For the next two days I will be carving with my very favorite medium. I love starting with a big (yummy) rectangle made of flour and butter and sugar and watching it turn into something else. Today, that something else will be a firetruck. A vintage firetruck. A vintage chocolate and buttercream firetruck. Tomorrow I will be turning a few round tiers into a castle fit for a princess. And a carriage. And an extra 6 inch tall three tiered cake so the birthday girl has a cake of her very own. I might be up a little late the next few nights. Trying to be a mom and a decorator only occasionally goes together. Although, I think it must seem like magic to the kids, finding completed creations in the refrigerator when the night before it was just bare cake. (And I do let them eat the scraps, so don't feel bad for them) If I'm ever not sure if something I've made is any good, I let them look at it and automatically feel better about my skills. So, if you have the same standards as a four or five-year-old, I'm am the baker for you.

I am feeling like I am in two places today. A big part of me is in a kindergarten classroom at Cartoogechaye Elementary this morning. My little Leavesy started school today and couldn't be happier; that's an understatement. When I woke him up this morning he said, "First day of school!" and bounded out of his top bunk. He was ready for me to leave him long before I was ready to go. I can't really figure out why this is so hard for me. I always loved school, and I know he will, too. He is a curious little boy (who recently asked me if bones are rigid, and if they are, how do we bend our arms and fingers...) and I think he will do really well in school, but I find myself clinging a little. Maybe it's partly because I got left on the playground my first day of kindergarten and was still wandering the school when my mom came to get me. Although, my son's sense of direction is already better than mine. Maybe it's because I can't help but think ahead to next year, when it will be the Bug who starts kindergarten. I knew these days were coming, but they snuck up on me. I am grateful for all of the time I got to spend with them at home and I'm really trying to be excited about this next stage we're going through.

Hello

So, I've decided to start a blog. And already I have writer's block...