To Keith on your Sixth Birthday

Dear Keithy,

I am almost certain that every year I reflect on how enthusiastic you are about life.  I continue to be amazed by the way you light up the world. The minute you came into this world everything changed.  Even as a newborn baby, you were a beautiful being.  Your soul radiates through your smile and your eyes.  You are an incredibly handsome and charming boy.

This year has been an amazing year for you in so many ways.  When anyone comments on your growth and size you always attribute it to your time in Iowa last summer.  And boy that is the truth.  You are my rock, my brick.....  And you are learning to read.  Like a tidal wave you are suddenly there reading, writing, adding, and drawing.  Doing all of the things that seemed so far away last year.  You are a very smart little boy.

You love to love and you love to be loved.  Even on the roughest and toughest days when you and I never see eye-to-eye, after it is all said and done you whisper that you love me.  And I of course tell you I love you.  Because I do, no matter how frustrating and defiant you are, I love you with my entire being.

We've been talking a lot about 6.  You've been excited for your birthday for months. Perhaps it was that excitement that lead you to lose everything from your room and the privilege of having a birthday party.  You are exuberant and stubborn,  you know your way is right and you want to win.  I appreciate that quality in you but it makes parenting tough.  The amazing thing is that for all of our struggles, you have worked really hard to improve and do better.  You are ruled by your emotions (happy, sad, mad, whatever) and you are finally figuring out how to best express them.  YAY Keith!  I am so proud of you because you have come so far.

I've realized something about you this year.  No, I've finally owned something about you.  It's my much professed lament that you are so much like your daddy.  You look like him, you eat like him, you sleep like him, you joke like him, you obsess like him, you pout like him, you even memorize movie lines like him, you are just like him.    You are my little Kevin.  I finally realize what that means for me and I hope it will make me a better parent.  I will be your safe and happy place for as long as you ever want.

I love you Keith Fox.  Happy Birthday!  I know that this year will bring more amazing things your way. 

Love,
Mama Lou

Lauren's Birthday Party Recap

Late... I know.
Lauren turned 2 and we threw her a party.  It was a bit complicated because Kevin had to work and couldn't get an extra day off.  That meant we were throwing a party in between shifts.  That meant that I was on my own. Plan and execute as much as possible as early as possible.  That was my tactic.  Seriously, I tend to get in WAY over my head.  So I was trying really hard to keep it all on this side of crazy (that's the non-crazy side).   I mostly succeeded.  I love pouring myself into my kids' parties  because they look forward to it, it makes them feel special, and they really appreciate it.   So, here it is....

Lauren loves Minnie Mouse and Elmo.  Patrick had an Elmo party when he turned two and I appreciate originality... so Minnie Mouse it was.  I didn't make a Pinterest Board (lazy?) but most of the ideas are filed on my Random Parties Board

My Girl
My friend started a new company called Monkey Ruffles. She made this cute shirt for Lauren.

"I'm TWO!"

Decor

Food
Hmmm..... I didn't take a picture of the food?   I kept it easy: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Sandwiches, Hot Diggety Dogs, Chips, Salad.  We were eating late (so Kevin could sleep) so we packaged the kids' lunches in boxes to make serving easy. 

Cake
This was my first solo cake.  It isn't perfect but that's what makes it great.

The Minnie Head was made out of Rice Krispies.  I haven't watched a lot of Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes but I've watched enough to know that Rice Krispies are essential.  And guess what, the kids all wanted to eat the Rice Krispie Treats.

The cake was a three-layer lemon cake.  Lauren loves lemon cake.  Pink fondant with white polka dots.

All together.

Oh I made cupcakes too.

because I can.

Favors
This is where I went a little nuts.  I hand painted mugs for each of the kids.

First, find the right font free font.  Print out each child's name, use a pencil to shade the entire print area of the name.  Place the paper on the mug and trace around the outside. 
Now color in the name with special paint (or be smart and use something easy like sharpies.... or be obstinate and dumb and use paint that is impossible to smooth out or apply perfectly. If you are going to be difficult you might want to make 3 trips to Michaels and buy every paint known to man.  Discover that every crafting blogger known to man was sent a package of Martha's new paint line.  Realize that the cheap stuff actually works better.  Wonder why you didn't just go the Sharpie route.).  Sigh loudly and watch multiple episodes of The Tudors.  Bake and you are done.  SO EASY (for normal people)!!!

I also made the kids homemade hot cocoa mix and marshmallows (gag, I hate marshmallows).  AND...

these little stinkers. 
This was my first tour with the red candy melts.  I was all a flutter because I thought the red seemed a little on the pink side.  I added red coloring.  This totally compromises that candy melts.  And the color variation between the two batches (with additional red coloring and without) was not noticeable.  Duh.

And finally, More of My Girl.
She got lots of exciting presents that she oohed and aahed over (the glitter on the hands will go down in the family history books).  But her American Girl Bitty Baby was the ultimate excitement.

a

This is my baby.  Don't even think about it.

A special thanks to Katy and my parents for helping me pull it off.

A Dragon! A Dragon!

I swear I saw a DRAGON!

Pete's Dragon?  Hello!?!?!

Patrick is dragon OBsessed.  I will admit to having a bit of a thing for dragons after reading (and watching) Game of Thrones (Books one and two! How did you spend YOUR summer vacation?)  He's read every dragon related kids' e-book that the county library owns.  So even though I was pushing hard for Harry Potter, he asked for a dragon birthday party.  Then he asked for a gods and goddesses party and I told him I would blend it together.

So here's my take on the Dragon Party but first understand a few things.... 1) Game of Thrones features dragon eggs, a dragon mother (who is human), and violence.  I focused on dragon eggs.  2) The gods and goddesses let the dragons come out to play for Patrick's party.  They also sent ambrosia and nectar of the gods (at Patrick's request).  3) All Most of the crafting and cooking resources are on my Pinterest board. 4) I managed to do a HORRIBLE job taking pictures of the party stuff.  Off my game I suppose.  5) Finally, have you ever noticed that dragon's seem to be super cutesy or dungeons and dragons strange?  I was TRYING to find something in between....  Here are our featured dragons:

The blue dragon is Saphira from the Eragon series. She was featured on the Evite.  The Green Dragon was part of the blue/green/red backdrop.

Favors

I made dragon eggs with old Easter eggs, hot glue, and paint.  I filled the eggs with a little dragon from Michaels.
The kids also got a dragon's tooth and hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works.
I printed directly on brown paper bags and added a glittery clothespin.

Decor
More eggs.  I made the big paper mache eggs myself (balloons, newspaper, flour, water).  I only point out that I made it by myself because my boys refused to get their hands dirty. The gold eggs are really hot because they are about to hatch (BEWARE!).

I also made Dragon Blood (glycerine and glitter) and Dragon Kibble (puppy chow).

 No pics of the food but I made:
Dragon Dip (french dip sandwiches)
Vegan Dragon Chow (Salad)
Ambrosia (that's what the gods and godesses eat Mom!)
Dragon Scales (Tortilla chips)
Dragon brains (Guacamole)
Nectar of the gods

And for the cake.  As you know, Kevin and I are cake partners.  This is our 5th cake... Kevin promises that he will continue to implement my vision and step up to whatever catastrophe challenge I dream up.  Patrick wanted an almond cake (um, ok? what 8 year old wants an almond cake? mine!).  So we made him a dragon almond cake.  I didn't scratch bake this cake (yeah, I know).  Instead I did the amped up white cake mix (extra egg, double the amount of oil and swap for melted butter, sub milk for water) with almond extract.  I love this cake!!!!

Kevin insisted that he had to do the construction and frosting.  He was pretty proud of himself and I was pretty impressed too.  Of course, that is our routine... I dream it and bake it and he constructs it and frosts it.  The hardest part of this cake?  The stupid fruit roll-ups for the wings and fire.  I don't buy fruit roll-ups but these were impossible all around! 

Happy Birthday Patrick

Dear Patrick,
There is something about you being 8 that makes me think that this is an absolutely picture perfect time in your life.  The other night I was listening to you explain something to Daddy (in your long-winded way.... that you totally get from Dad) and all I could think was where is the stage for this boy.  You are a performer at heart. 

This year is such a big year because you are becoming so much more mature.  But I love 8 because your heart is still innocent and pure.  If I could buy millions of Legos to keep you busy for the years to come I would.  But that's the thing about growing up, it's inevitable.  No matter how much I long to keep you in this world of a little boy, you have to grow up.  Unless you are Peter Pan and that's just not really a possibility at this point in your life because Neverland is too far away and I can't go there because I did grow up so you have to stay here.

As you grow up I want to remind you that you thank God for the gifts in your life every day.  I want you to remember that today you have more than most kids in the world could ever dream.  I want you to know that even if you don't have every toy, gadget, or hot thing, you have lots of people who love you and care about you (FOREVER).  And you have a brother and a sister who look at you with stars in their eyes. 


I know that I am a crazy mama and I am possibly the meanest mom on the block but I love you with every inch of my being.  We can always laugh together.  We can always have sushi together.  We can always watch Giada together.  We can always read quietly together.  I promise to always make time for you and do my best to show you that you are a very special boy. I love you!
Mama Lou

Adventures in Fondant

When Keith decided that he wanted a Ninjago party, I was planning on making it really simple and easy.  And then I started planning and Keith had his input and the next thing you know.... I'm. Making. Fondant.

My original plan was to order a sheet cake from Von's and putting the Lego Ninjagos on top.  Add candles and fire and VIOLA!  Keith requested a Mom-made cake instead.  So down the path we went and here is the finished product.

As it turns out, marshmallow fondant is really easy to make.  And you can make it in advance.  I made a three layer chocolate cake (from scratch) and chocolate frosting.  Covered it with fondant and you have a Ninjago.  Jay the Blue Ninjago.  Keith's former favorite Ninjago, prior to the information that Jay likes the girl Ninjago Nya.  At which time Keith ditched Jay for Cole (the black ninjago).  He was still happy with his cake, wrong Ninjago and everything.
For my first adventure in fondant I thought it turned out pretty well. 
 
While I was making a cake I decided to go ahead and make some Lego topped cupcakes.  You can buy a mold but I did them by hand.  I used a cookie cutter to shape the squares and rectangles and made the tiny circles with my icing tip. Labor intensive but appealing.

 I also made Rice Krispie Sushi for the goodie bags.  Cute and easy.

 Here's our set-up.

 Patrick made the pictures of the Ninjagos for his brother.  I printed 5x7 at Costco.

 A super happy boy!