Bath Time with Kewpie

Good Week

On Saturday we left Daddy home to go see Youngberg family. The awesome Nelsons took us to the airport because Brett was at Camporeee!!!!! While boarding the airplane someone asked me "Is this her (Marie's) first flight?" I just smiled and said, "Nope- she's a pro!" And she was. Once we sat down she immediately nursed and slept for an hour, only to awake once to we descended on Boise.

Marcus, Grandpa & Grandma (who is an expert at avoiding her picture being taken) picked us up. Marcus then treated us to Texas Road house. He knows how to entertain no matter what the circumstance. Later, Marie woke up at 1 am so he let her watch "The 300" with him. How nice.

A Short One

I made this comment on my friends blog and felt so good about i just thought I would post it here.
It's meant to clarify the previous entry when I said people are becoming less of political fence sitters.

"I didn't mean that everyone is becoming more of a demacrat OR republican. I think most people realize you can't be one straight thing. You just have to think through it logically, pick out the few most important issues and pick a side to make your vote count. Remember Ross Perot? Perfect example of not picking one of two sides and helping lose the election for a party. In my blog I meant really more liberal or conservative. More so, morally liberal or morally conservative... and absolutely EVERYONE seems to be mad about something."
(wow! quoting myself on my own blog?! Who am I? VaineyMcVainerson?)
People are just mad. Mad Mad Mad. ...


Anyways, I finally started reading "Joseph Smith Rough Stone Rolling," and am trying to stay away from the politics for a while. It seems like that is all I think about. That is truly the sign of someone that needs hobby.

Cross stitch, anyone?

Tea Time with Marie

Probably shouldn't take babies to massive protests, so Marie and I stayed home. We want to give props to uncle Matt who made it to two tea parties yesterday though. Matt- props to you.

Yesterday Marie and I helped Brett at the base Tax Center. We filed hundreds of taxes in one day. Literally, I filed them into a filing cabinet. Good job. I know.

Also, I've spent alot of time looking for a new place to live. We can get a bigger place for much less. But, I don't believe we will move. Why? There are no reasonable places to move within our ward boundaries. I guess it wouldn't be a big deal to move wards if I thought we would be here longer. Brett will be "in the bucket" in 2010. That means he will be an option to send to Iraq as early as next January. IF he goes, he will be there for 6 months. So naturally I will probably move in with my parents to keep my sanity. But keeping a place here would be neato.

Anyways, so I was a little torn as whether or not to go my local tea party. Politics are super frustrating. I remember being so excited to vote for George W. and then slowly over the years I watched my vote turn into the exact opposite of what I wanted it to be. And I'm not talking about the War, I believe in women's basic rights no matter where they live. But anyways, I digress. It's just exciting to see the world Marie was born into. People are really taking a stand and it seems there are less "political fence sitters" as time goes on. Anyways, I hate writing about politics, because (obviously like most people) my view is continually molding and I don't want to completely categorize myself to anyone that reads this blog............... hahahaha.. ok that is me falling off my chair laughing because obviously i am super crazy conservative. I'm like 5 minutes away from living on a polygamist farm in texas. Yee haw.

Just kidding Brett. Seriously, Brett. Don't even THINK about it.

Lastly, today was Marie's first day swimming!!! So fun! She was mostly interested in the other kids. It wore her out to the bone. No sun burns though. Oh, and I absolutely recommend the tube Marie used. So wonderful and it felt very safe. It has a removable sun shade.

She was SO tired after swimming. She slept for 3 hours!!!

Brett is going to Camporee tomorrow for scouts. I am taking Marie to Emmett to see grandparents! Three cheers for nonstop tickets! hip hip HURRAY!

Empty Tomb

It's Easter!
Brett gave a talk in church and he did an amazing job. Just perfect for the occasion. I actually wish he would post his talk here, but all he had was a tiny note card with a few sentences on it. People loved it though. I think the part that touched people the most is the story he shared about losing his mom. And it's not so much the story itself. Sure any story about cancer will move people. It's the knowledge that we'll be able to see her again that makes this day especially sweet.

Marie's Easter dress is brought to us by the #3 and the letter "C"- as in C for Christen. Thanks Aunt Christen! This dress was perfect!

Nothing else much to report except it's time to overdose on Cadbury eggs. Whomever thought of putting carmel in the center- you're in trouble! Delicious, delicious trouble. Note the wet stains on her dress. Next time I'll get the camera out BEFORE the huge jar of applesauce.
We have some videos, but can't figure out how to get them on the blog. Anyone recommend a program/website?

Marie is getting so much more active everyday. I can't say she's a daddy's girl yet, she humours both of us pretty well.

It's probably too late for anyone to use this, but in Primary they had the best lesson ever. I'm sure it's in a manual somewhere but I thought I would list it here for anyone to copy and paste. You need 12 empty Easter eggs. In each egg there is one item and a strip of paper to explain the meaning. Considering I wasn't listening very well, I go through them here for my benefit. Copy and paste at your pleasure.

1. Sacrament cup: While Jesus was in Gethsemane he prayed, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wilt." Matthew 26:39 & Jesus gathered together with his twelve disciples for a Passover feast. Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, "take eat; this is my body." And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying, "drink ye all of it. For this is in remembrance of blood of the new testament, which is shed for as many as shall believe on my name." Matthew 26:26-29

2. Three dimes: One of the twelve disciples named Judas Iscariot went to the chief priest who wanted to kill Jesus and asked, "What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?" And the high priests promised to give thirty pieces of silver of Judas would show where Jesus was. Matt 26: 14-15

3. Twine: Judas led chief priests and elders to Jesus and said "whomsoever I shall kiss that same is he, hold him fast." The chief priests and elders bound Jesus and sent him to the governor, Pilate to be killed. Matt 27:1-2

4. Piece of soap: When Pilate the governor could not convince the people to release Jesus he washed his hands before them saying, "I am innocent of the blood of his just person; see ye to it." The people answered "His blood be on us, and on our children." Then the governor gave Jesus to the people to be crucified. Matt 27:24-26

5. Piece of red cloth: And they put him in a scarlet robe and put a crown of thorns on his head and mocked him saying "Hail king of the Jews," and they spit on him and hit him. Matt 27:28-30

6. Small cross (possibly made out of toothpicks) and small nail: After they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him and put his own clothes back on and led him away to crucify him. And he was crucified.... nailed to the cross. Press this nail in your hand. Imagine how much it must have hurt. Matt 27:31-32

7. Little bag of rocks and dirt: While on the cross Jesus cried with a loud voice and yielded up the ghost. And behold... the earth did quake and rocks did rent... Now when the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly, this was the Son of God." Matt 27:50-51, 54

8. dice: Luke 23:34 "They said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."

9. White cloth: Then Joseph a rich man who was a disciple of Jesus went to Pilate and asked for they body of Jesus. Joseph wrapped the body in a clean linen cloth and laid it in a tomb dug out in a rock.

10. A stone: Then Joseph rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher and left. The chief priests and Pharisees sealed the stone and set watch over the tomb to make sure no one took his body and then falsely claimed Jesus had risen as he had prophesied. Matt 27: 60, 65-66

11. Small bag of spices: And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, and Salome, had bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. And the angel.... said unto the women, "Fear not, ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified." Mark 16:1 Matt 28:2,5

12. Empty: "He is not here; for his is risen, as he said." Matt 28:6

Hope that helps anyone in need of a good Easter lesson.

Fondant, Flowers and a Hacksaw

Today I bought fondant, flowers, and a hacksaw. I'm making a wedding cake. Obviously the hacksaw gave it away. It all started with me doing my visiting teaching (first time in 11 months of living here- ouch). A lady's son and his girl friend decided to get married on the fly so she had to "whip up" a wedding by Friday. No worries though. They did it in a courthouse and just called immediate family to come so all they needed was a cake. And since I am practicing for Cassie and John's wedding (in a mere 4 weeks!) the timing could not be any better.

So... I found out on Monday.

I baked all day Tuesday.

Kneaded fondant and whipped butter cream Wednesday.

Ruined the fondant on Thursday and

bought a cake on Friday.... kidding

Fondant is no walk in the park though. Oye! That's all I will say about that.

"People you don't know"

(kidding! Not really though. I mean, isn't that what you think when you read someone's blog and it has pictures of people you don't know on it? I don't know them either so it's OK. But they looked happy about the cake... OK except for the groom. But I think he was a "serious kind of happy."

It was great though. Making cakes is alot like the show "24." Very thrilling, very intense, and at some point I needed a hacksaw. (If you don't know that reference then that means you NEED to rent every season of 24 and watch it as quickly as possibly. If you have seen it you already know the reference I am making because no one could ever forget Day 2 of season 2 hours 8:00am to 9:00am). The reason I got a hacksaw (or a mini hacksaw) is because I need a tool to cut my wooden dowelrods that hold up the layers of the cake. I'm always doing it with scissors or some dull tool that doesn't make a clean cut. If you know where to find real dowel rod cutters please tell me. I saw Martha Stewart use them and all I know is they don't sell them at Michael's. I guess the lesson learned here is that a frantic Molly Mormon whose carting a baby and has a cake that's "due" in 3 hours WILL get lost in a Lowes department store and not have the guts to ask for help. In other words, I need to find it before I start making John and Cassie's cake.

The finished product. Whew!

The gift I left for my sweet husband to come home to. And think- he took me out to dinner after seeing this. I guess if that's what I have to do to go out to eat.... JK I'm spoiled - Brett takes me out WAY too much.

And all the while the little Goose entertained herself. What a sweetie!

Miracles do happen!

P.S. People always say to me "oh I would love to make cakes!" And I tell them the same thing; all you need is a library, the internet, and Michael's and you can make anything. So if you would like any of the recipes I use for butter cream, crumb coating or fondant just email me. Or I recommend getting "The Cake Bible"-an excellent book for the serious baker.