Steven and Christine's wedding

As you know, Steven and Christine are getting married on August 3rd. We have mixed feelings. We are happy for the two of them, but wish it wasn't happening so fast due to him going to Iraq. The plus side to this whole thing is I get to make my first wedding cake! I am so happy, excited and nervous. I don't want to mess it up but I think what she has decided on is totally doable! I hope to take pictures all throughout the process of making this cake so I can look back on them. Wish me luck and pray for my nephews safe return!

Fishing

My husband, Chris went Sturgeon fishing today. It was a charter boat him and 5 other buddies from work booked down on the Columbia. It was his second trip. He's having alot of fun going too. Their guide is Willie Bloomquists cousin. He totally looks like a Bloomquist too! (Willie is a Seattle Mariner's player for all you baseball challenged.) Today he finally caught one that he could keep. He was very thrilled to bring it home. Maybe next year all four of us will try going. I think it would be a hoot!

Chris's big fish

Their guide

A wedding and a funeral

Today I received some more bad news. My 20 year old nephew, Steven, who is in the Army Reserves found out he is being deployed to Iraq. Not only is he being deployed, but he is going in the infantry. He's going to be right in the thick of things. The entire family is reeling from this news. I am so scared for him. He is too young to be going to war. His deployment is scheduled to last 400 days, of which 30 of those will be in Wisconsin for training. He will be allowed 2 weeks of R and R. My sister (his mother) is beside herself. I can hardly blame her.

Steven is currently engaged to a wonderful girl named Christine and they have decided to get married before he ships out in August. So on August 2nd we will be holding a memorial gathering for my stepfather, Chuck and on August 3rd we will be celebrating the joyful union of Steven and Christine in a small ceremony to be held at my sisters house. We are all in for an emotional weekend. Lets just hope we can keep it all together.

Khai's cake!

Here's the cake for the 9 year old little boy I made tonight. It was devil's food with marshmallows in it and buttercream frosting. Happy Birthday Khai!

Our 4th of July

For the first time in 5 years my two sisters and I were able to celebrate the 4th of July together. Robyn's kids were able for the first time in a very long time to light off their own fireworks because it is illegal to do that in Illinois. They've only ever watched them on tv. We gathered for dinner at my house at it was Brandon's 22nd birthday and so we barbequed and he opened gifts. Then I made this sinful dessert that we all indulged in. Next time I need to make them a wee bit smaller.

We then headed over to Raynne's house for the fireworks display compliments of Brandon's girlfriend. She purchased him over $500 dollars worth of fireworks. This year was also the first year Sheldon was allowed to light off fireworks. The rule in our house was that you had to be 13 to light them off. He was very pleased.

My boys

Steven and Brandon, my nephews.

Tayler and Peyton, my nieces

Dylan, my nephew

An unexpected passing

I received a phone call this morning from my mother telling me my stepfather, Chuck Myers had passed away. He was out on the road, driving his truck in Utah. At this time they are unsure of the cause of death. He would have been 60 on November 6th of this year. I am still in shock really. I just can't believe he is gone. My mother is taking as well as could be expected. I think she's still in shock too. I just hope she will be alright. I worry about her.

Hopefully he went peacefully, in his sleep. He will be missed. Goodbye Chuck.

Birds birds birds!

While I was away on my trip, my husband and sons forgot to water the hanging plant that my stepmom gave to me. So when I got home I set out to save it. I bought some plant food and sprinkled it in the plant and as soon as I did that a bird flew out of the center. I was a bit freaked out so I climbed up to see what I had done and low and behold there was a nest and 4 eggs and one mother bird freaking out. I was really worried that I had just ruined all those lives so I rinsed off the plant food, all the while the mother bird was chirping furiously at me. After rinsing it all off it took about an hour for the momma bird to get back into her nest. A few days later her little birdies hatched and it seems they are all doing alright. She's very protective and she was ready to attack me as I attempted to take a few pictures.