Lid's Skating Party

It has been over a month since I posted. Life in the month of March/beginning of April has been slightly CRAZY!! Lydia's party was a success as you will see from the pics below, but I ended up coming down with strep throat the day of her party. Being hopeful that it was allergies acting up, I suffered through and enlisted the help of others to help me serve, just in case I was truly sick. I am happy to report I did not spread the love to anyone. Although it was utterly awful to get strep, I was ever so grateful to get sick when I did, because the next weekend proved to be a very memorable one that I would've been sad to miss. For that was the weekend we threw my sister's baby shower at the church, complete with fire alarms going off 10 min. before it started and the fire depart. coming (some casseroles had bubbled over and were smoking badly). And then, somehow knowing her parents had all the things needed to care for her, my niece decided she was ready to be born. I got a call that very night (actually 2 a.m.) from my sis telling me her water had broken and they were on the way to the hospital. Anna Jane was born the next day at 2:41 p.m., I believe. Of course, she will get her own post, but it'll have to wait until I get my camera back from her parents =0). I love her so, so much already! Since then, I've gotten as many baby fixes I can and have enjoyed spending time with my sister, too. Throw spring break week in there, where we got to spend some time in Indy with family, as well as a busy week last week with our church's missions conference...and there, think I've mostly summed it up. Enjoy the pics from Lydia's 8th birthday party...as you'll be able to see, it was a roller skating party. Originally, she was just going have a couple friends over for a sleep over, but I discovered how inexpensive this place was (Skyborn Skateland) from a party Jake and Lydia were invited to a couple of weeks prior. In hindsight, I am soo glad she chose this over the sleepover with me getting sick. Thanks, Lid! The cake...a 2 layered German chocolate cake with homemade butter cream icing. I made a batch of rice krispies and molded it into a boot shape for the skate. This was the first time I worked with fondant, so it was challenging, but fun! The boot is covered in fondant and the letters and hearts are fondant as well. Used candy necklace pieces for the eyelets for the laces. I was going to use licorice strips for the laces, but what I had wasn't long enough. My mom had come over and she suggested just piping the laces. Well, I need lots of practice with piping, and my mom was up for the challenge. Way to go, Mom/Grandma! They turned out great! And the wheels are mini chocolate donuts. I didn't take into account the fact that the weight of the rice krispie and fondant would crush the donut, so I just placed them beside the boot. I was given suggestions by a certain someone. Next time, *cough Dan cough* I will do better on the wheels. =0) But I'd say for my first time doing a cake like this, it wasn't too shabby. I am really excited to start the cake decorating classes Dan got me for Valentine's day!

Playing with Barbies before it's time to get ready.

Never have I known two girls more girly-girl than these two. Did that even make sense?

Laced up and ready to get on the rink! *Grandma Ernst watching in the background...how nice it was to have them there that weekend, too!*

How many adults does it take to help lace up 11 pairs of skates?

Silly group photo

Somehow, we managed to squish all these kids around 2 tables.

Getting ready to sing "Happy Birthday" to Miss Lid.

Cutting the skate...I was using lots of hand sanitizer.

Had to include this pic of Lydia starting to open her gifts. We got her that dvd, but you would have thought we gave it to Claire. She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to watch "Ramona and Bevus" and would watch it everyday if she was allowed.

Her gift from her cousin...thanks Noelani! Lydia loves her pretty-pretties, just like you!

Finally, at the very end, Claire decides to skate. Once she got the right ones, she was having the time of h er life! I'd say a good time was had by all!