Golf Birthday Cake

After a week of Golf Camp the birthday boy asked for a "Golf" birthday this year! It's been hard to keep up lately, and I probably should have just ordered a cake from a local bakery this year, but I was determined to make one myself.  Halfway through I was worried that it was a total flop and emailed a friend for encouagement (I pretty much have a panic attack every time I attempt to decorate a cake!) but in the end you really can't mess up a golf cake - all the imperfections just add character, right?! ;)

Golf Cake

Supplies:

3 - 8" Round Cakes (I made Vanilla with Chocolate CHIP)
2 - 16-oz can Vanilla Frosting mixed with Leaf Green Icing Gel for desired shade of green

Decorating Bag with Grass Tip Wilton #233 

Bamboo Skewer with Flag created out of colored and white card stock

Bright White Candy Melts

3D Golf Ball Chocolate Candy Mold

Directions:

Prepare and bake cakes according to directions. Cool.

While the cake is baking melt some of the white candy melts and place in the 3D Golf Ball Chocolate Candy Mold.  I made four so that hopefully at least one would turn out well. ;)  Gently tap the mold on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Place in the refrigerator to harden. 

After the candy has hardened, remove first halves of the golf balls from the candy mold and refill the holes with additional melted candy.

Place the completed golf ball halves on top of the melted candy in the mold and gently press down to connect the two halves.  The melted candy will harden and connect the two to create halves to create the round golf ball. 

Layer the cakes, with frosting in between each layer, on a cake platter. Spread a very thin layer of frosting on the top and sides of the cake to seal crumbs. Place in the freezer for about 20-30 minutes. (This make spreading the final coat of frosting so much easier.)

Fill the decorating bag with about 1 cup of frosting.  Spread the remaining frosting evenly over the sides and top of the cake. Using the decorating bag with the grass tip, add "grass" to the cake leaving an opening for the green.  

Insert flag and place a chocolate candy golf ball on top.  All done! 

I'll be back later with pictures from the birthday par-tee! In the meantime you can find all of our past birthdays and cakes here. 

Golf Camp & Tournament

For the past four years our children have been attending a Junior Golf Camp Week each summer! Each day is packed with fun and includes lots of skills challenges to help the children learn and improve their golf game. The camp is affordable, even for our large family, and run by an amazing instructor (she was in the military and has absolutley no trouble organizing and teaching the group of 70 kids!) with the help of a number of other instructors/coaches.

First Day of Golf Camp! 

Each day starts with check-in at 8:55 with the clinics starting promptly.  (Coach Linda isn't interested in hearing excuses… If you are late make sure who get to where you are suppose to be without interrupting. We made sure we were early each day!)

Day two of Golf Camp. . . Today they all remembered their sweatshirts.  It should warm up, but the mornings have been chilly this week. 

Monday through Thursday the participants were broken up by age and skill level to rotate through "drills and skills" with each instructor. 

Wednesday was also "Team Spirit" Day and the children were asked to come in support of their favorite team with a prize for the Best Dressed Ducks and Beavers Fans.  Most of the kids showed up dressed in green/yellow but Uncle Kevin's nieces and nephews (and all the coaches!) had him well represented. Go Beavs!

Chiquita won the prize for the Best Dressed Girl Beaver Fan!  :) 

(Captain and Ranger missed the contest since their group was still out on the course…) 

They work hard and come home exhausted. . .

This year's camp came to an end this afternoon following the Master Challenge Tournament!  

They had to arrive extra early this morning, so Sean took our golfers (and Bud) and Rose and I met up with them around 10:00 am.  This gave me just enough time to walk the golf course and watch each of them play a hole with their teams. 

The tournament was divided into five age groups, each group playing a different number of holes (3-Holes/4-Holes/5-Holes/6-Holes/8-Holes) with one winner for each group. Twinkle Toes (who got a Par on hole #6!) won the tournament for the 6-Hole group and Captain (who also had a couple Pars) won the tournament in the 8-Hole Group! 

The children were all sad to have Golf Camp come to an end, but tomorrow we will be celebrating a certain little seven year old (who recently lost his two front teeth) boy's birthday… 

Any guesses on the party theme he asked for this year? 

{pretty, happy, funny, real} :: 2013 State High School Golf Championships

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life. ~

{pretty}

Yesterday, thanks to my dear husband who has been spoiling me lately took a day of annual leave to stay home with all our little ones, our oldest two boys and I were able to take a road trip with my dad to meet up with my mom and watch the final day of my youngest two brothers High School Golf Championships at the State level!  

Even though Kevin and David have been playing golf for years, this was the first time I had ever been able to watch them play!   It was so much fun!! 

The weather was beautiful and it was the perfect day to walk the golf course.

{happy}

My boys were so happy to be able to take the day off school and cheer for their uncles! 

{funny}

After landing in yet another bunker, the boys thought it was so funny when Uncle David told them that he was "going to see how many times he could hit the bunkers!"  He continued on to land in a few more, but I was always so impressed at how well he could get the ball out of those things and right on to the green.

As for the hair?  Well, thankfully, that was actually just a hat that their whole team and coaches (except for Kevin who only put it on for the team photo) wore during the tournament, and not a "new look" for that Godson of mine... Whew! 



And NO, Captain, you may not trade hats with your uncle!  I think your Dad would like it even less than Grandpa! ;)

{real}

I was so proud of both my brothers.  Not only are they excellent golfers, but they have such great attitudes and have become such great young men.   Kevin may not have won 1st place at State, like he did last year, but he still placed 2nd (Way to go, Kevin!!) and is also headed to college in the fall on a full 4 year scholarship for golf!

The High School team they play for (homeschoolers in our state are welcome to join the local public schools for sports) also placed 2nd - setting another new record for the school!

Great job boys!  I look forward to watching you play again in the future... And maybe one of these years you can take that oldest favorite sister of yours out and teach her how to play too! ;)

Visit Like Mother, Like Daughter for more pictures of contentment.

My Daybook :: June 29, 2012

Outside my window...
we have been enjoying watching these little twins.  Aren't they just the cutest?!?



I am thankful...        
for fun summer activities, and multiple child discounts!

I am thinking... 
about ways to simplify.  So much for the "lazy days" of summer!   I've still been feeling overwhelmed lately, but it's getting a little better and I (thankfully) haven't had another panic attack.

Learning all the time... 
This week has been all about golf, but the big kids have all managed to complete a few math, spelling, and writing lessons as well.   My IEW order arrived and we couldn't wait to dig in and watch the first lesson of the Student Writing Intensive.   The kids LOVED it and I am confident that this will be a perfect fit for our family this coming year!

* Rascal was awarded a Golden Putter for being the "Overall Camp Champion!"

Celebrating the liturgical year... 
with today's feast of Sts. Peter and Paul!  Since it's Friday, I think I'll have Hubby grill some fish in honor of these great "Fishers of Men." I might also whip up some sort of fish themed treat or cupcakes for the kids to enjoy while we play The Journeys of Paul Board Game after dinner!



From the kitchen... 
My new fave... Chipotle Black Bean Burgers topped with a slice of pepper jack cheese, guacamole, red onion, tomato and lettuce.  Oh. My. Goodness. are they DELICIOUS!  (Oh, and they are on sale/coupon at Costco right now... I stocked up!)   

I am creating... 
a unit study for this summer based on the Olympics!  I just ordered a copy of G is for Gold Medal: An Olympic Alphabet and downloaded this lapbook to start.

I am working on... 
making a few changes to our curriculum and ordering our schoolbooks for this coming school year.

I am going... 
through the piles that have accumulated in our schoolroom and filling a box with the books we no longer need or use for this year's Online Curriculum Sale Blog Hop.  I'm planning on hosting the link-up here at Shower of Roses from July 16th-31st this year for all of you that are interested in participating.

I am hoping... 
that we will have some warm and sunny days over the next two weeks, especially since we begin swimming lessons on Monday.   It is raining again today and it just doesn't feel like summer if our corner of the country.

I am reading... 
lots of books to the little ones for the library Summer Reading Program!  I also just received these two new-to-us books in the mail...  I just LOVE Paperback Swap!  Now I just need to find some summer reading for myself, especially for during our time at the pool these next couple weeks... Any suggestions?

I am praying... 
that the Lyme infested tick that bit my Hubby didn't pass along the disease.  Not the best news to receive this past Monday, on his first day back at work after a week of vacation.  He has already started a round of antibiotics, and we are waiting on the results from his blood test.

Pondering these words...
from Through the Year with Fulton Sheen.  Doesn't it make you so happy to hear that he was just declared venerable!  He has so many wonderful quotes, but this is my one of my favorites:

"Sometimes the only way the good Lord can get into some hearts is to break them."

I am listening...  
to The Four Language Arts by Andrew Pudewa.  Love it!

Around the house... 
lots of golf tees.  I keep finding them everywhere!

One of my favorite things...  
themed birthday parties!  We have a couple more birthdays coming up in July and August that I need to start planning.  Oh, speaking of which, I never did show you all the awesome little cars that Rascal made out of modeling wax for his little brother's 5th birthday.  Didn't he do such a great job?!?  I was impressed!

A few plans for the week... {and next}

• 2nd week of Golf Camp for the 5 oldest
• A 20th Anniversary Party {It was so much fun, and everyone brought International themed main dishes and appetizers to share! Yum}
• Parade on Saturday morning, followed by BBQ
• Mass on Sunday 
• Swimming lessons begin Monday morning
• 4th of July party and fireworks
• Try and respond to at least a few emails...  I'm so behind and just haven't had much time to spend online, as usual!  

A little peek at my day...

Bud is trying so hard to crawl.   It won't be long!  In the meantime he keeps frustrating himself, by just backing up off of his soft blankets and away from his toys...

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life. ~

{pretty}




It was absolutely gorgeous at the golf course this morning!  It's a long drive each morning and afternoon, but the kids are all really enjoying their 2nd week of summer golf camp.


{happy}

Snuggles was extremely happy to be able to join the big kids for this week's golf camp, which was open to 5 year olds as well.  He is the smallest guy out there and is so fun to watch!   I am pretty sure just about every coach came up to me today to tell me just how cute he is.  I couldn't agree more!

{funny}

Today was "Team Day" and all the kids were ask to come dressed in support of their favorite instate college team.   It was at last year's golf camp where my kids learned of the state teams (and the rivalry between them) and choose favorites.  At that time our kids were split down the middle, half for one team and half for the other.  It cracked my husband & I up, especially since we don't really watch any sports (other than NHL online).   However, this year, a few of the kids changed their minds on their favorite team, and all have the same... I'm thinking it might have something to do with their aunt attending one of the schools in the fall, or the fact that their uncle will be attending in 2013 on a full athletic scholarship?   We went shopping for a few new clothing items yesterday afternoon.  Even Rose had to dress up and bring along the baby's new (rejected) pacifier her accessories! They all really stuck out (what else is new?! lol) in their bright orange and black amidst all the green and yellow (apparently the other team is much more popular in our area)...  It was great!   The coach cracked me up when he said he was "happy to see all the black and orange!  And if anyone happens to be wearing green, I can't see you... You just blend in with the grass!"  

{real}

Every day the head coach announces the winners in various categories.   Each day this week one of our kids has won a prize!  On Monday Rascal won a prize for the "best greeter", Tuesday Twinkle Toes won a prize for "hardest worker," and yesterday Captain won a prize for "best listener." Snuggles started thinking he was "just too little" to win a prize, and you should have seen him jump up, totally excited, when they announced that he had won today's prize for "best listener."   He was one very proud little boy with his big box of candy! 

Visit Like Mother, Like Daughter for more pictures of contentment