Picture This...

An androgynous human figure, standing up, hands clasped in prayer. But this figure had four legs, and no head. Where the head should have been, there was only a wild foliage of ferns and flowers. There was a small, smiling face drawn over the heart.
Is this picture clear in your head???

"To find the balance you want, this is what you must become. You must keep your feet grounded so firmly on the earth that it's like you have four legs, instead of two. That way, you can stay in the world. But you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead. That way, you will know God."

Thank you Elizabeth Gilbert for providing me with such a powerful message. That is just one of many in this wonderful book that I'm reading.

Cakes, Cakes, and More Cakes!

So I've come to the conclusion that next time I take a cake decorating class I'm going to take it with someone who sucks at it. I don't think its fair that Deke is better than I and I have more experience! lol Its ok though because now he can make all the cakes for every occasion..muahahahaha...

In tonight's class we practiced the shell, rose (again), hearts, and drop flowers. We also briefly touched on figures such as heads and clown bodies.. I thought they were creepy. Here are our cakes from tonight's class :)

Deke with his masterpiece.

This is the cake that Deke made for my birthday, ain't it cute?

I think Tyler is feeling a little left out, he came in with this plastic cake so that he could say he made one too. I think that should be our next family night :)

Cake Decorating Classes!

Deke and I are taking a cake decorating class. That's right, I didn't studder... a cake decorating class. I signed up first because its something I've always wanted to do and Michael's is FINALLY offering classes again. When I came home and told Deke about it he decided (yes HE decided) that he wanted to take it with me. Its our official "date night" every Tuesday night. Last week was our first class but it was mainly instructions; this week we actually got to decorate a cake. First we practiced different designs on our practice boards and after mastering the rose bud, writing, and star we got to do a "picture transfer". This is where you preselect a picture and using piping gel trace the picture onto parchment paper. Once completely traced you lay the paper on the cake and lightly rub. Finally we just filled the picture in with stars. It is a very easy technique. We're loving this class and highly recommend couples taking it together... its manly I swear!

I honestly felt like I was bringing the entire kitchen with us to class lol

Deke working on his "practice board"

This is all we were able to accomplish in the class, the rest we did at home.

Deke was so proud of himself.

The finished project!!!

Keep an eye out for next weeks project!

Valentine's Day

So I have to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of Valentines Day; to me its just an over-done commercialized holiday. Love should be celebrated everyday of the year, not just once. Not too mention I don't like spending money just because everyone says you're supposed to. My birthday is one week after Valentine's Day and Deke's is the week after so its already tight financially. Having Deke home this Valentine's Day was a real treat, last year he was gone all day doing the "boot drive". I told him that spending it together was enough for me and asked him not to spend any money. He didn't listen. He came home with tulips and chocolates... how could I be mad when they are both my favs... ((sigh)) Here are a few pics of our day. ♥

I love celebrating with food lol

Heart shaped pizzas every year!

Tyler said he was texting his wife to tell her Happy Valentine's Day. I didn't even know he got married! lol

This was the Valentine that Tyler made for me ♥

Happiness is time spent with the ones you love ♥

Funnel FUN!

So I'll confess that we aren't the best at having family home evening every week. In fact when we do have it it's because Tyler is begging us to do it. Its hard because Deke isn't home very often and is never home on Monday nights. So we decided to have FHE today, Tuesday, because we all happen to be home. I thought it would be fun to make some funnel cakes just like ones you find at the Fair. The recipe was actually extremely simple and they were fun and easy to make. After making a HUGE mess in the kitchen and eating WAY too many calories we played some Go Fish and called it a night.

Ain't she a BEAUTY?!?

We attempted pouring the batter through a funnel but it was too thick and came out too slowly, which would then over cook the cake. We found it easier to pour through a plastic bag.

Tyler enjoying his funnel goodness

Deke made me a heart shaped funnel cake :) Ain't it cute?

Due to reason's I'd rather not explain I'm considering making my blog private ((cringe)). Its something I never wanted to do because I reallllllly hate blocked blogs and usually just stop looking at them once made private. I guess I'm afraid that if I make my blog private that people will stop looking at it and all my posts will be wasted time (or at least an on-line journal). So let me ask this... if I make my blog private, will you still look at it???

Similarities?

TIME FOR A MOVIE REVIEW....

VS.

Today Deke and I went and saw the movie "Avatar". At first I had absolutely NO interest in seeing this movie; mainly because I am not a big sci-fi fan. But after hearing many reviews and all of them positive, I decided I would check it out. We went to the new Palladio theater in EDH (which by the way sucked!) and viewed the movie in 3-D. The graphics were absolutely amazing and I really couldn't find anything about this movie that I didn't like. Well...scratch that... the random and very weird "love" scene with over sized blue creatures did taint the movie a bit. ANYWAYS, from the time the humans entered the Avatar world I kept thinking one thing...how similar this movie is to the 1992 movie "Fern Gully". Lets review similarities: 1) Human man entering a world of creatures that are not of his kind. 2) The inhabitants of the land love and are connected to all living things and the earth of which they roam. 3) Man and creatures come together to stop the other humans who are trying to destroy the rainforest. 4) Creatures revolve their life around a tree. 5) And this is my favorite similarity...Man stops bulldozer from destroying this beloved tree. 6) and we can't forget this one...man falls in love with the main character creature who is also the leaders daughter. Hmmm.... So from what I've heard James Cameron starting making this film in 1993, one year after Fern Gully was made. People think that he geniusly made up this movie when I think that he took the plot straight from the 1992 animated film.

Now don't get me wrong, Avatar is a really good movie. Its full of action and has amazing graphics. I just think its funny how similar these two movies are.

So in the end I would recommend this movie. I wouldn't however recommend taking a child to see this movie. The blue people are pretty much naked the whole time and there is that strange love scene. Plus its 2 1/2 hours long and I know my kid can't sit for that long.

If you see this movie please tell me if you see the similarities, I'd love to know!

Christmas 2009

No, we didn't plan the matching outfits...it just happened.

We always have the big family gathering and feast on Christmas Eve, a long lived tradition!

The boys posing with a few of their new toys.

Tyler said I wasn't aloud to take a picture until the cookie was fully decorated. My bad.

All ready for Santa!!!

Despite great debate, Santa actually came!

Tyler got a new golf set from Santa!

and a sling shot....crazy Santa...

This is what Tyler thought was his new "jet pack"....

oh well...remote control trucks are cool too!

♥Until next year everyone...Happy New Year!!!♥

Wonderful Quote

Christmas is many things to many people - from the eager, materialistic grasping of a child for a present to the deep spiritual thankfulness of the mature heart for the gift of a Savior. If there is one common denominator, perhaps it is this: Christmas is love. Christmas is the time when the bonds of family love transcend distance and inconvenience. It is a time when love of neighbors rises above petty day-to-day irritations, and doors swing open to give and receive expressions of appreciation and affection.
- Thomas S. Monson

Tyler's Christmas List word-for-word

Dear Santa,
I want a real jet pack. I want a giant robot. I want a dog. I want a bo in diro. I want a go set. I want spic the dino.

Not too bad eh? ;-) I thought his spelling was really good until the end. Can you guess what the last 3 items are that he's asking for?