CAT HOUSE

We found a baby kitty about 2 weeks old a month or so ago in the ivy outside our house. It was so little and the mommy had left it behind for some reason-I really felt it would die. But my daughter-the animal fanatic-refused to believe it. She cried over him the first second he was found. We fed him w/ a syringe then a bottle w/ kitty formula. I took him to work w/ me the first couple weeks to feed him. Everyday I expected him to die and tried to prepare Kenzie for the worst, but here he is several weeks later. Ivy-the cat-has taken over the house. This is the room formerly known as my powder room, or the "red bathroom". Kenzie put a toddler couch in it, Ivy's "bed"-a basket w/ a pillow, and oh yeah-part of a yoga mat. She found my good one and was going to cut it-that would have been bad for her. I remembered I found a really cheap one at Target for like one or two dollars, so I let her have that one and she made him a rug. I guess the cat is going to be with us for sometime.

Family Photos

I hate having my picture took-don't know why. I had to have one taken today for a work ad, so we took some of the whole family-I think they are pretty good. Jerry and I are never together in the pics, someone has to be the photographer.

Better Batter Baseball

This was for Reece's first birthday. Balls were all we could tell he was really interested in at all. Not my best cakes, but we all enjoyed it anyway.

The Great Mouse Detective

For Kenzie's 5th birthday she wanted "The Great Mouse Detective". Since this movie was 20 years old or more, couldn't really find anything, not even on ebay. She had to settle for this with Cinderella mice and we also had detective hats. You know cartoons are really old when 1. The mice smoke cigarettes in them and 2. The watch a female mouse w/ very little clothing on dancing on a bar while they drink alcohol and smoke. They just don't make cartoons like that anymore.

101 Dalmations

This was the cake for Kenzie's 6th birthday-I think 6th. Really sad I'm starting to get them mixed up. Anyway, the little dalmation's are edible sugar-I ordered those. Made the rest of it though.

Thomas The Train

This was Reece's 3rd birthday w/ Thomas the Train theme. All the land is cake. The train really worked. There's a you tube video of it here:

"Cheesecake" with Mouse Anyone?

This was Kenzie's cake for her 8th birthday. Cake made to look like cheese. Little marzipan mice coming out all over-eating the cheese, and some Ratatouille figures, what could be more perfect?

I LOVE MY FAMILY !!!!!!

Here's some pics of my wonderful kids. Kenzie is 9 now. She swims and does triathlons as you can see-this is a collage she took to school for a "me museum" of herself.

Reece is 4 now-I can't believe it.

We had a party last night. No one's birthday or anything-at least not at our house. We had presents for the kids, balloons. Roasted weiners and marshmallows. Jerry even got a new fire pit for our deck.

Why have a party:

1. My was of saying sorry. I've been in the middle of switching jobs. Leaving a job you've been at 13 years-your entire adult life that you thought you'd retire from didn't bring out the best in me. I love my kids and family for putting up with me. Guess they didn't have much choice.

2. Reece is FINALLY potty-trained. I

thought it would take longer. Reece has a language disorder and most kids with it don't potty-train until at least 4. My normal languaged daughter took till 3 1/2, so I figured. . . . Anyway, he's catching up rapidly and we are really proud of him

3. Kenzie is doing great in everything as usual-school, sports, life. She's just one of those kids-takes it all in stride. She was baptized this summer-by her swim coach who's a minister-asked him on her own-we are so proud.

4. My husband is just awesome!!!

Charlotte's Peanut Butter Candy

Here's the recipe for my sister's awesome peanut butter candy. It has turned out every single time I've ever made it-no matter the humidity. I'm posting it 1. because it's really good and easy and 2. because I lose it all the time and have to call her to get it again-figured this was I'd know where it was:

Ingredients:
1. 4 cups sugar
2. 1 stick butter
3. 1 cup milk(i use skim-what i have and it works fine)
4. 3 tablespoons flour
5. pinch of salt
6. 2 cups peanut butter
7. 1-2 teaspoons vanilla
8. 3 tablespoons white corn syrup

Directions:
Place ingredients 1-5 in heavy pan. Boil until it reaches soft ball stage(i use a candy thermometer for this). Remove from heat and add ingredients 6-8. Stir. Pour in foil or wax paper lined pan. Cool-I do this in the fridge-I not very patient. Cut into pieces and enjoy.

Hope you give it a try-Lisa