Happy Easter 2009!

I have fallen in love with this book:
Yesterday Christie and Kinsey came over to bake Easter cupcakes. Christie and I have been talking about baking cupcakes for months so it was nice to finally connect.
Step one below: get "eggs" cut out, cupcakes baked, frosting colored...

It was fun to mix up Easter colors...

Kinsey was the bonus baker. She wasn't in the original baking plan but I am glad she made it! Plus she rocked as the cupcake filler, perfect rounded cupcakes very time.

Next we frosted the "eggs", dipped them in decorating sugar and of course texted and called people the whole time. If you don't spend much time with teenagers I'll let you in on a well known fact: they always keep their phones close-by. It use to bother me but now I see it as an extension of what we're doing and who's there!

Christie adding grass around our eggs- we ended up eliminating this feature, it took too long and none of us were good at it!

Here is Christie's batch that she hopped off to make a special delivery with.

While she was gone Kinsey and I got to thinking...while some may think that the two of us thinking is scary, after all we consist of a cheerleader an ex-cheerleader, THINK AGAIN... we are pure genius together,

pure genius I tell you.

We had a grand idea to make a special cupcake for our friends Emme and Jerm. Since they are huge, huge, Hawaii fans we, or I should say Kinsey, made a personalized palm tree cupcake. The detail that went int this would make any cupcake connoisseur drool.

See the genius...

Here's a wide shot of the finished products...

Some close ups...

Hello Cupcake! is perhaps the best birthday present I have ever bought myself don't believe me? Check out:

Vaughan's 15th

Christmas 2008

Justin's 13th

to see more of my handiwork from this book.

-Michelle <><

13th Birthday #1

These last few years our kids have had separate birthday parties. One for friends and one for family. We have done this mostly because we have a large family and can't fit everyone in the house at the same time and also so birthday child is not torn between family and friends.

Tonight was Justin's 13th friends party and we let him do it up kind of big. No theme, he didn't want one, no planned games, although they did pay manhunt and sardines. We had the party at the church gymnatorium and I invited a few of my friends along for the ride.
Now the pictures...
For some reason they ended up in costumes with dart guns.

I don't fully get the "put a mask on and run around" thing, but hey it entertains them for hours.

The cake of cupcakes. It was cupcakes stacked with pirouette cookies as candles and banana runts for the flame. I then decorated the edges with other runt candy. It was a little topsy turvy and kind of Dr Seussish. Yet another idea I got from my Hello Cupcake book!

Eating pizza.

Opening presents. This is the only shot I have of the majority of the group. It was a good time, although I was reminded that I will never figure out teenagers nor do I really want to; for now I'll just be happy enjoying them!

Now a friend is sleeping over, birthday breakfast tomorrow (actual birthday) and then family for dinner tomorrow night.

have some special things planned, we make a big deal about the 13th birthday. Letters from dad, special gift from great-grandmother, a birthday boy performance, scripture memorization and poem, actually the poem won't be a part of the program we slacked on that one, oops. Plus he picks the dinner menu. Now I have a dinning room to get ready, I have a table under the pile of junk on and around it.

Well off to do some more pick up and then to bed.

-Michelle

Day With the 33oC Girls

This afternoon 2 of the girls from my small group came over to bake cupcakes and cookies. They were hesitant at first, one doesn't consider herself crafty in the kitchen and the other likes to bake but the decorating puzzled her.
We had a good time, here are the pics to prove it!
Decorating our cupcakes (and please check out the string of lights that have gone out on the tree in the background):
Ornaments!

What would cookie baking be without these yummy treats?

The three of us hanging our "ornaments" on the tree. Thanks to FC for this great pic idea!

Have I mentioned how much fun these girls are?

Well they are!

Missed you J.F. and O.L.

-Michelle

15th Birthday

Today my baby turned 15.

Dear Vaughan,

I love you. Today you turned 15, actually it was 24 minutes and 15 years ago that you were born. Wow, I can't believe it's been that long. You have been such a blessing in my life. I feel so privileged to have you for a son and to have spent the majority of your days with you.

It seems like yesterday you were learning to crawl, jumping in your Johnny Jump-up and climbing on everything, jumping off it and yelling, "Watch this Bubba!" I couldn't eat a bit of chocolate without you smelling it from the next room and still look to you when my chocolate stash has been compromised.

When I watch you with your friends I smile. You are a good friend, trustworthy and loyal. Your laughter makes me laugh and brings a sense of joy to my heart. You are the best big brother Justin could ask for, you are patient and loving, kind and generous, at times. You are the hardest worker I know and have helped me in more ways than you can ever imagine.

I've always said God gave you to your father and I to raise us. We were so young and immature when you came into our lives, I'm still in awe that they let us take you home from the hospital. You were so frail and tiny in size but ever so big in heart and life. You took the NICU at Dartmouth by surprise when you began to make noises at 2 months premature and under 24 hours old; you stole my heart the second I saw your face. You have brought more love and joy to our lives than I ever could have imagined, you have in some strange way helped raise us and now look at you, entering your 16th year of life.

Thank you for being you.

I know I'm not always the greatest mom on the planet, I've yelled a few too many times, not given you 100% of me as I should and have lacked in my parenting skills I'm sure; forgive me for that, but know that your Father in heaven never yells and condemns, always give you 100% of Him and doesn't lack any good thing.

As I watched you sleep tonight my heart fluttered with excitement and shuttered with fear. I am so excited to see where your journey will take you and fearful of the bumps that will arise on the way. Part of me wants to go ahead of you, smooth things out, make the path easier, but I know it's the divets that will shape and form you. You will be shaped and formed into a wonderful, godly young man.

Listen to what everyone has to say and love everyone for where they are at. Dance. Eat well and steer away from caffeine. Recycle. Be kind to your brother and put others before yourself. Spend time everyday outside and read. Get plenty of sleep and drink orange juice often. Keep in touch with the people from your youth, the bond you share with them now will help carry you in the future. Smile. Don't take things personally and pause before you speak. Travel. Vote. Accept those who vote/think/believe differently than you, enjoy the freedom the two of you share. Love. Love more than anything else. Love your neighbor, your enemy, your God. Keep your eyes on heaven and your heart devoted to Christ, in the end His Word is all the advice you'll ever need.

I love you my little one and I look forward to doing life with you another day, another year, another 15.
With all my love,
Mom

15th party pics...
Jenga






























Cupcakes...



























Big brother Branden.

























The gang, the poor van- it's getting old, just look at the roof. It's been through a lot with you guys.
























Your independence is growing.
























With your Mimi. How lucky you are.














Now we enter the driving years....