for the chocolate buttercream icing . . . YUM!! Then the wheels in my head started turning and I thought it would be neat to do a two toned basket like some of the Longerberger ones I have.



Well, I think it turned out pretty cool, especially for being the first-time. I have to admit, my hand is sore this morning. I don't think this is something I will do very often, but I do plan on using this technique again. I have to admit, it is hard to keep a sturdy hand and my hand started cramping before I was done, but it was well worth it.

I had all those flowers made . . . practice, practice, practice; but, then I only used a few. So now I have a ton of flowers for a later cake or cupcakes.



Of course, it didn't take long for us to cut into the cake. The kids greeted me at the door and wanted to see the "masterpiece" cake. My mother-in-law suggested waiting to cut the cake till my husband got home, but I figured he could see what was left as well as the pictures. The cake was very yummy . . . let's call it Death by Chocolate, as the cake is a triple chocolate fudge cake with chocolate buttercream icing.

Expressing their creativity

I love watching the kids express their creativity and using their imaginations. A few years ago, Cassie took a painting class and loved what she learned. She still loves to paint, so she has her art tote of paints and brushes and canvases. Mackenzie loves to do crafts and paint. So, the other night she asked Cassie to paint with her. They got out the card tables and set them up with their own little paint stations. Then Cassie got out her scrapbook of completed paintings and they picked one to paint. They did a very nice job replicating the painting.

Mackenzie and Zack ventured outside yesterday in the snow. They used their imaginations and built their own little volcano. Mackenzie came in after the structure was built and asked for a container of ketchup. Ketchup, for what? Well, as it turned out they used it as the lava flowing from the top of the volcano.

He's famous in an inner circle . . .

Okay, our kids love going to camp in the summer, and we have been fortunate enough that our home congregation felt that it was important to help any child attend one of Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Ohio (LOMO) camps- and they paid they way of many, those who wanted to go. We thank them for their previous support and hope and pray they reconsider their decision for the future as they have forgotten the importance of "family" and helping those close to home that have needs, big and small.

Enough of that, sorry . . . Well, last night Jay was opening some of the mail from the congregations that he serves as the senior seminarian vicar, and there were packets for the LOMO 2009 summer camps. Even though we won't be here this summer, as we are anticipating a move west after Jay graduates, our kids still wanted to look through the booklet to see what camps are offered.

All of the sudden Cassie yells, "It's Zack!!"

I (mom) of course respond, "Our Zack?"

Cassie preceded to show us that Zack is in a picture and has made it on one of the promotional flyers. We started laughing and then the kids flipped through the big booklet to see if there are any other photos of the kids (only Cassie and Zack went in 2008). Well, as it turns out, the publication for the LOMO summer 2009 camps, that will be mailed out state wide, has four pictures on the front, one of which is the one below of Zack and one of his cabin mates (it is cropped and you just see the boys running). Of course, I will be saving the booklet . . . I may even have him autograph it. LOL

Of course, after we saw the photo, we went to LOMO's website to see what other photos they had from the 2008 summer. We found these other pictures from the kids' summer adventure . .

Zack attended an astro camp that was themed around rockets and space. So they ate food like they would in space; they tied food from strings and hung them from the ceiling/rafters and they kids tried to eat it without using their hands. Then they built rockets and got to launch them.

Are we having fun, yet?

Cassie loves going to the homestead . . . this is about 3/4 mile from the main camp and she lived without running water, electricity, and indoor facilities. They cooked everything over an open fire and took care of some animals. At the end of the week, we (the parents) attended a closing program where the kids and counselors talked about what they did during the week and then they sang songs.

We hope where ever we end up, the kids will be able to enjoy such an opportunity as camp. These camps give kids an opportunity to meet other kids, make new friends, experience life without parents, encourage them, teach them, and share God's love.

Fun in the snow

Yesterday was such a nice, balmy day. It was 48 degrees and the sun was shining. After lunch, we told the kids they could go outside and enjoy the warm(er) weather. So after they bundled themselves up they ventured out. They had a great time building their own snowmen.


This is Zack's snowman.


Here they are with Mackenzie's.

Now remember earlier I posted pictures of them working together to build a fort. Well, I guess they revamped their plans. Because they ended up making it into a motocycle. Here they are posing on their new ride . . .


And now they are taking off.

Just a little bit . . .

Well, this has been a busy week. We've spent some time visiting family. We spent Tuesday learning about an inauguration and then we watched a lot of the inauguration. The kids spent a lot of time with their instruments - I love hearing them play whether it's the piano, violin, flute, or drums. Poor Chloe (our St. Bernard) just whines when Cassie plays the flute. The kids are a big help with their cousin, Odie. They take turns entertaining him while I'm either teaching or making a meal.


Mackenzie loves talking with Odie. He is becoming more animated now as he is getting older.


Look at these hardworking students!! They work very intently when they have a goal in mind, whether it's playing on the Wii, selling Girl Scout cookies, or just hanging out.


Yeah, for cousin Cassie as she helps with Odie and still works on her assignments.

Homemade Crystals

Okay, every science book we have has this experiment in it and I'm afraid of experiments, but I went beyond my comfort zone. I actually used a recipe for the crystals that I found on edhelper's website. When we spent time with our family earlier this week, we took the supplies so we could do them with the kids. The kids all made their own designs from colored pipe cleaners. It amazes me (and the kids) how the borax in the water crystallized on the pipe cleaners.







Cassie's ended up looking like a quarter note; only a music teacher (Grandma Karen) and a student would see that.

Mackenzie's looks like across between a turtle and maybe a spider.

Zack's is a spaceship.

Hangin' out together

We got to spend some time with family yesterday. It was nice to see how the "twins" are growing and developing there own characters. We remember a time when they weren't to sure about us and it would take them a while to warm-up to us, but now that they're older they come to us without much warming time. Zack had fun playing with Princess - matter of fact she was very fond of him and she didn't want him to put her down.





Obviously the boys had a blast playing on the Wii. Here Zack, General, and Lightning race - they were so into the game it was funny to watch because they would edge closer to the TV as they approached the finish line.

Mackenzie made herself comfortable on Jay and watched the boys play.

Yeah for Aunt Lise, she spared some of her time to give us all haircuts. Of course, Zack didn't want a real haircut, so she cleaned up his mop.

One of Little Man's favorite things to do is to watch the movie Cars. He was so adorable, when the music came on he and Princess both stood there dancing, but then he was just mesmerized by the characters on screen.

Princess was so excited when she saw the cupcakes and she acknowledged "Elmo!" But before we left she and her mommy shared the last Elmo cupcake. YUM . . . that's good. What a pretty little face.

Cassie decided to join Little Man and Princess on the floor and watch the movie. Aren't they just adorable (you too Cassie).

Having fun decorating cupcakes

Well, we are planning a trip to see family - the kids are looking forward to playing with their cousins. Since we ultimately invited ourselves (we all need haircuts), we offered to bring lunch. I don't know about you, but you can't have lunch or any other meal for that matter without a treat afterwards. So, I baked chocolate cupcakes and the kids helped decorate them. Cassie was able to show Zack and Mackenzie how to hold the icing bags while they decorate the cupcakes.

The kids were excited to decorate some of the cupcakes as Sesame Street characters as the "twins" love Cookie Monster and Elmo.

Grandma Karen was watching Zack and Cassie as they worked quietly on their individual masterpieces. When Cassie finished her design, she explained to Grandma what exactly it was.

Zack decided he would decorate a cupcake for each of his cousins in their favorite NFL teams' colors.

Mackenzie made the Cookie Monster cupcakes, Cassie made the Elmo ones, and Zack made Oscar the Grouch.

When they were done, they had decorated twenty-five cupcakes. They had fun using the different icing tips on their canvases.

The kids did a nice job and they seemed to have enjoy making their own piece of art. Now, tomorrow we all get to enjoy them.

Teamwork

The kids love playing in the snow, regardless of what the temperature is. They wanted to go out desparately when we had the snow the other day, but it was tooooo frigid and I really didn't want them outside - plus it was not recommended to be out unless you HAD to. So today, Zack ventured out first and then he finally convinced Mackenzie to join him. They started working together to build a snow fort; however, I think they were only out a short time and didn't get it completed. I have to say it was nice to see them work together on the little bit they built.



After Mackenzie filled the tote she asked Zack to help her place it on top of the block to build the wall of the fort.

If it stays cold and we get more snow, they have a great start to the fort.