Ta-Da!

Well, we did it!

My people came through, like always, and we made the cake.

See for yourselves...

I baked the top tier and made the fondant.
(The bottom 2 layers are styrafoam.)My sister and K helped to frost the rounds and then we covered them.

If you make a silly face for a picture, of course I will post it!
I was so happy with how the rounds turned out. It was a great start.
...and then, T put her fist through the top tier.

I straightened the tier as best as I could. Fondant is very forgiving. I toyed with the idea of hiding the remaining dents with the flowers the florist would bring. Then R reminded me that although it was a favor, it was still their wedding cake. Oh, yeah.

As I thought about it, I realized that a lot of what I do is "good enough". Not great, or super, just "good enough".

I wanted to be proud of this project.

I didn't want to have to hide the flaws.

I stayed up and baked a 2nd night and then, instead of delivering the cake in the morning, I spent the day frosting and covering a new top tier.

It was even better than the first,
perfectly round and level.

And, all 3 layers sprinkled with edible glitter.
(Thanks, other sister)

I felt pride as I set up the cake on the stand the bride's mom had provided.

The florist arrived with the flowers and ribbon that the bride wanted to use.
Together, we finished the project.

Ta-da!


(The bride smiled.)

I Have People

I think I must be one of the smartest people I know. HAHAHAHA... Yes, it is funny :) Seriously, though, I admit to being proficient in many skills, while not expert in any. The reason I am ok with that, is one little secret...

I have people.

My friends are the most amazing people ever! Collectively, they can do ANYTHING!

And... it's a darn good thing, cause I need a lot of help and they ALWAYS come through!

For example... My project for the next couple of days...

I AM MAKING A WEDDING CAKE.

FOR A RECEPTION.

A REAL ONE... AS OPPOSED TO A PRACTICE OR IMAGINARY ONE.

You may ask how this came about... good question!

I have 2 sisters who make cakes of all types and have been paid for their talents. My Indiana, soon to be Washington, sister specializes in using fondant. When we have had the treat of E being in town, I have watched her at work. I think it is amazing.

A few months ago, a new friend in my ward said she was making a wedding cake for a niece, but the niece wanted fondant. She had never used it before, but had heard somewhere that I had. Together, we helped my sister make the fondant and decorate our little brother's wedding cake.

Skip to now. This same friend agreed to do the wedding cake for a friend in our ward. As a gift. Knowing she had a busy summer schedule, asked me to be the assistant.
Of course, I would be happy to.

Now, she is out of town with her daughter and a new grandson.

Now, I am the head baker/decorator.

I have made the fondant.
I am baking the top layer that will be sliced and shared.
I am gathering the pedestal, ribbons, styrofoam forms, etc.

I have called my people... in this case, my sisters.

They are coming Friday afternoon.

We will make a gorgeous cake that will make the bride smile.

I love that I have people!

It's Time

For what? I just am not sure.

I have remembered, just now, something that I have told my children over and over.

"When everyone and everything is bothering you, it isn't them with the problem."

After I whisper these words in the ear of an overly frustrated child, I usually try to lovingly escort them to a quiet place where they can be alone. They may read, nap, have a snack... doesn't matter. They can re-center, re-evaluate, re-adjust, re-new. They may emerge when they have found their smile. Sometimes it takes a while, but I make sure to let them know they are not in trouble or grounded. I just help them to make a graceful exit.

So now, I try to figure out what the problem is. With the heat of summer sucking the life out of Arizona, I think it is doing the same to me. At the same time, something is stirring. Surprising breezes in the evenings and more...

I just can't put my finger on it, yet, but it feels like change is coming. Change always comes. As much as I profess to like adventure, I also like predictability. (That is why R is so right for me.) I feel like I need to batten down the hatches. I would even sit on my chicks, but I am sure they wouldn't like it!

Maybe I am simply feeling the weight of undone-ness. Corners, projects, a pile of zucchini and a crate of apples to use before they decay are all calling to me relentlessly... The children are growing up minute by minute... able and needing to do more and learn more.

The new list and responsibilities for the children are slowly making a difference. One of my favorite new assignments is that the 4 olders each have a night to plan and prepare dinner. I shop and assist. Try it, you'll like it!

Tonight, we even had an impromptu dinner with friends... The ones who let us live in their home for 6 months and still like us. We ate, laughed, talked and teased.

When they had gone, we talked about the good people in our lives. They enrich us and bless us.

They teach and inspire.
They motivate.
They don't notice what is un-done.
They even help when we need to make a graceful exit.

So, whatever it is time for, we are ready.

DONE!

I have had it with this week.

Summer school and summer band both ended last Friday. I had looked forward to a reduced schedule, no time constraints, not having to load into the 500 degree mini-van, and having my boys home to get stuff done.

I am wondering when we will get stuff done!

I made a great schedule and charts.

I established time limits and rewards.

I encouraged, suggested, plead, ordered, and then freaked out!

Boy , did I ever freak out. I am really great at yelling, and I hate it! (And hate is a bad word at our house.)

Everyone is really determined to practice their agency this week, but no-one seems to like the consequences. I am on edge until the last part of the day, wondering if anyone is going to do anything.

My children are miserable and keep asking if they can ...find friends, swim, play wii, go to the library, visit cousins, etc.

How do they not get it???

If they finish by an appointed hour, then the answer is yes... to all of the above!

Yet here I am, having to be the ultimate enforcer of chores and lists while I am trying to make dinner.... and yelling about it!

Calgon, take me away!

Messie...

We love this girl, but not her messes. She speeds through the house opening, undo-ing, dumping, and spreading. Sometimes she adds coloring and gouging to her agenda.
I was relieved, yesterday, when T picked up her doll and bear, apparently deciding she was finished helping me shred.A couple of minutes later, I called to K in the other room to see if T was ok in with her. She informed me that T had toddled through, but not stopped. K jumped up to find T and then let out a shriek of agony.

The doll and bear lay abandoned...
For this...After the scrub down, we noticed how perfectly her eyelashes were coated in mascara. This girl certainly is thorough!

Perfection

I have been accused, recently of having a perfect, fairy-tale life.

Me?
Of all people!

You know the hard work it takes to get up day after day to the same routine:

keeping house,
teaching children,
planning,
preparing meals,
scheduling,
ref-ing,
hauling,
mending,
serving,
noticing,
working,
etc.
etc.
etc.

Did you hear what I said?

Hard Work.

Things that are worthwhile all come with a price.

Hard Work.

Time.

Effort.

Sweat.

Tears.

Scrapes.

Bruises.

And after all this, there is no guarantee of the outcome. Whether I am making dinner or guiding a child, I put forth my best effort and then with a measure of blessings from my Heavenly Father, I hope for the best.

Sometimes, I burn dinner or it just tastes like "poop". (an actual quote!)

Sometimes, my children act like they were raised by banshees.

Sometimes, I get so caught up in my shortcomings that I wander from room to room not knowing what to do first... for days on end.



THAT IS LIFE

We all have those days.

Get over it.





I am blessed.

I am happy because I choose to be.

Now, GO BE HAPPY!

Jamming and Jamming

This has been a big year of firsts for me! They mostly come in the domestic area of my life. (I am not sure there is another area, though. )

Growing up with 9 siblings, we were always busy with something. The something was mostly always a regular part of coming or going and daily life. Occasionally, and I don't know why she would give herself the extra work, Mom would decide it was canning day. I remember we bottled cherries, bread and butter pickles, and peaches. There could have been something else, but these are the things I remember eating out of jars. Each time, it was a huge process. We started in the morning and didn't finish until evening when the entire counter would be lined with hot jars of yumminess. We would be tired, but it had been a day of great teamwork and industry.

Jump back to now. I knew that with our great, new yard, my work would be cut out for me. We juiced and froze every drop of juice off of every citrus tree (thanks to Papa for picking them all and helping me!). I anxiously anticipated using every last juicy plump boysenberry. I have made freezer jam plenty of times, but now, my freezer space is limited. Best option: cooked jam in jars that would have to have the lids sealed. It's ok, laugh. For me, this was a daunting task. I have never sealed a jar lid myself and I still had in mind the all day process.
With the companionship of my trusty ipod and L's trusty dock, I dove in. As of now, I have bottled 8 pints of boysenberry, 21 pints of fig, and 5 pints of apricot. I did it! They look beautiful and taste amazing. Better yet, I felt so good doing something I know my mom and grandmothers and their moms and their moms have all done. The surprising part for me is that each one only took up to a couple of hours, if that. The big difference was that I had not purchased boxes and boxes of fruit, but just used what was picked and ripe... a bonus: free fruit!
Last night, a friend called and said she had apples for me from her tree and that they made great jelly! One of R's favorites! I guess that will be my next bottling venture.

Pie in the Face

Early in the week, we received a phone call letting us know that one of R's Chilean mission companions was in Sedona. Could we get together? "Of course!" C also called their other "companion", who lives in Cottonwood, to come join in the fun. Since R had to work on Thursday, they decided to meet in the middle at the Rock Springs Cafe... famous for their pies.

These guys had not seen each other in 18 years! J and his family live in Cottonwood and opened a burger joint named Bing, C lives in Sacramento with his family and said we could visit anytime... nice! Our group of 17 was seated in a room all to ourselves. J's 2 babes are the same age as T and T. C's 2 girls are the same age as J and L. We had a super great time catching up.

Of course, we couldn't leave without some pie to bring home. The selection made it hard, but we decided on pecan and this... coconut cream... YUM.

Friday, after dinner, we cut slices for anyone who wanted some. L looked at it longingly and asked if it would be alright if he smashed his face in it. I told him it was his pie and he could do what he wanted with it. "What?!" Disbelief. "Really?"

Then T had to try, too.

Day Camp in the Desert

(There's Sir L with the shield and the "helmet" too small for his noggin!)

Cub Scout day camp is an amazing phenomenon that occurs each summer. I think the fact that dozens of scouters and parents wrangle hundreds of cubs in the heat of the desert for 3 days at a time make it truly remarkable. This year, the average temperature in blistering Phoenix has been about 108 F for our 3 assigned days of camp. YIKES!
R was able to take Monday and Tuesday off from work to go and help the leaders from our L's bear den. Each den is assigned a "campsite" that they decorate following the theme... this year it was "Knights of the Heard Pueblo". Activities begin at 3pm each day and end at 9:30pm. Each person brings their own sack dinner which is kept in a cool chest and there are plenty of places to refill water bottles.In addition to these fun activities, the Cubs also got to swim, hike, use a compass, shoot bb guns, water fight, make terrariums, and attempt to pull the sword from the stone! Hooray for Cub Scouts!

No Photos

Just as promised in the title, I have no picture proof of our wonderful, fabulous weekend in the mountains.

When we moved, it was only 2 blocks away from our previous home, friends, and ward (congregation). This small geographic change has brought many new experiences and lots of fun and learning.

When I had the chance to host our previous ward's Youth Conference for 3 days in lovely Pinetop, AZ, I jumped at the chance. My babes and I went up on Wednesday to make sure everything was in order. All of the youth and their leaders arrived Thursday at noon(ish).

I had time to assemble 994 pieces of a puzzle which ended up in the trash because of the missing 6. I soaked up the evening chill and let my babes drink all the hot chocolate they wanted. I enjoyed catching up with old friends and making some new ones. I didn't cook a single meal, as that part of the trip was assigned out. I watched and listened as my 2 older boys learned of life and spirit and mind and agency and accountability and then testified of what it all meant to them. I applied sunscreen and bug spray on the children and then did it again and again. I let my boys canoe and fish and even told them I would cook whatever they caught. (Un)fortunately they came back empty handed.

It was a wonderful weekend and I am ready to go back. Unfortunately, tomorrow starts 3 weeks of summer school (10 hrs daily) for L and summer band for J on trumpet and L starting trombone. They will be directed by the brilliant Mr. Kelly Higgins. Yahoo! 3 busy weeks and then we will relax, again and get ready for family reunions. I can hardly wait!