One Word - Chocolate!

I had my second cake class tonight and we were able to practice different decorating tips. I took a chocolate cake in tonight to decorate, complete with homemade chocolate icing - YUM! We practiced making stars, wiggly lines (for lack of a proper term), handwriting, and the base of a rose. So far the bulk of what I have learned is how to make different consistencies of icing for different purposes. I am certainly no professional, but I am having a great time and learning little things that I can do to make my boys' birthday cakes better. And the best part of the night - coming home and my little men waiting up for their mommy to rock them to sleep. Ahhhh.......melts my heart.

2 Steps Forward and a HUGE Step Back

We were doing so good. Ethan did awesome in his last soccer practice. He loved swim lessons Thursday night and then something happened today. I don't know what else I would have tried damage control but at today's soccer game he absolutely refused to even go on the field. *sigh* His preschool teacher from his previous class came to watch him today and maybe that was it. He is only 4 years old and could be experiencing performance anxiety. Oh dear. We all sat around patiently and at times not so patiently trying to tell him how good he is, how proud we are of him, heck even bribing him with donuts and new Wii games. Nothing worked. He wasn't budging. So the game ended, we walked back to the car and that was that. We will try again next time.

Let them eat cake!

I had my first cake decorating class last night. I cannot tell you how excited I am. I love making the boys birthday cakes. They get so excited as their birthdays approach and we begin to talk about what they want, what supplies we need to buy, etc. Just from the first class I already know why certain things in my previous cakes haven't turned out the way I expected. The sky is the limit with the knowledge I am about to gain. I can't wait to decorate my first post-class cake! Here are a few photos of some that I have already done.

And He's Off!

Tonight was a big night in our home. We went for a family bike ride only the significant difference tonight was that Ethan rode his own bike! He did awesome. Chris is doing such a great job teaching him how to stop with the brakes, move to the side of the road for cars, etc. We didn't take our normal long route, but it was a long enough ride that his little legs were probably soar. He did so good! Won't be long until he is ready to set off on the Tobacco Trail with us. Yipee!

Whew! I think we are over the hump....

Ethan had his first soccer game 2 weeks ago. It was the kick off to the fall soccer season and appropriately named Super Soccer Saturday. His team played two games, don't fret, they were only 15 minutes each and 30 minutes apart. The first game he predictably clammed up, cried, wouldn't leave my side, wouldn't talk to the coach, nor even look at her. All I could think was, you have got to be kidding me, did I really just pay $100 bucks for a t shirt that is too big and bug bites all over my legs???? When he continued to refuse to go in and play I told him we were going home. Owen was running all over the place, bugs were biting me, the sun was blazing down and overall, it just wasn't fun. Well, he refused to leave. Great! The first game came and went without him so much as getting off my lap. Between games, Chris took him to the side and started kicking with him. He started to loosen up a bit and then the coach came over to kick with him. Next thing you know all the kids on the team are around kicking and playing. I am thinking, we may be on to something. Time for game two. YES! He went in and not only did he run up and down the field and play - he SCORED! This was just the confidence booster he needed. He turned around to look at me and of course I was clapping for him. The sweetest grin came over his face and suddenly the bug bites seemed worth it. He was having fun. This past weekend his Aunt Jan and Uncle Alvin came down to see him play. It was only a practice but they still scrimmaged 2 on 2 for about 5 minutes. Every time he got the ball or kicked it in the net he looked up for his Aunt Jan to make sure she was watching and every time she was clapping and overjoyed that she could be there watching. He loved it. We went out to eat after and then to get ice cream. I think we have successfully conquered the soccer hurdle. He genuinely seems happy to want to play and proud of himself afterward. Next is swim lessons. Wish me luck. :-