Happy 15th birthday Evan Brice!...June 30, 1996

When you think about having a baby, you don't really think about the future.

Or at least I didn't.

I thought about being pregnant.

I thought about planning a nursery.

I thought about buying adorable clothes, diapers, toys, furniture, etc.

I never dreamed about the future...

Things like high school, driver's training, girlfriends, dances, homework, jobs, etc.

Shoot...I never even thought about potty training!  LOL!

Many people get sad when they get past the "baby stage".

The look back with sadness that it's over.

Do I like to reminisce?

Sure.

But am I sad?

No.

I treasure each new stage of my sons' lives!

School, sports, church activities, lessons!

All the many milestones that come with growing up!

Do I forget the past?

No.

I remember the very day I found out I was pregnant and the joy we felt!

I remember coming home from the hospital empty handed as Evan stayed in the NICU for ten days due to complications.

I remember the ache and fear and agony I felt.

I remember the joy of bringing him home and showing him off!

I remember all the silly ways about him!

His love of Star Wars and Legos as a tot.

His cute little words he'd come up with.

Thinking we'd NEVER get him to walk, LOL!

Thinking potty training would NEVER end, LOL!

Remembering how quickly he learned to talk!

Enjoying your love for cross country, track, lacrosse, trumpet, cooking, and animals!

Evan has been a pure delight to love and parent.

We've had our ups and downs.

But we always triumph.

Together.

I am so grateful that Evan still comes to me and talks about his struggles, his fears, his concerns.

I feel so blessed that he trusts me.

I feel so blessed that he is involved at church.

I feel so blessed that he is serving God and studies the Word each night!

I feel so blessed that teachers, neighbors, friends, and family all adore him for his hard work ethic, respect, and compassion.

Evan, we love you.

We are proud to be your parents.

You are turning out to be such a handsome, compassionate, God-fearing young man!

Good luck and God bless you this year babe!

May tenth grade be the best yet!

Happy birthday sweetie!

Happy (early) birthday Evan!

 Sunday we celebrated Evan's birthday early with Geeg and Papa.

We went to church.

Then linked up with them at Olive Garden for a yummy dinner...Evan's choice.

Here's Ev with his card from them.

 Kitty partied a little too hard.

He's plum worn out.

 Ooooh la la!

A little shopping money!

 Hmmm, what could this be?

Pressies for mwah?

 Coleman Camping Knives.

Ev's the outdoorsman in the family.

 And again, the cake I made him.

He requested a "hunting/camo" theme.

 It was a challenging, but very fun cake to make.

It really pushed me beyond my comfort zone.

Which was a good thing for me!

Happy early birthday Evan!

We love you!

John Ball Zoo

We had a family pass for the day to John Ball Zoo.

The boys (and us too) always enjoy going together.

It's not a huge zoo.

But they have a nice variety of animals.

Some of the alligators...

Pelicans.

Bald eagles.

A couple monkeys...er, I mean...my babies!

And some wallabyes...

A macaw.

Pretty cockatoo...

Ahoy Captain Nate!

Lemurs!

Ride 'em cowboy!

Our happy little fam!

Wise old owl.

My babes by the penguins...

The penguins.

These turtles looked like they were in a race, LOL!

The bears...my personal favorite.

Moutain lions...

Another mountain lion...

Monkey-ing around!

Flamingos!

Cute little fella, isn't he?

Momma lion.

Penny roar!

Apes.

Havin' a snack...

This guy just conked out on the steps, LOL!

Such cuties!

But I hear they're ferocious!

We had a great time.

Ended out day with ice cream sundaes.

Perfect weather, perfect day.

My newest cake! (Evan's b-day cake)

Well...I did it.

I attempted fondant!

I did not take the class yet.

I did it strictly by studying youtube tutorials, LOL!

Seriously.

Doing "camo" probably wasn't the best choice for my first attempt.

With camo, I had to cut all of the different pieces in "puzzle" type shapes.

Then, I had to piece them together, overlapping.

Then I had to roll them out together.

I thought it looked pretty good.

But then...

When I went to flip it onto the cake...

The "puzzle pieces" started coming apart.

For my first attempt, I probably should've practiced with a solid piece of fondant.

But...

I didn't lose my cool.

I stayed calm and focused.

I repieced them back together, and then QUICKLY flipped it onto the cake!

And I did it!

And I think...for my first attempt at fondant...

It didn't turn out half bad!

I'm pretty proud of it!

Sure, it's not perfect.

Sure there are little cracks/seams where I pieced it together.

But...

For not having any training in fondant...

I am quite pleased with it!

I did the deer as a Royal Icing plaque.

I was terrified as I peeled it off the parchment paper, but it came off without a hitch!

Overall...

I am a happy camper and amazed with this cake!

Take me out to the ball-game!

We were assigned "snack duty" for Nate's last ball game.

Well, I'm sure you couldn't guess what I wanted to do?

Baseball cookies!

♪♪♪ "...and it's 1...2...3 strikes you're out at the old ball game!" ♪♪♪

New techniques, experiments...so much fun!

I had seen these cookies done multiple times on many of the baking blogs I follow.

I always wanted to try making them.

But never had the courage.

And by stroke of luck...what was on the cover of Martha Stewart Living when it arrived in the mail this month?

Yes...these cookies!
I followed the simple instructions and they were super easy and so pretty!

For the first time ever, I'd say they turned out pretty good!

Though, I do think if I'd have thinned my Royal Icing a bit more, I wouldn't have had the lines.

Oh well!

Live and learn!

Next up was cake pops!

I got the BabyCakes cake pop maker for Mother's Day and still hadn't tried it out.

So, I decided o make a gift basket for my dad for Father's Day filled with cake pops and cookies!

It was SUPER easy to use.

Neat and clean.

Quick!

I loved it!

I actually used a brownie mix and made brownie pops.

Since this was my first time, I wasn't sure what the best coating was, so I tried one of the recipes in the BabyCakes recipes book.

I hope dad liked it!

I decided since it was June, I'd go with a summer theme.

I put them in a little sand pail w/ a shovel.

And when I think of summer, I always think red, white, and blue.

The finished product.

It was a lot of fun.

I hope dad enjoyed it!

I can't wait to try more flavors.

Extra cookies in a favor bag.

I could bake, decorate, and experiment all day!