Use what you can as a teaching opportunity!

The other day in the car the kids were talking amongst themselves about how you shouldn't do certain things because mom and dad might catch you. So I used the opportunity and this was our conversation:

Mom: "You know what is even more important is what your Heavenly Father sees and hears you doing."

Corbin, Jerrud & Tommy all say something similar to: "Because He sees and hears everything!!"

Mom: "That's right! So even though mom or dad may not see you, your Heavenly Father will and it will make Him sad when you might be doing or saying something you shouldn't be."

Jerrud: "He can hear us. Can't we hear Him too?"

Dad: "He answers our prayers when we pray to Him. We can hear him too."

Tommy: "Just like Joseph Smith heard Him! "

Dad: "Joseph Smith definitely heard Him and a little more!"

So we go on to talk about Jospeh Smith for a while. Then in the midst of the conversation, Jerrud pops out with:

"That's how mom and dad know we are doing something without seeing us do it because God tells them!!"

That's when we say to ourselves 'If that's what works for now, let it be!'

Sand Castle Cake

I just got done with a 4th of July wedding reception cake. The couple was married last week in the Caribbean and now are having a reception here. They held it at Birkdale Golf Club. They had an amazing building and it was decorated beautifully! Tangerine and green were their colors.

A friend of mine, Leslie, has been here the past couple of days helping and keeping me company. She wanted to learn so she dove in head first on a very time consuming, multi-part cake. She helped make icing and cakes and iced some cakes and helped apply the sand. We felt like we were swimming in crumbs even after we cleaned them off! We stayed up until 4:30 saturday morning working on it! 30 minutes short of 24 hours being awake for both of us. We are ready to go to bed tonight!!

When I delivered the cake it was in parts. So when I got there and set it up, it was the first time for me seeing it set up with everything. It is an amazing feeling when you see something you have worked on so hard, come out like you were hoping in the end. A little nerve racking with everyone watching on while setting it up though. So here are some pictures of the finished cake :) Enjoy!

Gum paste shells I made & colored

Coral I made out of royal icing

Main cake and 2 satellite cakes

Back view of cake
I had a lot of fun doing this cake :) I enjoyed the company while I was working. The mother of the bride was there while I was setting up and she was very impressed!! She said it was amazing! Quite the compliment! She told me that after it started to get dark, they were going to have lights out and a spotlight on the cake. How cool if that! I hope to get a picture. I can't wait to hear what the bride and groom think of it :) :)