Weddings and Cupcakes Galore

We had a final wedding event for Lexi, which was her Arizona open house. Several months ago, I somehow found myself volunteering to make over 200 cupcakes for the event. That's a lot of cupcakes. Especially when you consider that I made 70 red velvet cupcakes that I just didn't like how they turned out, so I had to scrap them and make something else instead.

We made an assortment of chocolate peanut butter cupcakes, Oreo cupcakes, and snickerdoodle cupcakes. I really thought all three varieties turned out so yummy and cute.

 Here I am with KeeKee behind the cupcake display table. I was honestly surprised when I ended up liking the snickerdoodle cupcakes the best--I was worried they wouldn't be able to compete with cupcakes gobbed up with Reese's candy and oreo cookies, but I think they held their own.

Here is our family at the venue. The open house was held at Verrado, a planned community in Buckeye. It was a really pretty area.

Lexi and Scott headed over to sample the cupcakes before everybody arrived. They must have known they would get busy, because Lexi said that was the only cupcake she got the whole evening.

John had flown in because of some family medical emergencies, and he took a break from the hospital to come hang out with us. It was really nice to have him there!

The kids had lots of fun running around with their friends.

I have to point out here that I actually did Sareny and Finley's hair, since it seems like usually if it looks fancy or exceptionally cute, somebody else did it. Sammy and Sareny.

Cute little IJ Isaac.

Sammy, Sareny, Scott's cousin Grace, Finley, and Sydney.

 Lexi came over and stood on the wall with the little girls.

The bride and groom by the fountain.

And a more closeup shot of them.

It was a really beautiful reception, and a really beautiful night. Apparently I didn't get any pictures, but Grammy Jo and Bampa were there as well. In fact, Keith and my dad went golfing the morning of the reception and Grammy Jo helped me finish up the cupcakes by attaching the mini oreo, chopped Reese's, or cinnamon sugar as I frosted them.

melted snowmen

On Christmas Eve morning, we set to work making some masterpiece sugar cookies for Santa. I had seen the idea for melted snowmen cookies online and decided we would give it a try. The kids were excited to try something different.

I was a little concerned that this might be above their skill level and that we should have just stuck to the usual dumping sprinkles all over the cookies, but they had a good time and Sareny and Isaac made some really cute ones all by themselves. Finley required a bit of help.

Keeks was happy just to be included in the activity.

To make these cookies, we made cream cheese frosting (because it is delicious!) I heated a small bowl in the microwave for a few seconds to help it spread nice and smooth. The marshmallow heads were also heated in the microwave for a few seconds before we placed them on the cookies. Keith made this one. So cute!

Here are two that I made for Finley.

Sareny made Harry Potter.

And this one, that we named "Big Lips."

Isaac made these two--he said the one on the right was a zombie, and the one on the left was a monster.

And a parting shot of this cute guy. These were really fun! It just took a bit of prep coloring the frosting and loading it into bags, but I was surprised at how much the kids enjoyed it.

We Went to the State Fair

First off when we got to the fair, we headed to check out our entries and see if we won. Lexi got a first place for her oreo cupcakes, and honorable mention for her gingerbread cupcakes.

Sareny's Reese's cupcakes got third place.

My gingerbread house won a first place and a best in show purple rosette! How exciting. The five dollar prize money almost covered all of our entries, which I paid for. haha.

Sareny's poppyseed bread won a first place ribbon! Grammy Jo would be so proud. And her nametag even said "Fantastic!" on the back. She was so proud and excited.

IJ Isaac looking for his tortillas...

And he was really happy to win a first place ribbon as well. It looked like his tortillas were judged against other adults, and his still won!

We went in the petting zoo, and the kids found some cute animals, like this little pot-belly piggie, to pet.

KeeKee looked cute in her little helmet. She was so smiley and happy in both of these pictures!

The kids each read three books to get three free rides. Which ends up not being so free, since an adult has to ride with them most of the time. Keith and Isaac rode the swings.

And Sareny and Lexi did too.

The view from the ground...

And the view from the air!

Keith and Isaac were right behind Lexi and Sareny. When they landed, Lexi had a seatbelt malfunction and couldn't get off the ride. The attendants didn't pay much attention to things like this, and I almost thought she would have to ride it again. But Sareny finally got a worker to come over and let her out!

Part of our cute family. I love how me and Keith are the only happy ones in the picture.

Finley of course wanted to ride the merry go round, and I stood next to her.

The kids and I raced down the slides. I love the mega slides!

We had a fun day at the fair, but I totally enjoy the displays a lot more than the over-priced rides. It's much more better going to the fair when you are excited to see how your entries did. Can't wait 'til next year!

We Entered the State Fair

We entered the state fair last year and enjoyed it so much, we decided to enter again this year. Sareny made two entries--Reese's cupcakes and Grammy Jo's famous poppyseed bread. It was tough getting her entries done, since the Monday we had to bake she got home from school just in time to head off to soccer practice. She started her baking after soccer, around 7:00 in the evening. Her projects looked great though!

This was Isaac's first year entering, since you have to be at least six to enter. He chose to make tortillas, and since he has afternoon kindergarten, he got to make his entries in the morning on Tuesday, the day they were due. He mixed up the ingredients, rolled them into balls, and then pressed them on the tortilla press. Then I had to teach him how to cook them on the stove. I was a little bit nervous about this part, but he did great and was flipping them like a pro.

I entered another gingerbread house. I almost didn't do one this year--having a new baby takes a lot of time and energy, but decided it would be fun to try another one. Here is this year's house.

The back of the house had a potting shed with a little lean to and some shelves.

View from the back of the house.

My favorite part of the house--the cute little garden. I made cabbages from marshmallow fondant. The carrots were piped out, with a piece of spaghetti coated in green frosting for the leaves. Next is the tomato plant, and the crook neck squash plant, radishes, and more cabbage.

The front yard with a crushed necco path, and lots of flowers everywhere.

I loved the little terra cotta pots and spades.

Another view of the whole house.

This house had piped gingerbread trim around the doors and windows.

Several birds roosted on the roof.

Side view of house.

It was a lot of work, but lots of fun too. I drove our entries down to the fair after dropping Isaac off at kindergarten. For the next few days, we all eagerly awaiting the judging!