Tomoyo

We were so blessed this week to have an Exchange student with us from Japan. Tomoyo was so much fun to have here and such a sweet person. She made having an exchange student everything I could ever want it to be. She brought us beautiful stationary, bath salts, Hello Kitty toothbrushes, Japanese chocolates and yummy snacks. One night she also brought spices to make a tasty dinner that is apparently the favorite food to the people of Osaka. I don't know how to spell what the name of the dish is called, but it was basically like a pancake with cabbage, bacon and corn inside. I have to admit, one reason I was so excited to have her was to translate my craft books for me. Unfortunately her English is not quite good enough to tell me the interpretations. Maybe someday. For now I am just grateful that she came to see us. Our lives are better for having her in them for a moment.

Pocket Friend

She was so easy and fun to make, I plan on making a little clan to play outside in C's fairy house.

#6!

This was the year of the Star Wars party. I forgot about the cake until the morning of, so it's only Star Wars connection is Yoda Green frosting We made the party favors. I found some candy molds off ebay. Poured plaster in them. Got some cute boxes and plastic containers from the container store. Voila, you have take home Jedi paint kits!

Death Star pinata Trip to the Lego Store day before party

Also decided to make Jedi robes for all the young Padawans
Made the mistake of using yarn for the pinata rope which promptly broke off
I wish I was little enough to enjoy tissue paper so much!
Completing the day playing with new video games.

Happy Birthday handsome boy, I love you!

Love is all you need

There's a lot of crappy things going on in today's world. There are so many things that make me want to burrow down in my covers and not come out of bed. I could so easily hide out for awhile. Then, there are some days when I am overwhelmingly grateful for my husband and children. I am grateful for the time I have with them. I am grateful to give them hugs and whisper secrets to all of them while they sleep. I am grateful to watch them eat what I bake for them, or to take "interesting" walks to look for things that are cool to them. I am grateful to tuck them in at night and hear about things that matter to them. I'm grateful for small notes from my husband and to be able to perform acts of service for him. I'm grateful for my little pack and that we have each other. This is what gets me out of bed in our scary world.

Pie, cake, cupcake

For a "naturally sweet " wall hanging that someones getting for Christmas.

Sk8tr Grl

Projects in progress

Fancy dessert

My honey took me out to dinner for my birthday. It was a really nice place with yummy food. I ordered a coconut cream pie. It was so fancy, like something you see on T.V. It was in a teeny tiny tart shell, loads of whipped cream and a coconut wafer stuck in the top. Carmel sauce and bits of pineapple were sprinkled all over the plate. The next day the kids and I thought we should make our own fancy dessert, so we did mini chocolate cream pies. I used the kids toy pie tins, cooked the crusts in those and the filled them with super rich chocolate custard and fresh whipped cream.
To be really fancy we sprinkled chocolate shavings all over the whole thing. Next time I'm going to try it using my mini muffin pan. That would be fancy and adorable!