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- All content by Karen Steward, Copyright © 2007 All Rights Reserved.The information and images on this website may not be reproduced, republished or mirrored on another web page or website.
10/22/2009
Ashtyn, the perfect little princess!
Have you ever seen a more beautiful princess?! This is our youngest grandchild, Ashtyn, who just turned one. I don't think I've ever seen a baby more excited about her birthday!! She kept showing everyone that tiny little finger to let them know she was one year old! And when we sang happy birthday to her, she squealed with delight, holding up the one tiny finger at the end of the song. What beautiful memories! Ashtyn, you deserve center stage, as you were the perfect entertainment!!! Gram and Gramps love you oodles and gobs!!
Ashtyn, thrilled after the birthday song!
10/14/2009
Why Can't We Go Outside???
Otis and Mazie
09/20/2009
Caleb Turns Six! Star Wars!
Caleb wanted a Star Wars cake for his sixth birthday and what Caleb wants, he usally gets. Hey, he's a kid, so why not? I cheated just a bit on this cake, using the idea for Thomas's iron man cake for the base of this cake. Since he wanted the real toy figurines, rather than cake-made figurines, the cake was a bit easier to make. Of course, the cost factor goes up relatively quickly when you start purchasing the figurines. Whoa! What did that register tape read when I checked out??? YIKES! I figured it out rather quickly: the kid is smart. He's been wanting more Star War figurines, so what better way to get them than to ask that his cake be loaded with them?
Thomas and Caleb
Caleb, Thomas, Beck
©Karen Steward
07/18/2009
Mosaics. My First!
I've always wanted to try my hand at mosaics. Mazie's little nook area adjacent to her mom and dad's room provided an opportunity. Melissa wanted Mazie's name on the wall but couldn't decide how to accomplish it. That is, until I had a light bulb moment.
"How about I do her name in mosaic?"
Melissa stared at me. "Mom," she groaned, "Do you even know how to do mosaic? I mean, I want something in here now. I want to get this area finished!"
"No, I've never done it, but I've wanted to. It will give me an opportunity to see if I like doing mosaics. It's settled. I'm doing Mazie's name in mosaic."
Miranda, (Melissa's sister, and my ever-so-confident-in-her-mom daughter) laughed, "Whatever! You will never get it done."
Two weekends later I was able to dish those skeptical words up on a spoon and feed them back to my doubting daughter. I walked into the office on a Monday morning, finished piece in hand, and held it up for Miranda to see. She looked up from her yahoo, facebook, myspace bookkeeping and began choking. I ran over and patted her back.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I just choked on something," she said as she cleared her throat.
"Oh, my gosh, mom!" she exclaimed, "You did it! It's so pretty! Melissa's going to LOVE it!"
And, Melissa did.
What I learned from this project:
1. I love doing mosaics!
2. Even though it is messier than 10 four-year olds in a room full of paint.
3. I need a new home so I can have a mosaic area. (Talking to husband about this tiny little problem).
4. Dishes are hard to break (I used dishes on the pink and brown areas) but it is a lot of fun taking a hammer to perfectly good dishes and ruining them to create something totally unique.
5. I should have used a darker green color for the leaves on the flowers (which are hard to tell they are flowers) but I'm not being too critical since this was my first attempt at mosaics.
6. The little hearts were worth looking for (found them at MJ Design) in the mosaic area.
7. Though you can't see in the picture: the little rocks that are scattered on the image have word impressions: trust, joy, peace, love, happy. I found these at MJ Design as well and they added a lot to the finished piece.
8. Ask my son to make the platform/frame for any new designs that I intend to hang. (He would've done a much better base/frame for my project).
9. Do more mosaics!
10. Just to impress my daughter.
07/04/2009
July 4th, 2009
The 4th of July is a big time for our family. This is one holiday the men in the family are all over. Of course, we all know why. It involves blowing things up! No need to go to a community planned show with these guys around! They never disappoint!
Let the show begin!
Dragging out the big guns!
Awwww, look at our handiwork!
A couple of cute spectators.
Dad, are you going to blow all of these up?
Dad and Tay.
C'mon...these are just small ones!
No, I do not like fireworks! Even with Uncle J's ear covers!
06/02/2009
Can't Stop Thinking About.....Capernaum
What happens when you purchase two tickets to see a production and your husband begs out on you? Well, you invite someone else. The only thing: my tickets were for a Friday evening and everyone I phoned had already gone out to eat, shopping, movies, etc. One woman I couldn't reach, I later learned, had simply ran to Sonic! EEEEKKKKK! She was so upset when she found out why I had called. "What?! You had an extra ticket to Capernaum and I was at SONIC?!!!AAAAARRRRRGGGGGG!!! I tried to get a ticket and they were sold out!"
Uh-oh, it seems I had her ticket indeed. Well, she made me feel so awful I promised I will invite her again and next time she'll have ample notice. And, from now on when someone asks WHY I called I will tell them I was only wondering if they might come over and help me clean out the fish bowl. NEVER again will I say, "I had an extra ticket for..........."
So, anyway, back to the story: I made my way to the production alone. And, I'm still thinking about it. It was an experience that can't quite be described in words. It is something one must truly experience. The production began rather quirky and I think everyone in our group thought, "oh, boy, this is lame.." But by the end of the production, I was awed. Very few people walked away without wiping away tear or two. By the end of the production the quirky beginning was understood. Here it is months later and I'm still thinking about the Capernaum experience. The actors, both children and adults, were so incredible that one leaves knowing that God has His hand upon Tammy Lane and her vision to create a biblical experience that is unlike any other. If you're ever in my neck of the woods you want to check out Tammy Lane Productions and see what they're up to.
05/26/2009
04/24/2009
02/15/2009
02/14/2009
12/28/2008
12/27/2008
12/25/2008
10/31/2008
Princess...Surrounded By Armor.
The Armor Reveal
10/23/2008
"Hey Brother, It's Your Birthday!"
After Taylor's birthday, Thomas was ready for his cake to be made. He informed me that he wanted Iron Man. Well, I didn't know who Iron Man was or what he did. Each time I asked Thomas, "What does Iron Man do?" His answer: "IRON MAN! ARRRRRRGGGGGG!" Okay, so I had little information to go on. I tried to talk him into Spider Man. Spider Man, I know. But, no. "GRAM! I WANT IRON MAN CAKE!" Okay, so I went to the store and found Iron Man toys. I still had no clue but finally decided that rocks, spears and ladders would have to work. Well, work it did. He loved his cake, as did everyone else. And, whew! I am glad to be finished with cakes for a while! Melissa planned a birthday with many lasting memories! We partied from noon until 8 pm. Thanks to Thomas's dad, Chad, Jeremy and everyone else who cooked all the food! YUM! Note: Due to requests, I have added "Iron Man Cake Instructions." See side panel of blog.
Thomas's Iron Man Cake
Always nice to have an uncle who can offer a hay ride!
Thomas and Caleb
Mazie and Gram.
And we're off!
Ashtyn and Mom
Is it done, Chad?
Love it when the guys cook!
