Make a Smilebox slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Here is Lilly's school picture. She is not at all happy with it.

She said , "My smile made my neck look wrinkley and

ruined the WHOLE picture!"

I don't care. I love it!

It's a perfect Sunday in November and today we had the pleasure of attending the first birthday party of our little neighbor, Jillian (Jilly Bean, as I like to call her). I made this cake for the occasion. Happy Birthday JB!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The 6th Annual Deans' Apple Butter Festival

was a huge success!!!

Everyone had a great time and the Apple Butter is better than ever! For more pictures, check out the Apple Butter Blog! Thanks to everyone. We couldn't possibly do it without your hard work and continued support.

Happy 8th Birthday to our beautiful, stylish and oh-so-hip neice.

Happy 3rd Birthday to Meg!!!!!

Happy Birthday Evelyn!!!

Today is Evelyn's 2nd birthday. She is changing so quickly and every day brings new surprises. She is funny, sweet and smart and definately keeps us on our toes. I'm just so crazy in love with her.
I had a difficult time coming up with an idea for a cake and I can't say I'm crazy about the way this one tuned out, but Evie didn't care. She was just happy to have a big bowl of cake and icecream put in front of her. I will post pictures of the "party' as soon as I get them developed.

Yesterday was the first day of school. We are beginning the year in a brand new school that was completed over the summer. Laurel Meadow Elementary is just a a few blocks from our house and is so shiny and new that I felt the urge to crack open all of the new books in the library. Lilly was very excited about being in first grade and greeted the day with a lot of enthusiasm. We hope it lasts.

Lilly and Kyle. BFFs

The Weathered Oak Gang

Greetings. Thought you might like to see Evelyn's photos. They were taken by Perfect Image Photography here in Mechanicsville. I'm so pleased with the way they turned out.

Standing by the cradle that was given to us when she was born.

It has been in Steve's Dad's family for over 100 years.

Here she is wearing a soft little outfit from my childhood.

Sitting in a chair from my old church and holding a bunny her Gran gave her.

Again, wearing something from my childhood.

Steve's Mom made this outfit!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Birthday, Lillian Morgan Dean!

You are 6 years old today!!

The baby.

The girl.

The cake.

This is the cake I made for Matthew and Henry Lavinder's 5th birthday. They didn't exactly agree on a single cake idea, so I made a reversible cake. I suppose I could have simply made two cakes, but that didn't sound as interesting to me. There were some cake-astrophies along the way, but it turned out fine in the end. The boys seemed to like it-- the chocolate buildings in particular were a big hit. They were supposed to be very cool comic book style buildings made out of royal icing, but they fell on the floor and broke into a million pieces. The chocolate buildings were an emergency solution and certainly a tastier one. Happy Birthday boys.

Aloha! I finished this cake just this morning and am hoping to get it safely across the street for Joy's birthday luau. The bottom layer is a butter rum cake with pineapple cream filling. The second layer is coconut cake with coconut filling and the third layer is just plain vanilla. The hibiscus, palm leaves and sun are made of royal icing. I was thrilled when I found the little Tiki god candles! Transporting this cake is going to be a feat. It stands about 2 feet tall and is very heavy, so Steve will have to carry it and I will be holding my breath the whole way!

Lilly's latest school picture.

Make a Smilebox postcard

Latest Cake.

Today is Hannah's 7th birthday (she is one of Lilly's friends living on our street). Hannah is really into "Littlest Pet Shop" right now so I tried to go in that direction. Once again, the finished product is nothing like my original idea, but that's just the way it goes. 12 edible images of the pets surround the cake and are slightly recessed into the wavy colored stripes.

Evie will be 18 months old tomorrow.

We invited Lilly's neighborhood friends over for pizza.

They came, they ate, they built a human pyramid.

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Happy New Year!!!

This year has already been a busy and exciting one for me. I've been a single mother of 4 girls this week and have really enjoyed myself. Amanda and Payton have been staying with me and the girls while their parents are in Miami watching the Hokies play in the Orange Bowl (Go Monarchs!). We've had a grand time -- making friendship bracelets, improving our cartwheels and handstands, learning dance moves from Evie and watching Hannah Montana. Today is Payton's 8th birthday and we will be celebrating with her this evening after her parents return. In honor of her special day, I made this cake. Happy Birthday Payton!!!