It's Fun to Stay at the....

YMCA!

Rob and I joined the YMCA this week! We live across the street from it, so we really have no excuse not go. So far, it's been a blast.  I've been swimming, and been to a couple Zumba classes with my friend, Anna.  It has really helped me relieve stress.  This week has been super stressful as the accreditation team is here to check out our department at work and all the work that I've been doing for the past year is getting checked out and validated.  So, joining the Y could not have come at a better time.  I really want to work hard to get back into better shape.

I'm so glad that tomorrow is Friday!  I am definitely ready for the weekend to get here!  Rob and I are going to Roanoke to hang out and just do something different.  Maybe take some pics of the leaves and trees.  They are absolutely gorgeous right now!  God's creation is so amazing!  Yay for weekends. 

Granddad's 75th Birthday Cake

So, every fall Rob and I go to Gross's orchard's apple festival.  This year, the apple festival just happened to be on the same day as Rob's granddad's 75th birthday party in Jacksonville, NC.  Even though I was bummed, heading to NC for a weekend to see Rob's grandparents and a lot of other family was a ton of fun!  Rob and I made the cake for the party.  Here are a few pics of the progression of this massive cake. 

Layer 1

Filling and half of layer 2.

Time to haul to NC. Avoid all bumps.

With the trees and fish. All set up at the party.

Birthday boy!

Close up of fisherman. I made the fish from chocolate.

Almost gone.

Everyone loved it! It was 2-layer, almond cake with buttercream icing, and a strawberry preserve filling.  It was such a fun weekend! We got to spend lots of time with family and I got to know a lot of them better.  This was way better than the apple festival!  Best of all, there were no clowns! haha. For those who have been to Gross's apple festival, you know exactly what freaky clown I'm talking about.  The one that I've had nightmares about since last year's festival.  Just kidding...kind of.  It was a great weekend!