Caroline's Arm

So, about a month ago while vising the zoo (which we do frequently) Caroline severely burned her arm. We were wlaking toward the parking lot after leaving the zoo and the kids (including two friends we had brought) were playing aroung and very interested in one of the golfcart/ATVs that the zoo-workers drive. After repeatedly telling them all to leave it alone, Caroline, of course, ran back to it and fell, catching her arm on the exposed muffler on the back. It wasn't until the screaming that I realized it was still hot and she had burned herself. I was not prepared however, for the way it looked when I got to her. The oly way I can describe it is that simply looked like melted saran wrap or something peeling off her arm. Looking back at it now, I probablt would have run back into the zoo where I'm sure they have a nurse's station or something, but all I could think to do was snatch her up and get her out of there as soon as possible. I poured a bottle of water on it and immediately drove to CVS where I bought burn spray, ointment, and gauze, etc. My teeny girl was such a trooper and has made it through even better than I (and the doctor) expected.

this is a few days after it happened.

a week or two

another week

I took this picture just today. It's just barely pink, and the doctor thinks there won't even be a scar. I'm not sure if it a third degree burn, but it was second degree, atleast. I'm amazed at how good it looks and how she rarely acted as if it even bothered her, My brave girl!!!

I'm Getting Paid for this!

So, one good thing that has come form all the time I spend (waste) on Facebook is that I have gotten some business making cakes. It's been alot of fun, and the orders just keep coming! Here are the cakes I have most recently been paid to make...

This is the Cookie Monster cake I made for my nephew, Dylan's, first birthday. It was vanilla cake with chocolate chip filling (it had to be chocolate chip for Cookie Monster :) )

Of course I didn't paid for this one since it was Caroline's birthday cake, but I wanted to show it off :) It was white cake (dyed pink, of course)

I made two of these sheet cakes for a wedding reception. They were chocolate cake with white chocolate mousse filling with strawberries. She sliced them and topped each piece with a strawberry.

This was just a plain vanilla cake with fabulous decorations. I made this for my neighbor I had growing up. It was so fun to re-connect with them over Facebook (and cake.)

This is an army cake I made for a 9-year-old's birthday, It was vanilla and chocolate cake , swirled together so it kind of looked like camoflouge.

A "Team Carlisle" cake I did for a birthday. Layers of vanilla and chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling.

I have to say that the Carolina cakes have been very popular. Are we really surprised?! This was white cake that I dyed blue and has white chocolate mousse filling.

I only wish I had a bigger kitchen and an industrial-sizsed kitchen Aid mixer. Maybe one day :)

Caroline's Pink Party

We've waited for this day all year... now it's two weeks away - it's practically here

Our sweet Caroline is turning 2, so we had to decide what we wanted to do

She's a teeny girl who's so pretty in pink - that made us think...

Let's have a pink party with pink everything - pink hats, pink balloons, pink cake and ice cream

We'd love for you to come to Papa and Gree-ma Howard's house; and don't forget to wear pink - your pants, shoes or your blouse.

That is what Caroline's invitation to her pink party said.

When Caroline turned 1, we barely had a cake so I really wanted to do more for this birthday. It was still just family, but we did it up a little more. The "Dollar Tree" helped me throw a great pink party... we literally had pink everything!

The pink snacks... the cake of course, pink marshmallows, pink iced animal cookies, pink sugar wafer cookies, pink whoppers and pink punch

pink decorations

Our pink waffle bar... pink waffle batter, homemade pink butter, strawberries, homemade pink whipped cream and pink sprinkles, Eaten of course on pink plates, with pink silverware with pink napkins and pink cups!

Caroline, Amy and me

had everyone that wore pink take a picture together

My beautiful mom and me

Amy, Kasey and me. Somehow Kasey missed the pink memo :)

Your fabulous cake decorator

blowing out the candles

My birthday girl!!!

I'm not sure how I can ever top that party, but it will be fun to try! :)

Turning over a new leaf...

I realize that it has been about three months since the last time I blogged. Nobody proabaly even rads this anymore, but I have mdecided that blogging is really a good thing for me to do and I want to get back to it. I think it is a good release for me and a better way to document our lives than just uploading pictures to Facebook. I have really spent alot of time in the last week organizing and cleaning the house, developing some house rules, helping the kids by making chore charts and helping them with the things that I want them to do every day. I realize that we need to use our time at home more efficiently than we have been.

There is alot going on at our house right now - alot of big changes. First, I am starting school next week... a 3-month course to get my CNA certification. It is going to turn our lives upside-down for a few months, but I am really, really excited about it. I will go to class four nights a week for 4 hours a night. I am one who really needs my sleep, and I just hope I know what I'm getting into. I would really like to work in a hospital when I'm done. I really want to be the best mom I can , and sometimes I feel like I'm not as good at it as I want to be. I really hope that doing something for me will help me in the most important job I have... a mom. My cake business and also really started. I have had many orders in the last couple weeks and more coming in all the time. I am really having a great time, and am happy to be making a little money while I'm at it.

Jackson started "Friendship School" today. Three other moms and I will rotate weeks having pre-shool at our house for four 4-year-old-boys. What's really funny is that the elementary school he will go to is Friendship Elementary. We are all in the situation where we can't exactly afford pre-school, and I feel very lucky to be a part of this. It is two mornings a week for three hours. Jackson had such a great time today... he has been talking about his new friends, Silas, Calvin and Rio all day. He brought a back-pack and a folder and came home with papers in his folder today... how fun. It means Driving to and from Greensboro twice a week, which means putting alot more gas in my car than I'm used to, but we're going to make it work. I know how important this is for Jackson and for me. He is my big boy and is so grown up.

Caroline just had her second birthday. She is my big lady. She is a teeny, smart, sassy, sweet, naughty girl. She is full of energy and loves her "Jack Jack." Anyone who is around her loves her, but also can't believe how naughty she is. We love her so much and can't believe how big she is.

I have pictures of Jackon's first day of school, Caroline's birthday and my cakes that I will post tomorrow. Just wanted to let everyone know We're alive around here and to stay posted.

Brandi Carlile Weekend...

My dad came this weekend to ake us to a Brandi Carlile show.

All I have to say is, "thanks, Dad. I'll never be the same!"

It was a FANTASTIC show and we had so much fun just hanging out!

these are in Charlottesville before the show...

On top of the show, Charlottesville is a really cool place. I definitely want to go back.


Jackson took this picture of David and Leda on accident. I gotta say that I think I have a futute photographer on my hands.


And because I can't have a post without a cute picture of Caroline...

And now, the fabulousness that is Brandi Carlile...

The Zoo!

My BFF, Amy, had been talking about taking the kids to the zoo for a long time, so about a month ago we finally decided to do it. I bought a family pass while we were there and apparently that was a great decision. My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE the zoo. We have been five or sox times since then and have more than paid for that family pass!

These are pictures from our first visit with Amy...

Looking at the alligators... Caroline LOVES Jackson. she is never more than a few steps away from him!

Here's to many more zoo trips to come.

We can get discounts for anyone else, so if you're interested, we go once a week!

Why?!

I love how the beginning she is saying, "cheese!"