Backed up....

Oh, but not like that! What I mean is with my AC projects. I am so behind on posting about them. I'll see if I can get photos to load. I have been working hard this past week and I got 4 projects wrapped up just this week. I've been working on a handful of things for a while, but they all got completed this week. So here they are.
Attempting creativity project #17. This was from a couple weeks ago. My friend Kristen turned 30 and had a small party with some friends. I told her I would bring the cake. I decided to try fondant again and had a fun time doing the cake. I need to get some different paste food coloring though-it looks more like a circus cake with the colors I used (they were all I had though!). So before I do Halli's birthday cake in a couple weeks I'll get some different colors! It did taste awesome though...if I may say so myself. Ryan was glad I brought a piece home for him to have.
project #18I have a handful of friend who are all about to or have just had baby boys. I made some bibs similar to this (but girly) for Halli and I love them because they actually cover clothes not just her neck and collar of her shirt. So I decided to make some boy ones for my friends. They are all double sided. One side has the patterned base and plain brown tie cutout then the backside has brown base and matching patterned material from the front material.
project #19I had my first piano recital Thursday night. I made the programs for the evening. This was my first year teaching piano and I had 4 students so a couple of them played 2 songs. They all did great! (Look closely and you can see the 4th student playing was Mr. Carson...I'll post photos of him playing tomorrow...so cute!)
project #20I got this lovely yellow covered piano bench with the piano I bought. I've been wanting to re-cover it for a long time. I've been looking for the right material for months and finally found this last week!!! I'll be doing curtains to match next month when I have the money to buy all the material. I totally LOVE the colors of the new material, and love how the brown of the flowers is the same color as the piano is stained!
Project #21 First is a photo of the house a little over a year ago...what we're focusing on here is the "landscaping" excuse in the front yard.Here is the work we did yesterday! It has taken us a year to do, but it is coming along great! It still looks a little bare because there are bulbs planted so I'll have to post some more photos next year when things are up and it is covered better, but we love the improvement from what it was!
So this is what I have been up to lately! I have two more projects that I'll have done this coming week that I'm excited to get done too!

Tanganyika

We went to the coolest zoo yesterday. It is a small private zoo where you can interact with some of the animals. We got to feed and pet lemurs, pet kangaroos, turtles, camels, and giraffes. It is a really cool place-somewhere we will definitely be going again! And if anyone comes to visit us here in Kansas we'll take you there if you want!!! Here are some fun photos.

HUNGRY

Hungry for more that is. I just finished reading The Hunger Games this morning, and I loved it! I can't wait to run down to the library to see if they have the second book, Catching Fire, available. If they don't I might just have to go buy it...like I did with Hunger Games. I know a lot of people have already read this book, but if you haven't and are looking for a good book that is fun and easy to read and get into I highly suggest this one.
I also remembered that I didn't post about the books I read last month. I decided to buy Percy Jackson and the Olympians from a scholastic book order for a few bucks, and I enjoyed reading it.I enjoyed it so much that I borrowed the next two books in the series from a friend and read through those while I was on vacation. I'm on the waiting list at the library for the 4th book in that series. I also want to see the movie now...wonder if I can Netflix it yet. I'll have to go check!
When I finished reading those books and couldn't get the fourth one right away I decided to read something my parent's had so I picked up Fablehaven.
My sister and brother in law love these books so I thought I would give it a try. I enjoyed this book as well so I have the next two books in that series waiting on my dresser. I quickly got into a whole mess of books over the past month! I enjoy the reading, and letting my mind jump into the books. Ryan didn't like it so much yesterday when I couldn't put The Hunger Games down though...he claims I'm cheating on him with my books. I guess I just have to read in moderation. I get to into it and don't want to do anything else. Good thing yesterday was a rainy day so I had an excuse to stay inside! Haha. Anyway...I'd recommend any of these books/series if you are looking to get into something good.

Congratulations

Presenting Mr. and Mrs Bentley!

This post is a week and a half late, but I am still going to post about it anyway. I've been trying to upload a photo for a week and a half, but I just can't get it to work so this distorted one is going to have to be what I use...ok scratch that. I finally got it to work HOORAY!
On the 23rd of April my baby sister got married! We are happy to have Kenny in our family, and look forward to a visit from the newlyweds next month! Congratulations you two-we love you!!!

Halli's Habit

Since Halli could stand up in her crib she has been throwing things out of it. Every time she wakes up from bedtime or nap time she has to throw everything out of her crib before she will get out. Prior to her being able to hop over the side of the crib and get out on her own, she still would throw everything out before calling for us to come get her. I find it humorous because she insists on sleeping with a crib full of stuff. This morning when she woke up she decided to bring everything she had thrown out into our room, and onto our bed. Here is the list of items she brought

• Her "ba lee ba la" (blanket)
• a big stuffed dog that is about the size she is
• her pillow
• a second blanket
• a rhino beany baby
• a monkey beany baby
• her baby doll
• a third blanket
• a stuffed bear
• her stuffed bird
• a fourth blanket
• the book she chose to sleep with last night. (I mentioned in a previous post a couple months back that she loves to sleep with books!)
• a fifth blanket

Needless to say, I think this girl sleeps with WAY to much stuff...our bed was FULL this morning with us all this and 2 kids! Here is a photo of her napping with all of it right now.

Oh Goodness

Carson frequently says such silly things, but today I remembered to write them down so here they are.
First Item:
My sister was watching Cadet Kelly (yeah that wierd Hillary Duff movie), and Carson was watching with her. After about 10 minutes of sitting silently watching he says "If I was that girl I'd kick myself." (Talking about Hillary)
Second Item:
This really annoying sales girl came to my parent's house looking to sell them some carpet cleaner thing about 5 times today. The last time she came Carson came to the door with me and when she turned to leave he slamed the door shut and yelled "BOOM BABY". Hopefully she won't be coming back (doubt it...I'm sure she'll show up tonight around 9.)

Vacationing-well some of us

Carson, Halli, and I are in Utah getting ready for my sister Lindsey's wedding. We came out a week before Ryan so I could be here for her shower, and help my mom with everything. We miss Ryan SOOO much, and he is miserable without us, but we have been enjoying our time here (sorry babe). Carson and Halli of course love all the attention, and I love relaxing a bit. It is nice to not have to worry about cleaning my house all day everyday. We have all been enjoying the warm weather here and have spent a lot of time outside. We went on a family walk last night, and I remembered how much I enjoy walks. I haven't gone on many for months cause it has been so cold and windy in Kansas. I think I'll start walking each morning again. I know the kids and I really enjoyed that last summer. We've also been enjoying haning out on the deck-here are a couple photos.I've been reading a lot since I've been here so I've love that. I'm still going strong with all my New Year's resolutions so I'm feeling pretty good about myself for sticking with everything. One of those goals was to read 1 book each month. This month I've read 3 so far-the first 3 books of the Percy Jackson series. I have enjoyed them. I know they are kinda kiddy books, but it's been fun to read some easy going and interesting books.
My mom and I are going to be making my sister's wedding cake for her (the big day is Friday!). We decided to practice today, and this is what we created. I'm counting it for the AC project this week. I've never done a fondant cake before, and it was fun to work with it. It is definitely something I enjoyed. I'm totally making a fondant cake for the next birthday...I guess that means Halli's. Ohhhh I have to start thinking of some fun designs to do for it! I hope it tastes good. I guess we'll find out tonight after FHE.