Frozen Cake

I decorated this Frozen cake last week.  These cakes always take a few days.  Monday I made the fondant, Wednesday I cut out the snowflakes so they could harden and I made the buttercream frosting.  Friday morning I baked the cake and in the evening I covered the layers with the fondant.  Then Saturday morning I put on the snowflakes and final touches.  I assembled it at the birthday party because moving a double layer on a cake plate is not a good idea. :)  The thing I learned from this cake is that decorating with humidity is not very fun.  The fondant never dried out completely and it was much softer and stickier to work with.  I might have to go back to my other recipe.  But it was a fun cake to do and the snowflakes were super cute.  

No More Diapers!

I should have posted about this awhile ago, but I just kept forgetting.  Kaylee is finally potty-trained!!  I think it has been almost a month now.  It was just a slow process for her, and I felt bad because we were so busy during that time that I kept putting her in and out of pull-ups, so that probably didn't help.  But she finally figured it out and she has stayed dry during the night as well, yay!  I have a big pile of diapers that I need to distribute among friends but I am so glad I won't be buying any more.  Potty breaks can be a bit frustrating or inconvenient, but it's fun to see my girls growing up.

Girl's Night Out

Someone suggested that we do a painting class for our GNO and I was so glad we did.  It was so much fun.  I was nervous about messing up or not doing a good job because I wanted it to look good enough to hang and I think it turned out well.  Looking at it now, I see some things I would like to change but it's not bad for my first oil-based painting.  On sale now for $99 - be the first to own an original C'Anne! :)

Around the house

 Since it was rainy and we had such a crazy week last week with day camp it was nice to just hang around the house.

 Doug put up some hooks and I hung the CD's so my concave wall project is done - this picture was taken when I still had the blue tape up. :)  I think it turned out cool looking - unique anyway.  I wanted to do this with the upper section too, but I don't think we can climb that high safely without scaffolding.  As a background story, this was my attempt at duplicating a look I liked with mirrors.  Their version had the mirrors hanging from a rod and mounted on wooden discs, which I really liked, but to fill this space it was going to cost over $200.  So I went with our old CD's and contact paper diamonds stuck in the middle.

The kids still like to build forts - it's nice that they can build them on their own now that they are older. 

 They didn't want to destroy their fort and since all the chairs were being used we had a picnic on the floor.

 Obstacle course.  The girls had fun jumping off of the slide onto the pillows.  Jenna would add a summer-sault after landing for extra effect.

Tropical Storm Bill

So this was our first storm experience with a threat of a hurricane in Tropical Storm Bill.  There was a lot of hype. The shelves were empty of water and bread - and we had emails from the Elder's Quorum telling us what to do in different scenarios.  The biggest thing we were worried about was flooding and extended power outage.  But I wasn't too concerned about the flooding because we were told we were on the 500 year flood plain.  But I didn't like the idea of being without power for more than a day or two.

So I went and filled the van up with gas on Monday - the storm was supposed to hit land on Monday evening.  We had our big barrel of water in the garage, but we filled up our bath tub just to be safe.  Anyway, to make a long story short, the storm didn't turn out to be as big as it was anticipated.  It slowed down a lot and really just produced a lot of rain (tropical storm was the official severity).  And some areas might have flooded, but we were fine.  We had lots less rain than the big storm we had 3 weeks ago.  Bill was a wimp.

I downloaded an app to watch the radar and it was cool to see the spinning storm and see where it was going.  It did rain pretty hard at times, but never for very long.

Tyler had an orthodontist appointment scheduled for Tuesday afternoon - right when the storm was coming in.  I thought we might need to reschedule, but it was just raining and the roads weren't bad.  So I guess we wait and see what the next storm brings.

Speaking of the orthodontist, there is an arcade area at the office we go to.   Jenna figured out how to reach the pedal and steer at the same time.  It kept my kids occupied while Tyler went in to get looked at.  His teeth are moving well, top front teeth are now in front of the bottom, and we will go in again in 9 weeks.

Cub Scout Day Camp!!!

So Day Camp started right after my parents left.  They called this camp a 'twilight camp' because the time was from 1:00-8:00pm.  The camp was all week long, which is a lot longer than our previous Stake-run camps which were usually only a Friday and Saturday.  This camp was put on by the scout council so it was pretty neat to see all the things that they did.  Our pack was the largest, but there were about 10-12 other packs there.  I would guess around 200 cubs in all.  

Doug and I volunteered three of the days.  Doug went on Tuesday and I went up on Wednesday and Thursday.  Friday was family day so I took the girls and Chris up at the end on Friday and just stayed for the last 2 hours.  

It was a lot of fun, but HOT!  We were all just dripping with sweat.  The Webelos had their own camp and agenda; they were out in the sun basically all day.  The Wolves and Bears were together and they had a few activities inside so they got a break from the heat.  They had a special something for the Wolves and Bears each day, Tuesday was a hands on insect exhibit and Wednesday they brought in an enclosed mini dome that allowed the kids to watch an astronomy show lying down.  An exhibit from the Forest Rangers came on Thursday and on Friday some representatives from the fire department and SWAT team were there with their trucks, weapons, and gear.  The firemen sprayed all the kids at the end on Friday.  They got soooo wet - at least those that chose to do so.    

Damon was put in a group of 4 boys from different packs.  They worked as a team to learn the Scout oath, law, slogan, motto, and the outdoor code.  They started a fire with flint and steel and boiled some water.  They went on a 'hike' (really just a walk around the perimeter of the grounds) and learned some first aid stuff.  He had a good time.  He was bummed the first day that he wasn't with his friend from his den, but I think he made friends with his group by the end of the week.

Fire!

Damon was excited to see a friend from school at camp, Noah.

Damon and Tyler both said they liked the range the best.  Damon liked shooting with the BB guns best and Tyler liked archery best.  They were both really good marksmen.  The range master even complemented Tyler on his good BB skills.  I was able to get a video of both of them popping their balloons in archery.  

Wilderness scavenger hunt. 

Making puppets, Tyler's was a crazy snowman.

The Forest Rangers brought animal skins.

Playing marbles, Tyler was a good shot.

During lunch on Thursday a professional puppeteer came and put on a show while we ate.  He was very animated and was silly - which is great for a bunch of cub scouts.  It was neat to see the different types of puppets.  This was a shadow puppet on a screen that he controlled with sticks.

Everybody likes getting into a firetruck - I have a lot of pictures like these.

The last day they had some push mobile races.  I didn't get there in time to see Damon race, and Tyler missed it because he was shooting on the range.  But he pushed Chris around on the lawn for a bit.

The girls took a turn too.

Chris enjoyed his blue Gatorade.  We loaded up on snacks this week to keep us going.  They were all excited to have Gatorade which is usually only given to them when they are sick - or playing in a sporting event.

It was a busy and long week, but the boys had a good time.  It was hard because it was so late.  The boys wouldn't get home until 8:30 or so and they would be so sweaty and gross that they would have to take a bath.  So bedtime was late for a week, but it worked out ok.  I had some friends watch the girls when I volunteered.  Chris was able to come with me and be in the "Me Too" program, basically a day care for the children of the volunteers.  He did a lot of fun activities and had a good time - he was tired though on those two days.

Yay for the scouting program and yay for day camp!  It is so great to have some good programs for boys to participate in.

Fun with Grandma and Grandpa #3

Thursday was the last day of school.  I had my neighbor come over for a bit while the girls were sleeping so I could go to Damon's 'clap out.'  They have all the 4th graders run though the hall as the other students and parents clap.  I checked Tyler out early and we waited for Damon.  We missed him the first time and then I went to go look in the office in case he thought we were leaving early and so then I missed him again when he went around again.  He saw Tyler though - so I guess that was good.  

Tyler had two teachers: Mrs. Shepherd and Mrs. Gour

Damon had Mrs. Gratland

Last day of school - they actually look happy about that. ;)

Doug picked up my parents from the car rental place and they got home just in time for us to eat quick and go to the temple.  Again it was nice of my parents to let us get out and not have to pay for a baby-sitter, thanks mom and dad!  I tried to lighten the dark selfie but it still looks bad. :(

Friday Doug took the day off of work and we all went south to go to the Space Center.  It was a bit of a drive, about an hour.  Doug and I both had to drive so that we could fit everyone.  We ended up going different ways due to traffic.  Thank goodness for Google maps and my mom was a good navigator.  There were some high stress moments, but we made it.  

There were lots of cool things at the Space Center.  We were able to go on both tram rides and we watched two of the movies.  Kaylee fell asleep during the second one which was good because she was being a grump.  She was much happier after that.  

Get ready for launch! 

 This is a Saturn V, the biggest rocket that they have ever made - it was big!

 This was the training facility where the astronauts practice and do their flight simulations.

 Tram rides:

 This is the famous, actual Mission Control - just like on Apollo 13.  It was pretty cool. They still use the same building today, just on the floor below this one with newer computers and equipment.

We touched an actual moon rock - only our family...ever, because we're cool like that. ;)

 The Space Shuttle era:

 It was a fun day, we stayed until 4:30 or so and made it home okay.  There was traffic of course, but we got through it.  Doug picked up hamburgers on the way home so that was an easy dinner.

Saturday morning we managed to all get on a bike for a bike ride.  We borrowed one for my mom, and dad has left one of his with us since Vernal.  We went on the Spring Creek Trail which is a nice paved path and so beautiful.  It winds through the tall trees so it is shaded a lot any time of day. It was warm, but not unbearable.  We rode to the park at the end and played for a bit, then rode back.

 Grandma brought suckers :)

 When we got back from the bike ride we got ready to go to the pool.  It was good weather and everyone had a fun time.  It's always nice to have extra help at the pool.  Jenna and Kaylee are good with their puddle-jumpers or their floatie rings but I still have to keep an eye on them.  It is so nice that the boys can swim pretty well now.  I don't worry as much but I am glad that Damon and Tyler can touch all the way around the pool.

It was a busy Saturday, after the pool Tyler and Doug loaded up for soccer.  Tyler had his last two games and it was so hot and muggy.  Mom, Damon, and I went up later to watch the second game.  Dad stayed home with Chris and the girls which was so nice.  Tyler played well, they ended up winning the first game 1-0 and losing the second 0-1 but they all played really hard.  Tyler was just dripping with sweat - we all were.  

 The parents formed a tunnel at the end for the players to run through.

 Tyler got a medal along with everyone else - actually two, one for being a great player and one for finishing the season.  We're not fans of "everyone gets medals" but what do you do.

 Damon and Tyler went home with Doug so mom and I rode home together.  It was nice to chat and be in an air conditioned vehicle.  We drove into some of the nicer neighborhoods near us to drop off some things for Stake Trek - the stake was borrowing our cooler, shade and water barrel.  We had my version of Cafe Rio for dinner.

Sunday was pretty normal - church and it was fast Sunday.  We had bow-tie pasta with chicken for dinner, but I set the timer on the bread machine wrong so it was done an hour too late - it drives Doug crazy that I always have to think so hard on how to time that thing.  Oh well, we all had a piece for dessert.  We all just relaxed a bit in the evening and played some games.  My parents taught us Snip, Snap, Snorum and Michigan.  Later in the evening I played Rummy with them.  My dad really likes card games, we played them a lot growing up.

Monday we cleaned in the morning.  I went grocery shopping to get some last minute things for Scout Camp.  I love that my mom got a shot of Kaylee vacuuming with her toy vacuum - being such a good helper. :)

Then at 10:00 Doug took my parents back to the airport.  :(  It was a great week+, we did a lot of fun things.  I'm so glad that they were able to come and support Tyler with his baptism and that they were able to stay long so we could visit.  Thanks again mom and dad for coming!