Yelli B

Staff Day...

So, I was invited to go on the staff day with Nathan a couple of weeks ago. I had a blast!!! Here are some of the pictures I took during the trip. I decided to have little fun with some of them on my Mac. :)

Shout Out to Marchen Studios!!!

If you are looking for a great party idea for a few little girls or a few big girls, Marchen Studios is a great idea!! I took Leah and 4 of her friends to their house/studio for a small birthday party because Leah absolutely loves art. They made jewelry boxes (hence the jewelry box cake from last blog).

5 girls and 5 very different boxes!! I love creativity. Here are some pics that will give you an idea of the great time they had.

The details:

5 girls
4 adults
lots of supplies
they set it up (except the food)
they cleaned it up (except the food)
LOTS of fun!!!

At the beginning the table looked like this.

Each girl had a station set up just for them.

By the end it looked like this. They really got into it.

These are the creations. It's amazing how 5 girls started with the same exact box and ended up with these very different and very beautiful jewelry boxes.

So, I HIGHLY recommend Marchen Studios for any creative adventure you can dream up!

New Adventures in Cake

Leah just had her 8th birthday party on Monday. I promised her a special cake because I had made some for other people over the last year and she wanted one of her own. She helped me design it, and even helped in the decorating a bit. I was overwhelmed with the response I received from the party goers and other friends that had seen it. I really have never thought of doing this outside of the "just for fun" arena. However, my friend Lori-Lynn has been on me and encouraging me to take this "fun" hobby to the next level.

So, here I go. I'm opening this up to taking orders from anyone who would like to hire me. I don't have a huge repertoire of designs yet. That's where you come in. I will customize your cake or cup cakes to your request. I can do designer cupcakes, iced cakes, and fondant cakes. Here are a few of the cakes I have done:

This is from Shey's 5th birthday.

This was the cake I made for Lori-Lynn's Baby Shower

And this was the jewelry box cake I made for Leah's 8th Birthday

If are looking for a designer cake for your party or event I would love to help. Go ahead and e-mail me at yelli's cakes an I will gladly answer any questions you have.

It just hit me

I'm sitting here in my classroom (yeah.  At work.) and it hit me...I only have 10 school days till I'm done.  My students are finishing their projects, I've started cleaning out my desks and rooms, and more importantly my very last concert as a music teacher @ Riverside Christian Schools has come and gone.  That's right. Last night was my very last concert.  I really can't believe that I'm not going to be doing this anymore. 

Just for the record, I have enjoyed my job.  I may not like all the school politics, or the grading, or the dealing with difficult parents and students. But what job doesn't have some sort of issue?  I loved teaching music to kids who were excited to sing or play instruments.

I can't wait to see what God has for me next.  I guess I shouldn't be foolishly excited about the future, however, at this point God can call me where he needs me to be.  I am free of obligations (outside the ones he has given me like being a devoted and loving wife and mother).  I am available and willing to follow.  I know it will not always be easy.  I know he may ask me to do something that makes me uncomfortable and scared.  I know he may ask me to do something that only he could give me the power to do.  However, the future is clear.  I can go.  I will go. 

Now that I have written all that, I'm a little freaked out.  Now that I have written that, there are people out there who will expect me to actually do it.  Accountability?  You bet.  That is why I'm posting it for all to see.  As long as I have accountability in this, I can not hide from God or anyone else.  I'm usually very good at that.  Just ask any of my friends.  They know I'm supposed to do something if I'm hiding from them.  They know me so well.  That's why I love them.

What are you hiding from? Too Real? I know.  Anyone willing to share?

Yes ... I do

Many people think that I never get angry. My dad even told me a few weeks ago he could never believe that I would get angry at anyone. Well, I do. Just ask Nate. I think he, unfortunately, gets to hear about it every time.

It seems that lately I have been angry a lot. We have talked about at church and in small groups that what is inside you will come out. Well, this scares me. If I have had so many angry moments, that means it is going to come out. It makes feel a little crazy. I don't want to be angry. As a matter of fact, I would love it if I never got angry at all.

So how do you deal with your anger so that it diminishes and not get worse?

This may change my mood. Cute little animals are always fun.

Weekend #2 - Part I

Mission Inn

For Christmas my husband bought me tickets for Wicked. Not only did I get tickets to Wicked, but I also got a night at the Mission Inn. It was AMAZING!!

At the Mission Inn we did a fun date. After we ate dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory (probably still my favorite restaurant) , we ran around the Mission Inn taking pictures. Many of you saw the picture Nate put on his blog. Here are a few of my favorites from the night.

Wicked pictures will be up tomorrow. I'm downloading them now.

Elton Part II

Here are some more pics from my Elton John evening that Lori sent me.

At House of Blues - Downtown Disney

In the limo on the way to dinner and the show

Nate dancing like there was no one else in the room

All of us in the back row. No one behind us at all!

We had a blast!

Email Danielle

So I guess if we all email Danielle she will post again.

so:

yellib@gmail.com

.....nathan

Coming soon

Pictures of my amazing week.  I will be posting tonight, but I wanted to let you  know there will be something to check tonight.

Also, coming soon will be the end of my year and my job (completely).  I know that sounds weird.  I will not be going back to work for a very long time (not sure what exactly that means, myself) after June 12th. 

It hit me this week because it is already the fourth quarter, I'm doing my final concert events of the year, and I'm registering my kids for school.  That's right, it's time to make the official switch from private to public school. 

I'm finding that this is a very controversial subject for parents.  Most of the time parents will choose one over the other for very deep rooted beliefs about raising their children.  Since I'm not a controversial debator kind of person, I will just say this, I don't think either one is wrong or right in their stance.  I grew up in public school and private, as well as teaching and puting my own kids in private.  Both sides have strengths and weaknesses. 

So why am I being so wishy washy about it?  Well, because I think that as long as your kids have a foundation of truth and core values at home, it does not matter where they go to school.  They come home to me and Nate whom God has asked to teach our children in love and in truth.  So, that's what I will do no matter where they get their school education.

I guess I wasn't as wishy washy as I thought I would be.  Honestly, what do you think?  I only ask that you be kind with your comments on this one.  There are a lot deep rooted pains on this subject.

it begins

I told you all about a month and half ago about my busy 3 months coming up. Well, last night it began.

The first event on my list is ELTON JOHN!!!

It was great hanging out with friends. This was the birthday celebration for Mark Howe. He's 50 now!! He loves Elton John, and we were invited to share in the celebration. We started the evening with a limo ride to dinner at the House of Blues @ Disneyland. The food was great!!

Then we were off to the concert. Sitting in the very top row of the Honda Center was not a bad seat at all. We saw everything!! We saw the crazies, we saw the the lighters, we saw the sound team, we saw it all. The man is a great musician. I know, I know...he is homosexual (whispered for effect). However, he can play the piano and make it look EASY!! I was in awe.

Now I will be honest, there were some moments that I just made fun of him. He stood up after every song and walked around the stage pointing at everyone and bowed. Some of his classic number ones were heard in a new light too.

Here is a picture of our vantage point from the top row. My iphone doesn't do too bad at taking pictures but it's not the best by any means.

Next week....Wicked. Stay tuned.

Ps. I love comments. So here's the question, what is your favorite Elton John song? You know you have at least one.