It's The Last One!

So I'm feeling like a not so excellent fiance, because today is Chad's birthday and I am not there to celebrate with him, cook him dinner, or bake him a cake!

But its the last one he's spending without me!

At least we got to celebrate last weekend!

Best buddies! Landon and his Uncle "Cad"

I love him very much!

Landon, being two, needed to "help" open his gifts!

Living it Out!

The boys were dedicated this past week at their church.

It was such a proud moment for the whole family, and a reason to celebrate!

He was NOT happy about me taking his picture.

Two of my very favorite men!

A crowded living room full of guests!

It's no celebration without cake.

Caking It...

I made this cake for the nephews' dedication.

I used 2 8x10 sheet cakes, trimmed them and then cut the first one longways to make the middle section.

For the second one, I cut 4 5x5 inch pieces for the horizontal piece.

The last 3x8 inch section was added to the bottom of the first piece.

I used 2 recipes worth of Wilton's basic buttercream recipe for the icing.

I dyed it nephew's favorite blue, (you can use whatever color)

Use the icing as a kind of "glue" between all intersections and layers to keep the cake all together.

I then took the smaller package of fondant and divided it into thirds; left one white, the next dyed tan, and the last brown.

Then I rolled them and cut them with my set of 3 circle cookie cutters.

I guessed on the amounts of each, but I will say that the smallest side needed the most cut outs.

I did about 10 of each size, then cut out of those with the smaller circles (about 5).

I used water to attach them to the cake top and sides. You can also use clear vanilla or egg white.

I then cut out their initials out of white fondant and put them on the horizontal part!

It was a hit!

Not to mention the cuteness of blue icing on nephew's face!

Happy January!

On a lighter note, in my quest to become a trophy wife, I have decided that I am going to make a wreath (using my own ideas and Pinterest) for our door for each month of the year.

I think it's kinda cute!

Happy January!

In Sickness, And In Health

Yes, that's part of the vows we will be saying in...

Wait for it...

3 MONTHS AND 3 WEEKS!!

And its been true for us this past week or so.

Last Tuesday, Chad had an appointment with the ENT doctor and was put on a STRONG antibiotic for a sinus infection.

I followed suit exactly one week later. But with a Z-pack to make me feel better.

Chad is on Day 10 of 10 for his antibiotics and still not feeling better, so back to the ENT he goes on Tuesday for a new course of action.

With both of us not feeling 100 percent and a busy weekend ahead, we will sure be trying out this "in sickness and in health" thing!

113 days til the wedding and exactly 4 months until we cruise!

Where have we been? Where are we going?

Wow. We are 11 days into January already.

Silly me for thinking 2012 may be a little slower pace than '11 was!

So what have we been doing, and where are we going next?

Been:
Chad started spring semester on Monday.
Amy starts spring semester on next Monday.
We figured out a song list for the wedding.
We hired a second photographer, a videographer, and a DJ!
All the flowers for the wedding have been purchased and are ready to be arranged by Jenna.

Going:
We will be in and around STL the upcoming weekend getting suits ordered, celebrating Josh's birthday, and hanging out with the buddies!
Then, its off to the Lake for a visit and starting premarital counseling with the pastor performing our wedding ceremony.
Back to STL the following weekend, as we watch our nephews' baby dedication at their church!

Hope your 2012 is fabulous so far!

2 Anecdotes from a 2 year old...

Every day our nephew says and does ridiculous things, so here's two from the past 24 hours...

1. Landon's prayer last night at bedtime:

"Dear Jesus, thank you for my house and thank you for my toys. Amen"

2. Today while waiting for lunch, I saw something yellow on the sides of Landon's mouth. I asked him what he was eating, and he points and says, "Lan-nan eat that one!" What was he pointing to? A container of Scentsy wax. Well, at least it was Sugar Cookie scented!

Like Father (and Gramps), Like Son!

Chad was gone this week in Denver for Christmas Conference so he missed this lovely little moment brought to us by Landon-man!

Tyson was helping us cut a window into the wall between the kitchen and living room.

As soon as he started working, Landon said, "Lan-nan needs my tools!"

Good thing his parents remembered to bring his plastic Black and Deckers so he didn't try to use his daddy's tools. Well, for the most part, but that's an entirely different story!

Gramps, Tyson, and Landon going to work on the wall!

So much focus!

I think he's starting to figure out that his tools don't do the same as his daddy's do!

I am pretty sure this is the picture I took right before he snatched Tyson's hammer and a screw and ran for the first poor, unsuspecting wall he could find!