Weekly Wrap-up: The One With No Pictures

After a week where I spent as much time camera in hand as this week, It's pretty ironic to realize that not only have I downloaded zero pictures from my camera all week, but there are so many of them and the weekend is so busy that if I try to download for this post I won't have enough time to make the post. So we have no pictures. But it's quite possible that the best part of the week was Raven's first laugh.

This was one of those weeks were we briefly greeted our usual routine on Monday, then left it behind for the rest of the week. We tried to keep up with the phonics practice because Monkey is doing so well in that area, and we don't want him to loose momentum on that.

Tuesday there were glass blowers demonstrating their craft, which was mighty interesting. We nearly didn't go because I was feeling stressed about getting ready to spend Wednesday & Thursday out of town for a wedding. I'm so glad we went. I can't wait to post a few pictures! Glass blowing is mighty interesting stuff! Tuesday I also agreed to take pictures at the wedding. So I spent some time researching what wedding photographers do, and trying to learn what I could about what the Nauvoo temple and grounds look like, since that's where the wedding was to be.

Wednesday we traveled to Nauvoo. The boys did remarkably well with the travel. We even had a few minutes to see some of the sights: the Browning gun shop & the blacksmith shop. Raven kept us on our toes by pooping to his toes. I did more photo research at the hotel.

Thursday was the wedding, and while everyone else was inside the temple I was watching the boys & we looked for photo locations. I think the pictures are going to be great, as soon as I download them I'll know for sure. I feel like the Lord blessed me to be able to do my very best work on such short notice: everything went smoothly down to Raven sleeping through the whole thing while in my sling. Then we came home.

Friday we did pumpkin carving at my parents' house. It was lovely. More pictures. Hopefully I can blog some of this stuff this week.

Today is the reception: more pictures. And I need to bake a cake for an open house I agreed to bring food to before I knew this was going to be such a zoo. Fortunately, it's pretty simple.

Frosting Class

I'm taking a cake decorating class. Not just any decorating, either: fondant. The very pretty stuff. No seams. Life-like flowers. Tons of gear. This is what it all looked like before I packed it up to take to class tonight.



This is what it looked like after I packed it. I should have put it in two bags. There is just.too.much. in that bag. Monkey was very concerned about what I was doing with "his" rolling pin. Because obviously I bought it for him!

I learned several things this evening:

1. I learned, at least in theory, how to cover a cake with fondant. I say in theory because I practiced this skill on cardboard circles, and did not "glue" the fondant down with regular icing. But I'm supposed to take a cake, already covered, to class next week, so I guess I'll be finding out how well this took.

2. I learned how to make something called a "carnation base." These are not pictured: we left them at class to dry until next week. They did look pretty cool though.

3. I learned to make a daisy. See below.

4. I learned to make a calla lily, also below. This was extremely easy and a "freebie" because it wasn't on the official Wilton syllabus.

5. I learned to make that peony-looking flower which they said was a sort of romantic made-up flower, and not really based on anything, but looks pretty much just like the peonies that I dug out of my yard and gave away.

6. I learned that fondant really does taste as bad as they say it does. Plus, it gets so hard that you can bang it on the table. Makes a good tap-tap noise when you do it. It's pretty, but it's only sort of food.

Photo Hunt: Surprise

We Made Cookies!

We did fancy cookies for the open house we had for Moosbeere & his bride. They turned out great! Miss Kate also blogged the cookies.

Bountiful Temple

Learn more about the purpose of the temples.

Wedding Trip (Part 1)

Monkey was very interested in all the goings-on at the airport. He asked TONS of questions about what was happening out there. Anybody know a good book about what all those trucks and things are doing? We found a Richard Scary book, but it's a bit on the silly/cartoony side. Though its as fun as all his books are! But I'm not sure that it leaves me any more knowledgeable about what's going on at the airport!


This is the view from ABOVE the clouds on our way to the wedding.


The first order of business was to visit with some friends. It was completely non-wedding related, and completely delightful.

Playing With Toys

I have entered the wonderful world of Photoshop! I'm still just fooling around, but I think it's an improvement. Here is what the picture looked like to start with:

Oh, and Kate, if you want the adjusted shoe picture, let me know.

At the Temple

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. -Genesis 2:24


And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. -Matthew 16:19


Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. -1 Corinthians 11:11


Thou shalt live together in love... -Doctrine and Covenants 42:45

Work In Progress

Here I am working on altering my dress.


It doesn't look like much, but here's what I spent the bulk of my day on. The pattern on the left is the original. The pattern on the right is the altered pattern. It's bigger. After I was done I actually got to cut it out of my practice fabric, but I didn't get so far as to start sewing. I'm hoping that I'll be able to do that tomorrow. But with General Conference going on, we'll see how far that plan gets.

Today's the Day!

Alterations currently in progress.

First, I increase the size. (Instructions here.)

Then, I increase the bust. (Instructions here.)

Then I cut it, sew it up and try it on.

I'll update on twitter as to how it's going.

Gotta Make That Dress!!

Now that my sister is finished making the necklaces that she's been working on. Secretly. And she wouldn't even show me the beads. (Not that I'm bitter or anything. ;) She posted pictures of the finished products on her blog yesterday. I need to make my dress so I have something to wear with such a cool necklace! My brother makes the beads. Isn't he talented? We're working on starting an Etsy shop so that he can sell them to raise money for his mission. Stay tuned, I'll let you know when we have our "grand opening."

More Listening

I like to listen to something while I address these invitations I'm doing for my sister. Found some good stuff today. Only I can't find a permalink to the the actual mp3, so here's a transcription.

Finding Your Sweetheart
While this talk was given to a BYU audience of mostly singles, there are some gems for advice to married folk.

This talk, Agency and Love in Marriage, is similar, but has enough different to be interesting. It's from the October 2000 Ensign.

Bridal Shower Cookies

The Bride's Request

Chocolate covered strawberries are surprisingly easy to make & always a huge hit at parties. To make this batch, I used about 3 tubs of strawberries and 1 package of dark cocoa candy melts. I threw the candy melts in my little crockpot on low, and washed & dried the strawberries. You want to give the strawberries enough time to get dry so the chocolate will stick. Also, leave the tops on them. The time that I cut the tops off was very unappetizing: they started to rot and most of it went to waste. The longest part of dipping the strawberries was actually waiting for the chocolate to melt, which is not something to rush. The actual dipping went quickly and easily. Set them on wax paper to dry. It's probably better to make them the same day that you're going to eat them: I've never been able to keep them nice when I store them overnight.

Shower Prizes!

Stuff That's Gotta Get Done

Prepare Sunday School lesson
Call about the broken organ
Prepare talk on Family Home Evening
Set up Sunday Scripture
Make bread Buy good bread
Pack jelly, cake stand, & server from punch bowl
Make frosting
Buy paint brush for spreading frosting
Decorate cookies
Make chocolate chip cookies
Pack cookies to send to Keeley
Pack paper cutter & punches
Pick ripe stuff in garden
Bathe Monkey
Pack Monkey gear for trip to Nana & Grandpa's
Finish baking daisy cookies
Assemble the shower prizes
Call John
Get 3rd shower game
Make sure a camera card is empty & get batteries recharged
Print engagement pictures Printer's not working
Wrap & pack Kate's gift
Take in & finish sewing my shirt
Register for the photography class Do it Monday
Make disk of Kate & John's pictures for Dad
Make chocolate dipped strawberries
Water gardens

This is a LOT to get done. Do you think that it would work to photocopy myself?? But Kate's so excited, I'm enjoying doing it and thinking about how much she's enjoying this.

My Bridesmaid Dress

Kate's getting married, and I get to stand up with her. This is cool. I'm really looking forward to it. Less so the part where I "get" to do that pesky toast, but we'll get through it! Being far from a "Bridezilla," Kate has given us a lot of leeway in what we wear. Sort of different, but similar theme going on. Short sleeves, black, A-line dresses. Tea length. I headed to the fabric store, rather than to a department store because the idea of shopping for something like that gave me a stomach ache. But I can sew, so I don't have to shop. Yay!



This is the pattern I selected. It's obviously got to be shortened some. My dress will look a lot like the black one, though I'll likely be following the red dress's pattern more closely. I like this dress well enough that when the wedding is over I'll probably use this pattern again (with still more alterations) to make a new temple dress.

Nothing is ever easy, and this dress is no exception to that rule: I am still larger than the sizes give in the package. Burda Style to the rescue! They have instructions for increasing the size of a pattern. I'll be having a practice run at it with some clearance fabric that I bought. And if I decide that I need it, Sew Mama Sew has full bust adjustment instructions. I think that, while challenging, this will be a do-able project!

Cookies for Kate

Monkey got up from his nap just in time to lick the beaters from the cookies for Kate's wedding shower. It's not until next week, but I'll freeze the cookies a couple of days and then frost them at the end of next week.


Kate's flwers are going to be gerber daisies and I found these adorable cookie cutters a week or two ago, so she gets daisy cookies.


Monkey liked it that I made "towers" as the cookies were cool enough. I liked that I then had enough space on my cooling rack. I think we're off to a good start.


And we had some good conversation while we were cooking. I had hoped to catch him talking about licking the beater because it's so darn cute, but alas, I was forced to "settle" for other cuteness.