The Big Scary Cake

So this past weekend, my little sister Ashley got married and she had asked me (read: told me) to make her wedding cake for her. Now, I like to cook and decorate cakes, but a wedding cake is different. It's huge, fancy, and presented in front of potentially hundreds of people. I was terrified of making this beast. I baked all of the cakes, made all the frosting, fillings, and fondant and got ready to tackle this. She requested a three-tier cake--bottom layer was lemon, middle was chocolate, and top layer was white with a cheesecake layer inside. All of this was to be covered with fondant. At first, she wanted white and navy blue designs on all the tiers. I talked her down to a simple white cake with white designs on it. Now, I was feeling better, but then I stacked the layers together and the bottom tier was HUGE--6 inches tall, 14 inches across, and about 30 pounds. Scared again. So I continued this stressed, scared, worries cycle all throughout the construction of this beast. I finished it about 30 minutes into the reception and we walked it out to the reception area. It felt great to set it on the table and be done. I thought it was cute...and delicious. Mission complete. A big "WHEW"!

A Berry Good Day

This morning, we loaded up the car and drove over to Watsonville to visit a berry farm. We went to Gizdich Ranch to pick strawberries and olallieberries (kind of like a blackberry). The girls had alot of fun. Kelsie preferred picking the strawberries and Sam was really good with the olallieberries. Kelsie wanted to pick everything that was even a little bit reddish, so I got to chase after her and refocus her on riper fruit. Sam would race ahead and come jogging back to show us the great berries she picked. Everything got added to the box and we brought home about 7 pounds of fruit. We enjoyed ourselves and we bought an olallieberry pie to bring home with us from their pie shop. Looking forward to trying it tomorrow.



On our way home from Watsonville, we stopped by Gilroy Gardens to get further use from our season passes. The girls (mostly Sam) were very excited about playing in the water splashing area. Last time we were there, we didn't have swimming suits for the girls, so Sam didn't get to try out the water slide they have there. This time, we were prepared. Sam was getting wet and cruising down the waterslide, but Kelsie decided to be water-phobic and just hung out with me.

One of these things is not like the other: Sam is getting wet and Kelsie is trying to get the camera from me. She really wanted it. Imagine the following conversation (which really was imagined, because she is not nearly this articilulate): 1.) "Mommy, could I please hold the camera?" she asked while cozying up to her mother. "No sweetheart, it's not for you," mom replied. 2.) "But Mommy, I need it!", Kelsie begged while reaching to grab the camera. "Sorry sweetie, I'm using it right now." 3.) "Aaaahhh! Give me the camera!" she screamed persuasively. "Fine. Here," Mom resigned. 4.) "Thank you mommy! Was that so hard?"

Birthdays and Dancing

In the last couple of months, we've celebrated birthdays for both Samantha and Matt. Sam wanted a flower garden party with her friends at our house. We've always tried to avoid parties at our house, because then we'd have to clean up--both before and after the party. At her party, Samantha and her friends painted their own terra cotta flower pots and then planted a flower to take home with them. I let Sam choose what she wanted for a cake, and she asked for cupcakes with roses on them. It's always fun to try and pull off what she asks for when it comes to cakes. The party was a success and all the kids went home happy with flowers.


In May, Sam's dance class had their little recital. It was very cute. They changed costumes and performed for the audience. Sam was thrilled to have all of her grandparents there to see her dance. Of course, anything Samantha gets to do, Kelsie also wants to do, so she needed to put on the leotard and tutu when we got home and did her own little dance.

Matt had a birthday in May, too. We made him a big cookie instead of a cake and I let Samantha decide how to decorate it. So, Matt had a manly cookie with pink flowers, a heart and ladybugs. Nothing screams Matt like ladybugs, huh?

Naughty Little Leprechaun

For the last few days, Samantha and I have been working on building a leprechaun trap. We knew St. Patrick's day was coming and that those little green guys would be up to their usual mischief, so we were going to try and catch them and get their pot of gold. We made a rainbow and a big leprechaun hat. On the top of the hat, there was a big hole that we covered with green felt so it would give way and the leprechaun would fall through the trap door and get stuck in it. With a few bits of gold on top, he'd want to climb up to get it. At the bottom of the hat, we posted a sign saying "Do not climb ladder!". With a sign like that, he'd be sure to climb up (leprechauns are notoriously naughty).

Well, when we came home today, we found that some little person had fallen for our trap. Unfortunately, he also climbed out (he used a paperclip and string as a grappling hook to climb out). Once he got out, he did all sorts of naughty things like jumping on Sam's bed and turning the milk in the fridge green. Maybe we'll catch him next year!

Family Portraits

In the middle of February, we had our family photos taken at Vasona Park in San Jose. We got lucky and the weather was beautiful. The girls were mostly happy, but never at the same time it seemed. I thought they came out great! Here are a few of my favorites...

A White Christmas

Samantha was very excited to be going to Utah for Christmas because she wanted to play in the snow. It hadn't snowed in a while when we arrived, so the only snow around was the dirty old piles that had been plowed in the shopping store parking lots. Of course, Sam ran over to them and grabbed up a handful and attempted to eat the snow. Fortunately, I stopped her and reminded her that you only eat new snow, not old snow (and never yellow snow). On Tuesday before Christmas, it snowed all day. New snow!
Samantha was itching to get out and play in the snow. She made snowballs, snow angels, a miniature snowman, and ate a lot of the cold white stuff. She and Grandma Shirts even collected some to make Snow Ice Cream (cream, sugar, vanilla, and 2 C snow). Well, Kelsie wants to do everything that her big sister does, so she headed out into the snow, too. She had to have been freezing, but seemed completely unfazed, even when the snow tumbled down into the crack of her bum that was exposed. Both girls had a wonderful time!
I think the coldest I felt was when we went to Temple Square in Salt Lake City to see the Christmas lights. It was 15.8 degrees outside when we got back to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Very cold. I think I will be happy to be back in my California weather, but have had a great time with family here in Utah!

Merry Christmas with Love

Dear Family and Friends,

We wish you a wonderful Christmas and New Year from our family. Both of our daughters are looking forward to the two weeks of spending time with mommy and daddy. We are so grateful for the blessings we receive every day and for our Savior whose birth we honor this season. Merry Christmas!