My Latest "Catering" Job

My sister-in-law Amy asked me if I would help with my niece's birthday party. I did some of the food and took pictures. What a cute party it was! It almost makes me want to go all out for my own kids parties! I'm sure I'll be past that feeling when the time rolls around. But for now, I hope I can live up to the standard that Amy has set. And now I'm thinking that I should hire someone to take pictures at my kids parties. I never have pictures of their parties!
It was a tea party theme and everything was so cute and all the girls just loved it. It was so funny to watch their reactions to everything. I had no idea that a 9 year old girl could get so excited about food!

Isn't that the cutest decor you have ever seen!


The birthday cake


Brownies. If I do this again, I need to find a better way to cut the circles!

 

 

 

 

A Week As Cassia

Anyone who knows Cassia already knows that she is a bit of a klutz. This week she has out done herself. The day before school started we went to the splash pad to have a little fun before summer was gone. We were only there about 1/2 an hour before she managed to fall and mangle to toe. We rushed to a pediatrician to get stitches. I felt so bad for her; her toe never numbed up very well so she could feel everything and the first stitch tore so they had to start over. Poor girl! She had to wear her "ugg" boots for a week till we could get a normal shoe on without her screaming in pain. All those cute back to school outfits just didn't seem as cute with those boots for some reason.


On the 6th day of school I get a call saying she had fallen at recess and scraped her elbow and wasn't feeling well. I go to the school and after talking to her for a little but I find out that she fell and hit her head and now has a headache and needs to throw up...not a good sign!we spend a few hours at home just watching to see how it's going to go. At about 4:00 we decide that she needs to go to the Dr. After seeing him, he sends us to the hospital for a CT scan.


We are happy to report that everything looked good and she's back to her self now. But I am not looking forward to another week and another set of injuries!

A little slice of heaven

Fall is my favorite time of year!I know I'm jumping the gun alittle here but you can just feel it coming. The kids are in school, gardens are being harvested, and the nights are cooling off (thank goodness!)One of the first things I do when I see the fresh local fruit showing up is make a peach pie. I am not a pie person usually, except for cream pies and this one. It is a recipe from a family cookbook my mom made for her side of the family years ago (1994).I use this cookbook OFTEN and you can tell by looking at it, it is well loved.
 


Peach Pie

2 peaches, mashed
4 T cornstarch
1/4 tsp almond flavoring
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. water
2 T butter
4 peaches, cut up

Heat mashed peaches, add sugar. When boiling, add cornstarch and water mixture. When it thickens, take it off the stove and add butter and almond flavoring. Mix with cut peaches, put in baked pie shell. Chill.


Pie Crust
1 c. shortening
2 c. flour
1 tsp salt

blend with mixer until about as fine as cornmeal. Stir in with fork:
1 T. vinegar
1/3 c. milk

Stir until blended. Chill. Roll out. Makes 3 single crusts.
Bake 450 for 10 min. fill.

I love this pie crust! I have tried alot of different recipes but I always come back to this one. To me, this is what pie should be!

It's That Time Of Year!

Birthday Wish

Kirk's one request for his birthday present, was a nap. I don't know if you can consider this sad or that he is getting old. But, if you knew how hard this guy has been working you would understand. The only thing that he could have asked for that could top a nap, would be a day off. Here is the poor birthday boy enjoying his celebratory goody.
Happy 33rd birthday old man!

10 Years

I can't believe how time flies. I still feel like I'm right out of high school sometimes, yet here it is...our 10 year anniversary! I feel so lucky to have found such an awesome husband. Even though we are alike in a lot of ways (probably all the wrong ways) we are so different in so many more ways. Yet somehow we've made it work. I'm happier now than I have ever been and it's all because of Kirk.

Thanks for 10 great years Kirk. I can't wait to see what the next 10 bring!
I love you!

Cassia's Dance Recital

Cassia has been wanting to take dance lessons for years but we hadn't been able to sign her up till recently. We got her in 3 weeks before the recital, and initially they said she wouldn't be able to perform. But the next week they asked why we hadn't ordered her costume yet. So we figured why not. We didn't have high expectations for her since she hadn't had much rehersal time. But she did great and she was so excited and happy to be there. She loved her teacher, her costume and she's made so many friends. I hope she has as much fun during the summer session!