1...2...3 seven year olds! OH MY!

Emma's birthday - part 2... Since Emma had another birthday party last weekend we postponed her sleepover til tonight. I am glad I limited her to 2 friends that could spend the night but even at that...wow! I could go on all night but I will spare you the ugly details. I think most of it has to do with the combination of kids. If one is mouthy, they all think they can be mouthy...think again girls...

Since Emma was having another party, it gave me cause to try out another cake. This time it is white cake with buttercream filling and a chocolate ganache frosting. I learned that ganache is best used sparingly. It is quite rich and turns into a nice hard coating. It made for a pretty cake though. Emma really liked the brown and pink combo!


While we were waiting to have cake, the girls made bracelets. Here is Emma showing hers off.

Below are all the girls. Madie was able to escape the madness and leave with Grandpa and Grandma R. to visit Great-Grandma. I do believe she was ready to leave 10 minutes after everyone arrived after school. Can you say T-R-O-U-B-L-E!

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

The Good:
We celebrated Emma's birthday yesterday at Pizza Hut with Uncle Brett, Aunt Heather and Dylan. A good time was had by all. The weather and illnesses kinda put the damper on our party but we were able to make the best of it! My cake even tasted pretty good! Bonus: I get to try to make another one when Grandma and Grandpa come to visit for Emma birthday. We will have to try a new recipe. I would like to try chocolate ganache next...

The Bad:
More snow yesterday but only a dusting. They had forcasted 2-5 inches but all of it went to the south. We are all feeling a little house-bound and are very ready for spring! It can't snow too much more can it??? 62 inches for the year is quite enough (number 5 in the record books for all time). The secretary at school made a bulletin board with a tape measure. When you add it up like that is seems all the worse!

The Ugly:
Flu, colds, crud - YUCK! I have had enough of runny noses to last me quite awhile again. All three kids got a nasty cold with a fever. Luckily, we are on the downward slide with those. The girls thought that they didn't feel good this morning and wanted to stay home in the worst way. After some forcing...they are both surviving the day at school. A little stressful for mom...but we made it through. It helps when you know the school nurse. I got to her before Emma this morning (wink wink). No fever - back to class. I got a little glare and not one word as Em walked by me this morning. Tough love stinks! I have a feeling that if I didn't work here, this wouldn't have been an issue.

7th Heaven

The Fabulous Miss Em turns 7 years old tomorrow. I can't believe how fast 7 years flew by. She is smart, spunky, sassy and silly. There is never a dull moment when Em is around. She is looking forward to her party tomorrow...if it happens. The weather seems to be getting in the way. Oh well, we will save the fun for another weekend!

Classic Em

I attempted another cake. This time for Em's birthday. I had a lot of fun putting this one together. Not bad for effort #2. I originally was going to put a bow on the top but couldn't quite get over the "heavy" look of the fondant. Sooo, I abandoned that and went to circles...

Happy Birthday Emma~We Love You!

Cake-tastic!

Betsy and I took a cake decorating class on Saturday. I had so much fun! She taught us how to level the cake and we got to play with piping and fondant. I LoVe to watch Food Network Challenge to see how they make those fantastic cakes. This was my chance...not quite Challenge-ready, but not bad for a first try!

My Valentine-inspired cake.

I need to work on my circles...it is harder than you think!

I believe I am ready to start a new hobby! Thanks Betsy for taking me along!

Smells like a Rose

I got a phone call from the secretary at the school today...a package came for me! She said she really thought I should come pick it up! So I packed Matthew and Madie in the car and we headed to school to pick up Emma...and my package. Much to my surprise...a box of roses were waiting for me! And there was 12 of them!

A Valentine's bouquet with a box of chocolates....from all my Valentines...
Brandon, Emma, Madie and Matthew

Matthew loved the chocolates too!

I was a little surprised to get flowers, Brandon's philosophy is why spend money on something that is just going to die in a few days anyway. Not the point...anyway...travel back in time with me...
Picture it...
We were newlyweds, living on Marco Island, FL. I took a trip to visit my sister in Dallas, TX. Brandon came to pick me up at the airport. And when I got home there was a beautiful arrangement of flowers waiting for me on the kitchen table. I immediately gushed about how great it was that he got me flowers after I had been gone for a week. He only smiled and accepted all the praise and gratitude. Of course, in true Angie fashion, I couldn't leave well enough alone and kept asking questions. I finally got to the question, "Where did you get them?"
After a brief pause...
And some hesitation...
I finally got an answer...
"From the Marriott" (that is where Brandon worked at the time)
He had dug the arrangement out of the garbage after an event and brought them home, thinking, of course, that I would like them. If I had left well enough alone I would think to this day that he "bought" them just for me.
It is the thought that counts.
I *heart* my valentine!

What it's all about!

This is why we bought the acreage! The kids have been outside more this weekend than the entire winter so far. We have a great hill for the kids to go sledding on and they are lovin' it! Emma and Madie were outside at 7 this morning sledding. Since Madie has been having such a hard time adjusting, I invited some friends over for the girls to play with today. Cate and Celeste came over and after a quick tour of the house, they headed outside.

Down the hill they go!

Cate and Madie

Celeste and Emma

Bye Bye Purple!

Another day of painting is done. I will post more pictures of the basement family room after we get it all together. She has some more touching up to do tomorrow and then hopefully we can get the room together and really post some pictures. The basement is a walkout and has a huge family room. It was decorated in Vikings purple and yellow. If you are an avid Vikings fan this may be ideal - for us - not so much. Here is the final product...Love it!

And the before....Hello bold and bright!

It almost looks a little boring when you put it next to the bright colors. Don't care - still lovin' it.

Soothing Blue...

Aaahhh, soothing blue it is. The painter was back today and worked her magic. She is great! I absolutely LOVE her! I think she is my new best friend. Below is the kitchen before. It was a nice bright shade of yellow. Not bad, just not me.

And now, drumroll please....
Let me introduce the kitchen. A new soothing shade of blue.

Sorry about the lighting in the second picture. Nighttime photos don't seem to do things justice.

Another day and a few more boxes unpacked. I think we are coming along well and the house feels more like home all the time. Now we have to convince Madie that it is home. She went to daycare yesterday and saw the old house. Needless to say, I got a phone call stating that Madie was crying and wanting to go home to the white house. Once she is here she is fine. I guess the problem is having a daycare directly across the road from your old house! Otherwise we are going to try to get back to some sense of normalcy.

Home Sweet Home

The big move is over and we are slowly getting settled in. The house was full of crazy, bold colors and Brandon found me a great painter. She got started today and painted more in 8 hours than I could in 3 days. It was really quite impressive. She will be back tomorrow to paint the kitchen and get started on the Minnesota Vikings inspired family room in the basement. I will post those pics later! Here are some pictures of the living room upstairs. I will do a tour of the entire house once it gets put together better! I tried in vain to post the pictures in order and once again I failed...when will I learn?!?
This is the final product. I decided to move my cornice board from the old house. I was having nightmares of dropping the kids off at daycare and seeing it in the garbage. So, it came with us! The old window was slightly larger than this one but I don't mind the over-hang. I think it will grow on me.

One wall finished!

The painter in action. Notice the lovely faux finish that was on the walls. Hideous! It had a lovely orange tint to it...it is now GONE! Feels more like home already.

Before signing off, I need to thank all those who donated their time and muscles to the cause! Grandma and Grandpa G., Grandpa and Grandma R., Brett, Mark and Betsy! We love you all!