Big Cookies!

I had a bit of time today to work on some birthday cookies for a few upcoming February Birthdays... Julie, Cali and Declan! Probably obvious who is getting what cookie! I decided to make these guys big so they would be easier to decorate... yes, bigger does mean easier although more time consuming. The Lego Character needed to be bigger because of the details...

Here are the finished products... they look small though right? They aren't!

Emmit measures in at 10" tall

Hello Kitty measures in at 8" tall

Here is the original picture of Emmit that I used to design the cookie

And the original of the Hello Kitty

I used the pictures of the characters printed out on paper and then cut out as stencils to use to make the shape on the sugar cookie dough. I was lucky enough to have received a rather large cookie/pancake flipper from Julie for Christmas so moving these big cookies around was reasonably easy.

One cookie per pan!

I used black melting wafers (chocolate) to draw the outline of the hello kitty on the cookie. Not bad for free hand!

For Emmit, I used edible markers to draw out the design because I was using flood icing to fill in areas without using a border.

Here is Emmit partially filled, I have to do it color by color

All done!! I used the black melting wafers to fill in a few of the final details

Anyhow, I am super excited they turned out so well... they just have to dry over night and then I will pack them away in the freezer until I can give them to the kids (& Julie) for their birthdays!!

The main bathroom reno - part 2

After almost a year of dealing with a tiny, very low counter, we finally bought a vanity to install in the main bathroom. I am so excited, I can't tell you how frustrating this bathroom has been space-wise.

Brian starting to remove the old vanity

You would think he was a pumber! So impressed he can do all this!

We set the new vanity in the bathroom to discuss any potential problems and how we are going to get things done....

It looks great so far... :)

Now it's my turn... I always get the fun job of patching, sanding and painting! This one was a really big job this time around.

Brian's Motorcycle!

Today was a very exciting day for Brian... we picked up his new motorcycle! He has been talking about this for well over a year now and working hard at his 2nd job. The poor guy, I had told him we needed to wait till January so I knew what the outlook on my work situation was, I gave him the thumbs up on Sunday and here we are! All the pictures were in the dark because that's what we had to deal with... by the time we got things loaded up, it was pitch black out!

The dealer helped load the bike on the back of the truck with ramps, but of course, we don't have a ramp so we were going to pick one up on the way home at Canadian Tire. By the time we got back on to our side of the bridge, Canadian Tire was closed, Walmart had nothing... so, I suggested that we unload the bike off the back of the truck and onto the deck... worked out perfectly! (toughest part is that our lights are burnt out in the back yard... haha... got a flashlight?)

Brian is so excited...I'm excited for him, but once the weather warms up I will never see him anymore! Haha...  I will put up some better pictures soon!

The joys of having a big drive way in winter with snow...

After a long drive home today from Christmas with the family, the dogs getting sick, Brian getting sick... we had to shovel the driveway before anything else! We know we have a big driveway, but it isn't until you have to shovel it that you realize the true size... we have 2 shovels and we do the job together. It's a good workout! Welcome home to us!

Riding in Trucks with Dogs

Brian and I packed up the dogs in the truck to drive out to meet with Doug for a boxing day lunch and to give him his gifts! We ran into the problem I think all families do at Christmas, how to split time between both sides of the family... its tough! (Have I mentioned we are staying home next year? haha) Tag and Kona did a great job of sitting in the back of the truck while we were out and about!

Christmas Dinner (round 2 on presents!)

Julie and Greg hosted Christmas dinner this year... Mom brought the turkey, Jeanie brought the cabbage rolls, I brought the 4 layer pumpkin cake... and it was the usual chaos it normally is since all the kids have started getting older! Haha.

More presents! Oh boy!

Mom playing with her new camera from Elliott!

Kids table!

Who gave her more chocolate?

So good!

Kiddos behaving and being quiet to get their presents!

Adult table! Great food everyone... Merry Christmas!

Christmas Morning

This year we spent Christmas at Dad and Jeanie's (last year Mom and Elliott had their turn!). I hope it wasn't too overwhelming for them with our dogs and their 2 kitties!

Tag and Kona Christmas Morning

Nice ambiance for unwrapping presents with the fire going!

Tag and Kona getting their own Christmas stockings full of dog toys and treats!

Dad opening his gifts

What did Jeanie get?

A very nice picture for the wall from Roddie!

Is there something good under the tree Kona?

Jeanie got Dad a new grill for Christmas! Yay... pancakes?!

A new Brad Nailer for Brian from Dad!

Dad made us poached eggs and toast for breakfast... so yummy! Thanks Dad and Jeanie for such a fun Christmas Morning!