Barbie Cake

Paige had a Barbie birthday so I thought I would attempt to make her a Barbie cake. (When Tyler turned 1 Steve and I attempted to make Tyler a tractor cake for his birthday. It was a mess...to say the least... and luckily my friend Kelly came over and helped us fix the cake a few hours before the party! It was a nightmare because Steve and I both have personalities that "we can do it" and we don't want the others opinion or help. That doesn't work too well---especially when neither of has really had a clue on how to decorate a cake!!) So, this time I enlisted Amanda's help with the Barbie cake and mom came along too to help!! It was a fun morning!

This is the reason I don't like to do things like.....make cakes! My kitchen was a COMPLETE disaster! As you can see---I got my big mixer out that I have not used in maybe 8 years (I got it for a wedding gift 9 years ago!) We made frosting from scratch---and it was AWESOME!!!! I did not make the cake from scratch----the box was just great!!

And, here' Princess herself. She is the only reason I attempted to make the cake. I knew she would love it!!

And, here's the finished project. I was quite impressed with it. Total it took us 4 hours. (that does NOT include baking the cakes!) But, it does include letting it set in the freezer a couple times in between layers and decorating! I looked at TONS of Barbie cakes on-line and took aspects of different cakes that I liked to make this one! Of course, Paige's had to be PINK!!!

Time to cut the cake now---all the hard work and it's going to be crushed!! But, I was pleased it even tasted good! The frosting, was amazing!!! It looks like a small cake, but it fed 16 people with no trouble.

For our cake, we took the legs off the Barbie and just stuck her in the top of the cake a little. Jaden was VERY concerned about Barbie losing her legs. He kept asking (for 2 days) when we would put her legs back on, when we were going to take Barbie out of the cake, etc. That's all he could talk about. So, when it was time to cut the cake, I let Jaden pull Barbie out of the top. And, here's him just looking at the Barbie.....still not sure what to think.

And, now we've decided to just keep the top of Barbie because I will probably make another cake similar to this, again, and Amanda will make one at some point for Taylor, and anyone else can borrow Barbie's top 1/2 too.

SO---now I get to make Jaden a basketball cake and who knows what Tyler will come up with in January for his cake. Then, after I have made each kid one "cool" cake, then we'll re-evaluate and see if we continue this tradition or not!!

July 4th

I've decided that we have too much going on---always---to keep my blog perfectly up to date. However, it is MUCH more up to date than my scrapbooks, but still I can't keep it current from day to day. So, here is our family pic from July 4th!

I now have to blog Paige's b-day from last week and then I'll post more 4th of July pics.
And then this week we have, Paige and Jaden's birthday party and then Jaden's family b-day party. Plus, my niece and nephew are here from Michigan, so there will be lots of pictures with cousins this week. And, then next Mon. we are going camping for Jaden's b-day. SO----it continues to be crazy busy, which means my posts will continue to be a week or so behind.

Happy July 4th weekend!

Water Fun

A month or so ago the kids all spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa Balzer's house. When ever they go to either Grandparents housw, it is FUN FUN FUN. Not much relaxing, but playing non-stop! This time, Grandma had the great idea to play in the sprinklers....but they didn't have swim suits, so she let them go in their UNDERWEAR!!

So, the next day when Steve and I went to pick them up----they wanted to show us how they played in their underwear!! Oh my....

Grandpa and the boys!


Taylor was there too. So, of course, she stripped down to her undies too!!

We couldn't stop laughing at Taylor because her underwear was on backwards and she looked so FUNNY!! Mom was getting mad at us for laughing at her, but we just couldn't help it. I did finally help her change it around!

Running in the sprinklers!

Hanging out!

There he is again----with that SUPER cute smile!!

I think Tyler forgot he was hanging out in his undies!!


And, then Grandpa pushed the boys in the wheelbarrow around the back-yard. Too Fun!!

Jaden was CRACKING up!

So, it was a FUN evening, even if the kids were nearly naked. They had fun!!

Who needs swim-suits??!!

Quiet Time

My friend and I have been walking again in the mornings. We did it a month or so ago and took a couple weeks off and now we're back at it. We walk from 6:45-7:15 before our husbands go to work. This week, my kids have slept in until 7:45 or even 8am. SO---I get home and go straight to my deck. It is BEAUTIFUL outside. And, I am NOT NOT NOT a morning person. But, this week I have loved it. I have done my devotions and prayed outside on the deck. I have just loved it. So, hopefully my kids will continue this pattern of sleeping in a bit later so I can enjoy my alone time in the morning before the day starts!!

This was my verse from my study today...
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is right,...think about these things. Phil 4:8 (This is paraphrased from memory). Basically, we are to THINK POSITIVE thoughts. Amazingly, I needed this verse today. So, I urge you to think only positive thoughts today and see how your day goes. **There were a few times today I needed to remind myself of this--but reminders are good. God does not expect us to be perfect!

So, here's to finding your own quiet time even if it's in the morning and you hate mornings, like me!

Paige's First Date

A girl's first DATE, should always be with her Daddy! And, luckily Paige can say her first dinner date was with her dad!

The boys had spent the night with Grandpa and Grandma and I had a baby shower to go to!
So, Date night it was.
Steve took her to Carlos O Kelly's. (I think he choose instead of letting the girl choose!! But, Paige does like cheese dip!)

I think Steve had a GREAT time with her! He said 3 different people/couples came over to their table, to comment on how CUTE Paige was. Steve said at the end of the night Paige was getting a little restless with sitting in the booth, so she started dancing a bit on her side of the booth. Again, the crowd around them, seemed to enjoy this!!

Paige--always remember your Daddy's LOVE for you! He is your first and always TRUE love!!

Hopefully there will be more dates in your future!


Obviously, all these pictures were taken after their date. But, here's daddy making Paige laugh. This is one things Steve is so good at---being silly with the kids and making them just CRACK UP!!

Father's Day

Last Sunday was Father's Day!! A day to honor our Father's! Steve and I have been married 9 years and parents for 6 1/2 years! Steve is a great dad. He makes the kids laugh, plays with them, lets them do things I wouldn't probably let them do, coaches sports, and more! Steve has been home this summer and the kids are really enjoying spending extra time with him.

I am usually gone 2 nights a week working, Premier Jewelry, so Steve takes over at home. Many times he will cook dinner those nights, take care of the kids and house all evening, and put the kids to bed. And, most nights--the house is clean when I get home----ahhhh, there's nothing like coming home to a clean house!!

So, here's Steve and the kids. We went to Shorty Small's after church and took this cute picture out front of the restaurant! (You never know when you might need your camera handy!!)

Happy Father's Day Steve!

Happy Father's day Dad and Larry!! We love you both!

Birthday FUN!

Birthday Traditions--- We try to have lots of traditions at our house, especially now that the kids are getting bigger and I feel like there is more we can do, more they will remember and even appreciate. I remember growing up we always got to choose where we wanted to eat on our birthday or what we wanted mom to make!!

Our tradition for birthday's is to basically have a SPECIAL, out of the ordinary, day!!

The day starts with a Birthday Banner being hung from the Birthday Person's door. This is the first time Paige has gotten it. It has circles hanging down from it. I hang it when they go to sleep so it's there when they wake on their birthday! This morning she came in our room, just smiling, and asked "Did you hang those circles on my door?" She didn't know it was a Birthday banner, but thought it was fun!!

Paige choose Biscuits and Gravy for breakfast! Funny huh. Steve asked her what she wanted for breakfast and that's what she requested. Then, he even asked her if she would rather go to McDonald's (which the kids LOVE)! And, she still choose B&G!!

Then, to Story Time at the Library!!

Steve went to Story Time today--Here's Paige sitting on his lap! She's wearing a Birthday Ribbon that she kept messing with and wanting off, then on, then off,

Then, to McDonald's for Happy Meals (lunch) and home to eat.

Next, Paige got her "big" present today from Mom and Dad.


Her FIRST bike. Or, her "big bike" as she calls it!!

Then, all 3 on their bikes- headed to the pool to swim!!

Now, here's trouble coming down the sidewalk---watch out!!

Swimming..... and then home for naps at 2pm! What a day already.

Up from naps for Dora Cupcakes (I wouldn't have bought these, but they were on clearance for $1.49---so I had to get them!) Tyler and Jaden loved them, but Paige wanted fruit snacks instead!! Go figure! Then, we threw away the other 4 in the pack! It was BRIGHT pink frosting that stained the boys hands and mouth and LOTS of frosting. yuck.

We turned on the sprinklers and let the kids play in the back-yard. Leah and Hallie came over too, for a bit.

Spaghetti for dinner with bread sticks.

Then, a bike ride on her new bike.

And, we finished the night watching High School Musical. (This is night 3 of watching it. We watched all of 1 and now we're half through 2. The kids all LOVE it!! I told them they can't watch it tomorrow night while I'm at a jewelry show, because I love it too! )

On a sad note: I think Paige has a urinary track infection. She says her bottom hurts when she goes to the bathroom and I finally, after 2 days, figured out she meant her "potty" not her bottom. She couldn't go to sleep because she was crying that it hurt, so she got to sleep with daddy on the couch down-stairs. He just put her in bed!! So, we'll go to the Dr. tomorrow. But, she had a FUN day!!

Hopefully she'll be feeling better by Saturday for her Family Birthday Party. Then, July 8 we go to Build a Bear for Jaden and Paige's birthday together!! It's pretty much a party here for the next month!!