Lady bug, Lady bug!!

Soo, a few of you wanted to know how to make the ladybug cake and ladybug bows. Sooo, here it goes. :)

I don't do anything hard and 9/10 times I steal my creativity from someone else....., so HERE is the website for the lady bug bows. Super super easy.

For the Cake: I have to thank my wonderful friend Laura for the idea. We used a box cake, but I'm sure if you have more time, patience, and desire than me, you can make a cake from scratch. I baked the cake in a Pyrex bowl so that it looked like a lady bug. (let it cool really well before trying to take the cake out or it won't come out very well. I actually put it in the freezer for a bit). After the cake is cooled, make whip cream frosting with pureed strawberries in it. I used THIS recipe.

Frost the entire cake. Use crushed Oreo to make the head and stripe down the back, put a few Oreo's on for the lady bugs dots, marshmallows for the eyes, and the candles for the antennae. and your done! :) We like fun but easy things that the kids can help with. This is VERY kid friendly. :)

Happy Birthday Bright Eyes! :)

Today, My sweet bright eyes turned SEVEN!!! WOW I have a 7 yr. old. :) She is so very sweet and has helped me so much this last year with Z and Meg and is always willing to help. She is still energetic, loves school, and any involved activity. :) She is always in the mood to craft with mom and loves to be the 'leader.'

She had a great birthday with family and a few friends. :)

We love you, J. So so so happy Heavenly Father sent you to our house!!! :)

Anticipation of Grandma and Papa's presents!

Gr. and Gr.'s present.

Talking to Grandma and papa on the phone. :)

Candy from Grandma and Papa. .. LOVE candy. :)

J liked her happy birthday sign.

J made her own crown out of balloons. :)

Her Lady bug cake (Thanks Laura for telling me how.)

H had 2 friends come over. We love C and A. they had SOOO much fun.

licking the frosting off the candle. YUM

And of course presents/heavy heavy hang over.

AWESOME friends!!!

Cute ladybug bows we all made together.

LOVE YOU BRIGHT EYES!!!

J's pictures..

My BEAUTIFUL J!!! I can't believe she is seven. She is such a great girl, full of life and love. She has the BEST heart and is always wanting to do what is right. She is such a talented girl and I love her so much. :)

J

A visit from Uncle Chris!!!!

Uncle Chris was able to visit while passed through the area and we had such a GREAT time. The kids all told me after he left that they wished he could live with us forever!!! He played all sorts of great games with them and mostly he let them completely MAUL him!!

To end the day, we all headed to the park for more fun.

Meg likes to blow her lips!!

D was making Meg laugh while she was swinging.

lots of climbing!!!

o.k. These next pictures totally crack me up. Chris took J and Lo down the slide on his back. They were totally CREEPING down the slide. The first picture is of the creeping process, the next you can barely see Lo's arm hanging onto J's, but he was there too. it was pretty funny.

Another ride!!!

Z was ALL smiles. He loves the park!

Lo jumped off the balance beam doing a backside grab!

The sun was really bright and J's eyes are SOOO sensitive to the sun, so she is trying so hard to smile and keep her eyes open. :)

A-Weeeee!!! Z calls the slide "A-Weee"

And finally everyone had something to drink. . . on this hot sticky evening. :)

It was fun to go to the park!