My First Big Cake

So Lexie turned 16 last week. I took on the task of planning her a Sweet 16 birthday party on Friday the 10th. The only birthday party I ever remember was when I was like 7 and I don't think I had a good time, because I was worried about making sure I spent enough time with everyone and not leaving anyone out. So I decided I wanted to make sure Lexie had some good birthday memories. Last year Rachel and I threw a luau birthday party.

This year I thought it would be fun to have a pool party. I took on the task of planning it and I also volunteered myself to make her a big fondant cake. Again, I bit off more than I could chew. I finished it, but my world was collapsing at the same time.

I had slowly started planning the party a couple months in advance, but as the day got closer lots of other things started to come all at once. I was working with my parents to make final decisions, and some of those big decisions didn't get made til the night before. So plans had to be adjusted.

I should have just tossed out the idea of making the cake. But I was stubborn, and I won't take the time or money to do this unless there is an event. And I really wanted to play around with the fondant and make a tiered cake. So I pushed ahead.

But also at the same time, Jon's work had a retreat in Park City. He was gone Thurs-Sat.

I should have started the cake on Wednesday (the day after camping). But I was tired and I wanted to take a break and I headed to a friends for a few hours. Then I wanted to spend some time with Jon in the evening since he would be gone for the next few days.

Thursday I slept in and took my time getting ready. I started the cake around 10a. I didn't want to mess with the difficult task of cake...so I decided to make it out of rice krispy treats, which are more sturdy and lighter. I made one batch so I would have an idea of how much marshmallows and how much rice krispies I would need. Then I headed to the store to get the rest of what I would need and make sure I had enough butter for the frosting.

Melting mallows

Putting the mixture into cake pans. Six batches of rice krispy treats.


The buttercream. It was really good. This recipe is from Wilton. I used all of the 6 cups.


5 - 8" round layers (this should have been 4 layers, but my pans weren't deep enough, so I added a layer): 8 inches high
3 - 6" round layers: 6 inches high
2 - 4" round layers: 4 inches high


After covering them with buttercream I should have frozen them to firm up the buttercream...but I didn't, and my cake had to change course because of it.


This is the fondant. I learned a lot about fondant this day. Mind you, I have never taken a class about cake making. I have only watched the Food Network cake challenges and checked out a couple books at the library by a lady who is on the Food Network often, Collette. This cake is an attempt at a cake from a book of hers.


I made 2 and 3/4 recipes of fondant, and then bought a 1 recipe box of pre-made fondant just in case I needed more. The fondant has to sit over night after making it.

Using fondant is more of an art than a science, unlike how baking is often seen. It is better to be more moist. And it needs to be kneaded to a nice consistency before rolling it out. While trying to get the fondant on the cake I was so close to quitting. I wanted to throw it out! By the way, Jon was in Park City and I was alone with the boys while trying to do all this.

I tried to put the fondant on the middle tier and it ripped and cracked, and looked horrible! And I thought dang, I just wasted this fondant! But oh I was wrong. That fondant batch was too dry and the buttercream from the cake added a perfect amount of moisture. (Never use water to add moisture. Since fondant is mostly sugar water will dissolve it.)

After discovering this I added buttercream and or glycerin (also used in fondant) to all the batches to get it to the right moistness and consistency.

After that I was easier to roll it out and lay it on the cakes and smooth it to the cakes without rips or cracks, although there were still some, I am no expert.

This is the rolled out fondant for the largest tier.


The idea for the decor of the cake was to be kind of like a disco ball, or sequins and spangles. I was trying to copy it, but without much cake decorating knowledge or experience, it became more of an inspiration. This is what I was going for:


Pretty cool, huh?

But since I did not freeze the buttercream layer, when I tried to make the impressions of sequins, with a piping tip, it just pushed the fondant into the soft buttercream, and didn't make an impression. So I tried the larger end of the piping tip and it worked better. Still not the way it was supposed to but I was something. Again, at this point I was ready to toss the cake...but all the time and money. It was probably 10p by this time. I hate that it looks all marshmallow-y. Shoulda froze it. . .

Then I made all the little "sequin" pieces for around the outside.

I was exhausted at this point, Jon called and he had just hung out by himself for the evening-gone to the gym and shopped at the outlets. Oh, how I longed to trade him. And I learned that the families were invited to come to a service project that the company was doing, and then to dinner at 6p and to stay at the Marriott. Then for Saturday they got us All Access Resort Passes.

But I was taking family to the airport at 1p and the party was going to start at 5:30p and I was supposed to help set up, and then I'd have to pack me and the boys to stay in Park City. How in the world was I going to swing all this? Then I called my mom to make some last minute decisions. I totally wanted to ditch out on the party and be like, I can't do anything else. You can handle it from here. But I felt bad. I had started this, and it wouldn't have been this big if I hadn't taken the initiative to plan a big party. After breaking down in tears at 11:00p and thinking I can't do all this. Rachel called me back. (I had texted her an hour before asking if she could come and help me "paint" the cake.) She told me she was on her way. Thank the Lord. She was a life saver!

I still needed to paint the luster dust on the random "sequins". That would have taken forever alone. But her encouragement and advice were also priceless. I hated the way the cake looked and a couple of the luster dust colors that I had ordered a month before were not quite the right colors. So it looked off to me. She kept telling me how good she thought it looked, and she had a steady hand to paint. The original design only used 4 colors, but we ended up using 9 colors to balance the look. The finished cake will be on the next post, with the party pictures.

She also talked me through what to do about the next day and everything I had to do. She helped me make a decision to just go to Park City after the airport and not feel guilty about it. She volunteered to step in and handle stuff for the party that I was not going to be there for. It took a huge burden off me.

We finished the cake and I went to bed about 1:30a with a filthy kitchen covered in powdered sugar.

More Family Activities

On Sunday, we got together with all of Jon's immediate family. After church we made BBQ pizzas, always a great endeavor-but they are soooo good, they are worth it! But only a few times a year. We made 20 pizzas. (I forgot the yeast...thankfully we were able to borrow some). We had a good time visiting with everyone. Again, I wish I had taken pictures of this!! :[ And Sarah thanks for that potato salad-sooo good! I have been craving it ever since!

Jon took Monday and Tuesday off so we could go camping with his parents. We went to Mt. Timpanogos Campsite up past Aspen Grove. It was beautiful. Very green. We drove by one site that was really sunny and thought man good thing we aren't staying at that one.

Papa, Daddy and Zac played hide n seek in the woods. Zac loved it! Papa always makes up fun games where ever we may be. While playing hide n seek the boys found out the reason that campsite was sunny. The trees were cleared out to make way for the gorgeous view of the back of Mt. Timp.



Ours was a great campsite, private, shaded, pretty, and quiet. Anyone ever camped on a Monday after a huge summer holiday? Its great-it was so quiet, no one was camping around us. There were also flushing toilets-talk about luxury!

I just thought this was a cool picture. I keep saying which pictures are the iphone, because I am just amazed that a phone can take pictures like these!
I also like how cute and happy Zac looks.


We did an easy dinner here, just stew and rolls. And I forgot the marshmallows and graham crackers... see a trend here?! I am all over the place. But Michael did make us some great banana boats with the chocolate and some Reese Peanut Butter Cups.



The boys didn't do so well at going to sleep this time. They were just not tired. They wanted to walk all over. But the dark and the uneven terrain, made that hard. So we just put them in the tent hoping they would sleep...maybe an hour later they started to fall asleep. They did sleep good after that though. I have found that it is easier for me to keep Max warm with just blankets rather than keeping him in the sleeping bag.

Again, it was so nice to be in nature. I just wish the boys had slept earlier so I could relax more.


Shortly after falling asleep, our camp was visited by a raccoon. Me and the boys were deeply sleeping by this time, but Jon and his parents saw him. They said he was really really big. Jon had left a granola bar out and it was also getting into the trash. Luckily, my uptightness about animals visiting our camp at night, made me put all our food in the car.

You can see the paw prints on the cooler.


Hahaha, LOVE this picture! So funny!

(but he peed on his pants during this...peeing up hill-too young to know about this. We changed him into the only other pants he had which are the shorts he happens to hate the very most! (If you don't know him, he is VERY particular...I think he gets it from his mother:) He threw a big huge fit. But Papa was able to convince him that it was ok. Then 5 mins after changing, I called him over to see a chipmunk and he tripped on the asphalt and skinned his knee pretty bad and was freaking out about it-funny story :)

After packing up camp, we hiked to Stewart Falls. The trail head was only 2 mins away. At first Zac was not into hiking. Lately he has had trouble putting one foot in front of the other. Papa was kind enough to hold his hand. But still Zac was slow and stopped at every little thing to look at, which would be fine...if it weren't 2 miles one way, with Max too.

After a while, I held Zac's hand so we could pick up the pace. But he was pretty frustrated. Even with trying to distract him with the plants and other things he was very grumpy about walking. Papa came in and decided to play hide n seek again. Zac was all for that. Papa would go ahead of us and hide in the brush. It is a very green, pretty trail with lots of plants, its also shaded about half of it. Zac then was excited to go and find Papa, and no longer thought about the hiking.

We got to the falls and the cold mist from them felt great. Zac really enjoyed eating a snack-finally. I love how dirty his face is from hiding along the trail and surprise Grandma and me.

Jon and his dad took a dip in the falls to cool off. After a little bit we headed back. I tried to carry Max in the bjorn to give Jon a break...but that was crazy! Man he was soooo heavy! It was killing my shoulders. So Jon came and saved me. And I was going to carry the day pack...but for some reason that was pretty hard too. When I hike I need to keep a steady semi-fast pace or I really loose steam. I think hiking there with Zac slow, and stopping was hard on me. So Papa carried the day pack, AND Zachary on his shoulders! Wow, I felt pretty bad, and really lazy.

We were all exhausted by the time we were done. We went home and showered and relaxed. Then we met Jon's parents for dinner in SLC (they were staying in Park City).

It was a fun weekend with lots of memories. I just wish I wasn't so tired and that I was on my game more. Usually I make lots of lists to help me remember stuff, and I haven't been doing so well with that...which makes me less prepared.

P.S. Remember to sharpen the hatchet before we go camping again.

The 4th

I can't decide which holiday is my favorite, the Fourth of July or Christmas. I think as I get older the Fourth of July is taking the lead. We do it all. The balloons, the parade, BBQ and fireworks. I would love to throw an outing to the pool in there...but I really don't want to brave the public pool on that day.

A couple weeks in advance talks of who will go out and save a spot for the parade begin. Lexie said she would go out and spend the night out there...or go out at 5a (for any law enforcement who may be reading :) She would get a spot and I would bring the breakfast. The night before we went to a friend's house warming party. And had a good time eating, and playing ping pong around the world, and bocci ball. They have new beautiful landscaping, some of which you can see in this picture . . . which Jon took of me while I told him not to.


As we were coming back to relieve the babysitter, I remembered, Oh yeah breakfast. So we headed to Macey's to get doughnuts.

Jon's family was in town this weekend. His parents are in the (long) process of moving to Wisconsin. And they decided to make a stop here before heading out there to look for houses. They would join us somewhere along the day.

Last year we missed the balloons by like 30 mins! We just could not pull ourselves out of bed. So this year I was determined to make it-and we did! I woke up at 5:00a to make sure we would have everything we needed, food, stroller, sweaters in case its cold, chairs, etc.

This picture makes me laugh, all the different facial expressions.


Jon took this cool pic with his iphone


It was so cool to be so close to see all the action. At first when they started to blow fire into this balloon the boys both jumped, it was really loud. First, they start to fill the balloon with air using a huge fan, then they blow the fire in there to heat the air so the balloon will rise.


A girl asked me to take a picture of her and her friend so I did and ask them to do the same for us... they did a great job-NOT! :( They totally cut off Max's head! Annoying!!


After watching the first balloon fill up, we went around to see all the other balloons going up. It was so cool to see them all and be so close. The boys really loved it. I am so glad we made it in time!

They have big speakers around the field where they do this. And there is an MC that gives interesting facts and things. They also play patriotic music, loud and very grandiose-I love it! It really enhances the experience with all the majestic, huge hot air balloons around, and everyone happy and excited to be there, surrounded by friends and family. I know this sounds sappy-but when they were playing "God Bless the USA", I really did feel so proud to be an American, and so thankful for all the people who made it possible for us to be free. My eyes got a little watery.





Then we got in the car to find parking near our parade spot. My parents decided to sit with the Valgardson's instead of meet up at Lexie's spot. So I met Lexie and brought her and her "boyfriend", and other guy friend some doughnuts, and then headed 4 blocks down to meet up with the rest of the family.

Max loves sitting in these little chairs. He is a little wobbly still.



There was a karate school that came through the parade and Zac got to break a board! He was so proud of himself! It had a free karate lesson certificate stapled to it. So I think we are going to get him into karate. He will love it.


Our Alma Mater

After the parade we went back to find our car, but we couldn't. We looked for it for probably 15 mins. We were hot and tired and dragging around a cooler, foam swords, camp chairs, and the stroller with a sleeping Max. We thought it had been stolen (what a horrible feeling)...only to realize that we parked more south-(how embarrassing). I was on the phone back and forth with my mom and Lexie when we parked and didn't pay attention (which is normally my job). It was pretty stressful, and sooo relieving when Jon found it.

Then we came home had lunch, and put the boys to nap. Jon went to the gym, while I made an angel food cake, and got in the shower. Then Jon's parents arrived. Within the next hour, Jason and Kari, Dave, and Emily came over.

I had been wanting to make a London Broil, for a family dinner, and I thought this was the perfect chance. A nice steak dinner on the Fourth of July-perfect. I bit off more than I could chew here. I was so tired from staying up late the night before and from waking up at 5a. I could barely do anything. I should have simplified (hot dogs and burgers) and I will next time. I laid down for a little bit and took some Ibuprofen. My mother-in-law helped a ton! There is no way it would have happened without her. The dinner turned out great, just the way I had planned, except Maryanne did most of what I had planned on doing. Thanks!!

I wish I would have gotten pictures of everyone. The boys played in the kiddie pool, and everyone else played outside too.

We had red, white and blue trifle (thanks for the motivation Callie). And then everyone headed their separate ways to watch the fireworks.

We met up with my parents and Adam at the MTC field. Rachel and Lex went to the Stadium of Fire.

This is the first year I got the boys glow rings. They loved them. It was relaxing and nice and cool-it did sprinkle a little bit. It was nice to just be outside. This is one of the things that I love about the Fourth of July, so much time spent outside with fun activities.






The best firework picture caught with the iphone-go figure. Good job Jon.


After the fireworks, which seemed a lot shorter this year, we booked it to the car so we could avoid most of the traffic. I think we did pretty good. It only took us about 30 mins to get home. Then we thoroughly enjoyed the comfort of our beds.

Freedom Festival 2009

These pictures were taken with Jon's iPhone and they are a little blurry-sorry. This year it was a bit overcast all spring and summer, always a chance of rain. Very unlike Utah. Anyway, the clouds looked ominous, but we decided to venture out anyway. It sprinkled just a little, but it was so nice that it wasn't sooo hot!

The boys enjoyed some cotton candy




It seems every year the freedom festival gets more commercial, and less arts and crafts (which is sad to me). I like to see what things people come up with. There were a couple cool things. (Now if I had girls to buy for I would see more of the arts and crafts-bows, tutus, skirts, barbie/doll clothes and accessories...) Not much boy stuff. I remember one year there was a wood craft booth. They made rubberband guns-you could load up to 10 rubberbands. They were pretty cool! I did buy a play tee pee. It is made of fabric and PVC pipe. I felt really nostalgic, because my Grandma Kolb made us one back it in the day. We LOVED it! I think I am going to make one for Max's birthday too. You'll have to wait til Zac's birthday to see a picture of it.

Ford had a presence at the festival too. They were showcasing their new Ford...Fizo ;)...or was it Fusion or was it Fiesta . . . I really can't remember, but I do think it started with an F...Oh, Festiva (I just asked Jon), I was close.


It is a little compact car, comparable to the Smart Car. Currently, they are only sold in Europe and they are being adjusted to meet US standards. Jon got to test drive it, and really enjoyed it. He would love one...surprising how he is starting to root for Ford... While he drove, we went over to this big "sandbox" in the back of a trailer. The boys really liked it.

This is behind plexiglass.


Then we stopped by the music and listened for a little bit. It is always fun to hear live music even if its pretty darn country!

These pics are from my phone, the Xenon, it has a flash!





Since I am posting so far behind...I feel a bit disconnected from the event. Please bear with me as I tried to recall the details.

Stay tuned, I have like 5 more posts (which probably won't make their way here til tomorrow, when hopefully I am more in the mood to do this). It has been a crazy couple weeks. I didn't even get pictures of a couple of the big things we did :(

Update

Well I am do for a post. But I am so not in the mood to blog lately. And I haven't been doing very well taking pictures. I have had pictures, the ones I've actually taken (half of which were after thoughts, days after the event . . .), sitting on the desk top for 3 days now, waiting for me to resize them and post...but I haven't done it yet.

I had strep throat for 4 days, then we had to get the house exceptionally clean (x2, which is another story). Then trying to plan things for the 4th of July weekend and plan ahead as I am planning my little sister's sweet 16 birthday, pool party. And we have family coming in town this weekend. So it just been busy. But this is a little bit of what we we've been up to before all this ...

Our Relief Society is doing these fun activities this summer, mom and child crafts, I love it. We made these garden stepping stones for June.

This is Zac's. His hand print and feet prints are in it too, but its hard to see.


Max's

Then for Father's Day, I surprised Jon with this great Weber Grill. We have been wanting a new grill for a long long long time. I had this planned for 3 weeks. The propane was hiding at a friend's house, the grill was at my sister's (thanks Rach, and for all the help with picking up and dropping off), and I won a BBQ utensil set at a game night=Perfect gift! We had New York Strip steaks for dinner and they were fantastic!!


Another day, we converted Max's crib into a toddler bed. Jon had been wanting to do this for a few weeks, but I was resistant. We finally did it and Max has done great. There was only one incident. When I was sick I was up at 2:45a and Max was crying and crying in the other room, after 10 mins I went to check on him and he was all the way under the bed. . . I could barely see his feet. Poor little guy. I have no idea how he got in that predicament, but I got him some warm milk and he went right back to sleep.






Max is growing up so fast these days. It seemed to take forever to hit some milestones, but he is doing great. He say lots of new sounds and says, ba for ball, and ca for car, and can say dut for duck. He really is a very smart kid. It is so fun to see him developing and so fast now that it is happening. He loves water, balls and animals, especially dogs. I just hope we can get him eating better. We are now exploring the possibility of reflux . . .

Then the neighborhood co-op was selling flats of strawberries and raspberries. And I had been wanting to make freeze jam for the last couple years. So I bought some strawberries for my mom and me and I bought some raspberries (88¢) at Sunflower Market for my mom and me too. Then we spent all day making freezer jam. It was pretty easy. I think we got about 42 cups each. I made strawberry, raspberry and a mix of the 2. And I want to make peach freezer jam in August. I love having these summer fruits and flavors during the crappy winter-Jon does too, he makes sure they are rationed and not all eaten before the end of the year.



Then Rachel and I went and got pedicures with glitter toes. And I LOVE the glitter toes more than I thought. I chose red and they look like Dorothy's ruby slippers! Hey, I need to embrace girl-i-ness in a house of boys, cars and balls :)