Monday, March 28, 2016

Cake in Kansas City

When we were trying to decide when to make a trip to Kansas city to see the little people there it seemed perfect to go for Ethnie's Birthday celebration.  And to help Steph do some party prep
...namely THE CAKE.   
We've created some fun cakes together
 and this one turned out to be another favorite.
 Steph and Ethnie creating some seaweed and other underwater details out of candy melts.
 Homemade fondant ready for color and our plan sketched out.
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Steph had the cake baked, frozen and ready to go.
 Dirty icing.
 Fondant circles cut with a doughnut hole cutter for our fishy scales.
 The artist at work
Steph sculpted the mermaid out of polymer clay earlier in the week.  The rock is a molded rice krispie treat covered with fondant.
 The sand is cookie crumbs.
 Adding the last under-the-sea details
 The plan and the finished cake
 Done!

Fun in Fayetteville

 In February I went to help Kyle with his little people when Kimberly went to Europe to spend a much deserved vacation with her sister...remember she was sole caretaker of these little creatures while Kyle was deployed for 6 months last year. 
 Kyle was suppose to spend the days studying for his upcoming boards, but...
While I was there their upstairs bathroom was gutted and in the process of being remodeled...so a couple of handymen were there  from 9am to 7 pm everyday, except Sunday. The bathroom wasn't quite finished when I left so I didn't to see it totally finished...but it was looking VERY NICE!

I was there over Valentines Day.
Fiona helping Greta get her Valentine cards done.

Charlie had several basketball games and practices.
 The typical Tobler Breakfast of Champions.

Margot also had her 2nd Birthday.
 Georgie helped me with the party prep.
 Margot hasn't too happy about turning two.
 But she was happy about getting presents.
 Georgie didn't get any presents...
just a cupcake...that she had to frost herself.

 Greta's piano teacher arranged for her students to learn about playing the organ at a beautiful old church that had two pipe organs.  And Greta got a chance to play a piece on one of the organs.
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I helped both Charlie and Greta with their piano practicing.  
Lots of counting time and sweet rewards for lines and measures played perfectly.  I was amazed at the difficulty of their pieces and how well they are doing!
Puzzle time

 Fiona only drinks out of the faucet. 

Spring pruning.

We also moved Charlie into his own bedroom and moved Margot's crib into the playroom off the girl's bedroom...so there was a lot cleaning, sorting and organizing.
It was a busy but fun 10 days.
Unfortunately I didn't ever see Kimberly.   Kyle dropped her off at the airport just as I flew in.  Then he dropped me off at the airport just as Kimberly was arriving...and the timing was such that we never saw each other.

Grandkid Tour Spring 2016

I'm Home!!!!!!
In the past 51 days I've spent all but 17 of those days with my favorite little people.
I've been to Fayetteville NC, Kansas City KS, Dallas and Houston.
It's been crazy busy and super fun.

I'm finally home. Now I hope life will slow down a bit so I can finally catch up on my blog.
So I can remember all the fun times.