One Prozac cake, coming up!

My sister asked me to make a cake for her co-worker for a going-away party. The above picture of the generic for Prozac was our inspiration. How did we do?

I made one round 8 inch cake and one square.

After leveling the cakes with my favorite cake leveling tool, I cut the round cake in half and "glued" the pieces with homemade butter cream frosting like so:

Here's the frosted cake.

Lydia kept "helping" and trying to cut the cake for me. In this shot you can also so the afore mentioned candy pill border.

This cake was so fun to make! Thanks for the challenge, Court. Hope you like it!

Jagged little pills

These are going to be the border along the bottom edge of my Prozac cake I'm making for my sister's work. (She's a pharmacy tech and it's a going-away party for a co-worker._

They are tropical Mike & Ikes with one end dipped in white almond bark coating. This is a fun cake project!

Another opportunity

There will be another opportunity to help the Frandsen family tomorrow (Aug 29) at a yard sale in their new neighborhood. It will be located at 10114 South 3490 W. It is easy to get to from Bangerter and 9800 South. 8 am- 2pm.

In addition to the yard sale there will be amazing barbeque available. For more info, see Vittoria's blog.

If you had items you didn't get to donate to our sale, they are taking donations too.

First Days of School 2009

Jenna started second grade last Tuesday. We had to take the traditional picture on the porch. This was the closest I got to all three smiling at the camera at the same time- there were about 10 attempts.
Jenna is loving school so far and every time I ask her about any part of it her response includes "AWESOME!" That's a good sign! She gets to be a class representative for the first 6 weeks of school and is very excited for the responsibility. She'll have a great year!

Yesterday was Aubrey's first day of kindergarten- back to the porch. (This was only my second pic, a vast improvement over the week before. Can you tell that's Jenna's favorite new shirt?)

Aubrey also thinks school is awesome and didn't even want me to wait with her today before school. When I asked her if she wanted me and Lydia to walk her to her class, she looked at me with a puzzled face and asked "Why, Mom?" Ok, never mind. I still parked across the street to watch until the bell rang. She's just so teeny, I'm afraid she'll break or something.

Lydia sure misses her sisters! She's not used to being here so much with just mom. Mom's not used to entertaining a 2 1/2 yr old alone. I've always had another baby in the house by the time each girl was that old. It's different- in a good way!

Aubrey's friend, Tanner, is in her class, too!
This was her class all lined up to start their first day. They were all pros. The only tears I saw were from the adults!

Vittoria's Yard Sale update

The fundraiser for Vittoria was an overwhelming success. Even though Vittoria's outcome wasn't what we'd hoped, we all got to participate in many miracles. Our neighborhood and ward have been deeply impacted by this opportunity to unite and serve. Friends and strangers alike gladly stood in the rain to do whatever we could to make this a success.

Right now our total in sales & donations is $10,100.00. There are still a few available auction items, as well.
I wanted to give everyone a peek at the yard sale we had on the 15th for Vittoria. It was an amazing day (week) of miracles and unity from our area & from strangers far and wide.

The night before we had a sorting/pricing party. Thankfully the VanAmens brought their shade canopy, which served as a giant umbrella through multiple heavy rainstorms! By the end of the evening my garage was completely filled and part of my backyard was filled with furniture. Thanks to all who came to help!

Saturday started early & wet. At 6:15 a whole crew showed up to set up & hang signs. People just kept coming and coming. Thanks to all of you- I don't even know who half of you were! It was amazing! We kept calling around for more and more canopies and tarps and before long we had everything arranged. We filled two entire yards and driveways, canopy to canopy in some places. I've never seen anything like it!
The most amazing part was the size of the crowd. Undeterred by the rain, from 7 am- 5pm we had shoppers. Most of that time it was packed! People would call friends and tell them to come. Others told us they had heard about it on the radio- from many stations. Some were there to buy tools and then came to shop in the other areas. Strangers would stop on the corner and ask if this was the sale for the girl who needed a heart and hand us cash, not wanting to buy anything. I'm crying again just thinking about it!

We had a visit from the Kearns Royalty- princesses for Vittoria! Some of the kids had a treat & lemonade stand.
This was tool central. Thanks again to Shaun & Napa & all of the helpers who made this possible. We sold $5500 in tools alone! I've NEVER seen so many men at a yard sale before- willingly!
Counting the tool money

We had an awesome bake sale that featured all kind of treat as well as ready-to-cook meals assembled by Kelli and her sister. These beautiful cupcakes and heart cookies were made & donated by people who don't even know the Frandsens.

Again, thanks to all who helped in any way! There are too many to thank & the Frandsens also sent their thanks. And to the Frandsens- thank you for allowing us to serve and also to have a connection to an amazing little girl. We will never be the same! Your angel has become all of ours in a small way. You are in our prayers as you adjust to a new time in your lives. We love you so much!

A new ingredient

I made baked ziti for dinner tonight, which is very adventurous for me. I gathered all my ingredients and started cooking. To me, in my sleep-deprived state, these two cans appeared to have the same thing- from these angles anyway.

After opening the can on the right- without reading the label- I realized that it wasn't quite what I needed for my pasta recipe. However, the girls are thrilled that we are now making pumpkin cookies for family home evening! In my defense, that is the reddest pumpkin I have ever see, Western Family!

Silent E

Silent e-Auction, that is. We have a few baskets left from the fundraiser and we are going to e-Auction them here. I don't have all the pictures yet, so check back for the others. All of the proceeds will go to the Frandsen family! We are so close to the $10,000 mark- help us get over the top! To bid, please email me with your name, phone number, which item you are bidding on and the amount of your bid at beanandtim(at)gmail(dot)com.

Go Utes & Go Cougars- each basket contains an adult (L) t-shirt, baseball cap, car flag, Pez dispenser, key chain and ice bucket for your beverage of choice.

Bidding starts at $70 per bucket.

Utes bucket now at $75.

Sweet indulgences bubble bath & lotion- 3 bubble bath/soaps and two lotions, star basket. Opening bid $10

Bees basket: Vouchers for 6 tickets to any remaining Bees game this season (games thru Sept 7), youth (L) t-shirt, souvenir batting helmet, 6 passes for bowling at the AMF Ritz. Starting bid $30.

One last summer blast!

Includes basket, water bottle, Chex mix, Goldfish crackers, popcorn, water bombs,

beach ping pong, sun glasses, Jolly Ranchers, large tote bag, other snacks, & other toys.

SOLD

Victory for Vittoria

Sweet, strong Vittoria passed away tonight.

A few days shy of her 8th birthday, this pure little soul has returned to our Heavenly Father, having been so valiant in all she had to bear.

My heart aches for her amazing mom and dad who have devoted their lives to keeping her alive and healthy for the last eight years. I know she is their life and their joy. I cannot imagine the heavy load they are now carrying and I pray that the Lord will lift it and carry it for them. How grateful I am for the Gospel and the blessing of eternal families. Even though it is torture to be separated in this life, I know they will have their little girl, perfect and strong, in the life to come.

Thanks to all who helped in any way with the yard sale. We will continue to gather money for the family, as there is much left for them to do. If you would like to help us reach our goal of $10,000, please let me know. You can also still donate through her blog vittoriascorner.blogspot.com.

Go hug your baby, your spouse, your pet. Let someone know you are glad to have them in your life! Please pray for the Frandsens that they might be comforted and have the strength to keep going.

Remember...

...to come shop at the yard sale, tool sale, bake sale, boutique for Vittoria. Saturday from 7 am-4pm.

Whether you can come shop or not, please say a little prayer for Vittoria, her family, and the family who would have to suffer a tragedy to save this little angel!

UPDATE: We are at $9724 so far. Let's break $10,000. I still have two metal racks that would be great for food storage or in a garage or shed. There are a few tools left. The people from the next yard sale are coming this week to get the rest of the stuff, so don't wait. Call now- operators are standing by!

We love you Frandsens!

Aubrey lost her first tooth!!

Don't we all have a picture like this? My not-so-little-anymore Aubrey lost her first tooth tonight. She pulled it out all by herself! You are one tough cookie, Aubs!

A Sneak Peek

Here's a sneak peek at some of the gift baskets we will be selling at the fundraiser on Saturday. The pictures don't do them justice, but they are awesome. Thanks L&MG for your generosity!!

Go Utes! (or Cougars)Sweet serenity bubble bath & lotion baskets Excuse the messy kitchen in the background!

Lifesavers

I forgot to put this in my previous post.

We are collecting Lifesavers candy for a project that will be sold at the yard sale. If you are looking for a way to make a small donation, this is your chance. $2.50 will buy a bag of individually wrapped candies. We need them by Wednesday afternoon so the Young Women can assemble them that night. Please let me know if you can help. Thanks!

The scoop...

Here's the scoop- Saturday, August 15th 7am- 4pm we are having a YARD SALE, TOOL SALE, BAKE SALE, & BOUTIQUE to benefit our little friend Vittoria, who needs a heart transplant.

There will be normal yard sale stuff, including lots of furniture, clothes, housewares, electronics. Also check out the Tool Sale. A local company has generously donated FIVE PALLETS of tools to be sold to raise money. You will find a bake sale that includes homemade pies, jams, and frozen dinners. There is a boutique section filled with handmade crafts & other new items.

Something for everyone! Come early for the best selection!

There will also be a lemonade stand and snack bar inspired by this cute on her cousins did.

Vittoria is an international phenomenon. Here is a banner for her at a soccer (football) match in Rome. How cool is that!
We are still gladly accepting items in good condition to be sold in any part of the sale as well as cash donations.

We are located at 4880 West 6040 South (Filbert Park Circle) in Kearns. Enter from 4800 West via 5400 South or 6200 South. A few blocks south of Kearns High School & the Utah Olympic Oval. Follow the bright pink signs!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have. Thanks for your help & support!!

Happy Birthday Aubrey!

Our little Aubrey turned 5 yesterday! I can't believe it! She was all dressed up cute and ready for church, looking all grown up. (I didn't think to take a picture, duh!)

She had little friend party on Saturday. It was a pool party since it's August and all. The poor kids were freezing!

Aubrey is an amazing little girl! She makes friends easily and will find someone who needs a friend & show them around. She has a tender heart for her grandparents, too. She runs right to them for a hug or a snuggle & when we take Great Grandpa Lloyd out, she won't let go of his hand!

She is so tender with animals- even the most unsocial animals can't resist her. She loves bugs- she even caught a grasshopper in her toes at Gma & Gpa Lloyd's house.

She's a petite little thing with thick curly hair & beautiful blue eyes. She loves to sing & dance & can almost do the splits. She has never lost her baby flexibility & will wow you with the trick of putting her toes in her mouth. Awesome! Ü

She is also excited to start kindergarten in 2 weeks & can hardly wait to learn even more. She is starting to read and is very curious about everything.

We are sure blessed to have her in our family. It was a long ordeal to get her into our world, but I couldn't imagine it without her!

Love you Aubrey Bug!

psst.. I have a secret...

For part of our yard sale for Vittoria, a company is donating four- possibly five PALLETS full of tools for us to sell!!! Can you believe that!! Me neither- I cried. A few times.

Thanks to all for your generosity! Come shop early to get a good place in line! Ü

What you can do for the fundraiser

I have had many people ask how they can help with Vittoria's fundraiser on the 15th, so I thought I'd put the info here so I tell everyone the same thing. I can't remember who I've told what, so if I repeat myself to you, SORRY!
Every last penny goes directly to Vittoria!

If you would like to donate goods to be sold, please try to categorize them into one of the following areas: baby items, baby clothes, kids clothes, adult clothes, (teen clothes, if needed),
shoes/belts/bags, kitchen items, THE MAN TABLE, gift baskets, craft supplies & home decor, furniture, books, toys, and boutique items (handmade/new). There will also be a whole section for the bake sale. Please price your items before hand. If you need stickers, let me know. Make sure things are clean and as dust-free as possible.

We are also looking for donations of Lifesavers (long packs or individually wrapped pieces) ahead of time for a project. Please have those to me by the 12th.

One thing we are lacking is large items that will draw a crowd- furniture, appliances, etc. If you know of anything available, let me know.

Specifics
Clothes- Clothing will be priced as follows- baby clothes $.50 per item, kids clothes $.50 shirts, $1 pants/skirts/shorts, teens/adults $1 tops, $2 bottoms. These will be on tables according to category. You don't need to price clothing individually. If there are fancier/nicer/name brand clothes, please mark them separately and we will have them on hangers in a different area.

Gift baskets- We would like people to "adopt" a basket and be in charge of filling it by theme. For example, you can make a "Go Utes" basket that might have a hat, pom pom, game tickets, car stickers, and other like items. Other ideas: car care, BBQ night, pet lover basket, Avon, pedicure/manicure, gardening, baby shower, Jazz/Bees/Grizzlies/BYU, or anything else you can think of. You don't have to personally buy everything in it. Ask friends & co-workers to contribute, ask businesses to donate items, or whatever else you think of. Let me know which one you are planning so we can try not to duplicate.

Boutique- There will be an entire area specifically for a boutique. There will be handmade crafts, new home decor, hair bows, pillowcases, hooded towels, Boppy covers, etc. We would love to have your items here!

Near the end of the sale we will be selling bags for a set amount and people can fill it with whatever for that price. (This excludes boutique items) If there is anything you want back, please be there to protect it! Ü

Thanks again for your help. We couldn't do this without all our great friends!!

The pressure's on!

We went to Tim's 15 year high school reunion Saturday night and I had a few people (some I knew, some I didn't) tell me that they had recently found my blog- now I better post once in a while! We have had a really fun & really crazy summer. I'll have to hit the highlights for journaling purposes. Here's a start at the beginning of summer.

End of June: As a family we got to participate in our ward's girl's camp. We hosted a service project at Tim's family's farm. We had a great time & I think all the ward girls did, too. I love that my girls can see so many great young women, whom they look up to- even to the point where different hair do's that my girls want are known by names of girls in the ward. (Cassidy hair, Shelby hair, etc) This is Jenna & Aubrey riding the little Jeep around while the big girls worked digging thistles. There was a little trailer on the back where Lydia sat.

July 1st was Jenna's birthday. She had a pajama party with pizza, pjs, a movie and fireworks. She would have invited 30 girls if I'd let her, but she had fun with the few she could invite!

4th of July- We made our pilgrimage to the Mother Land. I already mentioned the 5K Tim & I did. After that, we headed to the parade where the kids and all the cousins anxiously awaited salt water taffy thrown from tractors, trucks, ambulances, 4-wheelers and floats. After working so much on our stake float for the 24th, my girls are very into float details and now inspect glitter & festooning. Sorry, girls!The Prestwich family had this entry in the parade. All of Tim's cousins & their kids were in town for the family reunion later in the day, there were plenty to ride the tractor/spreader as well as to watch from the sidelines.Aubrey & Lydia are riding stick horses that were part of the barrel racing game during the Prestwich reunion. We had a great time! It was fun to see everyone- there were more new babies than I realized and about 75 two-year-olds! ÜThis is a random shot of our trip to the Natural History Museum on free day (which, coincidentally, would be again today) with Hill & her girls. It was much less eventful than last time we went, but much more crowded. Note to self: Go on free day during the school year, not the first free day of the summer.That's all for now. My kids are demanding that they be fed. I swear I fed them yesterday...