Happy Birthday!

Today is my dad's birthday, and I wanted to write a blog for him. I probably do it every year and there probably isn't much variation in what I say, but I don't really care. I think it bears repeating the wonderful man who is my father. My dad is generous, loving, kind, slow to become angry, quick to listen, handy with any tool you give him, seems able to fix everything, is near-genious, loves his family and loves God more. Because of my dad I knew it was OK not to date a 100 guys just to have someone's arm to hang on but knew that the right one was out there, and I just needed to wait. Plus, my future husband had a lot to live up to since my dad was/is such a great example of what a husband/father should be. My dad is one of the most honest people I know and full of integrity. My dad never wanted there to even be a hint of wrong-doing and raised my sister and I to be the same way and expect the same from others. My dad is a selfless man. A perfect example is how in the past few months he has given of himself on nights and weekends to help us out and my sister and BIL with different projects in our homes. He doesn't complain, just comes, helps and does so cheerfully. My dad not only loves my mom, sister and I but has taken in my husband and BIL like they are his own sons and in turn loves his 5 grandchildren. If you don't know my dad, I'm sorry! You're missing out on knowing a wonderful man. And, if you do know my dad then you know what I say is true.

Happy Birthday Dad! Thank you for being a wonderful example of what a husband, father and follower of Christ is supposed to be! I love you!

Celebratory Weekend

This past weekend was a busy one, again, but a fun one! Saturday was David's birthday and though I had planned a surprise party for him, it didn't exactly work out that way. However, we had a great time anyway and he told me he felt well-celebrated! :) 

One of David's favorite types of restaurants is the Brazilian steakhouse. We discovered one on accident on a vacation to Cincinnati a few years ago. It was SO GOOD that we have kept our eyes out for others. We were able to go to one on our trip to NYC a couple years ago and so I thought, surely there's one here in the big city we live near. And, there is!!! So, my sister, BIL, David and I all piled in our van and went to the Big City and had a good time! (Oh, my wonderful parents took kid-duty for us!) Have you ever been to a Brazilian steakhouse? Well, let me tell you why my husband loves them so much! Because you can eat your fill (and then some) of meat--15 different kinds, to be exact! Well, 15 different preparations of meat. You are given a coaster when you arrive. One side is red and one side is green. As long as green is facing up these guys will come by your table with swords of meat and slice off some of what they bring, if you want it. :) It's quite the experience. There is also an extensive "salad" bar which offers pasta, cheeses, palm hearts, shrimp, etc. Because of the price of getting the salad bar and meat and the fact that my sister and I were in no way going to eat that much meat, we opted to only get the salad bar and sampled from our husband's meat! :) It turned out to be a great way to go. Our husbands almost had to be rolled out of the restaurant, and we had a great time being together. After dinner we went back to our house and had ice cream cake with my parents and the kids. Also, a fun time! 

Yes, I put 31 candles on the cake! :) David blew them out in one big breath... 

Sunday was, of course, Mother's Day! I had requested donuts (so I didn't have to make breakfast) and an uninterrupted nap. :) Well, I had made cinnamon rolls for David's b-day breakfast and we still had lots left over so I told him to skip the donuts and we had bacon and cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Church went well and we met my parents in their city for lunch. It was a good time spending part of the day with my mom. Due to church, waiting for food at the restaurant and running a couple other errands I didn't get the nap I wanted, but was able to cat nap in the chair while we let Cora watch videos. We spent the rest of the evening outside using our new-to-us table and chairs and let Cora run out energy before bed. It was a good day and I felt very loved and appreciated by David and Cora (and Molly too!). It'll be lots of fun next year to add Baby Sprout to the mix!! Unfortunately, I discovered yesterday we had totally forgotten to take any photos on Mother's Day. Sigh...next year! :)

Making the Cake

This was the first time I had used a Wilton cake pan. I have to say I quite enjoyed it! I had always seen them, seen cakes done using them and so decided this year I'd give it a go! :) The pan I used is discontinued, so I had to buy it off ebay, but no worries, it came all nice and with the instructions. The Wilton cake pans come with instructions and different variations that can be done with the pan, so essentially you can create more then one cake with the pan. I think really your imagination is the only hinderance! :)

I baked the cake the day before I was going to decorate it, and kept it in the refrigerator once it was cool until I was ready to decorate. It's much easier to frost a cake that is cold. Some put their cakes in the freezer, but I find the fridge does a fine job. BE SURE to grease AND flour your cake pan!!!! You want to be sure you get to see all the nooks and crannies that you need to decorate and you want the cake to come OUT! :) I also made all my frosting the day before. The pan directions will tell you how much frosting you need an what colors to make for your design. Obviously, you can change as you wish. With it all done the day before it didn't take nearly as long to decorate! It did take me about 2 hours to get the cake decorated. With that said, here's what it looked like as I went along:

Cake freshly out of the pan, no icing, nothing. See all the great design??

First steps were to frost the sides and then pipe in the detail.

Then I used a star tip for the "fur" and the jowls (not done in this photo) and a large star tip for the tail, ears and eyebrows.

Here it is finished. It's not as hard as it looks, trust me! You can do it!!!

Party Weekend Part 2: Dog Party

On Sunday we celebrated Cora's birthday--which was, incidentally, on Sunday! We had a dog party because Cora LOVES dogs and so we felt it was the only way to go! :) I bought cheap dog bowls at Odd Lots and put each child's name on the bowl for them to eat their cake and ice cream in. These also served as the party favor and I guess have been a huge hit in each of the homes! :) We decorated with all things dogs, had a dog cake, "buns" cut into dog bone shapes for the kids hamburgers (we attempted to make their hamburgers bone shaped as well, but that didn't work), played pin the bone to the bowl and opened gifts. It was mostly family celebrating with us and we had a good time! :) I asked Cora at the end of the evening if she'd had a good birthday and she said, "Momma, happy!" :) That just melted my heart!!!!! She is also very cute when she tells us now that she's "teeewoooo." A good day was had by all. Tomorrow I'll show you how I made the cake.

Party Weekend Part 1: The Circus

We had quite the weekend this past weekend! Cora's 2nd birthday was Sunday and my niece, Hadassah's 1st birthday was Monday. So, that meant a weekend of parties! :) We celebrated Haddie's b-day on Saturday and Cora's on Sunday. Haddie had a circus theme because her mom and dad are always calling her their "little peanut" so it just seemed to be the right theme! We had popcorn, pizza, peanut-shaped cookies, cupcakes and even some circus tricks performed by my dad and Haddie's sister, Sophia! :) It was a great time had by all and we were so glad to be a part of it! Below are some photos!!! Happy Birthday Haddie! OH, and my sister and I will be combining efforts for later birthdays... :)

Isn't she so adorable?????

Look Who's TWO!!!!

Dear Cora Ann,

How is it possible you are two years old????? I get teary-eyed just writing that little sentence. Wasn't it just today that you were born?  Your entrance into this world was not easy, and there was a lot of uncertainty to it, but man the relief when you WERE here and now, it's just a memory. You have had quite the year this year. It's been a busy year with lots of change. You gained a new grandpa--on your 1st birthday no less--and a new cousin the day after your 1st birthday. You moved to a new town to live with your Grandma and Pops for a few months, making some new friends in this new town. You learned to like grass, enjoy splashing in your pool, became an expert walker and runner, got your first injuries, and really started learning where your boundaries were. You moved to another new town in that year (where we live now), and you got to explore even more of your world and make even more friends! You experienced another winter, only this time you realized you don't like snow (maybe next year we'll be out in it more...), you have cut all but one of your teeth, your vocabulary grows daily (I don't even know if I can list/remember all of the words you say!), you can count to two--and do so very enthusiastically--you have learned the "joys" of television and videos, with "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "Kipper," and "Curious George" being your favorites. We are on the brink of potty training and you LOVE to be outside! I can't wait for the weather to be consistently warm enough so we can just go play outside! Perhaps the biggest change to come for you is the arrival of your new baby brother, who will join us late June/early July! I can't wait to see you two interact and to see what a great big sister you will be. You already love to play and take care of your "babies," and I know you'll do a great job taking care of your brother.

My dear daughter, my first born, I love you so much. I look at you in wonderment on a daily basis and marvel at your beauty. You are gorgeous, and I just know this will give your Daddy fits as the years go on! Our prayer for you is that you will grow to not only be beautiful on the outside but be even more beautiful on the inside. Your Daddy and I pray you will learn to love the Lord at an early age and desire nothing more than to live for him. We already see a tender heart in you and hope this cultivates into a yearning to follow Christ.

I'm so excited to see what this next year holds for you! I'm sure it'll be full of adventure! Below is a look of your 2nd year. You definitely moved from a baby to a little girl this year! I love you Cora! Happy Birthday my dearest little girl!!

I don't think you like swings even now...something to work on THIS summer! :) 

Your first chocolate chip cookie...I'd say you enjoyed it!

Loving Grandma's Tupperware cupboard

The long, slow process for you to love the grass...

Running with your cousins one summer day

Loving your pool!

Fun with new friends at COSI

Having fun in a fountain

Fun at Pop's and Grandma's

Your first broken bone. :(

Mustering a smile while all bundled up

No longer a baby...you are most definitely a little girl!

Happy 2nd Birthday Cora!