Easy as….. Cake!

 

I used to dream that I would make beautiful cakes.  This was a very difficult dream to have in a very large family.  My mother did not believe in cake mixes, or in powdered sugar, or even in beautiful cakes. 

She believed in the power of homemade bread, of a pot of grits that would feed all ten children.  She knew that by spending hours canning available fruits and vegetables, she would be able to feed her family through lean times (and there were many of those). 

I am not sure she even believed in birthday cakes for most of us.  Don’t get me wrong, she was wonderful.  In some ways, she was even saintly.  The fact that she did not kill all of us can attest to that fact! 

But birthday cakes?  Nope.  Oftentimes, when my birthday would roll around, I would ask if I could make a cake, and,  acting as if the thought had not even crossed her mind, she would let me. 

I learned to make some kind of frosting using regular old sugar and egg whites.  It was not bad, just not the powdered sugar frosting I always dreamed of.  I learned to bake from scratch, as there was no other alternative.

Once, I even baked my father a birthday cake.  Sadly, what I thought was the bucket of flour….. was actually the bucket of gluten.  For those of you who are unschooled in the art of whole wheat bread, gluten = glue.  Dad’s cake was more like a sponge.  Don’t mistake that for “spongy”.  Try taking a fork to your kitchen sponge.   Now you’ve got the picture!

About 12 years ago, a good friend dragged me out of my house and made me take some painting classes with her.  She loved them.  I did not.  We took three or four different classes before I, in turn, convinced her to take some cake classes with me!  I loved them, she did not. 

That was how I started making cakes.  And ohhhhh, did I love it!  It was like a dream come true.  Who knew that all you had to do was cut the top off a rounded cake and slap some frosting on it!  I truly had never noticed that all the bakery cakes were FLAT!!! 

I made birthday cakes, bridal shower cakes, baby shower cakes,  a new year’s eve cake…… I was making cakes – any excuse would do.  I even had a brave cousin let me make my first wedding cake for her. 

It was slightly crooked, and a little uneven, but she was either a really good liar, or she was so love struck that she did not notice.  I still cringe a little when I look at pictures of that cake. 

As I am known to do, I burned out.  I bet I lasted a good 9 or 10 years  of baking and selling cakes before the smell of cake began to make me gag.  Before the stress of getting a wedding cake “just right” made me loose sleep.  Before there was no more happiness to decorating. 

Last week, I made a wedding cake for a friend of over 20 years.  Her daughter had almost no demands, just three colors to worry about.  It was not a cake for money.  It was a cake for a friend. 

Somehow the normal week of awful that comes with decorating a cake never materialized.  Somehow, that cake was baked and decorated in three days.  Somehow, the happiness I had in making it overcame all the drudgery that decorating had become. 

I may never understand how that happened.  I am still not sure what I will do with that knowledge, but I thought I had better document it, so I don’t forget……

Sometimes, with the right attitude, it really CAN be…..

as easy as CAKE!!!!

Sisters and daughters

My mother used to tell me  "One day you will thank me, I have given you the best gift ever".  

       She was not talking about life itself, which I realize is a great gift.  She generally reserved this statement for times when I was frustrated with one or more of my 9 siblings.  Angry that I had cleaned like a maniac, only to find it dirty 5 minutes later.  Put out that someone had taken a bag of candy and left only wrappers.  Embarrassed that we had to drive a bus (large van) to fit all of us.

And in the end, as mothers tend to be.....

my mother was right.  

My siblings are, indeed, some of the best things she has ever given me.  

Family Beach Trip 2010 - Only 4 siblings missing

There is nothing I like better than a family gathering, children running all around, adults talking....and talking...and talking....

After mom died, we girls decided we needed to capitalize on the fact that we still had each other and started having a "sister's night out".   This somehow morphed from a night in Park City, to two nights in a local hotel the year we ALL had new babies, to three nights in Kentucky so we could be with Val's wife, Jeannie.  It does not seem to matter much where we are, as long as we are with each other.  The bonus is that now our brothers have give us sisters too.  They are every bit as crazy and fun loving as we like to be.  

It seems that there is never a year that EVERYONE is able to come.....

Sometimes we make a silly purchase when we find a great sale.

Like I said, our sisters in law treat us just like real siblings!

There is one tradition we have added into our annual nights away.  

PF Changs - lettuce wraps and Great Wall of chocolate cake

Yes, this is a must each year!  

Last night, I broke with tradition.  I admit it - as ashamed as I feel.....

I cheated on my sisters

Hopefully they will forgive me.  The free lettuce wrap coupon just made it impossible to say no!  

I did, perhaps, get a glimpse into my future.  Maybe the daughters night out will be something to consider.  

Forgive the grainy phone pics.  Laugh at the antics!

But only if they can learn to eat cake slowly and respectfully.  

Instead of eating like demons possessed!!!   

Maybe I'll wait a few years before I try it again!!! 

Forced Togetherness

 

So grateful I followed my instincts

 

Forewarning:  This IS a travelogue.  There ARE vacation photos.  Read on at your own risk! 

 

Robby is 18.  Robby has graduated from high school.  Robby has a job that he loves.  Perhaps even adores.  For the first two weeks of summer vacation, Robby traveled with his new company, setting up lights and sound for corporate events.  First to Denver, then to San Franscisco. 

I was uncomfortable at best, having him so far removed from me.  From family.  Out of the safe nest we have so carefully crafted. 

Needless to say, when he told me he did not want to go on our family trip, I was crushed.  I have tried to be less pushy as a parent, now that he has grown up and graduated.  I thought about it for days and finally put my foot down. 

“This is the 2nd to LAST family vacation we will have before you leave home.  Work can wait and you WILL be coming with us.”  OH, “And you can drive a separate car so you can still feel some autonomy”.  See?  I gave a little! 

I am so very glad I followed my instincts to make him come with us.  Moments like this are more and more precious, as I realize they are coming to an end. 

 

 

Parenting an almost adult feels kind of like walking a tightrope.  He is old enough to be on his own, old enough to make his own decisions.  I am grateful that this time, he was still young enough to listen!!!

 

And now to bore you all with many, many vacation pictures:

 

How many kids can you pile into a hot tub? 

And on a similar note, when Grandma and Grandma say “Pizza Hut”, how many grandkids can you pile into a van? 

With Grandma and Grandpa in South Carolina most of the time, it is a real treat to have them decide to come play with us in Moab.  Especially when his chiropractic skill comes in so handy (on the kitchen table!)

Double arches where the kids played and climbed like billy goats for two full hours!!!

Kids hiking to the double arch.  Love brothers helping brothers!!!

I love this picture because it shows how massive this arch was.  Those dots down at the bottom right side are people!!!

 

Sitting WAY UP HIGH!!!!

My brave baby sister who brought her twins hiking in moab!

Bob caught some great pictures of the boys enjoying the pool.

The two houses were separated by a mean old fence, so our big boys took down a panel  for a few days.  That way, the kids could cross yards directly and not have to go down the road and around the corner! 

 

There is just no way to describe the “sand hill” as my brother in law called it.  We decided it was a “mountain/cliff/sheer drop”.  A few of us climbed it the night before and were pretty sure it was a heart attack in the making.  It was so high that I had a nasty headache by the time we got to the top. 

Uncle Jeff decided he was king of the world.  Sometimes, he is the biggest kid of all!!!!

My dad took off his shoes and started hiking.  Boy was I nervous!  If I felt like it would give ME a heart attack, I was sure that at age 71 it WOULD give him one!!!

Victorious!!!  Everyone was happy (and pretty shaky) when they reached “the rock”.

With Robby’s love of all things containing wires, batteries, and electronic parts, I sure do love seeing him outside!

After sitting in the air conditioned van for a while, Bob finally caved to family pressure, took off his shoes and started to climb with Evan.  I declined, having made the climb the night before!

My dad finally made it to the very tippy top.  He is the little speck to the left of the telephone pole. 

Bob finally made it up to the rock.  I guess we walk a lot around here, but we must not climb enough!

Jeff’s sweaty head.  Cindy and I were sure he had dumped a bottle of water on his head, but he assures us this is one downside of having no hair. 

We took a short hike up to an overlook of delicate arch.  Laila and Brent were again brave enough to hike with 2 of their big kids and two new babies!

They look very comfy, don’t they?  Especially the one packing two bottles!!

 

I am very grateful that when my big boy fell and scraped both knees, it was not on a very high spot, only on rocks. 

Have I mentioned that I love being a mom?

And a (sort of) grandma?

 

My sister, Cindy was kind (crazy) enough to get up at 3:30 am and take willing children (victims) on a sunrise hike. 

Proof that crazy people really do exist

 

Grandpa makes it to the top!!!