rewind...back to Thursday

Our family arrived before lunch on Thursday.  After getting settled, grabbing some lunch and picking up the boys, they all headed out to the beach.  It was a perfect 85 degrees.  I got off work early and headed home to do this:

Bake, bake and bake a little more.

Before heading out to dinner I made 2 chocolate layers of cake.

We all had dinner at Page's Okra Grill and everyone enjoyed their meal.  I took pictures of dinner with my other camera...I'll have to update with more pictures soon!

After dinner, I headed home to bake a little more.  

After dinner I mixed up batter for 3 layers of yellow cake and made the cutest little 6 inch cakes.

I also whipped up my first ever batch of marshmallow fondant - it worked perfectly!  I went to bed super late but it was all worth it for the final finished cake product. 

On Friday morning, we did a few things around the house before heading out to meet up with the family for lunch.  Lunch at Poe's is something they look forward to each year.  We've learned to get there early so we can grab a few good tables together.  Payton had to sit with Michael, Christie and Brandon...he gave Christie the boot so he could sit directly beside Brandon. 

Brandon and Payton

Carlton and Darlene....looks like a house divided!

Dalton and Lynn with Michael and Christie in the background

Michael, Christie, Brandon, Payton

Chad, Cathy, George, Eddie, Debbie and Aunt Gail is cut out...opps!

Dennis the Menace...Owen, dumping his fish out of his bowl

 After lunch, we headed downtown for our annual stroll through the market.  Parking was a disaster but it wasn't really that crowded inside the market. 

The whole gang with a very excited Payton and one tired Owen!

 After heading home for a little rest, basketball and whipping up some icing for the continually evolving cake, we headed back out to meet for dinner.  Chad's family loves California dreaming so we headed back over the bridge and over to the restaurant.  Chad's cousin Bradley had arrived and we were all excited to see Bradley, Lisa and Addie waiting on us as we pulled up!  Payton and Owen loved seeing Addie for the weekend!  

Cheese!

All this fuss for this one little guy's birthday!

We were HAPPY with a HEELS win and even more THRILLED that Duke had a great big LOSS in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament.  It was a little hard to rub it in since several of Chad's family members pull for the Dook Yucks.....they are family, we can't help it!  Even Payton was still awake to enjoy that Duke loss on Friday night.

In addition to eating and celebrating, I found myself doing a little more cake decorating.  I wish I had taken a few more pictures along the way of how it all came together.  By the end of the night on Friday I had the 3 bottom layers stacked - separated by a layer of chocolate icing between each layer.  The outer edges of the bottom layer were covered with Carolina Blue icing.  The top 2 layers had chocolate in the middle and were covered with a layer of white icing.  I attempted to dye my fondant black...this didn't work...but, I made the best of it and used the white fondant to make stars and guitars.  I added the stars and guitars to the outside edge of the bottom layers.  I painted several of these with edible silver dust.  

Since my black fondant plan didn't work, I was left to figure out a new plan for decorating the top 2 layers....which were supposed to turn into a drum.  After going to bed around 1 o'clock in the morning (all for the sake of this cake!), I laid in bed wide awake thinking about how to make the top layers all come together to make a drum.

I finally feel asleep.....for a few hours....we all woke up a little early due to Chad's Aunt getting sick with a stomach bug.  We hate that she got sick and missed out on our Saturday morning activities.  

As you can tell, Friday was a busy, busy day....but all worth it for the memories that we will have.  Payton had a GREAT day celebrating with all of his family in town.