Fondant Fun?

While you wait anxiously for the 4th of July Pond Party photos, you can enjoy a post about some of our latest arts and crafts endeavors.

In the past couple weeks, Maisie has decided she wants to be a Pastry Chef.  Whether or not that conclusion comes from her obsession with Cupcake Wars on the FoodNetwork, it's definitely possible.

And because we had nothing else going on last Friday, she decided it'd be the perfect time to begin working with fondant. 

Apparently I'm a sucker for punishment.

The goal was chocolate cupcakes from scratch covered with a powdered sugar frosting and topped with a fondant rainbow.

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She nailed the cupcakes.  She's partial to the chocolate cake recipe in my Better Homes and Garden Cookbook that calls for 3 oz of unsweetened chocolate.  She makes the entire thing from scratch and kicks my butt at baking.

Frosting on the other hand, could use a little work and the fondant is a pain.  Plus she realized the texture is a tad chewy.

I'd intended to get a photo of the finished product but by the time the project was over (4  hours later) we were all too crabby, food color-stained and powdered-sugar-coated for the Kodak moment.

In other news, the dog and cat had a 15 minute stand-off in doorway to the garage on Friday morning.  I think they may be getting used to each other or planning a shoot-out.  It's a toss up.

Cowboy Comes Home

My little guy is coming home today....

SPOILED ROTTEN

As a Cowboy...

Who can ride a horse...

Oh, my heart!

Still South

Ross is still thriving in the heat of Texas.

Apparently this is his new mode of transportation...

He's also learning how to clean up after himself...

And the lad should be able to fend for himself upon his return home next weekend.

Pringle Challenge

To pass the time in June, my girls have discovered "The Pringle Challenge".

It consists of tasting different flavors while blindfolding and trying to guess which flavor your tasting.  Sometimes the chip flavors get mixed which makes it extra tricky!

It's a tough life, but someone's gotta do it.

Trips

There's my Cowboy!

 Working hard for his room and board.

Looks like they're keeping him fed.

And apparently the Texas Rangers are big Budweiser fans :)

It also appears he's bustin' out of his clothes his clothes this week too.

 I think he's in his element.

Meanwhile; up North

Major shoe issues were happening.

So we eventually ditched the concept shoes altogether. 

It's just easier.

Sam is a hugger.  And a tickler.  And a very thorough t.v. watcher.  Maisie and Laura are nuts.

We made it to the Mall of America and back with 4 kids in 24 hours.  Do you have any idea how many Dora The Explorers one can watch in a minivan?

Mucho!

Dressing Room Magic

Aside from our unforgettable Glamour Shot debut, video-taping homemade commercials and pretending to be models in the Avon and JC Penney catalogs, one of my favorite pastimes was trying on prom dresses at the mall.

Of course Heather and Gfunk were my partners in crime, however once in a great moon, Aunt Judy or Mom would join us.  And every once in a while I remember Aunt Judy trying on a few dresses too. 

That took the fun to a entire new level.

Obviously, we didn't need a prom dress and had no intention of purchasing one, yet something about trying on a prom dress was magical.   I'm not sure if it was the sequins, the satin or the fact that the dresses sort-of fit our pre-teen bodies. Whatever it was, I don't think my childhood would have been the same without those dresses.

Apparently, times haven't changed much.

TEXAS Bound!

Someone's made it to Texas!

Live it up Buddy!