Merry Christmas

School is finished! We are ready to start packing and getting organized for the big move! Not to mention the trip up north, and Christmas! What an exciting time. Jeff passed all his classes and is getting ready for the next set coming up in January. We are finally ready to move into our new place. Its officially ours on January 1st. Christmas will be spent with Jeffs family this year but i'm not going to let the holidays pass by without spending some time with mine. We have exciting plans for my parents this year and I cant wait for the big surprise! I hope everyone travels safe and has a Merry Christmas!!

A cake for a Neice and a Nephew.

Snow Day (the sequel)

For the 1st time in my life, Chruch was cancelled! The Bishop, along with some others from the ward, spent the day ploughing out diveways and saving the stranded villige people. When the work was done, Jeff and I decided now was the time to build the BEST snow fort EVER! It didnt really turn out as great as we hoped (we got too cold and tired to make it better) but, we could fit inside! Jeff was itching to get his snowboard out but his gear is still packed and hard to find. He did manage, however, to pull out my winter things! Yay (love ya jeff). Looks like we are ready for Monday.

Definitely a Snow Day!

Jeff and I were planning on going to Cardston yesterday but decided the weather was too bad to travel. We changed our plans to Saturday, thinking the wind would calm and the storm would clear up. When we woke up this morning it was apparent that we wernt going anywhere!

Here is the picture of our new car I promised!

On this day, one year ago!

Jeff and I got married! Can you believe it! I'm not suprised that we made it to one year but that it went by SO fast!! Someone said once, "life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes". I think thats rather funny, and even though i'm not close to the end yet, I think it might be true. I dont even know where this month went.

Just in case anyone was wondering, I did get a few of the things that were on my birthday wish list (plus some that I forgot I wanted and was happy to get.) I even got a new CAR!!! It wasnt exactly a birthday present but came on my birthday weekend so I like to think it was. Jeff's grandma was selling her car and it was perfect (since we were looking to buy a car). She offered us a great deal (I like to think were her favorite grandkids but dont tell any of the others that!) and we drove up North to get it. We named her Hazel and she is a 2001 Chevy Impala (sorry no pics like i promised). We were originally going up North so Jeff could go hunting but after being out all saturday without even seeing a buck, I didnt have to sacrifice Hazels big trunk to a stinky deer! Since then we have been getting ready for Christmas and the big move. We were supposed to be in Dec. 1st but now were looking at Dec 19th or maybe Jan 1st (we dont know for sure). I've been feeling slightly disorganized lately thinking it will be better when we move and all my stuff isnt packed away in the shop. My winter clothes are out there!! I think i'm going to have to go on a search and rescue mission for my winter jacket since i'm sure were not going to be moved in before it gets REALLY cold!

Anyway, Today is our first anniversary and its been great! We still love each other so i'm sure thats a good sign. Cant wait for the many more years to come.

Yes, its another cake.

I know this blog is becoming more about my cakes than the lives of Jeff and me, but I promise the next post will be about our life. I'll even have pictures of our new friend Hazel. Meanwhile, I hope you like this cake I made. It is for a lady at work that asked me to make one for her grandaughter's birthday. The pink was REALLY pink but after about an hour of working with it, it turned into that weird skin tone (dont ask me why). So, its not as cute as I wanted it to be but I'm still happy with it.

Is It?

P.S.

My birthday is coming up soon and at the risk of looking a little too conceded, here is my wish list!

Cupcake books are always welcome in my home! There are some great ideas in these ones!

Cake Pans! Any size round or square. I've been using my moms and I need some of my own!

To carry my creations!

Anything from MAC. I'm going through withdrawls. Its hard not having a MAC store down here.

A new I Phone would be nice!

And Last but not Least! A new 2010 Mazda 3!! (to tell you the truth, any new car would due. One that runs maybe!)

Might be true this time.

For the past few months Jeff and I have been telling my parents that we are moving out! It was never an actual lie, we really did think we were going to be out. It first started with a house in R-town. We heared about it and the rent was super cheep! So we said we would take it!

"Mom, Dad! Were moving out! The end of September!! Isnt that great!"

Turns out, its a good idea to go look at a place before you say your going to move in! It was TINY!! No living room, nothing! I couldnt bring myself to do it. Where was I going to make cakes?

"Mom, Dad, were not moving out."

That all turned around when we got a phone call from low income housing. There was a place available on the North side (a block away from Jeffs sister!). The only downer was that rent was $785/month + utilities! WAY more than I wanted to pay! Oh well, we decided to take it.

"Mom Dad, were moving out! For real this time! The end of October!"

I was worried about having to spend that much a month on rent and utilities and both of us having to drive a long way to work and school. The day before we had to have the security deposit in, we heard news of a couple in our ward that were moving out! They have a great basement suite with low rent and we decided to act fast. Within a day, the landlords told us that we could have the place! Half way between my job and Jeff's school and only 1 minute away from my parents (and a great gas stove to bake my cakes!!!)! We could move in by November!

"Mom Dad, were not going to be out in October! But we will be out by November!! Great news right?!"

Well, its November and were still here. The couple that are moving out cant get into their new house until December now. But, as of right now, thats still the plan. I REALLY hope it all works out!

"Mom, Dad, I promise we will be out before Christmas!!!!!"

Along came a spider.

Yes, it's another cake! I know i've been obsessed latley, but I found the recipe on countryliving.com and the icing tastes great! Its a Pumpkin Chocolate Cake. (write me a note if you want the recipe).

Happy Halloween!

Usually i'm not a halloween girl, but this year is a little different. I'm not sure what the change is, I'm even going to dress up! Thats crazy for me! I think the last time I dressed up for halloween was a few years ago and I dressed up as a YSA graduate. Big diamond ring and and even bigger pregnant belly! And that was a last minute costume design. (If I can find the picture i'll put it up for all of you!) I guess there is just so much creativity around me this year that I cant let another halloween slip by. These are the cupcakes I made to get everyone in the spider spirit. Thanks to Bakerella for the great idea!

Fondant

More Cakes! These are my course 3 cakes iced with fondant.

A truckers life.

Jeff and I now have a first hand account of what the life of a trucker is like. After driving 51 hours to and from the Northwest Territories, we learned what driving through the night and day and another night is all about.

My sisters husband owns a rock crushing company and was moving his equipment up north (my sister says its the North Pole!) for a job. Friday at around 7:00pm we got a phone call from my sister asking if we would be the pilot driver for a truck hauling a loader.

We packed up and went to pick up the pilot truck. After a 4 hour 'oops' we were back on track with the RIGHT truck. We met the trucker in Innisfail at 4am (who at that point had been driving for 36 hours) and started the pilot drive. After a few hours on the road we took a brake so the driver could get a few hours of sleep and from then on it was straight driving from 2pm saturday afternoon until midnight sunday night.

This is what our average speed was on the way up. The way home was, needless to say, much faster.

There he is, in the rear view mirror.

TREES!! It has been so long since i've seen trees! This drive was hours and hours of nothing but trees. I didnt know how much I missed them until I saw them again.

Visit my sisters blog here - http://malinsmayham.blogspot.com/2009/09/north-pole.html for more great pictures of what we saw and my very cute neice and nephew!

Cakes

Here are a few of the cakes that I have make in my cake decorating classes! I start the 3rd course on tuesday and get to learn more about fondant and tiered cakes.

I guess its about time.

I guess its about time to update the blog. To tell you the truth, I visit my blog often to see who has updated their blogs and sometimes wonder why others dont update more often! I'm SURE you dont want to hear about every aspect of our lives, but I LOVE to hear about others!

Well, I guess its that time again. Life is moving along and its back to school time. Jeff will be back at school taking Agraculture Technology and although he LOVES his job, he is still excited to get back in school. As for me, my days of watching Martha Stewart and The Doctors are about to end. Unlike Jeff, I am not excited. I have gotten way to used to sleeping in, crafting and baking all day I guess we will see how I adjust to going back to work everyday. My hours have been cut since last year, but I put myself on the sub list for Fridays so I will be working more (yay ). I guess that just what you have to do when you grow up.

Happy Birthday Jeff

I was too busy yesterday making a cake for Jeff's birthday that I didnt have time to write this lovely blog for him! So... yesterday was Jeffs birthday. He is now officially the ripe old age of 23!



This is the first cake that I would actually put a picture of on my blog. I have made MANY since starting my cake decorating classes, but none that I would like anyone to know about! Hopefully they only get better from here.

Cupcakes!

Great things are found at Michaels! My most recent attempt at creativity has been cake decorating. I got some foundant and colors and made these great cupcakes. Thay were super easy and left me wanting to do more. So... I have decided to take a cake decorating class at Michaels. This means there WILL be more projects to come!

Current Events.

Summer is a busy time down here in SoAb but I still wish I was up in Edmonton for all of the great summer activities. I just sit here and think about all I am missing, the Folk Festival, Heritage days, lots more I cant think of right now. Its been nice down here though. July has been full of lots of fun stuff to do. The first of July kicked it all off with the Raymond Parade! You cant miss the Raymond Parade, its an essentail Southern Alberta activity. Then Jeff and I made the LONG trek up north to camp with his family. Turns out we arnt very good campers and we DONT like the rain! But we still had a great time. Jeffs mom made cinnimon buns one day and I think that was the highlight of our trip!! YUMMM. Although i'm sure Jeffs highlight was riding in his brother-in-law's new corvette! On the way home we almost detoured to E-town but decided we wouldnt have enought time to do all that we wanted to do there. So we are back and the excitement doesnt end there. Last weekend we made our way to the candy parade in Coaldale which is when Jeffs Pixi Stick addiction came to light! Who knew? July 11th was also 7/11 day so we popped into 7/11 and got FREE slurpies! They were just giving them away, for FREE. I've also been practicing my cake decorating skills and dream of becoming a professional some day. (In my dreams more than in real life!) Thats about all. We are just waiting for Jeffs parents to come down today. The summer action never stops!

A baby basket But NO babies.

I have already reveived alot of flack for my latest project. 'Why am I making a baby basket if I dont have a baby?' they would ask. 'Are you not telling us something? So when are you due?' and so on. Well.... The project looked like fun. (Its kind of like buying a wedding magazine when you dont even have a boyfriend.) I found this baby basket up on a high shelf in a storage room at my parents' house. I battled the cob webs and dust to find a basket full of cat hair. After talking to my mom about how all us kids used to LIVE in that basket, I thought it would be a good idea to make a new and modern lining for this old fashioned basket. Unfortunately I didnt get a 'before' picture of the lining before I picked all the seams trying to figure out how it was made, but here is a picture of the fabric and lace it was made of.





Cute right? So after a for hours in the fabric store and $50.00 later I got started. I was quite suprised at how easy this lining really was to make and I'm kind of excited about how nice it turned out.

I think that little bow is my favorite part! Now I guess it goes back in storage for a few YEARS until little baby burgess comes along. (NO Natalie, you cant use it!)

For everyone out there wondering.

I've really dropped the ball with this whole blogging thing. I'm not sure if its because i've got dial up internet or because i'm starting to feel a little conceded talking about myself all the time. Oh well, I have always wanted to be the centre of attention but not let anybody know it. So i guess in my own little world I am the centre of attention here.

The last few weeks have been full! I am now a veteran ear piercer (after having pierced my nieces ears.) Ok, I guess i'll tell the whole story since its such a good one. For the last 6 months I have wanted to get my nieces ears pierced but couldnt find anyone that would pierce a 13 month old. When my sister Shelsea came down to visit we found some 'do it yourself' earings for piercing! It was perfect. We headed down to Henderson Park and did it right there on a picnic table! I did feel a little bad after she started crying. But she it TOO cute!!

Other than that, I just finished a 6 week Tai Chi class. It was fun to learn something new, but i'm not sure i'm the Tai Chi type. I didnt really buy into all the wind, rain, ying, yang, stuff that is incorporated with it all.

Jeff found a great job that he LOVES. Its kind of funny seeing how getty he gets over the things he does. He is working out by Spring Coulee on a farm. His last few days have consisted of killing gophers and branding calves. I guess he'll have perfect aim for hunting season. I'm not sure how I feel about that yet. I'm not quite ready to have a freezer full of deer meat, or a head hanging on the wall (maybe one day I will enjoy it)

Its my first day of summer vacation and i'm already thinking about getting a job. I'm not sure I can go 2 months just sitting around. I guess i'll just see what happens. I'm loving not having to be anywhere but not loving my lack of motivation to do anything. Hunter and Kaylee might have to put up with swimming with me alot this summer!

Mario Cart!

Blogging has been non existent lately, so i'm taking any chance I can get. Luckily I've got friends in high places (not in coulees that is.) who arnt restrained by dial up internet. While the rest of the bunch is playing mario cart, i've decided to curb my blogging addiction and writing a new post.

Jeff and I have been having a great time in Welling. Every time Jeff comes home from a long days work he askes me if I will go out shooting guns with him. Thanks to all that open space he has rediscovered his joy for shooting things. 

I have been greatly enjoying my last few weeks of work and have realized that my job isnt all that bad after all. I love having weekends and evenings. And what they say about kids is true, they say the darndest things. 

Hopefully this will satisfy you all until the next time. 

A tragic turn of events.

I have always been an independent kind of person and like doing things on my own. With that being said, I have some tragic news. I was going to try to keep this a secret but i've recently realized that i'm unable to keep it from anyone(secrets dont stay secret in RAYMOND! who knew?). Were moving in with the parents! I know.. I know.. I make fun of married couples that move in with their parents! What can I say, I think its a little weird. But thanks to the high cost of rent and Jeffs fleeting student loans, we are the ones to be made fun of! So were packing up our beautiful 3 bedroom house, saying goodbye, and shipping out of here. My days of daily blogging are down the drain thanks to dial up internet and constant kijiji updates will have to be put on hold. On the bright side, we hope to be able to save enough money over the summer to make the rent payments for Jeffs entire 2nd year of school! We will be back on our feet again in no time. I dont mean to sound ungrateful in any way. We are so happy to have my parents near by and for the generosity they show to us. We would also like to give a shout out to Jeffs parents who help us in every way they can! (Jeff loved the deer I cooked for him the other day.) So, with that being said, I leave you with some pictures of the house Jeff and I started in. They were taken right when we moved in.






P.S. Questions and comments are always welcome!! Let me know what you think. Have you been in this situation before and i'm just being a baby? or is it really as lame as I think?

High on a Mountain Top

As I was going through some of my old e-mails, I found something that I have always found very interesting. When I was at base camp on Aconcagua, I participated in a study. They were looking for a corelation between specific genotypes in the body and success of summiting high altitude mountains. A few months after returning home, I received this e-mail.

Your ACE-genotype is: II.

Here is the information about ACE and the genotype:ACE, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme, plays an important part of the body's water- and saltbalance. Studies have shown that the DD-variant contributes to a higher level of ACE in blood compared to ID and II. There is a lot of research on the ACE-variants and the disposal for different diseases. In sports medicine there is a relationship between the variants and performance in different sports. Science has shown that II is associated with superior endurance athletic ability, compared to D which is associated with more power-oriented events. In high-altitude medicine II is associated with enhanced high-altitude performance, which means an increased success in summiting. There is a hypothesis that this enhanced performance at altitude in part may relate to the lack of symptoms of AMS, but still no association has been found. The information gathered will be used in our master-thesis at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway. We also hope to get material publicised, then as a co-operation between NTNU and Caudwell Xtreme Everst Research Group at University College London (UCL), London, UK. Attached is an article on the subject from 2007. This project was also a cooperation between NTNU and UCL, London. Best regards,Alexander Frodahl and Karl Marius Brobakmedicalstudents,The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim

YAY, exciting right! This defanitly doesnt mean that I am going to summit every mountain I climb, but it sure helps. I love the mountains and I love pushing past what you think you cant.

(this is me at 22,500 Ft)

Todays Obsession

Being home for a week is great anytime, but with all this time on my hands I have found a new obsession. I'm trying to clear things out of my house and being shorter on cash than I would like leads me to only one conclusion, SELL IT! I've been taking pictures of the niceset things in my house that I dont want and putting them up on Kijiji! The greatest website ever. You can find anything you would ever need for cheap and you can post adds for FREE. I have a few things up and even have someone coming to look at the dryer I have for sale! Aside from the dryer and 2 cars I have for sale, I also have a 20p glass set for sale (never been used) and plastic Ikea cups and bowls, also a hurricane umbrella candle light set (also never been used). If anyone is interested in any items just let me know.