One Year Ago!!!

Wow, hard to believe that it has been a year already that we have officially been on the wait list for adoption... Seems like just months ago we were planning on finishing up the last things before submitting our profiles and officially being put on the wait list. Crazy how quickly time flies. While I sit here and write this I think back to what this past year has brought us and can't help but smile, cry and laugh at some of the great memories of the past year.

February not only started us on the path to adoption as we finally were placed on the wait list but it also brought sadness to our family with the passing of Crystal's grandpa. The same week that we were saddened by this loss we were over joyed with the final step in the adoption process and finally being put on the wait list. It's crazy how one week can bring so much joy and sorrow.

The next big thing that happened was Scotland... Crystal's best friend Carmen was living in Scotland for a year and so we decided to pack our bags and go for a visit...NBD! Scotland was amazing and I would suggest to anyone that is thinking about going to go... The history in that country and the architecture that is still standing from 3 or 4 hundred years ago is incredible. We took a tour around Edinburgh and I remember the tour guide showing us a building and saying "now this is the new part of Edinburgh, most of it was built in the 1700's." I thought to myself (and most likely to Crystal) 'Damn, the 1700's is new? I think the oldest thing in Canada is the Banff Springs Hotel which was built in the late 1800's.' So their "new" stuff is still older then our old stuff. Amazing history there.... The only downside was the rain. So much rain...

Crystal and I in Scotland.

St Giles' Cathedral - Edinburgh

The summer also brought a whole new look to our backyard. We have lived in our house for just about 2 years now and we have finally got working on the backyard to get it all ready for fun in the sun type events. One of the many changes we made was digging up the old patio and getting Crystal's cousin Tyler to lay us a whole new patio... It turned out great, a little slippery, but still great. If you are interested in hiring them for any sort of concrete job, I would highly recommend them, the company's name is Tekton and you can check out their website here...
http://tektonsurfaces.vpweb.ca/default.html (Tyler if you get any referrals from people who found you on our website, I want a cut)

Before

After

Here are the before and after of our patio...











We also built a new shed (with the help of my dad) and a wonderful bar (with the help of a couple of friends). So many margarita's were consumed on this patio from the bar and so I would declare the summer of 2012 a complete success... The rest of the summer was spent playing slow pitch and simply just hanging out. Our backyard is finally getting to a place where we want to spend a lot of evenings out on the patio and believe me a lot of time was spent there...

At the beginning of October Crystal and I went to the wonderful world of LAS VEGAS!!! Vegas was experiencing higher then normal temperatures so this trip was all about laying by the pool with some delicious drinks in hand. Well ok that's not the only thing we did, but we did a lot of it. One of the best shows we went to on this trip was the Jabbawockeez, they were amazing. I would highly recommend anyone that likes dancing to check them out.


I suppose that brings us closer to the end of our journey through the past year... Crystal and I have experienced joy, sorrow and lots of sore backs and calloused hands in the past year but our house and our lives are coming together... Soon we will be ready to take on the next chapter of our life... Hopefully anyway.


Until next time!

Cakes

I have been on a baking kick lately, in that I love to bake cakes, just cakes...not cookies.  Actually, I love to decorate cakes...especially with buttercream. I love a good buttercream and am on the hunt for the perfect recipe. I could live without fondant or even royal icing but a creamy, smooth buttercream can make or break a cake. My husband is thrilled with this cake baking as he can eat the leftover buttercream straight out of the bowl, however, as a diabetic...having leftover cake and buttercream in the house is not good for my pancreas!

This past weekend, we celebrated my grandpa's 80th birthday. My parents made a whirlwind trip out from Manitoba and we spent Saturday afternoon with most of the family, eating, laughing, eating, talking and eating. Delish!

I offered to bake the cakes this year as it is good practice for my brother's wedding next year, in which they have asked me to make their wedding cake. This will be the second wedding cake I've done and I'm nervous but since I have over a year to practice, I'm sure I'll be practically a pro by then!

Baking the rounds. We did 4 different flavors and 9 rounds. 

Mixing the buttercream

Crumb coating the first cake

Smoothing the buttercream

I think I need a smaller tip

Finished!

Mmm...Vanilla & Red Velvet Rings with a white chocolate ganache and vanilla buttercream

Chocolate! 

My grandpa's birthday cake...the deer seemed fitting

Neapolitan with vanilla and strawberry mousse and chocolate buttercream

My mom enjoying her cake :) 

 Right now, this is just a fun hobby but we'll see where it goes. I was pretty excited to have signed up for a buttercream class through Chinook College but alas, it was cancelled last week as there was not enough people registered for it. So...I'll just keep practicing at home and maybe look into another course in the future. Maybe when life slows down a bit...HA!