Busy Week but Cakes To Do

Okay, only for a friend would I try to squeeze in making two cakes with the four full days we had this weekend. But there was no way I wanted to turn down the chance to make a cake for Emerson's Baptism!


Pink Sugar Buttercream icing with strawberry flavoring. Two layers made a mighty thick cross!

Oh, Daddy Dave, was it your birthday too? Well, we didn't forget you even though your new little daughter out shown you with her beauty today! Might not have been that Chief Illiniwek cake you were eyeing but we will save that for another year (when I don't have to stay up to 2:00 AM for two nights to find the time to make the cakes).

Again, I was SO, SO honored to be asked to contribute to such special days for my friends!

Now, someone teach me how to take photos of the cakes. For some reason I just don't seem to be angling things well. I feel like they look better in person!

Football Family

Wow, Thanksgiving was exhausting this year. And with four days of back to back events... the photo taking was far and few between. I did manage to take some pictures at the coldes (by far) event of the weekend. We were able to go to the the annual football game for Shawn's Step-Mom's family. Normally we have conflicts but this year those conflicts spread themselves out over other days (hence the four days of Thanksgiving). And since Nicolas seems to have a football attached to his body most of the time, we thought it would be wrong to let him miss this chance to actually PLAY against the big guys... okay, big guys and gals.


Huddling up and talking strategy. He looks in control doesn't he?

Watch out! Third time he gets the ball. And don't be fooled. This is not one of those nicey-nice families that would just "let" a five year old score a touch down! Good job, Daddy (#9), for trying to protect your little runner!

Nicolas after the game was over and still... holding the ball!

Lexi spent a lot of the time in the warmth of the van watching some videos. She is no dummy! Actually, they said she could play but I didn't think she could so neither of us had brought our gloves, hats or anything else to keep us warm enough. Convenient wasn't it!

She did get out of the van at the end of the game to go play on a nearby playground with another cute little girl (who had joined her in the warm van earlier) and to teach the crowd a cheer with her adoring Grandpa.

Yeah Team!

Oh My! Lexi-isms

Another typical day in my life with Lexi!

Dance class is full of Lexi and her comments every week. She wants to share a new dance move or something. This week was no different.

"Let Us Pray"
Teacher: What was your food today? (she asks every week to see if they had "power" food for powerful kicks.)
Lexi: I pray for my food every day!

(and lately she has... she stops us every meal to say her school prayer. God Bless her for that!)


"Coloring Your Hair"
They are working on front roll-overs. A little girl starts heading over before she is in proper safe position and the teacher is ready to help her. She grabs the little girl to pull her back down and says...
"Oh my! You little ones give me gray hair when you do that! See..." bends over to point to top of head "see this one right here? That one is now gray and says the name Grace on it."

Lexi pipes up from the wall "And that pink one right there says Lexi!"


"Visiting Ism"
Throwing in a little "Jack-ism" that made me laugh and cry! Lexi's dearest friend Jack came over to play a short time tonight. They were playing downstairs. Lexi was getting all dressed up and Jack was to play her guitar music while she danced. He was singing a made up song about how beautiful she was. Then, after getting in the car to go home, he told his mom,

"Lexi is so beautiful that I could die in her arms!"

Oh my! They are so adorable together! I could just eat them up.

Cake Adventurer!

The six year old birthdays continue! And this time is our little friend Cooper.
I was lucky enough to be asked to do an Indiana Jones Cake for him. This was fun! When can I do another one of these???

Sadly the photo doesn't do it justice. The botom of the cake is covered in 1" of "dirt" crumbs. But the photo makes it look like the crumbs are on the ground and that the cake is shorter. Oh well. Went over well.


Hat is made of chocolate cake and brown fondant. Map and whip and fondant too.

It was a super fun time for everyone!!!
Happy Birthday, Cooper!

Uh... a Dentist Dream!

Or would it be dental nightmare?


Wow, can you tell we did some major Halloween stuff?

And this is two kids who do NOT trick or treat fast from house to house. They do not dive and get candy at the parade. They do have fabulous family and friends who give them bags of treats too though. But oh.... my!

This was right before sorting out all that stuff that gets particularly sticky in their teeth. Going to give that to a teacher friend possibly to stick in other kids teeth.

Then we gave each family member (yep, parents too) a Ziploc bag with our name on it. We picked out 7 pieces of candy (equals one a day) to eat however we wish during the week. The rest of the candy FILLED a department store bag. Let's see how long this lasts and how well the kids can ration themselves.

Update: I am very behind on my blog posts so I can tell you... that original 7 piece bag has lasted two weeks for all of us! I planned on letting them pick 7 more pieces every Sunday. But they haven't emptied their first bag yet. Shocking!

Oh... okay, I might be sneaking pieces here or there. Don't tell!

Halloween Hauntings Day

Okay, up and at them again on halloween!

First we went to the events downtown Edwardsville. We have never done this before. The day was... brrreezzy but it was fun.

We asked the kids if they wanted to do the costume judging on the main stage or go right to the trick or treating downtown. Lexi's reply was "I want to do my stuff on the stage." Um... I think the costume thing the day before has gotten to her and she now has it in her blood!

She waited for her turn.
And then strutted like a proud peacock across the stage.

She stopped in the center ...


And did a curtsy of course.

We were one of the first ones so we were needing to wait for everyone else. Nicolas was getting antsy. Shawn was going to take him down main street while we waited. But Lexi said that she wanted to go too. I told her that we had to be there to win but her response was:

"That's okay. If I am not here when they call my name then I won't know and someone else can win. That is okay with me. I will be happy for them."

Wow, a bigger girl then me!

But she did love the attention that she got at each and every store. Ate it up!

The wind about ate HER up!  Wow!  That wind was strong and I didn't realize how it effected her costume until I took off her tail towards the end of our walk.  I could barely lift it against the wind.  I swear if I had two of those I could see why kids used to think they could fly and jump off buildings!  The resistance was brutal.  I am impressed she walked a straight sidewalk against the wind!

Then we went to a graduation party for our cousin Dan. A really fun time with family (although apparently forgot to take any photos).

We stayed longer then planned and had to rush to the parade downtown. Again a first for the Vetter family.  Okay, not the rushing part.  That can be a norm for the Vetter Family.  But the parade which is such a huge deal in our area that they moved Trick or Treating to the night before!  We walked in it two years ago but haven't been a spectator. This year we got to see cousin Kai walking in it though for Goddard School.

Lexi was wearing out fast... and this was not our last stop. It helped that we did this one sans peacock feathers.  She had a hard time being "slower" then the other kids getting candy.  So her mommy had to stand out there with all the kids and dive occasionally for her.  At least that meant I got to go for the chocolate!

We left half way through the parade with a bucket full of candy already.  We were off to Grandpa's house for his birthday and a walk around his neighborhood. Something he enjoys every year.
And we love seeing Kai and Edie in costume. Who wouldn't?

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!  We all adore you!

Now... excuse us while we go collapse in bed!

Trick or Treating...

Here we go! But first...have to do the customary stand-in-front-of-the-fireplace photo shoot!!!


Get ready!
Look cute!

Or tough!

Or just look at each other and check out the costumes!

Then we are off!
(note Lexi sees no reason she has to "carry" the candy bag when she can wear it as an accessory around her neck.)
Okay, everyone! Let's Go!!!!

Now remember... "trick or treat" to start and then a "thank you" and "happy halloween" at the end.

Oh, and why do people let the kids pick the candy out of the buckets? I mean this is not working in the favor of the parents!!! They choose Skittles when momma wants CHOCOLATE!!!

Friday Festivities

With the threat of rain again on Friday and knowing that Lexi's costume is not exactly ... moisture friendly we decided to head to a costume parade that I read about. Mom jumped in with us and Lexi and I headed to The Mills to let her walk around indoors with her Peacock costume. I still remember 6 weeks ago when she came into my bedroom and woke me with a photo of a peacock asking what that bird was called again. I told her and then simply said... that would make a cute costume. Well, that stuck with her. She was going to be a peacock. Looked at costume online... wasn't thrilled with anything I found. But feeling it would not be a hard costume to make...


Lexi became a peacock!

She was thrilled when she finally got to wear it. When I put it on her she beamed!

She took her stroll across the stage in the "cute" category. Well, it was either that or scary or funny....

Then they calculated and decided the top three of each of those categories. Then named them all off and Lexi clapped for each name. She would look at me sad each time when it wasn't her name but she clapped and smiled for whoever went up for their prize. Last name called ....

Now the "Best Overall Costume"

"Alexis Vetter as a Peacock"

Picture this!

Squeal...little fingers up to mouth.... "that's MEEEEEEE!!!!"
Okay, and picture mommy shaking for her.
I know... I'm pathetic!

Lexi on stage taking her bows and curtsies. Yep... curtsies!!!
We had to practically bribe her off the stage.

Taking her "winning" ride around the train. One of her prizes. I think her favorite is the free candy she got at the scoop your own candy store. She was so excited to run around and say "I want that... and that... and that." And whatever she got then she also got one for Nicolas. Sweets for a sweetie!

Then we were off.  Rushing home... stripped off her costume.

We had to go to Nicolas' school.  Time for his party and to make him the center of my attention instead of her!

The rain put a stop to the normal outside parade around Glen Carbon streets... so the grades took turns parading through the halls for the other classes.  Fun!

Nicolas sneaks a bit of his candy.. hey buddy!  That is for Bingo!  (wink)

Next to him is his one of his favorite classmates, Hannah.

Smile if you are having a blast!

Halloween Kicks Off!

Like so many holidays anymore it seems that Halloween has extended itself from a one day affair to more comings and goings then we can seem to keep up with. We once again didn't make it to the Boo at the Zoo or some other Halloween events we planned to get to. But we got on a roll on Thursday night.

We started at the Halloween Party at Sunset. Once again the rain put a dampening on their plans. Boy, if we ever have a drought here in the Midwest, Sunset needs to just plan an outdoor event! First Memorial Day was flooded out. Then 4th of July... Labor Day... Camp out...and now Halloween. But luckily the inside activities were really fun for the kids.


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Top Left
Nicolas sits with friends as they play pass the "hot" pumpkin.
Lexi waits her turn.
Lexi plants herself at the craft table for a LONG time. Can't tell you how many stickers I found wrapped in her tulle.
Allison gets a good look at Optimus Prime.
Nicolas dances and dances. The DJ totally rocked the joint with the kids! He got out there, taught them dances and played games. Good choice on entertainment this year!!! They went home worn out and they weren't running around the joint.

Then off to bed... the next day is going to be another big one!

Soccer Season Success!

What a great fall season! Our little team was back with all its glory. I am grateful we still play co-ed in the spring because I think we are all going to be sad when we see this little band of players have to split up. They were a force out there. A force of strong players but even better friends! All of them! Thank you, Coach Marty, for making us part of this team!

Nicolas gets a "thank you" hug in on his coach.

In fact, Coach Marty gets joy all around!

It was a cool way to end the season but the grandparents didn't complain.

See you all in the spring!

A Few More Sugar Filled Days!

October lent itself to a few more sugar filled treats for friends and family!


A chocolate buttercream wtih a bit of a modern touch to toast a closing of one chapter and opening of great new things for Nicki. What a sweet way for friends to let her know how special she is. And believe me, she is!


I was honored to be asked to make a superhero cake for Michael's fifth birthday too. He apparently liked the one I made for Nicolas and so we made a similar one for him. Happy Birthday, Michael!

Yummy couples night at Margaret's house. It was a packed evening of friends so why not pack a cake with all that is yummy and good? Chocolate cake, cream cheese icing, four layers lined with melted peanut butter and icing... and topped with more Reeses Peanut Butter cups then a body can handle. I must say that the leftovers were even better the next day!!!

Wedding cake for Megan and Joey. They married in Vegas but we finally got the chance to toast them here. Once again I was honored to be asked to supply the cake. I hope they have years of good fortune and happiness!

Neighborhood Bunco at my house meant cake squares with jam filling and dipped into white chocolate.

Finished off the month with another little ones birthday.  This time Tinkerbell was the request.  I was excited because Tinkerbell is just as loved in this house!  Mushroom made with three layers of vanilla cake and chocolate buttercream in-between each layer.  Chocolate cake on the bottom.  I loved making all the little accents!!!

A Perfect Pumpkin Day!

With weather that is rather unpredictable these days it was a treat to go to the pumpkin farm with our family and have the weather that we did. We started out in jackets but ended up with sunny warmth and very sunny dispositions!



Grandpa and MaeMae treated their grandkids to a fall day of fun!

Picked pumpkins!

I love this photo of Lexi playing with her little cousin, Edie!

See, even babies can have a good time at the pumpkin farm!

Went through the corn maze.

 Played in the corn!  Yum?

 

Had races on tractors.  This was fun to watch!  They each took turns being the guy who started the other two off on the race.  Okay, they weren't fast but they sure were determined!

 

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Did all kinds of fun things with cousin Kai!  Played on the hay pile, rode in the little wagon (aw they are cuddling), went down the inflatable slide together and got in the old time wagon (where Kai drove and Lexi practiced her parade wave). 

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And ended our visit with a ride down the big yellow slide.  Oh, yes!  This was a must do until we got to the top.  And I even admit that it was a bit intimidating when we got up there.  Notice Nicolas' face.  Reality struck and he got scared.  Lexi was fine until she saw big brother and started thinking..."if he is scared then I must be missing something... maybe this isn't such a good idea."  So Mommy took off before Lexi lost ALL her nerve.  She didn't look so happy all the way down.  Then Kai and Uncle Tim came... and then Nicolas saw that we all survived so he climbed on Daddy's lap and with much trepidation headed down too.

Low and behold when we got to the bottom they were ALL begging to do it again.
Next year, guys!