Is Your Favorite Color Green?

My phone rang this evening...when I picked it up, I heard the cutest little girl voice say, "is your favorite color green?" I was trying to figure out who it was and said "what?" My caller id said Lili, so I was confused by the child's voice, but figured it must be one of hers.

Child's voice: "Is your favorite color green?"

Me: "Yes, my favorite color is green."

Child's voice: "I knew your favorite color is green, because my favorite color is green and I knew it was the same."

Thought bubble inside my head: "It must be Clarissa - she just told me last week that her favorite color is green."

Clarissa: "Adaly keeps saying your favorite color is yellow, but I know your favorite color is green, because that is my favorite color."

Me: "You're right, my favorite color is green."

Clarissa: "Do you want to talk to Adaly, so you can tell her your favorite color is green?"

Me: "Sure."

Clarissa - in a muffled voice as she passes off the phone: "Ask her what her favorite color is."

It goes on from there and ends with Wil trying to tell Adaly his favorite color is clear, which is clearly NOT a color. It was a fun surprise to get to talk to Clarissa and Adaly tonight, and it might have actually made my day. I definitely hung up the phone smiling and even giggling a little. Wil's nieces crack me up!

Frosting Roses

I did it! I graduated from my cake decorating class, and I even have a certificate to prove it!

I was really proud of this cake! It is a chocolate cake with cherry filling and chocolate frosting. I was highly skeptical that I would be talented enough to create a rose, but I think they turned out alright. If you look close enough, you can probably tell which rose was my first one and which one was my final rose - since it looks the nicest. I should probably make more roses soon, so I don't forget how to make them. Once I've done it a couple times, I should have it down.


I hope to take the second cake decorating class in January - I think it might be too much to try to take it in December! Also on my to do list for January is a Spanish class with Nicole. I'll be busy, but it should be fun!

Craft Day

It was niece craft day at our house today. Wil and I took all the girls (all seven of them - we're exhausted!) for a day of fun. They made Christmas presents...I'm dying to post pictures here, but it's a surprise, so I will have to wait until after Christmas. They played games. They watched a movie. They ran around. And they frosted Christmas cookies. It was great fun!

Following are my favorite photos of the day.

Wil playing Jenga with his nieces. Whenever you walked in they would all look at you and say Shhh, with their finger to their lips. You have to be very quiet so you can concentrate while playing Jenga.

Karina pulling out a Jenga block. I LOVE the look on her face!

I think this one is ridiculously cute! I love how intently Clarissa is watching Wil pull out a block.

How cute is Xujey?

Decorating cookies!

More cookies...

and more cookies...

and more cookies...

and more cookies...

and more cookies!

It's a little blurry, but I thought this picture was darling!

One of the cutest parts of the entire day was after the movie finished. The credits were rolling with some upbeat music playing in the background. The three youngest girls ran into the room giggling and started dancing around. Lyzette kept dancing, long after the other two lost interest. The video is a little dark, but she cracks me up!

Deuce

Several months ago, a K9 named Baloo with the Tempe Police Department died in the line of duty. One of my client contacts with Wal-Mart at the time asked that we keep an eye out for any news stories that we saw where Wal-Mart could make a difference. I saw the coverage of Baloo's death and recommended Wal-Mart help out, and help out they did! Wal-Mart generously donated a new, $10,000 K9 to the Tempe K9 unit. His name is Deuce and he was officially introduced at a media event today.

He is a beautiful dog (I even got to pet him, before he started working) and I was fascinated listening to the trainers talk about the training the dogs go through and how excited the dogs get when they know it is time for work.


It was so exciting to see a recommendation I made through from start to finish. One of the things I love about my job is that while I may not have enough money to make a difference on this level, I do have the influence to make a difference on this level!

I really enjoyed working with the Tempe Police Department to coordinate the event. Channels 3, 10 and 15 all came and ran coverage of the new K9 donated by Wal-Mart. The East Valley Tribune was also there. I'll try to add the stations' coverage, once they post it online.

My New Nephew

I've never had a nephew before. (Alright, before Nicole corrects me, I have a very handsome nephew named J.J. that loves to eat paper and just started crawling, but I wasn't technically his aunt when he was born, I was only an engaged, soon-to-be aunt). Monday my first nephew was born (while I was actually a married member of the family). He is adorable, as you can see from the photo.


Junior had a bit of a rough start to his life and was air-evaced to Phoenix Children's Hospital Tuesday where he underwent surgery to untwist his bowel. (Wil is definitely in trouble for giving me so many new family members to care so much for and worry about!) Junior is still at Phoenix Children's and is definitely a fighter! I'm sure more photos of this little guy will be coming soon, and in the meantime, please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Cake Numero Dos

Alright, so my first cake was much more beautiful than this second creation...but I tried. We learned a cool technique called bag striping, which is how I did the color on the clowns. I LOVED making the flowers that are on the top border. The shell border on the bottom however, is definitely not my forte!

Dave Pratt in the Morning, KMLE Country 108...108

I absolutely LOVE Dave Pratt in the Morning on KMLE Country 108 (please read the title in a sing songy voice...it's meant to be the jingle). I have always loved country music, and I'm not sure what it is about Dave Pratt, but it's my favorite morning show. I've even considered switching a few times, but always find my way back to Dave in about two days.

This year, my uncle gave me the greatest early Christmas gift - a copy of Dave Pratt's 30 Years in Radio book. Uncle Arty (the entire world, except my family, calls him Art - but it's my blog, so I can call him whatever I want) listens to Dave Pratt in the Morning as well - although, he's been listening to Dave since he was in high school, back when Dave was a rock DJ. It's sort of a bonding experience to rehash the best parts of the morning show to each other, and we listen at different times, so we usually have different stories.

My early, pre-ordered copy of the book (thank you, thank you) got me into Dave Pratt's launch party. Now by launch party, you would assume there was a party involved...not so. Pretty much it was a glorified book signing, but the entire morning show was there (except Gonzo - otherwise known as Louis Gonzalez - who was at a charity event). I got everyone to sign my book...everyone that is, except Dave Pratt. While I do LOVE Dave Pratt in the morning, I wasn't quite willing to stand in his three hour line on a Saturday to get my book signed. I figured I can go to another book signing that has less people and not wait nearly as long.

Following, are photos of me with my favorite morning show crew...

This is me with Mark Curtis - he is my absolute FAVORITE part of Dave Pratt in the morning...well him and the best of Leno and Letterman. He always brings an interesting perspective from being a news anchor...and he's funny. In addition to being a regular addition to Dave Pratt's show at 7:30 and 8:30 a.m., he's an evening and 10 p.m. anchor for Channel 12.

This is me with Stacey Brooks. She is the female counterpart to Dave Pratt, and her sharpy throwing is always enteratining.

This is me with Shappy. He adds just the right one liners to the show. They usually move down a path of inappropriateness, but they are always entertaining!

My First Cake

Ta Da...my very first cake decorating masterpiece.

OK, don't make fun, I'm new at this! What you're seeing is a very impressive, and totally crooked zigzag border on the bottom, a professional quality star border on the top (the stars were my favorite), the words I Love You and a highly attractive and lifelike snowman.

I had so much fun at our class making this cake. I should tell you, however that somehow we managed to forget all of the key things we needed and had to borrow from everyone else in the class the entire night! I got so excited when one of the other ladies didn't have something that I had (turns out it was optional, but don't worry...we remembered to bring the optional things) that I jumped up from my seat to share with her. We promised everyone we would be ready next Monday and that they could borrow things from us.

Coming soon, hopefully... a cake with colored frosting! HOORAY! I'll try to post my next cake a bit quicker because I know you are all dying to see what it will look like!!!

Sleeping J.J.

This is a picture from last Sunday. We were at Wil's mom's house for Sunday dinner and Wil's nephew J.J. fell asleep on me. He's so cute and he's quickly becoming a little boy, rather than a baby. Nicole asked Wil to take a picture for my blog, so here it is.

Wild West Days

Wil and I went to Wild West Days in Cave Creek today. It wasn't quite what we were expecting, but it was a lot of fun! Our highlight was the mounted gun shooters.

Later, we wandered through the shops in the older part of Cave Creek. I even remembered to take a picture of Wil! This is him by one of the metal sculptures.