Bailey's 3rd Birthday

My little Bailey Cakes has been planning her Birthday with Purple Alligators and Butterflys, and tonz of friends who are dancing and laughing all day. Now, it was my job to pull this birthday off. 

Have you ever worked with Fondant? This is what I was able to create using this unique frosting. I ordered some online from Ebay and the rest I made myself. I also ordered some awesome food coloring that is very vibrant compared to the store bought coloring. 

Here are the many cupcakes with various animals and bugs on top to accommodate her birthday wishes.

Shanon had Bailey stand on the park table (?) She had to wear her party dress that  twirls up when she dances. The day was super cold but because of the remodel that we are doing on our bathroom, we wanted to have the party at the park. 

Alex doing what he does best....making the girls laugh.

Blowing out the candles. Make a wish sweet girl!

So grateful for the friends that showed up to this angels party. 

And a special thanks to Annie who brought her daycare kids to celebrate with us. 

Shanons 40th Birthday

My honey turned 40 this year. A turning point for him,  I can tell.

Again, I made this using fondant. My new favorite. The hill was made with a bowl underneath the fondant. YUM this one was good. 

(Notice the no U-Turn sign by the hill)

Happy Birthday Shanon!!

Mom's 71st Birthday

Months ago I reserved an awesome spot in Arches for my moms birthday for my entire family. Unfortunately  everyone had made other plans by the time the day came and I didnt remind them in time. I had a number 7 and one candle to represent my moms 71st birthday (although she preferred it be flipped to 17) we made an upside down pineapple cake, my first ever. It turned out so well that I know this will be one of my favorites for many years to come. 

After several takes, my friend Rachel was able to get one with most of us smiling.

The next day Shanon, Colton, Bailey, Gay, Nathalia, and Quin, went to the Devils Garden and checked out Landscape Arch. Who doesnt like a little bum shot? Bailey is getting a free ride on her daddy's shoulder....lucky girl. 

Almost there. 

There is a picture somewhere in my many many photo albums that shows a baby Colton age 2 months asleep in a backpack being carried by yours truly at Landscape Arch. Who would have thought that 15 years later he would be carrying me on his back in the same spot. It was so much fun attempting to get on his back to take this shot. 

My 34th Birthday

I wish I would have gotten a closer picture of this delicious RAW carrot cake that Shanon  spent hours on making with the kids.

Thank you babe!!

Blaize's 11th Birthday

This guy is AWESOME!! I am so lucky to have him decide to spend his 11th birthday in Moab this year. Here we are at teacup. Dont ask me about Colton's face.....not sure what is going on there. Blaize can't quite touch yet but it wont be long he will be so tall and this place wont be as much fun for these two :( I am enjoying it while it lasts.

This is one of our favorite beaches this year. It probably won't be here next year because the winter this year was so mellow. 9 miles down potash and to the left the water was shin deep for me almost all the way across the river. We could float almost 1/4 mile before the water got deep again. 

 Blaize getting buried and loving it. 

 Colton....he is slowly becoming a man before my eyes and I am loving it. 

 Teacup, all the boys. I love these guys and dread the day they no longer want to hang out with mom and aunty Nicole.

Colton's 15th Birthday

For Colton's 15th Birthday he wanted to hang out for the night at Left hand with his BFF Josh.

These two are inseparable  They went up two nights before because the night of his birthday we were expecting rain and we know how those canyons can get.

Because they jumped in the water at midnight, two days later on his real birthday, Colton was not feeling well. He came down with a cold, both of these boys did. He had a headache all day. And because our oven is not working, he picked out this delish looking cheesecake covered with Stawberries, Blueberries, and blackberries. He's really trying here not to fall asleep.

Had to get this picture of Bailey sticking her finger in the cake. Oh, and I forgot candles at the store...bummer.

I LOVE YOU COLTON!!

Papapiya

I know what you're thinking....a SKUNK!!

But this little guy has been absolutely positively my favorite animal in all of the animal kingdom, including humans. I know its extreme and when Shanon called me to tell me he found a baby skunk with his eyes still closed before he even got done with the sentence I told him no. But needless to say, I am somewhat of a push over and submitted to his insistence. I took the kids over, just to see it not to keep it and then....

we fell in love. 

Check out that little guy in front of the pool. In the short amount of time he was with us, he loved us, we loved him, and he showed me what its like to mis-judge something based on our preconceptions.

He also taught me a lot about myself. How I react in situations. I stomp my feet as a warning, then raise my tail and turn towards my target, then look behind me to get an accurate aim, then....well. He never did that. He never did. And maybe I needed to learn that. He loved us completely. In the mornings, when he got hungry, he sounded like a little grumpy old man chuckling and strutting around chasing me to be bottle fed goats milk and yogurt. 

This is the umpteenth picture of Colton that I took in the same setting, he's kind of over it at this point. 

Unfortunetly it is not legal to keep a skunk as a pet in Utah. I couldnt find anyone to help me de-scent him and had to hand him over to the animal control. It was really hard to see him go. I am grateful he came into our lives. Out of all of my pets I have had in my adult life, Papapiya was the one I've bonded with the most. (I know I was his favorite too!) 

Love you Papapiya, aka Pepe le pieu & Flower