Too Much Time at the Bakery?

Evelyn says to me this morning on the way to the bakery.

"For my birthday, I'm going to mix my own colors for my frosting and Grampy is going to ice down my cake." In continuing her train of thought she got distracted and her next sentence came out like this. "I'm going to mix pink and yellow together and I'll get a - cat!"

It was also stated that she wanted a princess and Cars cake. If you ever want to know what Evie is thinking you just have to ask her. Sometimes you don't even have to ask.

Starry Nights

Salutations to Everyone.

Shawn, Evelyn and I are nearing our 1 year anniversary of being here in Kentucky. It has been a great adventure so far and we know we are far from done.

The other night was a clear and beautiful evening. We (Evelyn, Shawn and Tammy) drove to a new development not far from town and parked the car and laid in the middle of the road looking at the stars. We were there for over an hour enjoying the quiet. Only one train passed through town during that time and it didn't even blow it's whistle. Usually it doesn't matter what time of day or night it is - they like to blow their whistle. We were watching the starts and thought we saw a shooting star. It turned out to be a lightening bug! It is really something to be laying on the ground and have lighted up bugs float above your face. What God was thinking when he made these creatures? Just little things to amuse those of us that can navigate away from the tv and look for other entertainment?

Ok... this has turned into deep thoughts by Tammy Mickschl.

I saw a sign on the side of a tow truck driving to work this morning. It said...We don't want an arm and a leg just your tows.

More to come later.

Tammy

Spring has Sprung

Spring is well on it's way here in Kentucky. It is now May and Shawn, Evie and I are getting geared up to start a garden. We were blessed to find someone to borrow their rototiller to us to use. We have seeds to plant and lots of hope, prayers, and water. With any luck a garden of vegies may be in our destiny.


The picture below was actually taken at a St. Patrick's Day parade in Lexington. Nothing says Happy St. Patrick's Day like a cow on roller skates. Thank you Chic-fil-A!

This was the first flower that we found in our yard. This picture was also taken in March. This daffodil was promptly picked and moved to a container in the house by Evelyn. We currently are waiting for peonies to bloom in our yard. Evie and I look at them every day and see how they are on their way to opening. Their days are numbered until Evie gets to them and she says makes our house smell so nice.

Evie and I have tried our hand already at planting. These flower in the front yard are still alive!

Shawn and I have finished our classes for Spring of 2007. I got an A in my public speaking class. Yeah! We're taking the summer off. One class was just too much for me. ;-) Shawn is actively applying at Asbury Seminary and hopes to start this fall.

Evie is nearing her recital for dance class. This time around we get to see Evie tapping away with the rest of the kids. Evie is in the class with her friends Serena and Max. This summer we are going to be putting Evie in swimming class. Shawn has visions of swimming in Lake Superior with Evie sometime soon. He wants to make sure that Evie learns to swim like his Grandpa wanted him to learn how to swim.

His IS Risen

HE IS RISEN....

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Happy Easter from the Mickschls

This picture is of Evelyn in her Easter dress. She is a prim and proper princess with her gloves and purse.

Since I managed to miss not only 1 but 2 Easter Egg hunts. We had our own. This picture is of Evelyn after she spied an egg.

Here is Evelyn with all of her eggs.

Visit to Minnesota

We've been visiting Minnesota and have been enjoying our time with little Grace.



We have also been able to participate in the "storm of the century". Most of the Minnesota schools and roads have been closed, they have even closed the Mall of America. Hopefully they will be able to re-opened the roads before we have to head home. I'm afraid this storm would have shut down Kentucky until spring if it were there.

Evie and Aunt Kasey had time to make a "real" princess snow girl before the big storm hit.

A New Member of The Family

Welcome to the World or new little niece!

Grace Elizabeth

Born on 02/21/07

at

5:15p.m.

7lb 10oz

20 3/4 inches long

Mother and baby are doing great.

Winter Wonderland

Well, winter has finally hit here in Kentucky. They have called off school quite a few days because of it. One day it was because with the windchill it was -2. Another day was because there was an impending snow storm, which did not show up. Here are some pictures from our winter.

These pictures are from the rain that froze...making it ice! ;-)

This picture is from our first "BIG" snowstorm. Notice the extremly large snowman Evie and I made in our backyard.

In case you need some help. The snowman is located directly in front of Evie's right foot.

Kissing Frogs

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday Mom!

You will all be happy to know that my mother is celebrating her "29th" birthday...again. In beautiful Hawaii. I can just imagine her laying on the beach soaking up the rays, slipping into the ocean and watching the beautiful underwater life. Aaahh, how I can imagine myself in that same spot. Ok, not the 29 part of course, I'm way past that.

I love you mom, and pray you are having a wonderful time. I can't wait to hear all about it.

Here are some pictures of my mom.

Mom and her Girls

Mom's birthday last year, notice Butchie sneaking in for a piece.

The end of this birthday Blog!

Busy...Busy...Busy

Greetings to anyone still looking at our blog. It has been some time since I've been able to sit down and update this. I apologize to everyone.

Currently Shawn and I (Tammy) are both taking classes at night. Shawn is taking 2 classes and this should fill his requirement for the bachelors degree he is working on. He plans to start seminary this fall. I have the opportunity to take free classes through my employment and have decided to take my most dreaded class first.....Public Speaking. I know what most of you are thinking, but this is one of my "biggest" fears. Well, that and spiders. ;-)

Evelyn continues to amaze us with the intelligent and funny things she says. Right now she is stuck on going to Walt Disney World to see all of the characters. Each night when she prays she says...Thank you for Mommy, thank you for Daddy, thank you for Evelyn and thank you for all of the characters that I am going to meet when we go to Disney World. I unfortunately told her that we would go someday and she asks everyday if tomorrow is someday.

Shawn is also busy with and excited about a new bakery he is helping to open. Visit www.Caramandas.com for information on this new establishment. He is like a kid in a candy store. He is so excited about being able to make the things that he has been unable to make in larger corporate locations. He even gets to have his own "Baker's Whim" where he can choose what the special of the day is.

The following is a few pictures taken in the recent past.

I'll have to add pictures later. We are currently using dial up internet at home and uploading is not going well.

Winter Wonderland or Warm Tropical Vacation?

Our first Christmas in Kentucky.

Although it is not officially December yet, Shawn, Evie and I are well on our way decorating for Christmas. Last night Evelyn wanted to hang the outside lights on our house. Shawn came home from class and saw what a wonderful job we did. After a little adjusting of the garland on the front porch we turned on the lights and headed around the neighborhood to look at all the other displays. Shawn, Evie and I have gone around to look at lights before, but never like this. We walked around our own neighborhood, I was barefoot and wearing my "thin" work scrubs. Shawn was wearing a shortsleeved shirt, shorts and sandles. It was a beautiful evening to spend together. Evelyn says we need one more thing outside. She wants a white cross with white lights. What an insightful little girl.

I'm sure this won't be the weather all the way to Christmas. We are expecting rain/snow and 30 degree weather for the end of this week and start of next week. We'll enjoy it while it lasts.

While Shawn was sleeping.

This is another set of pictures taken through the eyes of Evie. One day while Shawn was "watching" Evie she found the digital camera and took a tour of the house.

Happy Birthday Shawn (September 3rd)

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Daddy, Happy Birthday to you.

There was nothing sweeter than hearing our little 3-year-old sing so proudly to her Daddy on his Birthday.

Incidentally the melody of "Happy Birthday to You" was written by American sisters Patty and Mildred Hill in 1893 when they were school teachers in Louisville, Kentucky.

Evelyn helped me pick out the candles and carefully place them in the "Derby Pie" or as they are legally bound to call it a "Bluegrass Pie" because of a copy right. We spent most of Shawn's birthday hunting and calling around town for a pumpkin pie. This birthday tradition of Shawn's had met it's match here in Kentucky. We got most of the same responses as when we were asking around for a giant moose picture to place over our fireplace.

We finished the evening off with a trip to Corky's for what they claimed to be "The Best BBQ in the South". It wasn't. But, we had a great time anyway. Evie generated laughs from other customers. Each time we made a trip to the bathroom she would sing loudly with great enthusiasm "Naked, Naked, Naked!!!

Magee's Bakery

I thought you might like to take a tour of the Bakery from Evelyn's point of view. The hand that you see making Danish is Shawn's. He loves this picture. You can also see the carrot cupcakes and the other picture of is rows of white cupcakes with Magee's awesome buttercream frosting on them. We are very blessed with Shawn's employment there and Shawn has some very positive experiences. He said that his favorite thing about working at this bakery is that he gets to see people in the store enjoying the product that he helps put out. This is something that he has not been able to experience at quite a scale at his previous bakery jobs. The people that purchase food at Magee's are able to sit down right at the bakery and enjoy.

Highbridge Homecoming Festival

We were able to go to the 2nd annual Highbridge Homecoming Festival. This festival is found only a few minutes out of town in an even smaller town than ours. I think all it has is a church and a very picturesque view of the Highbridge railroad trussel and the Kentucky River below. It is very beautiful

We went to the festival two nights in a row. The first night they were having a dessert auction. It was pretty funny listening to this old man auction off the blackberry cobbler. He was talking it up pretty good. I'm sure whoever made it was very proud of her creation. It was all I could do to stop Shawn from trying to bid. You may know how much he loves to try new things.

The second day we were going to go earlier and see some of the lineup of acts they had instore. It was raining pretty well here and we didn't want to chance if there was a place out of the rain for us to go. So, we went up after the rain cleared and was able to see the Cloggers and a Bluegrass band. Both were very good. After awhile Evie couldn't stand it anymore and got up right in front of the cloggers and started imitating them. Being the proud mama I am, I was very impressed that she was imitating them so well. (we later signed her up for a ballet/tap class) I am contemplating taking clogging lessons. They are only $45 for 10 weeks. I don't think that is bad. How cool would it be if I came back to Minnesota with an accent and the ability to clog. I'm also interested in joining a gun club or shooting range while down here. Just to finish off my stereotyping. Although we don't own a gun or really don't have a desire to, but it would be fun to have that skill. I wonder if they borrow/rent guns?






Evie dancing with the cloggers.















The Bluegrass band Pickin' Time was a delight to watch. They sounded great! They are our 1st official Bluegrass band we watched here in Kentucky.







The night finished off with a dance. Evie was big into finding dance partners. Anyone but Mom and Dad that is. She found this boy to dance with. Oh, dear we're in trouble. We ended the night when this dance was done. We didn't want it to get too serious.

The Circus

Shawn, Evie, and I went to the Barnum and Bailey Circus when it came to Lexington this past August. We arrived early and were able to go down to the main floor and be up close and personal with the performers.

Here is Evelyn with a clown friend she had made.

Evie tried on a Ring Master's jacket.

Our cheap seats put us at the "end" of the arena. We did get to see the front of the Animals from time to time.

Mom and Evie pose with the Elephants.

Daddy and Evie pose with the Tigers.

We had a great time. Shawn and Evelyn even got to see a Cebu.

In the September issue of Parenting Magazine is an article that beautifully describes the circus trip (it could almost be our circus trip). It is on page 197 and is entitled A Trip to the circus by Pete Nelson. I tried to link it, but the article is not online at this time.

Fun with Evie...need I say more?