whatever

check

 7 carry-on suitcases packed

 7 carry-on bags packed...filled with surprise goodies

 notes written to dog sitter

 emails sent out about things i forgot

 laundry done

 4 flats of flowers planted before they died

 3 dvd players, 2 iPods, 2 phones, 1 PSP, 1 DS, 2 cameras charged

 swimsuits packed

 reservations set

 lawn mowed

 trash taken out

 doors locked

 windows closed

CHECK!

california here we come!

(don't worry....i have the bloggy all set to auto-post so you won't miss even miss me.)

and thanks for the suggestions about what to pack to entertain the kids.

i got them all stocked up.

adjusting

so we are here.

summer break.

the kids are already telling me "it's too hot to go outside."

we are two days in.

oh my.

we had a full week...in a good way.

full of friends, achievements and good old fashioned hard work.

lauren was promoted from 8th grade.

they had to wear those shirts...lauren was so embarrassed.

we were proud of her for making it through.

jr. high is over.

she made it....it was bitter sweet to watch another milestone pass for her.

four more years is all we get with her.

strange feeling.

wasn't she just born?

wasn't i just feeding her a bottle?

didn't she just learn to walk?

when did this woman appear in our home?

scott had a birthday party.

and he is offically at the stage where birthdays and parties are a bit of a let down.

he had some friends over to go swimming and eat pizza.

but really ALL they did was play basketball.

for hours.

they didn't even come in for rainbow cake!

obsessed.

man....they are cute.

peter from chicago came to visit us.

he travels to kansas for his work and sometimes we get to spend some time with him.

the kids were so happy.

and he brought "specials" for everyone.

(peter...annie has used all her band-aids up already.  :)

we took him out for some local yumminess.

this is why we go to breadbasket for ice cream cones instead of dairy queen...

self serve and craig makes them giant!

ahhh....small town.

and there were campfires, gardening, photo sessions, cleaning, weeding, neighborhood parties, 

bike rides, crafts, sleepovers, sprinklers and games too.

craig just walked out the door with all the kids for the whole day.

i am in charge of laundry and packing for california.

big job.

can you think of anything that is a MUST HAVE for traveling with your family?

or for surviving an airport with five children?

tell me so i don't forget anything.

thanks!

the suitcases await.  

happiness is....

eating the rainbow.

to ease my guilt of how honestly UNhappy i was that it was the last day of school...

i made a cake to help them celebrate.

i had seen versions of the rainbow cake and decided "today's the day!" to make my own.

it's not too difficult.

but it does take some time.

i just used TWO white cake mixes.

following the instructions on the box.

then i divided it up into 6 bowls evenly which turned out to be 1.5 cups in each bowl.

i had all these Wilton Icing colors already...from all the other birthday cakes i have done in the past.

(find them at walmart, hobby lobby, micheals in the cake decorator isle but not the CAKE MIX isle)

also you could use the gel colors in the cake mix isle...i think it's the same thing.

the drop kind of food coloring will NOT work for these bright colors...your rainbow would be pastels.

and if you only have five eggs...you can call your neighbor for one more.

even if you JUST went to the store to buy the cake mix ten minutes before.

add a teaspoon of color into each bowl and stir.

it's so easy a four year old can do it.

i used 9" round cake pans.

make sure you grease them well with shortening or baking spray.

this is a crucial step in making fancy cakes that i think some skimp and then you are screwed stuck.

my cakes were done in 12 minutes.

flip them out on to cooling racks and let them sit till they are completely cool.

it is pure happiness to make.

even the dishes are happy.

just keep baking & don't think about the kids will be home for three whole months in two more hours...

i made the cool whip frosting i have shared before to frost this.

when you make a layer cake you have to cut your cakes to make them flat....but you knew that.

i don't have a picture though.

you take a big knife (or even a tool that is made just for flattening cakes) 

and you cut off the round part of the top of the cake that rises in the oven.

you can let your kids or husband eat that so they leave you alone while you frost the cake.

(you stay away from that turkey...you'll get worms!....name that movie)

then you layer it up...rainbow style.

spread frosting in between each layer.

then around the whole thing.

(do you know the trick about putting a skim layer of frosting first to seal in all the crumbs...

stick it in the refridgerator to harden...

then another coat after that of thick frosting?  yes, you did?  ok...sorry)

i didn't show the other kids so when we cut it they were so surprised.

the lighting makes my purple layer look weird.

but it was purple...i promise.

we had lots of other kids here playing and it was a hit.

i heard sean say "do you want some cake?  my mom made it for the end of school!"

smile.

cake can solve the world's problems.