In the meadow we can build a snowman
and pretend that he is raisin bran
We're happy tonight
We're happy tonight
walkin in the winter, run away
4 weeks ago
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
SLACKER!!!!
^^
That's me!! I admit it!! I'm a blogging slacker!! Get out your wet noodles and your sharpest edged tounges and give me the lashings I deserve!!
I WILL be updating tonight (or tomorrow...... )
WATCH
THIS
SPACE!!
(you can get up and go to the potty, but then you must immediately return!)
That's me!! I admit it!! I'm a blogging slacker!! Get out your wet noodles and your sharpest edged tounges and give me the lashings I deserve!!
I WILL be updating tonight (or tomorrow...... )
WATCH
THIS
SPACE!!
(you can get up and go to the potty, but then you must immediately return!)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Very Recent Conversation
Mom: What do you want to drink for dinner, buddy??
James: Milk
Mom: Ok... let me go get you some.
James: In a cup??
No... I think I'll put it in a saucer on the floor. ~insert eye roll here~
James: Milk
Mom: Ok... let me go get you some.
James: In a cup??
No... I think I'll put it in a saucer on the floor. ~insert eye roll here~
Sunday, December 7, 2008
I must be losing my mind.
I just realized my holiday baking list is insane!
I am making:
Dry cocoa mix
2 batches of cake balls - 1)Devil's Food Cake mix with buttercream icing and flaked coconut mixed in dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with peppermint. 2)Spice cake with cream cheese frosting chopped raisins and nuts and in white chocolate
6-8 loaves of pumpkin bread
Peppermint Pinwheel cookies
Grandma Paul's Sand Tarts cookies
Lemon Snowflakes Cookies
Lacy Oatmeal Crisp Cookies
coconut bonbons
Easy Butterscotch Chip Chocolate Cookies
Sugar & Spice Cookies
Mocha-Kahlúa Thumbprints
and quite possibly 4-8 mini loaves of lemon poppyseed bread.
All before Dec 19th.
And I haven't even started yet. Hell... I don't even have all the INGREDIENTS yet!!
*sigh*
p.s. Add put together and wrap 29 presents for James's preschool friends to the list, please. Kaithanxbai!
I am making:
Dry cocoa mix
2 batches of cake balls - 1)Devil's Food Cake mix with buttercream icing and flaked coconut mixed in dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with peppermint. 2)Spice cake with cream cheese frosting chopped raisins and nuts and in white chocolate
6-8 loaves of pumpkin bread
Peppermint Pinwheel cookies
Grandma Paul's Sand Tarts cookies
Lemon Snowflakes Cookies
Lacy Oatmeal Crisp Cookies
coconut bonbons
Easy Butterscotch Chip Chocolate Cookies
Sugar & Spice Cookies
Mocha-Kahlúa Thumbprints
and quite possibly 4-8 mini loaves of lemon poppyseed bread.
All before Dec 19th.
And I haven't even started yet. Hell... I don't even have all the INGREDIENTS yet!!
*sigh*
p.s. Add put together and wrap 29 presents for James's preschool friends to the list, please. Kaithanxbai!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Day 6: Family Advent Calendar Activity
Today had to be one of the most perfect days I have ever spent with my child. Honestly.
We started the day off by driving down to Kansas City to a free showing of "The Polar Express". Now... we have the dvd and watched it AD NAUSEUM last year. It never enthralled me. I usually surfed the net, read a book or did chores while it was playing. I could not have cared less if it was off or on.
And then we saw it in the theater.
It.
Was.
Awesome.
Seriously.
If you EVER get a chance to see it in a movie theater DO IT. The fact that it was free made it even better! (well... "free" discounting the purchase of the vat of Diet Coke and potato sack of popcorn, lol) And if you do... try to grab a 4 yr old to see it with you. If you don't have one at home, borrow one from a friend or family member. Trust me. A 4 yr old MAKES the viewing experience! Even the Grinchiest Grinch, Crankiest Scrooge, or Grumpiest Grumplegus would find their heart expanding 8 sizes and the joy and magic of the season being infused into every cell in their body. I spent 1/2 the time watching the screen and the other 1/2 watching James. I purposely haven't put the dvd in this year, so the movie would be fresh for him. His eyes were as big as saucers! He gasped, shrieked, covered his eyes, and made several exclamations through out the movie that had those around us chortling into their popcorn. I found myself experiencing the movie through my child's eyes... all the laughs, thrills and spills... I even teared up a few times!! James, of course, was oblivious to everything except the movie and consuming his weight in popcorn! lol I cannot recall the last time I experienced that pure level of joy at a movie.
From there we walked the shopping center, enjoying the dancing fountain, beautiful Christmas tree and decorations in spite of the blustery wind (and Mommy forgot to grab hats and mittens in the rush out the door this morning, oops!! In my defense, we didn't plan on shopping after the movie). We wandered around, visiting all the shops and sales. James was as well behaved as a child being dragged in and out of stores to look at clothes could be expected to be.
He even made a purchase on his own! In T. J. Maxx, He found a toy that he reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeealy wanted.... and while I usually wouldn't get him a toy this close to Christmas, I decided that since he had been such a good boy, he could buy it with his own money if he wanted (his wonderful Godmother had sent him some money for his birthday). So we sat down with the toy and his money and I helped him figure out how much the toy would cost and how much money he would have left over. We went through check out and he handled the transaction all by himself, handing the toy and money to the clerk at the appropriate times and gathering his bag, receipt and change. We counted his change that he got back and put it in his pocket. He left the store with the bag clutched in his hand and the biggest grin on his little face.
From there, we sauntered to Books-a-Million.... stopping at EVERY map on the way to double check our route and find the "You are here" sticker! lol Once there, we snagged a book for Mommy and then made a beeline for the train table. During the hour we were there, there were some minor disputes over the engines and tenders with other kids, but nothing that couldn't be solved with a gentle reminder on manners.
The trip home was uneventful. We listened to the PE soundtrack and sang along. I was glad we got home before Big G had to go to work. James had fun showing Daddy his toy and recounting our day for him.
I thought about taking James to see the Christmas Parade and tree lighting in town.... but we had such a perfect day that I didn't want to push my luck by taking him to stand still on a sidewalk out in the cold!! lol
It was a good choice.
We started the day off by driving down to Kansas City to a free showing of "The Polar Express". Now... we have the dvd and watched it AD NAUSEUM last year. It never enthralled me. I usually surfed the net, read a book or did chores while it was playing. I could not have cared less if it was off or on.
And then we saw it in the theater.
It.
Was.
Awesome.
Seriously.
If you EVER get a chance to see it in a movie theater DO IT. The fact that it was free made it even better! (well... "free" discounting the purchase of the vat of Diet Coke and potato sack of popcorn, lol) And if you do... try to grab a 4 yr old to see it with you. If you don't have one at home, borrow one from a friend or family member. Trust me. A 4 yr old MAKES the viewing experience! Even the Grinchiest Grinch, Crankiest Scrooge, or Grumpiest Grumplegus would find their heart expanding 8 sizes and the joy and magic of the season being infused into every cell in their body. I spent 1/2 the time watching the screen and the other 1/2 watching James. I purposely haven't put the dvd in this year, so the movie would be fresh for him. His eyes were as big as saucers! He gasped, shrieked, covered his eyes, and made several exclamations through out the movie that had those around us chortling into their popcorn. I found myself experiencing the movie through my child's eyes... all the laughs, thrills and spills... I even teared up a few times!! James, of course, was oblivious to everything except the movie and consuming his weight in popcorn! lol I cannot recall the last time I experienced that pure level of joy at a movie.
From there we walked the shopping center, enjoying the dancing fountain, beautiful Christmas tree and decorations in spite of the blustery wind (and Mommy forgot to grab hats and mittens in the rush out the door this morning, oops!! In my defense, we didn't plan on shopping after the movie). We wandered around, visiting all the shops and sales. James was as well behaved as a child being dragged in and out of stores to look at clothes could be expected to be.
He even made a purchase on his own! In T. J. Maxx, He found a toy that he reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeealy wanted.... and while I usually wouldn't get him a toy this close to Christmas, I decided that since he had been such a good boy, he could buy it with his own money if he wanted (his wonderful Godmother had sent him some money for his birthday). So we sat down with the toy and his money and I helped him figure out how much the toy would cost and how much money he would have left over. We went through check out and he handled the transaction all by himself, handing the toy and money to the clerk at the appropriate times and gathering his bag, receipt and change. We counted his change that he got back and put it in his pocket. He left the store with the bag clutched in his hand and the biggest grin on his little face.
From there, we sauntered to Books-a-Million.... stopping at EVERY map on the way to double check our route and find the "You are here" sticker! lol Once there, we snagged a book for Mommy and then made a beeline for the train table. During the hour we were there, there were some minor disputes over the engines and tenders with other kids, but nothing that couldn't be solved with a gentle reminder on manners.
The trip home was uneventful. We listened to the PE soundtrack and sang along. I was glad we got home before Big G had to go to work. James had fun showing Daddy his toy and recounting our day for him.
I thought about taking James to see the Christmas Parade and tree lighting in town.... but we had such a perfect day that I didn't want to push my luck by taking him to stand still on a sidewalk out in the cold!! lol
It was a good choice.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Day 5: Family Advent Calendar Activity
Community Lighting Ceremony In Haiku:
Tucked in carseat
Spend Batteries Recharging
For the fun that waits
James sharing Wishes
Peppermint Conspiracy
St. Nicholas beams
Friends come together
many lights twinkle warmly
in the cold night air
Tucked in carseat
Spend Batteries Recharging
For the fun that waits
James sharing Wishes
Peppermint Conspiracy
St. Nicholas beams
Friends come together
many lights twinkle warmly
in the cold night air
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Day 4: Family Advent Calendar Activity
It was the best one of all!!
Going to get our Christmas Tree!!! WOOT!!
James and I were thrilled that Big G decided to stay up and go with us to get our tree! I was *not* so thrilled to find out that, after tomorrow, he is going to have 8 days in a row working 12 hour shifts and then only one day off. *sigh* Looks like he'll have to miss most of the best of the Holiday fun. We're used to it... but being used to something and being happy about it are 2 totally different things, Kwim?
That being said, we were in high spirits today, after a rousing pillow fight had us all in stitches. James and Mommy ganged up on Big G and had him down, until he staged a brilliant comeback and turned the troops against ME!! Seeing an opening in my defense, he then scurried like a mouse up the stairs tohide put his socks on! Wuss.
Once we had located all the various and sundry outer gear from the four corners of the house, we all loaded up in the truck. We so rarely get to do things as a family that we try to cherish what little time we do have together. So with carols on the mp3 and goofy smiles on our faces (and in our hearts!), we set out for the Christmas tree farm.
Imagine our delight at being greeted by Rudolph when we drove up to Fulk's Tree Farm in Platte City, Mo!!
On the hunt for the perfect tree...
Over Hill....
Over Dale....
What about this one?
Look Mom and Dad!! A Charlie Brown tree!!
What did you say that sign said??
Hey!! WAIT!! Where *are* you GOING?!?!
Shhhhhhhhh..... don't scare him away!! It is a rare sighting of the elusive "Big G"!! He's a skittish one and wary of cameras!
Rasslin' round the Christmas tree...
let the Christmas spirit ring.
Latter we'll have some chicken nuggets
and we'll do some more rass-a-ling!
This is our tree!! It's HUGE! It's One Hundred tall!!
Of all the gifts and treats we will get this year, I can't think of anything better to put under the tree, can you??
Going to get our Christmas Tree!!! WOOT!!
James and I were thrilled that Big G decided to stay up and go with us to get our tree! I was *not* so thrilled to find out that, after tomorrow, he is going to have 8 days in a row working 12 hour shifts and then only one day off. *sigh* Looks like he'll have to miss most of the best of the Holiday fun. We're used to it... but being used to something and being happy about it are 2 totally different things, Kwim?
That being said, we were in high spirits today, after a rousing pillow fight had us all in stitches. James and Mommy ganged up on Big G and had him down, until he staged a brilliant comeback and turned the troops against ME!! Seeing an opening in my defense, he then scurried like a mouse up the stairs to
Once we had located all the various and sundry outer gear from the four corners of the house, we all loaded up in the truck. We so rarely get to do things as a family that we try to cherish what little time we do have together. So with carols on the mp3 and goofy smiles on our faces (and in our hearts!), we set out for the Christmas tree farm.
Imagine our delight at being greeted by Rudolph when we drove up to Fulk's Tree Farm in Platte City, Mo!!
On the hunt for the perfect tree...
Over Hill....
Over Dale....
What about this one?
Look Mom and Dad!! A Charlie Brown tree!!
What did you say that sign said??
Hey!! WAIT!! Where *are* you GOING?!?!
Shhhhhhhhh..... don't scare him away!! It is a rare sighting of the elusive "Big G"!! He's a skittish one and wary of cameras!
Rasslin' round the Christmas tree...
let the Christmas spirit ring.
Latter we'll have some chicken nuggets
and we'll do some more rass-a-ling!
This is our tree!! It's HUGE! It's One Hundred tall!!
Of all the gifts and treats we will get this year, I can't think of anything better to put under the tree, can you??
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Day 3: Family Advent Calendar Activity
Cookies and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!!
NOW we're talkin'! THAT is some good, bonding Christmas family activities there!!
*whew* I was beginning to think this whole "advent" thing was a TOTALLY L-A-M-E idea!! lol.
Tonight, we made No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies.
It *did* start out a bit rocky.... as James is a very "hands
I was very close to calling the whole thing off! I'm sooooooooo glad I didn't. If nothing else, James and I connect really well over food. There is something comforting and special about working together, nourishing our love and souls by creating the food that will be nourishing our bodies (or not... when you consider we were making cookies!! lol). My only regret is that, yet again, Big G was sleeping as he didn't get home from work until after noon today!
I was really impressed with his manual dexterity!! It's NOT easy to use 2 spoons to drop cookies on to waxed paper!! (I *did* do a few cookies, so he could see how it all worked.... shhhhh) lol... the FACE sez it all!!
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..... Yummy!!
We had so much fun that James wanted to help cook dinner too!! Nothing exciting, tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.... but he was thrilled to help.
(Oh, Ick!!! Pay attention to the cute kid with chocolate on his face and not the nasty stove! lol... I promise it doesn't look like that on a regular basis!! I should have cleaned that BEFORE I snapped the pic! lol)
And the other item on tonight's list?? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!
James has never seen it before. And he was TOTALLY MESMERIZED. I mean, completely FIXATED on the tv..... that is, after CBS finally put the PICTURE up!! The first 10 or so minutes, you could hear Burl Ives talking... but the screen was blank! I was ready to go postal all over Time Warner Cable when the picture finally snapped on. Afterwards, the refrain of "I want to watch that AGAIN!! AGAIN Mom!!" was echoing through the house for a good 15 mins or so. We watch mostly "on demand" shows or dvd's and he doesn't quite get that I can't rewind all the shows on the tv! Oh well.
*********************************
Out of the mouths of babes 12/03:
In the discussion of what various animals/people say:
Hey buddy... what do cows say?? MoooooooooooOOOOOOooooooooooo!
That's great!! What do dogs say?? Bark, Woof!!
Very good, What do cats say?? Meeeeeow..... Meeeeeooooow!!
Perfect!! What does Grandma say??? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Whining!!
Lol!! Yup! What does the radio say?? STUPID!! And that's a BAD word! Dave (Ramsey) and the other man shoudn't say that!!
You are so right, Buddy!! What does Mommy say?? What the HECK?!?!
Uh... yeah... um... let's try that again... What does Mommy say?? DAMMIT!!
Hmmmmmm, ok... Game's over!!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Day 2: Family Advent Calendar Activity
The activity?? ReArranging and cleaning the living room in anticipation of going to get the Christmas tree!! Yay!!
Yeah.... it went over THAT well here too.
I'm now sitting in a totally rearranged and yet, completly trashed living room. Somehow, this isn't how I pictured it! The fam, Big G, little G, and I were supposed to be joyfully rearranging furniture to the wonderful strains of Christmas music wafting out of the cd player.
What actually happenned?? Big G was in bed asleep because he's getting sick and had to be at work tonight. Little G was doing all he could to get on Mommy's LAST nerve. It's not so much that I minded that James did not help me AT ALL.... it was the active HINDERING that made me just a *touch* cranky! lol It is slightly irritating to attempt to move a couch while a child is laying in front of it screaming "Don't run over me, Mommy!! Don't push the couch on me!!" You'd think I'd kidnapped his dog and was attempting to drive off on the getaway couch! ~insert eyeroll here~
Somehow, I'm thinking that these "family activities" need to get a LOT better a LOT faster... or I'm going to lose the crew's enthusiasm.
*******************
Mini rant:
All I want for Christmas is 3 more feet of width on my living room. Or a husband that is willing to have a fake tree that will fit in the areas that I already have open, so I don't have to rearrange my heavy assed furniture twice a year and get all pissed off at the fact that it is all really too big for my stupid living room. The only way to arrange it for Christmas cuts off 1/2 the room, ruins the flow, and creates huge blank, blocked off areas. *sigh* I love my furniture, but make no mistake...we didn't buy it at "Lilliputian's Furniture and Crap".
/rant
Yeah.... it went over THAT well here too.
I'm now sitting in a totally rearranged and yet, completly trashed living room. Somehow, this isn't how I pictured it! The fam, Big G, little G, and I were supposed to be joyfully rearranging furniture to the wonderful strains of Christmas music wafting out of the cd player.
What actually happenned?? Big G was in bed asleep because he's getting sick and had to be at work tonight. Little G was doing all he could to get on Mommy's LAST nerve. It's not so much that I minded that James did not help me AT ALL.... it was the active HINDERING that made me just a *touch* cranky! lol It is slightly irritating to attempt to move a couch while a child is laying in front of it screaming "Don't run over me, Mommy!! Don't push the couch on me!!" You'd think I'd kidnapped his dog and was attempting to drive off on the getaway couch! ~insert eyeroll here~
Somehow, I'm thinking that these "family activities" need to get a LOT better a LOT faster... or I'm going to lose the crew's enthusiasm.
*******************
Mini rant:
All I want for Christmas is 3 more feet of width on my living room. Or a husband that is willing to have a fake tree that will fit in the areas that I already have open, so I don't have to rearrange my heavy assed furniture twice a year and get all pissed off at the fact that it is all really too big for my stupid living room. The only way to arrange it for Christmas cuts off 1/2 the room, ruins the flow, and creates huge blank, blocked off areas. *sigh* I love my furniture, but make no mistake...we didn't buy it at "Lilliputian's Furniture and Crap".
/rant
A little Christmas "Getting to Know you"
Feel free to bogart this and post it on YOUR blog or myspace.... or do one of those annoying mass emails to everyone you have ever met.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both
2. Real tree or artificial? Real when hubby is home... fake when he is deployed
3. When do you put up the tree? Sometime After Thanksgiving and before Christmas! lol
5. Do you like eggnog? "leaded" AND "unleaded"!!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? books
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? A very small one... I want a larger one
8. Hardest person to buy for? Hubby... he already HAS everything!
9. Easiest person to buy for? James... he wants EVERYTHING
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't recall the "worst" one.
11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail.... but I believe in "Holiday" cards... they may get to you on time for christmas OR Valentine's day! lol
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Ref.... It's not really a "Christmas" movie... but Dennis Leary cracks me up! Followed by "Scrooged" as a close second.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Dec 26... lol for the next year!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes.... shhhhhhhhhhhhh don't tell!!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Candy canes!!
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Both (I prefer white... hubby likes colored... so we compromise)
17. Favorite Christmas song? All of them
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yep... MUCH easier than the 7 dwarves
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? LOL... BOTH!! Again Hubby *has* to have a star and I have to have the stuffed angel that we got for the top of Daddy's last Christmas tree. (I do know a person who has topped their tree with a plastic duck!)
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas "Eve" and the rest on Christmas "morn". I use quotes because my husband always has to work on the actual "day" of Christmas. We usually wait Christmas until my MIL comes to visit the week after.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The fact that Christmas seems to start Mid-October anymore.... oh and the RUDNESS and GREEDINESS of people!
23. Favorite Christmas tradition? Reading Christmas stories on Christmas eve by the light of the tree. Growing up, My Dad would read [url=http://www.allthingschristmas.com/stories/BirdsChristmas.html]"The Bird's Christmas Carol"[/url] on the nights leading up to Christmas. It was the best. I miss that the most at Christmas time
24. Up early or sleeping in? Sleep in.... as much as a 4 yr old will let you!
25. Who hands out the gifts? A designated adult hands them to James to give out
26. Does Santa wrap your gifts? Unless they are really big.... then he has the elfs add a beautiful, decorative bow.
27. Do you tell the Christmas story? Of course... kinda the whole "reason for the season"
28. Do you leave cookies for Santa? Heck Yeah, I want the good stuff!! And raisins and carrots for the reindeer
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both
2. Real tree or artificial? Real when hubby is home... fake when he is deployed
3. When do you put up the tree? Sometime After Thanksgiving and before Christmas! lol
5. Do you like eggnog? "leaded" AND "unleaded"!!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? books
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? A very small one... I want a larger one
8. Hardest person to buy for? Hubby... he already HAS everything!
9. Easiest person to buy for? James... he wants EVERYTHING
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't recall the "worst" one.
11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail.... but I believe in "Holiday" cards... they may get to you on time for christmas OR Valentine's day! lol
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Ref.... It's not really a "Christmas" movie... but Dennis Leary cracks me up! Followed by "Scrooged" as a close second.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Dec 26... lol for the next year!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes.... shhhhhhhhhhhhh don't tell!!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Candy canes!!
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Both (I prefer white... hubby likes colored... so we compromise)
17. Favorite Christmas song? All of them
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yep... MUCH easier than the 7 dwarves
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? LOL... BOTH!! Again Hubby *has* to have a star and I have to have the stuffed angel that we got for the top of Daddy's last Christmas tree. (I do know a person who has topped their tree with a plastic duck!)
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas "Eve" and the rest on Christmas "morn". I use quotes because my husband always has to work on the actual "day" of Christmas. We usually wait Christmas until my MIL comes to visit the week after.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The fact that Christmas seems to start Mid-October anymore.... oh and the RUDNESS and GREEDINESS of people!
23. Favorite Christmas tradition? Reading Christmas stories on Christmas eve by the light of the tree. Growing up, My Dad would read [url=http://www.allthingschristmas.com/stories/BirdsChristmas.html]"The Bird's Christmas Carol"[/url] on the nights leading up to Christmas. It was the best. I miss that the most at Christmas time
24. Up early or sleeping in? Sleep in.... as much as a 4 yr old will let you!
25. Who hands out the gifts? A designated adult hands them to James to give out
26. Does Santa wrap your gifts? Unless they are really big.... then he has the elfs add a beautiful, decorative bow.
27. Do you tell the Christmas story? Of course... kinda the whole "reason for the season"
28. Do you leave cookies for Santa? Heck Yeah, I want the good stuff!! And raisins and carrots for the reindeer
Monday, December 1, 2008
Day One: Family Advent Calendar Activity
I WAS going to post about our new family tradition. It is an advent calendar where each day has a wonderful memory making activity, that I would then blog about at the end of the day.
But seeing as how the world is conspiring to piss me the hell off.... the family fun crap is being postponed until tomorrow.
It is seriously a wonder I don't just start clearing the Jerks at the commissary and the PX out with a shotgun in a "end of my rope holiday frickin rampage". It's December FIRST for cripe's sake!! The RUDENESS I have encountered today has topped the all time charts! I usually just laugh off people's idiocy during the holidays or chalk it up to them having a bad day.... but when EVERY PERSON that I see/speak to/have cross my path feels the need to not give a flying crap about the people around them/mow children down/says something rude/gives general attitude/almost hits you or your car in the parking lot because THEY are in too freaking big of a hurry to get that stuffed rhinocerous horn that Grandma just *has* to have to obey basic traffic laws, then *I* get a little perturbed and cranky myself.
GET THE HELL OVER YOURSELVES PEOPLE!!!
/rant
*sigh*
P.S. Today's activity(s) was "Pick an angel off the angel tree on the way home from school" and "Make advent Calendar". We DID pick an angel. James and I picked a little 2 yr old boy who loves trains. "Go with what you know" I always say! lol
But seeing as how the world is conspiring to piss me the hell off.... the family fun crap is being postponed until tomorrow.
It is seriously a wonder I don't just start clearing the Jerks at the commissary and the PX out with a shotgun in a "end of my rope holiday frickin rampage". It's December FIRST for cripe's sake!! The RUDENESS I have encountered today has topped the all time charts! I usually just laugh off people's idiocy during the holidays or chalk it up to them having a bad day.... but when EVERY PERSON that I see/speak to/have cross my path feels the need to not give a flying crap about the people around them/mow children down/says something rude/gives general attitude/almost hits you or your car in the parking lot because THEY are in too freaking big of a hurry to get that stuffed rhinocerous horn that Grandma just *has* to have to obey basic traffic laws, then *I* get a little perturbed and cranky myself.
GET THE HELL OVER YOURSELVES PEOPLE!!!
/rant
*sigh*
P.S. Today's activity(s) was "Pick an angel off the angel tree on the way home from school" and "Make advent Calendar". We DID pick an angel. James and I picked a little 2 yr old boy who loves trains. "Go with what you know" I always say! lol
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The boy is quick on his feet!
James just came up to me and said "Take a picture of me and I'll say *November*"
The problem?? Yeah.... he's wearing socks. JUST socks.
"I can't take your picture, buddy. You're naked!"
He stops..... thinks for a second.... places one hand on his butt and says "My butt is covered!"
Then he places his other hand in front of his boy bits and said "My penis is covered.... NOW can you take my picture??"
*sigh*
At least he knows all the pertinent parts!! lol I'd be worried if he covered his knees or something! lol
The problem?? Yeah.... he's wearing socks. JUST socks.
"I can't take your picture, buddy. You're naked!"
He stops..... thinks for a second.... places one hand on his butt and says "My butt is covered!"
Then he places his other hand in front of his boy bits and said "My penis is covered.... NOW can you take my picture??"
*sigh*
At least he knows all the pertinent parts!! lol I'd be worried if he covered his knees or something! lol
Friday, November 14, 2008
I must look cold
James keeps putting towels on me to "keep you warm, Mommy"
I'm currently sporting 4 towels, one hot pink hand towel, a blue/yellow/white striped towel, a dish towel with sunflowers, and a navy blue bath sheet.
I'm currently sporting 4 towels, one hot pink hand towel, a blue/yellow/white striped towel, a dish towel with sunflowers, and a navy blue bath sheet.
Monday, November 10, 2008
My little Emeril!!
James helped me make dinner tonight. We're having Hamburger Helper.
Mommy: fried the hamburger, supervised, and poured the juice.
James:
picked the meal
helped read the box (he read the words: 2 cups milk and 1 1/4 cups Hot Water!)
helped measure Everything
poured the milk in the pan
poured the water in the pan
poured the sauce mix in the pan
stirred
poured the macaroni in the pan
poured the veggies in the pan
stirred
put the lid on the pan when the liquid started boiling
alerted Mommy to the stove beeping
stirred the Hamburger Helper
scooped Hamburger Helper into his own bowl
made his own toast
buttered his own toast
set his place
is now enjoying the meal that we created!
James just said "We are good Cooks together. We should get stars on our shirts. 2 on my shirt and 2 on yours!!"
My heart is so full of love and pride for this awesome kid that I have!
Mommy: fried the hamburger, supervised, and poured the juice.
James:
picked the meal
helped read the box (he read the words: 2 cups milk and 1 1/4 cups Hot Water!)
helped measure Everything
poured the milk in the pan
poured the water in the pan
poured the sauce mix in the pan
stirred
poured the macaroni in the pan
poured the veggies in the pan
stirred
put the lid on the pan when the liquid started boiling
alerted Mommy to the stove beeping
stirred the Hamburger Helper
scooped Hamburger Helper into his own bowl
made his own toast
buttered his own toast
set his place
is now enjoying the meal that we created!
James just said "We are good Cooks together. We should get stars on our shirts. 2 on my shirt and 2 on yours!!"
My heart is so full of love and pride for this awesome kid that I have!
Friday, November 7, 2008
All that and Good Looks too!!
I went to a Parent/Teacher conference today with James's teacher, Ms. Brigita. Ms. Brigita pretty much confirmed my opinion..... that James is a fabulously brilliant child! lol
She says that he's the most academically advanced child in her class. She said he's the only child that can and will count past 20 without prompting and is impressed that he understands that numbers come in groups of ten (i.e.: He doesn't remember the word for 30... when counting he goes 28, 29, 20-10.. but if you tell him that 20-10 is 30 he will continue counting 31, 32.... with no prompting). She pointed out that he can identify his name in print and knows all his letters. She touched on the fact that he speaks very clearly, has a large vocabulary and a very descriptive way of talking.
She also says that he is very vocal and musical. She is VERY impressed that he changes words in songs and makes up different lyrics to go to the melodies of songs. She told me that he sings all day long, not just in circle time. He makes up songs to describe the things that he's doing or changes lyrics to fit what he is playing with. No other child in class does THAT either!
He handles writing implements correctly and uses them with equal dexterity in either hand. Neither she nor I have been able to catch him with a "preference" or a "dominant" hand. I even asked him this morning when he was *markering* (as he calls it) "Buddy, which hand to you like to write with??" He pointed to his left hand and said "I like to write with this hand", and then he pointed to his right hand and said "I like to write with this hand TOO!" (I mention this because there has been some question as to whether or not he is left handed, remind me to blog about that later...)
He doesn't play "with" kids as much as he plays "beside" them. We chalked this up to him not having a lot of experience with other kids. It's mostly always been James and me hanging out. But that when he does play with other children, he uses his words and is very kind.... if just a little thoughtless and grabby... if that makes sense.
She also mentioned that he's not a big "sitter" at school. He'll sit wonderfully for circle time, but has problems sitting and doing a project... He's like a bumblebee going from station to station. We think that may be because he is way more stimulated at school. She mentioned that he loves to play with the trains and the blocks and all the stations where you "create" things".
So there you go. I have a highly intelligent, creative child. Well... as I always say.... like Mother like Son!!
Since I'm bragging, I will add here that James can read any word that has short letter sounds, no matter the length of the word. He is ALWAYS trying to sound out words we see. He knows that when two O's go walking, that they make the "oo" sound and that when two E's go walking, that they make the "long e" sound. He can do simple addition and subtraction. We do adding games with our fingers and any objects (such as blocks or apples). He counts just about everything he sees.... sometime he even slows us down because he insists on counting or reading something... sooooooo much fun in the produce dept of the commissary... let me tell you!! lol
She says that he's the most academically advanced child in her class. She said he's the only child that can and will count past 20 without prompting and is impressed that he understands that numbers come in groups of ten (i.e.: He doesn't remember the word for 30... when counting he goes 28, 29, 20-10.. but if you tell him that 20-10 is 30 he will continue counting 31, 32.... with no prompting). She pointed out that he can identify his name in print and knows all his letters. She touched on the fact that he speaks very clearly, has a large vocabulary and a very descriptive way of talking.
She also says that he is very vocal and musical. She is VERY impressed that he changes words in songs and makes up different lyrics to go to the melodies of songs. She told me that he sings all day long, not just in circle time. He makes up songs to describe the things that he's doing or changes lyrics to fit what he is playing with. No other child in class does THAT either!
He handles writing implements correctly and uses them with equal dexterity in either hand. Neither she nor I have been able to catch him with a "preference" or a "dominant" hand. I even asked him this morning when he was *markering* (as he calls it) "Buddy, which hand to you like to write with??" He pointed to his left hand and said "I like to write with this hand", and then he pointed to his right hand and said "I like to write with this hand TOO!" (I mention this because there has been some question as to whether or not he is left handed, remind me to blog about that later...)
He doesn't play "with" kids as much as he plays "beside" them. We chalked this up to him not having a lot of experience with other kids. It's mostly always been James and me hanging out. But that when he does play with other children, he uses his words and is very kind.... if just a little thoughtless and grabby... if that makes sense.
She also mentioned that he's not a big "sitter" at school. He'll sit wonderfully for circle time, but has problems sitting and doing a project... He's like a bumblebee going from station to station. We think that may be because he is way more stimulated at school. She mentioned that he loves to play with the trains and the blocks and all the stations where you "create" things".
So there you go. I have a highly intelligent, creative child. Well... as I always say.... like Mother like Son!!
Since I'm bragging, I will add here that James can read any word that has short letter sounds, no matter the length of the word. He is ALWAYS trying to sound out words we see. He knows that when two O's go walking, that they make the "oo" sound and that when two E's go walking, that they make the "long e" sound. He can do simple addition and subtraction. We do adding games with our fingers and any objects (such as blocks or apples). He counts just about everything he sees.... sometime he even slows us down because he insists on counting or reading something... sooooooo much fun in the produce dept of the commissary... let me tell you!! lol
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Happy Halloween!!
Yeah... I know I'm 5 days late! lol... so sue me! I hope these adorable pics will make up for my horrible oversight.
Mea culpa... mea culpa.... mea culpa!
And now..... (drumroll please)
The cutest firefighter EVER!!
We started our evening at a Halloween party given by Housing at the Firehouse. We saw several people we haven't seen in a while and got to visit with several friends. It was a fun, fun time for all! While we were too late for James's section of costume judging, he did get to eat hot dogs and chips, run around with friends from school and then join up with the local volunteer fire department and work on clearing the area of those pesky trees that desperately need to be chopped down by plastic hatchets...
There were originally four... but the youngest firefighter needed to go potty so I wasn't able to get the picture with all four of them.
James with the Fire Dog
FireDudes!
We had such a good time! It was REALLY hot though... and poor James looked like he'd been hosed down under that helmet... and yet he REFUSED to take the costume off in the car on the way home! lol I practically had to bust out the Jaws of Life to get it off at the end of the evening!! ~insert eye roll here~
We hooked up with a family down the street for TOTing. So it was James and I, my friend Leah and 3 of her kids. And we walked....
and walked....
and walked...
and walked...
lol
We ended walking around 2.5 miles.... and with a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old, that is a LOT!! lol Too much candy and too much fun (on top of going to school, where they had a fall festival, that day too!) wiped the littlest fire fighter out and he went a-snooze in his bed with dreams of sugarplums and sirens!
Mea culpa... mea culpa.... mea culpa!
And now..... (drumroll please)
The cutest firefighter EVER!!
We started our evening at a Halloween party given by Housing at the Firehouse. We saw several people we haven't seen in a while and got to visit with several friends. It was a fun, fun time for all! While we were too late for James's section of costume judging, he did get to eat hot dogs and chips, run around with friends from school and then join up with the local volunteer fire department and work on clearing the area of those pesky trees that desperately need to be chopped down by plastic hatchets...
There were originally four... but the youngest firefighter needed to go potty so I wasn't able to get the picture with all four of them.
James with the Fire Dog
FireDudes!
We had such a good time! It was REALLY hot though... and poor James looked like he'd been hosed down under that helmet... and yet he REFUSED to take the costume off in the car on the way home! lol I practically had to bust out the Jaws of Life to get it off at the end of the evening!! ~insert eye roll here~
We hooked up with a family down the street for TOTing. So it was James and I, my friend Leah and 3 of her kids. And we walked....
and walked....
and walked...
and walked...
lol
We ended walking around 2.5 miles.... and with a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old, that is a LOT!! lol Too much candy and too much fun (on top of going to school, where they had a fall festival, that day too!) wiped the littlest fire fighter out and he went a-snooze in his bed with dreams of sugarplums and sirens!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
This is a Historic Day for Us All
Barac Obama has been elected President of the United States.
It is my sincere hope that, even though he was not *my* choice, Pres Elect Obama can live up to his hype and be a truly great president. I pray that he proves my doubts wrong and that God keeps him safe to fulfill his destiny. Whatever happens in the next 4 years, I hope that it is what is best for our country. I hope he has the wisdom, strength, and character to stand in the face of all his future challenges and has the ability to lead the greatest country in the whole world.
I wish him the best.
And I am VERY proud to be watching this very important moment in history. Our country has come a LONG way!
It is my sincere hope that, even though he was not *my* choice, Pres Elect Obama can live up to his hype and be a truly great president. I pray that he proves my doubts wrong and that God keeps him safe to fulfill his destiny. Whatever happens in the next 4 years, I hope that it is what is best for our country. I hope he has the wisdom, strength, and character to stand in the face of all his future challenges and has the ability to lead the greatest country in the whole world.
I wish him the best.
And I am VERY proud to be watching this very important moment in history. Our country has come a LONG way!
Friday, October 31, 2008
It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!!
Best. Show. Ever.
Contrary to the usual "mean mom" attitude, I allowed James to "crack the rules" and stay up and watch. This is the first year that he's watched it and actually *gotten* it. He LOVED it. All I heard afterwards was "I want to watch it AGAIN, Mommy!! I want to watch it AGAIN!!!" lol We are so inspired that James is going to put out the lion's share of his candy tonight, so the Great Pumpkin will bring him a special gift.
And speaking of "great pumkins" here are ours for the year. We each get one to decorate as we please. (I JUST got inspired to carve mine at 11 am TODAY, so there are no *lit* pictures.... I'll add some later, ok??)
James and his creation (using paint and foam stickers.... he wanted to carve... but I told him he had to be able to clean out his own pumpkin before he could carve it. Thank goodness he thinks pumpkin "guts" are gross!! )
Mine (spoon, paring knife, and potato peeler):
A little Jack O'lantern Trivia for you.... My pumpkins always have ears and eyebrows!
Contrary to the usual "mean mom" attitude, I allowed James to "crack the rules" and stay up and watch. This is the first year that he's watched it and actually *gotten* it. He LOVED it. All I heard afterwards was "I want to watch it AGAIN, Mommy!! I want to watch it AGAIN!!!" lol We are so inspired that James is going to put out the lion's share of his candy tonight, so the Great Pumpkin will bring him a special gift.
And speaking of "great pumkins" here are ours for the year. We each get one to decorate as we please. (I JUST got inspired to carve mine at 11 am TODAY, so there are no *lit* pictures.... I'll add some later, ok??)
James and his creation (using paint and foam stickers.... he wanted to carve... but I told him he had to be able to clean out his own pumpkin before he could carve it. Thank goodness he thinks pumpkin "guts" are gross!! )
Mine (spoon, paring knife, and potato peeler):
A little Jack O'lantern Trivia for you.... My pumpkins always have ears and eyebrows!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
James on Halloween Costumes
I don't want to be scary.. I want to be nice and be a fireman for Halloween!
Cutest Halloween Craft EVER
Pinecone Spiders!!
James and I made these up today. I've never seen a Halloween craft that calls for pinecones and goodness knows our yard is FULL of them! I was tired of him collecting them aimlessly and leaving them as "fun" surprises for me to find taking the step out of our door in the morning. The discovery of which are usually followed by language inappropriate for a 4 yr old's ears! lol
Materials needed:
small pine cones
pipe cleaners
googly eyes
hot glue gun
James and I made these up today. I've never seen a Halloween craft that calls for pinecones and goodness knows our yard is FULL of them! I was tired of him collecting them aimlessly and leaving them as "fun" surprises for me to find taking the step out of our door in the morning. The discovery of which are usually followed by language inappropriate for a 4 yr old's ears! lol
Materials needed:
small pine cones
pipe cleaners
googly eyes
hot glue gun
Directions:
1. Bend pipe cleaner in the middle so both "Legs" are the same length
2. Working from the "face" side of your pine cone, thread the U in the spines of the pine cone.
3. Repeat with remaining 3 pine cleaners. Twist the last pipe cleaner to secure to the pine cone (you may twist all of the pipe cleaners... but I only found it necessary to do with the last one as it was near the "pointy" end and the spines weren't securing it)
4. Bend pipe cleaners over your fingers to form the legs. I like to do the front and back ones first, to get the spider to "sit" the way I want.
5. Use hot glue to secure 2 googly eyes to the "face" of your spider
Voila!! One itsy bitsy spider you don't mind sitting down beside ya!!
ETA: You could Jazz these up by spray painting the pinecone black (before adding the legs and eyes) and then painting a mouth on it also.... but I was too lazy to do that! lol It only took like 5 mins to put each spider together... you would have to allow for drying time if you painted them.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
It has been requested....
That I "help out" with James on the apparatus stations at gymnastics, lol Apparently Senor Distractable is too much for them!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Random Friday Tidbits
Holy Canolie!! Has it been THREE whole days since I blogged?!? What ever did you read?? lol Here are some bits from our Friday....
James and I had to leave early to buy him a little pumpkin for school... because they are painting them today and Mommy forgot!! *gasp*
Bad Mommy!! No Cookie!!
When we got to the Commissary, they didn't have any of the small pumpkins, so I bought him a carnival squash.
Hey... it's pumpkin-shaped and "mostly" orange!! lol
The only problem is that they didn't have any with flat bottoms... so I found the one with the flattest bottom and then trimmed it with my scissors in the car. But I had to use the scissors like a knife, and the way scissors are made, you have to scrape AWAY from yourself.
Oh... and not slice your thumb open..... like I did! *ouch* lol... oh well. You figure it's all worth it... until you find out that they didn't need the stupid things until next week!!
*sigh*
*************************************
The History Channel has a program about model trains... James is fascinated. He wants it all! He says "When we talk to Santa at Christmas time, can he bring me those trains?? $500 of Trains??"
Yeah, no.
**************************************
I am sitting here literally buried in trains and trucks. James keeps wrapping his trains in an afghan, bringing them over, unwrapping them, and Hollering "Sur-PRISE!!"
That's lovely... however, it will NOT get you $500 in trains!!
**************************************
James asked me...
"Is this Germany?"
No
"Is it Mexico?"
No
"Is it Africa?"
No
"Is it Kansas City??"
LOL!
**************************************
After listening to someone vocally and persistantly requesting to eat nothing but oatmeal for dinner for over 1/2 hour (Dad had to work late and Mommy thought "why the heck not?"), the amount of quiet coming from the dinner table was beginning to concern Mommy, who peeped out of the laundry room only to see James sacked out beside his empty bowl. lol
**************************************
Heard from the bathroom:
James yelling "can you help me wipe my butt??"
I walked around the corner into the living room to see James backing out of the bathroom with a wipe sticking straight up out of his backside like a feathered duck tail!!
I *would* have taken a picture... and I actually had the camera in my hand, when I realized.... Yeah... NOT so appropriate for the internet! lol
**************************************
I just realized that James won't know what a set of encyclopedia is.
Man... I'm old!
**************************************
James is running back and forth in the house humming "Flight of the bumblebee"
He's running faster than he's humming! lol
**************************************
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......... bedtime!! Not a minute too soon!
James and I had to leave early to buy him a little pumpkin for school... because they are painting them today and Mommy forgot!! *gasp*
Bad Mommy!! No Cookie!!
When we got to the Commissary, they didn't have any of the small pumpkins, so I bought him a carnival squash.
Hey... it's pumpkin-shaped and "mostly" orange!! lol
The only problem is that they didn't have any with flat bottoms... so I found the one with the flattest bottom and then trimmed it with my scissors in the car. But I had to use the scissors like a knife, and the way scissors are made, you have to scrape AWAY from yourself.
Oh... and not slice your thumb open..... like I did! *ouch* lol... oh well. You figure it's all worth it... until you find out that they didn't need the stupid things until next week!!
*sigh*
*************************************
The History Channel has a program about model trains... James is fascinated. He wants it all! He says "When we talk to Santa at Christmas time, can he bring me those trains?? $500 of Trains??"
Yeah, no.
**************************************
I am sitting here literally buried in trains and trucks. James keeps wrapping his trains in an afghan, bringing them over, unwrapping them, and Hollering "Sur-PRISE!!"
That's lovely... however, it will NOT get you $500 in trains!!
**************************************
James asked me...
"Is this Germany?"
No
"Is it Mexico?"
No
"Is it Africa?"
No
"Is it Kansas City??"
LOL!
**************************************
After listening to someone vocally and persistantly requesting to eat nothing but oatmeal for dinner for over 1/2 hour (Dad had to work late and Mommy thought "why the heck not?"), the amount of quiet coming from the dinner table was beginning to concern Mommy, who peeped out of the laundry room only to see James sacked out beside his empty bowl. lol
**************************************
Heard from the bathroom:
James yelling "can you help me wipe my butt??"
I walked around the corner into the living room to see James backing out of the bathroom with a wipe sticking straight up out of his backside like a feathered duck tail!!
I *would* have taken a picture... and I actually had the camera in my hand, when I realized.... Yeah... NOT so appropriate for the internet! lol
**************************************
I just realized that James won't know what a set of encyclopedia is.
Man... I'm old!
**************************************
James is running back and forth in the house humming "Flight of the bumblebee"
He's running faster than he's humming! lol
**************************************
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......... bedtime!! Not a minute too soon!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Dinner-time helper!
James and I made a veggie casserole for dinner tonight and it was pretty darned good, if I do say so myself!
Now.... I'm not sure if we watch too many episodes of "Ace of Cakes" where Duff uses any and every tool available to come up with his creations.... or if there is just *something* about having a y chromosome... either way, James has a "unique" interpretation of what a kitchen "tool" is!
Now.... I'm not sure if we watch too many episodes of "Ace of Cakes" where Duff uses any and every tool available to come up with his creations.... or if there is just *something* about having a y chromosome... either way, James has a "unique" interpretation of what a kitchen "tool" is!
"It looks just right, Mommy!!"
Gymnastics.... what can I say.
OMG it was just about the funniest thing I've ever seen! Poor James was the only kid there that has NEVER been in a gym class... and those of you who know him, know that his attention span is, well.... hmmmmm... not the "best". All the other little children were doing reasonable approximations of what the instructors were demonstrating.... and James?? He was off chasing imaginary butterflies or something! lol All he wanted to do was run, skip and hop on the mats! One of the teachers looked particularly frayed around the edges by the end of class. But he did swing from the bar and the rings and climbed up on/dismounted the pommel horse all by himself, so that's something right??
He had fun though... so I guess we'll keeptorturing the teachers until they break going!
He had fun though... so I guess we'll keep
My child is getting to be too smart.
We were looking through magazines and catalogues for things that start with the letter "J" for an art project we were working on (more about that later) and he saw a particularly alluring toy, pointed to it and said "Classic! I want that Classic toy!!" I was like... whaaaaaaa??? How do YOU know it's a classic toy?
I looked at the page... and I laughed when I realized he was pointing to the WORD "Classic"!
Oh... and I have it on the highest authority that thunder is spelled "F-U-N-D-E-R" and kitchen is spelled "K-I-T-J-E-N" (sound them out... you'll get it! lol) Just thought you might like to know!!
I looked at the page... and I laughed when I realized he was pointing to the WORD "Classic"!
Oh... and I have it on the highest authority that thunder is spelled "F-U-N-D-E-R" and kitchen is spelled "K-I-T-J-E-N" (sound them out... you'll get it! lol) Just thought you might like to know!!
Monday, October 20, 2008
PSA for the Day
Unnoticed star stickers + toilet paper = a not so comfortable wiping experience
Just sayin'
Just sayin'
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Toot Toot! All aboard the Cupcake Train!!
**Warning - Picture overload ahead!!**
James's birthday party was in September and sinceI am not above tooting my own horn most of the people who read this blog weren't able to be there, I thought I would share the cupcake train I made for him instead of a cake. I was really pleased with the outcome.
The finished product:
It was a HUGE hit and I'm glad that we used it as the centerpiece on the main table. You should have seen the kids' eyes!! They were as huge as saucers when they saw it.
*phew*
From inception to completion!
I was researching "train cakes" in anticipation of James's birthday and came across this Thomas Cupcake Train and thought "PERFECT!! James will LOVE that!!" And he did!
Now the problem was, how should I construct it?? I wasn't a huge fan of the triple wide cars and the construction paper tracks (I knew I could go way cuter! lol) so I had to come up a solution that I could live with, but that wasn't going to a) break the bank or b) make me go insane with the construction.
And then I had it! I'd use the tracks and Thomas from James's leggo Thomas set! Perfect! I set the tracks up a few different ways before I finally decided the classic serpentine was the way to go. I calculated the size of the board that I would need to use and sent my minions to Home Depot to fulfill my wishes. The larger of the minions also painted the board green for me.
Since I CAN'T just have a cake on a green board (oh no!! That makes no sense!!) It must look like (a close approximation of) an actual train bed.... which of course necessitated another trip to the Mart of W for 2 different colors of special stone texture paint! I laid the tracks out, marked the board with chalk, and went to town. (Shoulda been a tagger.... I haz MAD skillz with some spray paint!)
Once the board was done... the rest, you might say, was cake! lol I glued the tracks down (with royal icing... can't make this permanent!!) and constructed the "cars" on Thursday night before the party.
I made the "cars" out of graham crackers, graham cracker sticks, mini oreos and royal icing. I glued 3 graham cracker sticks per stack with royal icing and let them dry. I glued mini oreos on each end of each stack when they dried. I used 3 of these stacks per graham cracker (again... glued on with royal icing) to construct each individual car.
Friday night, James decorated all the cupcakes (with mommy frosting and helping of course) We had a blast and I'm reasonably sure there were more M&M's in the child than there were on the cupcakes... eh... it was his birthday, why the heck not? I *was* going to make the Thomas out of cake, but a very brilliant friend of mine told me to "Reel in the Crazy, Sharon", lol. I am STILL grateful.... I think I would have seriously lost my mind! (Thanks Tracy!)
I don't have any pics of James blowing out his candle. ~insert sad face here~ Something ALWAYS seems to happen to prevent me from getting that picture. This year it was a huge lemonade tidal wave.... but I guess that's better than his 1st birthday, when one of the guests projectile vomited all over my kitchen! lol Ahhhhh.... the memories.
And speaking of memories.... here is a short retrospective of birthday cakes past....
1st - Lion cake
2nd - "I-2 Highway" cake
3rd - I punked out and bought a Thomas cake from the commissary.The little traitor James loved it!
James's birthday party was in September and since
The finished product:
It was a HUGE hit and I'm glad that we used it as the centerpiece on the main table. You should have seen the kids' eyes!! They were as huge as saucers when they saw it.
*phew*
From inception to completion!
I was researching "train cakes" in anticipation of James's birthday and came across this Thomas Cupcake Train and thought "PERFECT!! James will LOVE that!!" And he did!
Now the problem was, how should I construct it?? I wasn't a huge fan of the triple wide cars and the construction paper tracks (I knew I could go way cuter! lol) so I had to come up a solution that I could live with, but that wasn't going to a) break the bank or b) make me go insane with the construction.
And then I had it! I'd use the tracks and Thomas from James's leggo Thomas set! Perfect! I set the tracks up a few different ways before I finally decided the classic serpentine was the way to go. I calculated the size of the board that I would need to use and sent my minions to Home Depot to fulfill my wishes. The larger of the minions also painted the board green for me.
Since I CAN'T just have a cake on a green board (oh no!! That makes no sense!!) It must look like (a close approximation of) an actual train bed.... which of course necessitated another trip to the Mart of W for 2 different colors of special stone texture paint! I laid the tracks out, marked the board with chalk, and went to town. (Shoulda been a tagger.... I haz MAD skillz with some spray paint!)
Once the board was done... the rest, you might say, was cake! lol I glued the tracks down (with royal icing... can't make this permanent!!) and constructed the "cars" on Thursday night before the party.
I made the "cars" out of graham crackers, graham cracker sticks, mini oreos and royal icing. I glued 3 graham cracker sticks per stack with royal icing and let them dry. I glued mini oreos on each end of each stack when they dried. I used 3 of these stacks per graham cracker (again... glued on with royal icing) to construct each individual car.
Friday night, James decorated all the cupcakes (with mommy frosting and helping of course) We had a blast and I'm reasonably sure there were more M&M's in the child than there were on the cupcakes... eh... it was his birthday, why the heck not? I *was* going to make the Thomas out of cake, but a very brilliant friend of mine told me to "Reel in the Crazy, Sharon", lol. I am STILL grateful.... I think I would have seriously lost my mind! (Thanks Tracy!)
I don't have any pics of James blowing out his candle. ~insert sad face here~ Something ALWAYS seems to happen to prevent me from getting that picture. This year it was a huge lemonade tidal wave.... but I guess that's better than his 1st birthday, when one of the guests projectile vomited all over my kitchen! lol Ahhhhh.... the memories.
And speaking of memories.... here is a short retrospective of birthday cakes past....
1st - Lion cake
2nd - "I-2 Highway" cake
3rd - I punked out and bought a Thomas cake from the commissary.
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