Yea Art!

I just sent the last of my art students out the door! Woo hoo! I have successfully completed conducting my first art class out of our home! Five weeks, 10 classes and four students later.... I'm feelin' pretty good. In fact, it went so well, I'm going to try to have 3 different classes scheduled for this upcoming fall. Hopefully, there are 15 kids in the city of Tallahassee that are in need of some art education classes because they're home schooled.

Katiecakes

I think I've decided that these cupcakes sum-up my Katie Belle pretty well. Sweet and pink, with a hint of a tangy punch on the inside. So, I'm naming them after her and are hereby making them for her annually on her birthday so long as she doesn't request something else.... like a cookie cake. (Who doesn't love a cookie cake?!)

So, if you'd like to make a batch of Katiecakes, here's whatchya'll need and whatchya do:

INGREDIENTS-
1 box of Pillsbury Confetti Cake Mix
1 jar of Betty Crocker Strawberry Whipped Icing
1 3.4oz. box of Instant Lemon Pudding Mix
1 1/2c. heavy whipping cream
1/2c. confectioner's sugar
1/2c. milk
1/4c. sour cream
pink sugar sprinkles

DIRECTIONS-
1. Prepare cupcakes according to the directions on the box.
2. Allow the cupcakes to completely cool.
3. In a large bowl, combine pudding mix, cream, confectioners' sugar, milk, and sour cream. Beat at medium speed until stiff peaks form.
4. Spoon pudding mixture into a squeeze bottle or pastry bag with a long narrow tip.
5. Insert tip into top of each cupcake and fill with 1 tablespoon of the pudding mixture.
6. Spread strawberry icing on cupcakes and decorate with sprinkles!

*Store covered in the refrigerator.

Happy, Happy Birthday Katie Dear....

For those of you who don't know, today was Katie's first birthday! Yea! A year ago I was recovering from major surgery with a morphine drip, staples in my stomach and a catheter. TMI? Ahhh, memories.

Any who, today we celebrated with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (see previous post), a trip to the pet store to ogle at all of the cute fuzzy animals, a few fun gifts and a "Katie Approved" menu for dinner: Hot dogs, mac'n'cheese, french fries and green beans. As you can see from the evidence below, Katie hearts french fries.

To top off our fine dining experience, we sang Katie the birthday song, she tried to grab the flame from the candle with her fingers, and then we ate cupcakes!

"Who needs cake when there is icing?!"

Sugar Overload

Last night, on the eve of Kaitlyn's birthday, we let her indulge in half of a Krispy Kreme Doughnut with sprinkles.
She thoroughly enjoyed picking it to pieces.
The "HOT NOW" sign has just as much pull for her as it does anyone else who has ever had a Krispy Kreme.

Happy Birthday Katie!

Today is Kaitlyn's first birthday! Of course, the day won't be any different for her since she'll continue to do whatever she wants, but Rachel and I (plus the grandmas) are very excited. Our little girl is growing up so fast! To commemorate the occasion, I put together a little montage to the tune of "All American Girl" by Carrie Underwood. Hope ya'll enjoy.

Thank You Grammie

Grammie Crosby bought Katie some very cute pants and a fun shopping cart for her upcoming birthday on the 11th. Katie doesn't quite know what to think about the pants, but she LOVES the shopping cart. (hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come)

Ta-Da!

This afternoon I sat Kaitlyn down to eat her lunch. I set her all up with chicken sticks, veggies and mac'n'cheese to feed herself. Then, I went to make a quick phone call to my mom. When I turned around this is what I found...

She just loves to play with her hair while she is eating!

What can you do within 48 hours?

TRAVEL TO ORLANDO AND BACK!

This past weekend the Crosby's traveled to Orlando to witness my brother and his new wife receive the last living ordinance possible for them here in this life. It was a beautiful, and yet unbearably hot, occasion. Here is a sampling of the order of events:

Thursday afternoon- I spent four and a half hours in the back of the car either watching Kaitlyn chew on her toes (see previous post) or having her thrust her hand in my face so I would nibble on her fingers. She refused to take a nap thereby causing me to miss out on a nap.

Thursday evening- "rehearsal dinner" at Carrabbas Italian Grill. Kaitlyn held in there, but was on the verge of a meltdown due to her not having slept in the past 8 hours.

Late Thursday evening- After having returned to our hotel (Lake Buena Vista Resort & Spa, $184 a night for a 3 bedroom suite with a pull out couch, 2 bathrooms and fully equipped kitchen; great location 2 miles South of Downtown Disney Gate; fantastic deal!)

Kaitlyn spent an additional hour or so, completely investigating her new surroundings while showing off her newly acquired talent of walking before crashing, see below. (She NEVER sleeps on her back.)

Friday Morning- Gorged myself on my dad's specialty "Egg McMarks." Basically, an Egg McMuffin, but butterier.

Friday Afternoon- At 2:32 pm, Matthew McKinley Riebow and Ellen Pearce Chason became eternal companions! Then we all melted while taking family pictures. Jacob and I have jointly decided our children will be forbidden from marrying in the Orlando Temple between the months of April-November.
Friday Evening- Ahh, just in time for the reception! A complete meltdown! Kaitlyn had never had a meltdown. She is generally a very happy and go-with-the-flow child. However, taffeta doesn't breathe and we're in Florida during the end of June; And besides that, much to my extreme embarrassment, our tardiness caused the whole reception to be started 45 minutes late! The whole picture taking process had been held up so we could take part.

They took this one special picture with all of the baby-nieces of the bride (there were 3 one-year-old girls with the same dress on). We sat Kaitlyn next to baby Hannah. Kaitlyn looked at Hannah, Hannah looked at Kaitlyn, there was a pause, and then Kaitlyn hauled off and gave Hannah a healthy smack in the face. Needless to say, stress was at an all time high, right along with the level of embarrassment/guilt. As soon as our part in the entrance as "kin to the groom" was over, Kaitlyn's shoes, stockings and bloomers were stripped and she instantaneously became happier.

Once the party got started, everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves, and the dance floor stayed pretty packed the whole time. The proof is below:

The goofball on the left is my loveable, and more-likely-to-be-empathetic-towards-you brother, JT. He is due to go on his mission to Brazil this September. That hasn't stopped him from catching the garter at the last two wedding receptions he has attended. See below.

We might call him a nerd to his face, but he is waaaay too much fun and we love him to death... even if he cannot balance his own checkbook or keep his floor clear enough to see the carpet. Ladies, he's going to need a very strong hand. Women who are "the youngest" or "the only child" need not apply.

Here was a funny part! Matthew kept telling Ellen to tuck her dress in because the door was going to close on top of it. He was even pointing it out to her here. Just after this shot, he closed the door and her train was still sticking out! Whoops!

And here was another great part of the reception! Seeing my friend Tiffany Glancy again! I was reading my scriptures the other night, and I came to Alma 17:2, where Alma the Younger was reunited with the sons of Mosiah. It summarized how I feel when I'm around Tiffany. It says, "Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth..." I think this summarizes my feelings so well, because when I was very young and in Young Womens, the bishop came to class to speak to us one day and told us that only 1 out of every 3 of us would marry in the Temple. I thought this was a shocking statistic at the time. We were all very active and eager young women. However, I have lost touch with many of those girls from that period of my life, and I know of only three other girls fates besides my own: Jake and I married in the Orlando Temple just a few years ago; Tiffany married a mutual friend of ours, the righteous RM Andrew Glancy, in the Salt Lake Temple; another mutual friend of our is unable to marry in the temple at this time (she is unmarried and has a young daughter); and another friend of ours tragically took her own life. I have no doubt that if I were to hunt down some of the other girls I grew up with, that ratio 1:3, would be true. So, it brings me great joy to see such a wonderful woman, so happy because of the righteous decisions she made early on!Yea Tiffany!....and Andrew!

Saturday Afternoon- I'm in the backseat next to Kaitlyn again traveling North on I-75.

Piggy Wiggies are Nummy!

This is what Kaitlyn does with the majority of her time in the car
since she discovered her toes.

Katie's 1st Walking Related Injury

Notice the scuff on her chinny-chin-chin. Curse all brick fireplaces!