Wow, How Time Does Fly!

My apologies to any BabyCakes' fans if you have been looking for an update (KJL), but to say I've been busy would simply be an understatement.

Since Memorial Day weekend and my last blog, BabyCakes has taken on a life of it's own.  Yes, Millie, I know what you're thinking right about now and the answer is still a resounding 'No'!  You know I can't handle the pressure of a test.

BabyCake Pops

Well, to make things sort of short and sweet, I think I'll just show you a sampling of the goodies that have passed through my kitchen in June & early July.......First there was Soap Box Derby, then Hanah's Sweet 16, followed by graduation, and 2 adorable little boy birthdays--GO Yankees!  Throw in a visit to Mom's and celebrate Fourth of July.

top: Root Beer, center: PJ Sigs, Bottom: Orange DreamSickle

top: Canolli, center: Watermelon, bottom: Choc. Chip CookieCake

 

Memorial Day RW&B

Girl Scout Thin Mint CookieBabies

Happy Birthday USA

Happy 16th Birthday Hanah

The Star of the Show 7/4/11

There you have it.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, these must have a value of a thousand calories, give or take a few.

A few weeks ago we visited my family in Virginia.  While there for some rest (yeah okay, we'll go with that) and help Nana support the troops, I got to play with the new phone I bought and got to 'hangout' on Facebook and clean up my emails.  I fully intended to catch up on the blog too but kept getting distracted…Distracted?  Who Me?  Yes Me, distracted.  Distracted by emails and chats involving BabyCakes.  Ahhhh such a nice distraction.  (Oh, did I mention I forgot my medicine and got so stressed out about not having it?)

As I sat at the kitchen table one night 'chatting' with Mrs. GoodKnight, I began to get pop up chats and postings on my wall from 2 other people…One wanted BabyCakes for a date next month and the other sheet cakes, yes 2 sheet CAKES, for his sister's graduation party.  Yippie!  Okay that set the tone for our departure time.  Time went from a stand still to the anticipation of should I bake here and take it home to decorate or leave Thursday instead of Friday and just bake at home.  But than again I did have the Parade BabyCakes to make and the ones for the Church Breakfast People's Picnic, not to mention get some done for Judy Java & Danny 2-Rivs (Oh yeah I forgot to tell you about Dan, remind me to go back to him).   So I figured Thursday would be the better bet.

The next morning my hubby said he'd love to visit Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, not the one here with the racetrack.  That's when I got an email from Cooper and that's when time went from the anticipation of leaving to WE GOTTA GO!

Coop is a friend I met through Judy Java.  He was asked by someone about having a cake made for a 1st birthday.  He thought of Me.  OMG!  ME!  It was like when I found out I was pregnant, I was excited but at the same time worried about how it would come out.  I couldn't wait to tell me mom.  Of course I said yes, then I asked for when would they need it?   And it turns out it was that upcoming weekend….aaarrrhhhHHH!!!!!  Oh boy, it's do or die time.  But I was still so excited I was busting to get to work.

The day we drove home and the following day was so stressful (it could have been the fact I had not had my meds in a week).  Yeah, the meds or lack there of, were likely a contributing factor but on Friday when Maggie called me and said Nick came busting through the kitchen door at work asking her if she knew what day it was, it dawned on me EXACTLY why I was so crazed last three days.

...It was JULY 8th.

I immediately had that hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach that was so empty and took me back to that horrid place 11 years ago.  11 years--My God how time has flown.  I felt the hatred wash over me and wanted to envelop my kids in a safe secure embrace.  I sat down at the computer and there was Donnie's post--a note on his wall pertaining to that day and the loss of his Aunt Nancy.  All of a sudden I got a grip on my emotions and was overcome with a sense of hope…of fullness… and of love to be able to stand in my kitchen, baking and when he walked in the door , I was able to hug him and tell him just how glad I was that I still had him here with us.


The thoughts of what we had, what has happened and what we've been through as a family, and of what is to come…was like all the ingredients on the counter.  Alone they are just basic things, nothing special.  But mixed all together they become something wonderful and comforting and familiar.  We were given the opportunity to continue to mix our basic selves to make one wonderful and comforting family regardless of all the craziness and crappy things that come our way.

Luke's First Birthday

Dillion's 8th B'Day Cake

Canolli Graduation Cake for Amber

Now, if things weren't crazy enough, One of my emails with Coop lead to an utterly knee-jerk decision…The family whom I was making the BabyCake birthday for, was looking for someone to cook a dinner for them and their guests as well.  What do I do?  WTH-Why Not?  Talk about putting yourself out there.  Like throwing out the first pitch standing striped bare on the pitchers mound in Yankee Stadium on opening day.  But to do what you love and do it up to a higher level was like hitting the winning homerun.  I went right to Mommy mode and thought of Sunday dinner.  What a dinner it was.  Maggie told me to take pictures of the food when plated but I told her that would be a little pretentious but the host , Little Luke's dad, was all about the photo opps.  As I put the meal on the platters and in the bowls, he arranged it on the counter just so and snapped away.  So much for pretentious.    I hope to have pictures of it soon to share.

In the mean time I hope you enjoy seeing all the goodies I've been turning out, Especially the Yankee Cake for my 2 special buddies.

Until the next episode, TTFN.  Love Jeanmarie