LegoLand

When Grandma Cupcake and Papa Jeff went to California at the beginning of August, they made a stop at Legoland to get the boys some souvenirs.  They LOVE their new books, guide of Legoland, and clothes. 
As a matter of fact, we were having ziti for dinner right after this picture was taken, so I had the boys remove their shirts to keep them stain free.  Ethan got so mad that I let him wear his hat...he has not taken it off since (and that was last Thursday).  He LOVES his hat.  He goes into his bed with it on and as soon as he sits up after a nap, he starts trying to put it back on.

It usually sits too low on his head, though, so he can't see where he is going...but we don't mind because that has brought a LOT of comedy into our days.

At least it is not way up high. like good ole Les Miles.

Guess what???  LSU FOOTBALL (and all college football) Season begins SATURDAY!!!  WHOOO HOOO!

Deep Breaths

Did you know I hate to cry in public? True story.

I think I'd rather pee in my pants or fart sneeze.

But today at church, as I looked over at Stephanie, whose mother passed away the other day and who had just returned from the funeral home where she was making arrangements, I couldn't help it.

Memories of my visits to the funeral home with Bart and his father, as we picked a casket, an urn, a plot.  Before they were even needed.

The smell of that room full of coffins.

The surreal feelings.

When I saw Stephanie quietly sneak in for the end of sacrament meeting, it was all I could do to sit there quietly and not cry.  (Because crying is weak and I am strong?  I do not know why I do not want to cry)  So, I took deep breaths and ate Ethan's cereal (he wasn't even there but I'd packed a little snack for him anyway).  Even though Ms. Glenda was not my mother, I'd experienced those moments and they all came back.

And felt such sadness.  Not that Ms. Glenda is gone, but because I hated doing all of those grown up things.  It just didn't feel right, or natural, or fair.

Such sadness for Stephanie, having to deal with that right now, as she still has to deal with the daily dealings of children and a home and work.

Such sadness at the world.  Those poor coal miners stuck, alive, and maybe they won't even be rescued in time?

Did you know today is the fifth year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina?

That was devastating people.  My side of our wimpy street didn't even lose power.
Bart's aunt Jane?  Lost her house.  Bart's baby cousin Trevor?  Lost his little frog and every memory of his life up until that point.  And still others?  Lost their lives, their livelihood, their security.

It's not truly real...until it happens to you.  Then it is.  And a room full of "luxury edition" coffins and "value urns" just seems to be too much to bear, even as an unexpected memory in the middle of church as the friends around me sang the intermediate hymn.

Happy Late Birthday Daddy

What I wanted to do for my dad's birthday was post all of these cute pictures of him with the kids this summer ON his birthday (8/25)
BUT...what happened is I loaded those pictures onto blogger to upload and went about my business...only to discover Ethan messing with my computer (should have put it up higher, so my fault) and that he had caused the internet to close.
So, I got frustrated and just didn't do it.
BUT...I do want my daddy to know I love him very much and hope he had a great day.
He does so much for everyone.  This summer he drove to and from LA to NE TWICE in less then two weeks.  He just gives and doesn't grumble or complain.
Thanks for all you do.

LOVE YOU!!!!!

Oh, and did I mention that the boys just adore him?  I mean, what grandkid wouldn't?  He gives them CASH MONEY for their car trips, lets them drink all the Diet Coke they want, takes them on MOTORCYCLE RIDES and let's them do just about whatever they want when they come to visit?  I'd say my kids are pretty darn lucky to have him as a grandpa. 

Confetti Creations is LIVE!

Well, for a few months now, I've been tossing around an idea.  It's been in the back of my mind, and the more I thought about it (as I drove the L.O.N.G. car trips from NE to LA, LA to TX, TX to LA, LA to NE, and then NE to LA all within a two week time frame) the more I wanted to do it.

One of last week's many cakes I created.

"It" all started when I was at an ICES Day of Sharing in San Antonio with my mom.  We pulled into the parking lot and EVERYBODY has their "brand" on their cars.  I thought, "I want that on the back of MY car-that-looks-like-it-had-sex-with-a-mini-van-and-made-a-mini-station-wagon-baby window".

But then I thought, "IWISHTHATIHADJESSIESCAKES.BLOGSPOT.COM is just too long.  And what about the other stuff I do?"  I like making shirts, banners, etc.  So I thought, should I put IWISHTHATIHADJESSIESCAKES.BLOGSPOT.COM and WWW.ETSY.COM/LITTLEDUDEDUDS on the back of my car window?  It'd be a great sun shade for when the boys sit in the way back, right?

So, long story short, I drove everyone insane with questions about what I could name my "brand".  Finally, after weeks and weeks of pondering different names, pestering different friends, and much tossing and turning, I decided on Confetti Creations!

So, without further ado, here is the link to my NEW blog (that will be my main site) for all things crafty, cakey, and anything else I think of doing for profit :)  WWW.CONFETTICREATIONSBYJESSICA.COM

Karen Wolcott is working on the logo...I'm pretty excited with the few suggestions she's thrown out and can hardly wait to see a sketch :)  She's the same friend who did my blog header.  LOVE HER WORK!

So, go check it out if you want to.  There is also a facebook fan page (with an appliqued tee giveaway when I reach 100 LIKES...gave away a not yet released Halloween iron on at 50) and an etsy shop.  Be on the lookout as these sites grow.  I will be closing Little Dude Duds and transferring all my goodness to my new etsy shop slowly but surely...(not much in LDD right now...every listing but one expired while I was on vacation).

Thanks for listening to me ramble!  I'm just so excited for my car's window!  And feel free to spread the love.  Soon (beginning of October) there will be giveaways on my site.  For now, I will leave the giveaways on facebook only...I've got a craft fair to get ready for!

Ah, not CLAMPS!

Today before nap time:
Me: Jackson, make sure to take a good nap. I think we will walk to school to get Brennan this afternoon.
Jackson (look of concern and concentration on his face): But if we walk to school, I will get clamps."

That is a pellet gun.  It's never had pellets in it before.  I don't even know why we own such a thing.

Me (laughing at the very concerned child): You mean CRAMPS?

Stylishkids.com Backpack WINNERS!

#4 Danielle and #17 the Angry Jackalope.

I will send out an email today, but if you see this, email me your address and which back pack you'd pick from those listed on this link only.

Hallelujah...do you hear the bells ringing?

Jackson has been walking around singing the hallelujah  chorus (I believe that is what it's called) for months now.  It is really quite funny.
Monday, though, I was singing it, too!
SCHOOL STARTED!
Brennan got the teacher he'd hoped for, I got some relief from the fighting, nagging, whining that had been going on all summer.

Jackson was so excited.  He is getting to "go to" preschool.  By "go to" I mean that I am homeschooling him.  He is too smart for public preschool (go figure) and we are too broke for private (when you already had bills and you get more, it just takes that extra money away) preschool, so I decided to put my college degree to use and home school him this year.  He is loving it so far.

Once life settles down (4 cakes and a wedding cake in two weeks!  Yikes!) I will study the NE state curriculum for pre-K and do proper lesson plans.  This week we are just learning about Jackson, the letter A, and counting to 20. 
I am kind of excited to do this.  It is allowing me to spend quality time with Jackson, something that I sometimes find myself skimping on.

Plus...it means that I can call all play dates "field trips" now and not feel guilty about them :)  I have a field trip planned to the Omaha Children's Museum next week, Ditmar's Apple Orchard in September and Vala's in October.  It's fun to be excited to spend time with my children...sometimes I feel so trapped, but lately I've felt happy to be at home so much.  Granted today's lesson was less then stellar, but Jackson didn't seem to mind and while Super Why was on, I started working on cake stuff, while still pointing out letters and such to Jack...he, he...yep, I used the t.v. as a babysitter AND teacher today.  But I'm okay with that, because it won't be on every day. 
So, here's to a great school year, with routines, less fighting, and more fun!

Ain't No Tooth Fairy

JACKSON, age 4

BRENNAN, age 7

ETHAN, age 21 M

I've never feared going to the dentist.  I guess I am lucky in that regard.
Well, I never feared going to the dentist until I took Brennan for the first time in about 2006 for the first time. It was an overall unpleasant experience and one I chose to not relive again...for quite a while.
Once we moved to Omaha, though, I felt I needed to try again, set a good example.  Luckily we found a great dentist who is patient and kind and helped Brennan over come his fear and calmed my frayed dental nerves as well.
This week Ethan went to the dentist for the first time.  I was very nervous, remembering how Brennan had bit the first dentist and how ugly the dentist has been about that and his scared behaviors.

My worries were in vain, as the staff was so kind and caring for Ethan.  He didn't cry at all, though he was concerned from time to time. 
The other children got their teeth cleaned at the same time and I think it helped Ethan to see his big brothers also laying down getting their teeth cleaned.
So, here's to six more months of good dental hygiene.  Thank you Dr. H!!!

Stylishkids.com Backpack GIVEAWAY! Ends August 16th

School bells will be filling the air with the sweet sound of relief for mothers and children throughout America soon.  And to celebrate, I wanted to tell you about StylishKids.com...a site full of children's apparel from school uniforms to brand names like Little Marc and Juicy Couture Kids.
What I loved about this site is the great discounts!  Nothing draws me to a site like red slashes with % offs following the original price :)

As a thank you for checking out StylishKids.com, they are giving TWO of my readers a backpack, just in time for back to school!

• Take a minute, check out StylishKids.com and come back and share your favorite item on the site.  This must be done before any extra entries will be credited.

Extra Entries:  (leave a separate comment for each)

• Sign up for the "My Sale" newsletter.
• follow me on twitter (@jessremington...make sure to leave your twitter i.d.)
• tweet about this giveaway (up to twice daily, at least 4 hours between tweets, include link)
• blog about this giveaway (include link)
• share which back pack you'd choose if you win.  (my son really wants the solar system one pictured.  he was so sad he'd already picked a backpack)

So, get busy.  Contest ends August 16th.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email confirming the win.  Please be sure that your email address is visible in your profile OR that you leave your email address in the comments.  

This contest is open to U.S. only.  I did not receive anything for this review, just shared some opinions of a site.  You get to have all the fun and win the goods :)

Wordless Wednesday: Practicing a new skill

All images edible...from some paper and an embellishment I got from Precious Treasures.  Be on the lookout for more info on using your Silhouette to decorate cakes.

Eight Years

I don't know how this slipped up on me.

I'd remember, for just a moment...August first is coming.

Then, Ethan would cry or Jackson would get hurt or something else would distract me, and it slipped from my mind.

Until this morning, when I woke up.

Remembering.

Eight years ago yesterday (July 31) night, I said "Good Night Ms. Glenda.  I love you."  Then, I laid down on a palette of blankets loving laid out by Aunt Jeanie in her living room with Bart by my side.  Aunt Jeanie had so much on her mind, yet she still set up a nice spot for Bart and me, so we could be closer to his cancer stricken mother because we knew Ms. Glenda's days were at an end.

We did not know that this would be Ms. Glenda's last night on earth.  We felt impressed to stay the night that night, but I'd stayed at Jeanie's before, as had he, so we did not see this as out of the ordinary.  And by this time, death was only a welcome relief for her anyway.

And that morning, early, around six, Aunt Jeanie woke us from our sleep.

And without a word, we knew.  Ms. Glenda had went home to heaven where our Father in Heaven was waiting for her, to release her from the pain and suffering and agony of those last few months.  To make her body whole and complete and healthy and full again.  She had served her mission on this earth, it was time for the reward.

Our lives were changed forever, as happens from time to time.

We went through the day as we had to, calling people, making final plans, mindlessly eating.  I remember getting dressed and going into Ms. Glenda's room at her sister's house (she was too ill for her husband to care for her and work).  It was oddly still.

I remember being happy that she was no longer in pain, but so selfishly sad for me.  I had lost my best girl friend.  The grandmother of my unborn children was in Heaven, playing with them before they came here...but that was not what I wanted.  That was not my plan!  My plan was for Ms. Glenda to be there for those grandchildren.  To babysit them while Bart and I went out to dinner, to go shopping with me for the perfect birthday presents for them.  Ms. Glenda would tell my children about their father as a child, take them to his childhood places, tell them stories about PawPaw and Miss MawMaw.  Yes, I know that I have a mother and I love her dearly and she is a wonderful grandmother, but I wanted my children to have TWO grandmothers.  Heck, I had THREE!

But, alas, that was not to be.  I realize I am not the only one who lost someone that day.  I lost a FRIEND and a mother in law.  Bart lost his MOTHER.  His BEST FRIEND.  Ronnie lost his WIFE.  Jeanie and the others lost their SISTER.  They'd all known her longer then me.

I cling greedily to the little moments we had, before she became ill.  The Monday nights of fried chicken and wrestling, the late night trip to KMart, the girlie gossip as we had a Mary Kay party.  I am so grateful that we were inspired to take her up on all her offers to come over and eat supper almost every other night.  That I didn't just hang out with Bart watching t.v., but that I sat at the dining table as she stood in the kitchen cooking up our favorites, chicken and dumplings, fried chicken, roast beef, hotdog jambalaya.  Those are the moments I treasure...the moments that I recall when I want to remember her.

So, today, as I remembered my mother in law, Glenda Cecile Falgout Remington, I remembered her smile, her laugh, and her deep love and devotion for her children.  And I tried a little harder to be the best mother I could be.  I will try to take her example of sacrifice and service and give more to others.  Not be so selfish and thoughtless.  I want to live my life so my family can be together forever.  I do not want for my children to feel lost when I one day go, but to know we will be reunited again in Heaven.

This is a blessing.  It is a privilege.  And I am thankful for having that in my life.

Thank you Ms. Glenda for helping me grow into a woman.  For showing me some mothering skills, cooking skills, family skills.  For raising a selfless son, who works hard and gives it all to his family without question or complaint.

I am a better woman because of you, and I am so grateful for every minute, the good and the bad, that I was able to share with you.

I love you and will one day be reunited with you in heaven.  Then I will show you how awesome my fried chicken is because of you :)