a few more cake pictures

Here is the clown, not quite as creepy as I thought it would be. Unfortunately I tipped him over leaving class so he got a bit messed up.

I decided to be lazy this day of class and bring cupcakes, I didn't even really decorate them, I just lazily plopped flowers on them and left. I was so darn tired that night.
Here's the cake I made for Robin's Birthday, this is the best chocolate frosting I've ever had, it was fudgy and oh so delicious.

cake mania

Ok, I've had cake coming out of my ears lately. I decided to take not one but two cake decorating classes this month. I'm getting better with practice, I thought I'd show off my work, old and new.



Bob cake - Piper's 2nd Birthday, oh, if we did this one again today it would be so much better

Piper's 1st Birthday cake, the first time we tried fondant, we loved this cake
Butterflies made from Royal Icing for Piper's 3rd Birthday cake
The cake, nothing like we started out to make but it turne out so darn cute!
Reagan's 1st Birthday cake, this sucker was huge!!! Now that I've taken the class I figured out Jason and I were backwards on prepping the fondant, no wonder it was so difficult to do. I can't take full credit for any of the above cakes, Jason and I both did them together. I did most of the prep work and he did the creative touches.
Here is one of my class cakes I actually made this for Jason's work. This is the first time I made roses.

After the roses were made I just plopped some dots along the edges and top to finish it off, I was tired and didn't want to take it further.
Here's Niki's bridal shower cake, my roses look better on this one. I need some practice making leaves though.

It turned out really nice, I was very happy with the end result. Niki of course loved the pink and the cotton candy flavoring I added per her request.
Now, this isn't exactly pretty or finished, this is from Sunday, I covered the cake and practiced making the little doily things and a ribbon an then made daisy's. The large daisy in front was actually my teachers, we just plopped hers on the cake as well.

My last classes are this week, on Thursday I have to make and decorate a full cake with icing and the techniques I've learned. On Sunday I have my final fondant and gumpaste class, I don't need a cake for that, I think I am learning how to make a carnation for that one. There are also some other pictures but they are stored on Jason's computer, I made some cupcakes last week, one with clown on it and then I made Robin a Birthday cake as well. Cake cake cake, I am finally to the point of saying yuck!

Piper and Mommy's day at the Zoo

Piper and I had a great day together today, we got to go to the zoo all by ourselves today. It was a much needed Mommy/Daughter day. We had a great time, although Piper was a bit clutsy skinning her knee, hand, and foot.

These are all of the butterfly garden. I've always wanted to go in there but we usually forget about it. We had fun identifying the species and taking pictures.

Outside of the grizzly exhibit Piper decided to do a little rock climbing
One of the grizzly's was just waking up from his nap and doing a little stretching after lunch we had a little blue goo dessert - I liked hers better than my chocolate
and then to finish up the day Piper ran around in the fountains getting herself soaking wet.

A fun afternoon with friends

Saturday afternoon Heather and Brant had a few of us over to grill some burgers. We had a great time and so did the kids. Their swingset got a workout.
It's so rare that even a few of us can get together with our busy summer schedules.

Reagan was into Daddy and Nate's conversation
Piper just loves her Aydan

This little one doesn't like to look at the camera

It's jungle gym Daddy. Jason was in pain, jus a few minutes before Piper was standing on his shoulder.
Harley and Reagan were battling over the little truck. Harley won!
Look at this adorable smile! He is such a little flirt!

Happy 4th of July

These first few photos are from last week, just enjoying the warm weather in the backyard. Piper picked out both her and Reagan's swimsuits this year and wanted to match. They are so darn cute!
She never runs directly through the sprinkler but around and around the perimeter.

If the pool wasn't so darn cold she'd really enjoy splashing. I try to fill it up early in the day or the evening before to let it warm up and then take a net to get any bugs or grass out of the pool but Piper won't go near it because there are bugs in there. She is terrified of bugs.

Reagan will stand in the pool but if she sits she doesn't like it. Again, too cold.
Finally, cabin pictures. The girls had such a wonderful time, they soaked up the outdoors, Grandma, Grandpa, Claire, Matt and Daddy time. I actually got to sit and take a load off for much of the time, no wonder I enjoyed it so much! The first day Piper wouldn't even come near me, I actually had to chase her down a few times for a hug.
My little rock collector.

Daddy and Piper did a lot of fishing. Reagan wanted to walk all the way to the edge of the dock and watch the fish, it was terrifying.

Piper's little baby fish.
Here's her monster fish, she ran away from it after it came out of the water, reminds me of her Uncle Bill.
Look at her hands, she's got them all curled up and she's cringing. There was no kissing a fish this year Grandpa Miller.

Piper and Papa were having a great time playing in the water, she was pouring water over his head when he "wasn't" looking. This is a pretty funny picture, I don't think Papa will like it, it looks like he's going to eat her.
Oh she was a happy girl!
Reagan gobbled up her Grandma time, she cuddled up on her lap quite a bit, I don't think Grandma minded at all.
So here again Piper reminds me of her Uncle Bill - see the picture below.

From what I remember from our Summer's at the Lake Bill would spend hours on his tube.

This sums up Reagan this weekend, she was a little explorer walking everywhere. Like Grandma said, she just thinks she's all grown up.

Another fun thing Piper got to do, Matt and Claire took her on a few rides up and down the driveway and around the cabin, we could hear her giggles over the noise of the 4-wheeler.
The girls took a quick kayak ride together. Reagan gets a little nervous when her big sister is around.

But she's so relaxed on her own.

We had such a great time, we just can't thank Robin and Lonny enough for letting us join them. The cabin is a little slice of heaven, as soon as you leave you can't wait to get back.