It’s pumpkin time again.  About this time of year I get very, very excited!  I am a huge pumpkin nut… and even though my pumpkin patch produced nothing but flowers (I’m not the greenest of thumbs) it did not dampen my enthusiasm for this pumpkin season at all!

It has now become tradition to head out to Roland, MB for the Giant Pumpkin Festival and get a picture with the giant pumpkins.  It’s a pretty awesome sight.  Here are some pictures of my mini cupcakes with this season’s giant pumpkins.

One week ago my Baby Cupcake celebrated her 2nd birthday!!!  I just can’t believe how time flies.  Officially now she will be known as my Mini Cupcake because Baby Cupcake # 2 is expected any day now.

What an exciting August!  Mr. Cupcake and I are racing to finish bathroom construction and figuring out where we put the crib hardware before this baby comes….

But in the mean time… here are some pictures of my Mini Cupcake enjoying her 2nd Birthday party.

I would like to introduce you all to Miss Rosie…  My gorgeous sister who is taking the world by storm via burlesque.  While her career choice leaves some a blush – I can’t help but post this fabulous dessert related (and family friendly) photos!  Cheers to having at least one pin-up girl in the family!  Love you hun!  

Check Rosie Bitts out on her website.

Something I have been working on as Program Coordinator has been a 40 Developmental Assets workshop for parents and community members here in my neck of the woods.  Truthfully, when I began this position, planning for this event was a big thorn in my side.  However, now that it is the day after the event and after if was a huge success, I have changed my mind about it being a thorn.

The assets are designed to create a better environment for young people in communities everywhere – and research has shown that youth who maintain their assets do better in every aspect of their lives.  Research has also shown that youth everywhere are scraping by with a minimal amount of assets to build their lives on!  This isn’t just a shame – it’s our responsibility to change our piece of society and build a better future for our children.

I won’t elaborate too much on this non-cupcake related topic – but I will say that if you have kids, know kids or are around kids at any point – then you can be an asset builder – head over the the Cornerstone Site and leave a comment!!

One of the perks of living in a small community is that you are going to make the local news fairly often.  For instance my new job was front page material.  (I’m glad the picture turned out.)  Here is the article:

Cornerstone Family and Youth has a new program co-ordinator, Jenn Sedor. Sedor, who has been a resident of Carlyle for three years, has a strong arts background on which to draw for her position. The painting, seen here behind her, is one of her own works.

Todd Gervais 27.MAR.09
Taking up her position just a short time ago, Jenn Sedor, the new program co-ordinator for the Cornerstone Family and Youth Program, feels prepared for the job. A new mother (her daughter Lily being just 18 months old,) Sedor is empathetic to parents, and is planning numerous events to entertain and engage both parents and young children.

“The kids should have fun too!” Sedor joked, “That’s the goal of the programs, to help both the parents and the kids.”

Sedor came to the position after a career path that led her through such notable bodies as the Saskatchewan Arts Council, and the Mackenzie Gallery. Relocating from Regina to Carlyle three years ago, to allow for her husband to pursue a sales position in town, Sedor was just getting comfortable when their first child came along. It was this event that showed Sedor the difficulties that are experienced in child-rearing. “I had been working since I was 17-years-old.” Sedor explained, “I wasn’t really prepared for what motherhood meant. All of the sudden, all of my time, all of my thoughts, were focused on caring for Lily. It was hard in some ways, after all those years of working to suddenly find myself stuck in the house.”

But Sedor persevered, and looks forward to her new job. Asked if she felt her parental experiences would help her in the position, her answer was in the affirmative. “Being around my daughter all day has taught me a lot about keeping children involved and entertained.” Sedor said, “And as a parent, I can understand the needs of the parents as well.”

The first event Sedor organized occurs during the March 27 No School Day, which will be run in partnership with Carlyle Elementary School. Further program plans that Sedor is developing include a “baby sign language” program for parents, a physical literacy program, and a Saturday drop-in program at the library in Carlyle. As well, with the road bans in place, Sedor hopes to develop a “Daddy and me” program in the near future, to allow some quality time for fathers and their children.

“I’m expecting in August; our second child.” Sedor said, “So I’m bound and determined to get as much going as I can between now and then!”

Sedor is now keeping an online blog for the Cornerstone Family and Youth program at www.cfyprograms.wordpress.com and if you are interested in following her family life in regards to Lily, she also keeps a personal blog at www.lifeofacupcake.com

This week I will be leading a Spring Fun Day as part of my duties as Program Coordinator… Truthfully admin work is easy compared to that of entertaining a large group of children for a day. Gulp.  As a beginner – I’m a little nervous.
And, while my school teacher sister gives me tons of reassurance, coaching and planning ideas, I’m still really hoping I choose the right activities for the day!
For snack I think I’m going to stick within my niche and teach the kids how to decorate little bird’s nest cupcakes. Like the adorable ones pictured above that I found over at The Celebration Shoppe.
Even though this will only make up a small part of the day at least I (definitely) know what I’m doing when it comes to cupcakes!

PS: The Cornerstone Blog I have been working on with work is also up and running. Go and check it out HERE.

I’ve made a few changes to my personal self over the last few weeks.

Firstly, I am now sporting a very visual bump that I am very proud of! So of course my non preggy clothes were getting a wee bit tight, I’m sure you can imagine. So this weekend it is off to the city for some fancy new Maternity clothes.

Second, I was feeling the need to break out of a funk with a funky new doo. Yes – I have gone pro-inverted bob. Fabulous – I love it! My stylist (also a Jen) is a genius! I am going to go back to her soon to add some color. (pink??) Very exciting!
And last but not least I was accepted to the position of Program Coordinator with Cornerstone Family and Youth. ( Crazy? I know. Just until the end of June, though. )  I am super excited about this job and how absolutely immensely busy it is going to have me this spring. Chances are I may fall behind on my postings here at Life of a Cupcake but… FEAR NOT… for I am in charge of a brand new blog for Cornerstone Family and Youth and will have plenty to post over there when I get it up and running!  I will be back to post pictures later this weekend.

Cupcake out. (Ok – I have also become a die hard Idol fan! )

Last night my daughter woke up upset.  Bad dream? New teeth?  I don’t know.  What I do know is that around 4 AM this morning I poked Mr. Cupcake until he got up to settle her… and suddenly (as happens all to often in our household) our bed had three. 

“Suckie?” Asked my little cupcake. (Her word for soother)

“No Suckie tonight baby.” I replied.  Hoping that maybe tonight she would fall asleep without it and we could finally get rid of the thing!

She considered this for a moment before asking, “Lion?”  Her lion teddy bear being almost as important as her suckie.

“Yes baby, you can have Lion.” I gave her the bear and we tried to settle down for the night.  Mr. Cupcake already snoring beside us.

This is where we had some difficulty.  Baby Cupcake rolled… and she tossed… and turned upside down!  She tried backwards, sideways and even stuck her feet in my face! (While Mr. Cupcake slept comfortably.)  This went on for about an hour.  Finally, just as I was beginning to doze, a frustrated Baby Cupcake sat bolt upright.  She had clearly gotten an idea.

For as I lay there, happily dozing off to sleep, I felt a little body begin to climb over me (feet in my face, as usual) and then ever so carefully lower herself to the floor.  Before I even had time to scoop her back up again she had me by the arm and began to pull me out of bed.  (I have now learned that a determined toddler has a very strong tug.)

Baby Cupcake pulled me until I got out of bed!  Then she tugged me down the hall at which point she marched me right out into the kitchen where, in total darkness, she parked me directly in front of the cupboard where we keep her dishes…  “What does she want?” I thought.

But, before I could say a word, Baby Cupcake had begun to point at the cupboard.  Then, very assertively for an 18 month old, she declared to me her intentions.  “Suckie!”  Was all she said.

Half astonished and half dozed I opened the cupboard and obliged.  Baby Cupcake took her suckie, promptly placed it in her mouth and marched right back to bed without me.

Getting rid of the ”Suckie” is going to be harder than I thought…

I am famous for throwing holiday themed parties.  Halloween is by far the biggest event of the year for me, however, Valentine’s day is never forgotten.  Last year I got together a few good friends for a valentine card making party and this year – it’s going to be even better.   So before I come to my senses about this I am going to post it for everyone to see.  There is no backing out now – and I am looking very forward to how busy this is going to keep me for the next couple weeks.  Please leave a comment and your e-mail if you would like to attend!

Before I begin I will give you a bit more background information about me, Mrs. Cupcake.  My name is really Jennifer, I live in small town Saskatchewan Canada and when I am not baking cupcakes or being a busy mom to my 1 1/2 year old daughter I work a few hours a week at a wonderful place here in town known as the Parent and Tot Centre.  It’s a great program where parents can bring their pre-schoolers and babies and mingle with other parents while offering story, craft and snack time for the youngsters.  Last year this program opened my life up to many new friends and this year I was given the opportunity to work there.  Aside from the obvious bonus of being paid to play with my daughter and her many new friends I also get sent to some very great conferences.

Yesterday was a Family Literacy training conference where I started the process of being able to bring families, outside of schools and libraries, the chance to become more literate.  Wow.  That sounds incredibly boring, doesn’t it?  That’s what I thought too at the start of the day.  I thought to myself, ‘What possibly could I do to bring literacy (which I felt was limited only to reading and writing) to a bunch of one and two year olds?’  Well I was very wrong.

“Literacy is about more than reading and writing – it is about how we communicate in society.  It is about social practices and relations, about knowledge, language and culture…  Those who use literacy take it for granted – but those who cannot use it are excluded from much communication in today’s world.  Indeed, it is the excluded who can best appreciate the notion of “litercacy as freedom”. – United Nations

Sounds pretty darn heavy when you put it like that, doesn’t it?  But let’s stop and read that again especially the second line:  “It is about social practices and relations, about knowledge, language and culture…”  That means everything, people.  Everything.  From the day your child learns to identify you as their parent to the day we teach our students the Alphabet.  Baking a pie, building with blocks and the language of love and affection are all expressions of a literate person.  Isn’t that just amazing.

For me this meant breaking down everything I do-  or should I elaborate – Everything that I have learned to do in my life little by little and to be able to see it from another perspective.  For instance:  My daughter lives in a world of wonder and exploration.  She has only experienced a fraction of the skills she will need to master before learning the alphabet  and yet, what she does know, amazes me beyond belief.  My daughter cannot yet read, she can only speak a few words but she can build a block tower, she knows the noise and duck makes and she has learned that the word please means: ‘I get something’ ; She is literate.  Not illiterate simply because she cannot read.

The course yesterday brought home the point that our job as parents to bring literacy to our children is more than just reading to them (while that is still SO important)  it is also respecting the fact that everything we do with our children is a form of teaching literacy.  Play, song, discipline and love.  Wow.   At the end of the day I took home a lot of inspiration to try and make some differences in my world, this important quote, “We all have something to learn; we all have something to teach” – Unknown

and a few fabulous references and books which I will share with you.

The Course was Introduction to Family Literacy put on by the Saskatchewan Literary Network. 

For those of you out there interested in how to get involved in other provinces check out The National Adult Literacy Database to find programs in your area.

Don’t underestimate the power of baking with your kids.  Think of all the things you can teach by just baking a pie: Measurement, how to follow directions, time, patience, togetherness… the list can go on and on.  To get started read How to Make an Apple Pie and See the Worldby Marjorie Priceman

Literacy comes in all forms at any age.  It is never too late to expand on what you know by learning something new.  Read Jeremiah Learns To Read  by Jo-Ellen Bogart

This book had me on the edge of tears by illustrating the important point of generational learning.  Read Oma’s Quilt by By Paulette Bourgeois