Mother/Daughter Tea at Linn Manor Care Center

Last Sunday was our 3rd annual Tea Party at Linn Manor.  Dana Gratton and I, along with the ladies at Linn Manor (thanks to Cassie, Marilyn, Pat, Linda and Mary) had so much fun planning and producing!  Leah and Libby were our little princess servers.  All of the residents and families had a wonderful afternoon together.

Birthday #3

Happy birthday to Laura!  It's so fun to watch a 3-year old try to blow out candles!  We thought the cake was going to burn down before she finally got them out.  Two big sisters helped her a little bit in the end!

The porcelain Tea Party Set was a hit, but we'll see how long it takes before a piece gets broken.  So far, she has served tea to every stuffed animal in the house.

Recently, Laura's favorite thing to do is cut paper with REAL scissors.  I just love the concentration on her face in this photo.  She makes quite a mess, but it keeps her busy!

Sunday School Program

This post is written for our family far away, who could not join us in person today.  I posted a couple of video  clips of Leah and Libby participating in our Sunday School Program this morning.  All of the kids did a wonderful job!




Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing






Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Princess Cake

Libby recently celebrated her 5th birthday.  We had SO much fun making a princess cake and I thought I would share how we made it here on the blog.  I found a how-to video on YouTube (where else do you find out how to do things?!)



Here's the birthday girl next to her cake!  Libby was all worried that I had gotten Barbie's dress all dirty in the cake and frosting.  I assured her that Barbie was covered in Saran Wrap!  I thought about just taking Barbie's clothes off, but I couldn't stand the thought of pulling a naked Barbie out of the cake while cutting it up for everyone to eat!  That would be immodest!

This cake uses TWO cake mixes, so be sure to invite lots of friends to help you eat it or you will be eating cake for awhile!

The frosting I used was this recipe:

COOL WHIP FROSTING
1 c. cold milk 1/4 c. powdered sugar 1 sm. box vanilla or chocolate instant pudding mix Beat on low for 1 minute. Stir in 8 ounce thawed Cool Whip. (If using vanilla pudding you might add a few drops of red food coloring for pretty pink frosting.)

Mexico Trip

Jon and I spent 8 days in Guadalajara working on the new Gospel Hall in Zapopan.  Eleven of us went together in two vehicles:  Mark Fitch and daughter Maria, Paul Eadie and son Caleb, Jesse Fitch and daughter Abigail, David and Carissa Slabaugh and son Dawson.  Jon and I stayed with Alberto and Lucy, while the others stayed with Paul and Barb Thiessen. 

At the beginning of the week, the new hall site had brick walls, a dirt floor, and a roof over the main auditorium.  By the end of the week, we had poured a concrete floor - complete with stairs into the baptismal, installed a soffit along the entrance, and completely wired the whole place with electrical.  Unfortunately, power was not hooked up to the building while we were there, but Paul T. reported a week later that power had been hooked up and the lights looked wonderful!  

Getting to know the Christians at Zapopan was a true blessing.  We will never forget it.  The food was phenomenal!  Barb and the other ladies fed us very well!  We left part of our hearts down there, so I can imagine we will return one day.  :o)

Click images to make them larger.

The existing tin Gospel Hall in Zapopan.  David and Carissa entering, Joshua (Gustavo's son is greeting)

During Sunday School singing

Setting formwork for concrete

Gustavo, David, and Mark setting up electrical access to the building

Paul working on forms for the baptismal stairs, David and Paul wiring the soffit lighting

The concrete for pour #1 (out of 3) has arrived

Half of the floor complete; Caleb riding with Alto

Transportation to work; Caleb carrying soffit materials

Using mixer to pour baptismal stairs

Jesse and Jon installing the soffit, Mark with the completed panel box

Paul E. with Gus; lunch at Paul and Barb's

Barb in her kitchen; the group in downtown Guadalajara

At Zamora on Wed evening; Alloy and Patti and family

Alberto and Lucy and their casa

2009 Christmas Card

I had so much fun creating this 4x6 card!  My only issue was choosing the right colors to go with all of the red and white stripes.  I ordered regular 4x6 prints from Walgreens at 5 cents each (with coupon) - much cheaper than buying the 4x8 card sets with envelopes!

  Digital graphics from Creative Memories and ScrapGirls.com

Website Building

I've spent the last couple weeks researching how to build websites!  I found some free web-building software (Serif WebPlus SE), and then began using my stash of digital scrapbooking stuff to make my own graphics using Photoshop Elements.  What fun!  This website is for a non-profit care center.  See my work in progress at www.linnmanor.org.