Bake Sale

I love reading the blogs of other people. It's fun to get a little view into the lives of people I admire and enjoy. Many make me smile and others make me think. I read the Quist family's blog last week and they inspired me. Their family (along with another) had a neighborhood bake sale and raised money for an orphanage in Haiti. I thought about it and decided that no one lives in a better community for a bake sale than we do. I took the idea to my bosses (my children) and most of them were thrilled with the idea. So- on the way home from school on Wednesday, we stopped to talk to my good friend Jayne- who just happens to be one of THE kindest and most thoughtful people I know. Jayne (and her cute daughter, Katie) thought it would be fun to do- so we got to work!

Kailey made flyers to take door to door to all of our neighbors in Drumnigh Wood. Shelby, Claire and Katie took them to every house! (There are easily 130 houses in this neighborhood.) Kailey made signs and banners.


Madi watched.


I spent the majority of Friday baking and had a wonderful time. I think we made 60+ "bags of biscuits" (this is what one of our customers called the bags of cookies), 48 pieces of texas sheet cake (Jake was head baker as T.S.C. is his speciality) and 50+ raspberry creme pastries- and that was just the Carrells contribution. When Jake's friends came to get him to play football that afternoon, they were a bit surprised when I put them to work in our kitchen- but they were great help! (Thanks Joe and Jack!) Danny helped keep the oven working when I had to leave for a few hours.

Saturday morning was BEAUTIFUL! No rain at all- but it was cold. Danny used the Homy as a great eye catcher...


And put a few signs in prominent places...


We started with one table and it wasn't enough.


After buying their baked goods, the boys just wanted to play ball.


We had lots of friends who not only donated baked goods- but helped to sell them as well! (Thanks to the Economos, Parkins and Tarazi families and Kirsten, too.)


Shelby behind the tables. Do you see all of those beautiful cupcakes?


Eventhough it was frigid, people came! Not only did they come- they gave and gave and gave. Our little bake sale earned 510 euros- that is equivalent to $710! AMAZING!!!


Half of that money will be sent to LDS Humanitarian Services to be used in Haiti and the other half is going to CASA Breakhouses- a local charity that provides respite care for people with disabilities.

We are thrilled to do a little bit of good! And OH how GREAT it feels! Thanks for the inspiration Quist family! (Now you start to hum or sing "Have I done any good in the world today...")

'Tis the Season!

Happy December from:

Sweet Shelby

Mischievious Madison

Energetic Emery

Kul Kailey

Kind Claire (Clairey was not feeling well in this picture- poor kid!)

and Jake the Great.

MAY YOUR DAYS BE MERRY AND BRIGHT!

Shelby's Assembly

Shelby's 4th grade class put on a play for their assembly. The scene is a courthouse. The 3 Bears are trying to sue Goldilocks for damages and emotional pain. The truth is that Goldilocks was innocent- the 3 Bears are Frauds!


Shelby was the judge.


The "Judge" listens carefully to each person.


"Money, Money, Money- must be funny.. in a rich man's world!"


Shelby even got an award for outstanding work in art.

Good job, Shelby! We're proud of you!

Madrid Boys

Jake got the ULTIMATE present this year for his birthday. A trip to see a Real Madrid Soccer Game IN MADRID!!! (When we opened his "clues" on his birthday, he was so excited.) The best part was that his favorite friends went as well. (It was even more fun to see/hear his friends when he told them. They had no idea- the parents knew and consented- but the boys were clueless!)


Joe, Julian and Jake in front of our house- ready to head to the airport.


At the stadium- our team is in white.


Jake, Julian and Joe
Julian's dad and Danny went along for the ride. Joe's dad supported them from here. (He came over to our house on the evening of the match in his Real Madrid Jersey.)


Danny and Jake

Real Madrid won the game!


The next morning they were able to take a tour of the stadium.


Julian supports Liverpool- so he isn't a huge fan of the "Best Club of the 20th Century."


Now that is a big trophy.


Danny and Jake (I don't know who had the most fun on this little trip.)


Sitting in the team seats.


Ready to ride the Go Karts!


All the BOYZ- (Who looks happier- the big boys or the smaller boys?)
Joe, Jamal, Julian, Danny and Jake (too bad Danny doesn't have a J name...)


Ready for some Ben and Jerry's ice cream!

Thanks Joe, Julian and Jamal for making this such a great trip!!!

JO BROZ.

We took our four eldest to the Jonas Brothers Concert. It was great. The perfect concert to take kids to. We had excellent seats, the music was fun, it was completely clean, and these people are talented! (Plus- since I am around my children all the time- I knew all the songs.)


Shelby waited patiently while eating ice cream.


Nick, Joe and Kevin- the Jonas Brothers


Joe singing, Nick on the piano, Kevin on guitar. (The musicians that toured with them were very talented as well.)


Shelby, Jake, Kailey, and Diane (with Claire on my back).
We all had a great time!

LONDON- the Romantic Version

A week after my escapade to London with Kailey and Kirsten- I went again! This time with my sweetheart. We had a great weekend in London.

Highlights include:
* Time at the London LDS Temple. (I love going to the Temple!)

* More time wandering around this fascinating city.


Danny near Buckingham Palace. I thought these light poles were so cool! (Can you see the crown on top?)


Saw a parade. (We just kind of happened upon it.)


Danny on the walking bridge across the Thames. You can see St. Paul's Cathedral (which we explored.)


Diane at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. (It has been recreated to be as close to the original as possible. Great stories on the tour! Let's just say I don't want to be a Penny Stinker.)

* The fire alarm went off in the early evening in our hotel! That was a fun adventure. Everything was fine.

* Les Miserables- the show was fantastic! We saw it years ago on Broadway (when Kailey was a baby- it was our first Broadway show) and thought it was fabulous then. It was even better than I had remembered!

* Time spent with my favorite person ever!? PRICELESS!

Kailey's Day in London

For Kailey's 13th Birthday, she chose a day in London over having a party. (Who wouldn't?!!) So, Kailey, her good friend Kirsten and I had a fun filled day exploring the city.


First stop- CINNABON! (Kirsten had never tasted this delectable treat...)

Second stop- Abercrombie and Fitch. (Sorry, I will NOT add the photo of K and K with the cute boy with his shirt completely unbuttoned here. It is however hanging on Kailey's wall- so you can come over and see it.) It was a very interesting 90+ minutes at this establishment. Let's just say, I enjoyed people watching and found it fascinating to watch the employees. (Every single one is beautiful and their clothes are all worn in a certain fashion.) I was happy to see Kailey and Kirsten really think through their purchases and they spent much less than I thought they would.

We enjoyed wandering the streets, spending time in Hamleys (a VERY fun toy store!) and just being in London.


After lunch at Subway- we went to see Mamma Mia! (Fun! and I don't think the girls caught the stuff that made me cringe.)


We finished off the day at the London Eye. (You can see it in the background.)

Before we got on the London Eye- we had the 4D experience. Heard the birds- felt the wind- even got rained on!

Kailey and Kirsten 4D.


Big Ben with K and K.
London is gorgeous at night as seen from the London Eye.


Another view of Big Ben and the Thames.

We HURRIED to the airport and made it safely home to Dublin. What a great day.

HALLOWEEN 2009!

This was our first Halloween where the kids went separate directions. All the big kids trick-or-treated with their friends. Danny took Emery and Madison and I stayed home and handed out candy. (I was a little sad that Mimi wasn't with me in her Snow White costume!)

A 50's Soda Fountain Girl (Shelby), A Princess (Madison), A Fairy (Emery) and A Mermaid (Claire)


A Ladybird (or Ladybug - Kailey) and a Fairy Witch (Kirsten- she's got wings!)


Jake and his frightening crew (Jake is the first on the left with his scary Venetian mask)- Thankfully I know these boys and they're good kids!

Jake's class at school had their assembly and were the Celts. (The first Halloween fans.) They did a great job and we especially enjoyed the rap.

This is right in the middle of the rap!

At Sutton Park School, there is an assembly each month. After the class presentations, awards are handed out. We were quite surprised when Jake got one! What subject did Jake excel in, you ask?!!! P.E. of course!

Jake and Madison with Emery holding the certificate.

We're proud of you buddy!