Chuckie Cheese Birthday

I Just couldn't help myself this year. I was all about the parties at other places! We picked up Jake's friends and brought them to Chuckie cheese for his birthday party. We had a blast! My favorite was the monster truck, that thing was cool! And as you notice, Jake choose power ranger helmet for his birthday cake theme....?!?!? No idea where that came from, Jake's never even seen power rangers. And the helmet?!?! Seriously? Yes, very seriously..."mom I want the red power ranger helmet for my birthday cake".

Now you might be thinking to yourself, did that say red? Is there something wrong with my monitor? That looks blue. Don't call the computer repair man just yet, that is a blue helmet you see. As seems to be the norm for my cakes this year, the red helmet met with disaster 1 hour before the party. I really thought I would be ok waiting until the last minute on that, until the frosting wouldn't go any redder than hot pink. Now I can often fool my kids by turning the clocks foward a few hours and convincing them it's really bedtime, but even I know that trying to convince a 5 year-old that his cake is really just a cheerful red instead of the hot pink it looks like is a no no. So I went to consult the birthday boy, whom I found dead asleep on my bed. I used common sense and the only other food coloring I had and made it a blue helmet. He was ok with it. Maybe we'll buy cakes next year....

Jakey's Birthday

What do you get the kid that shows no interest in toys but has a vivid imagination. That's right, nothing. Until two days before his birthday you have a most awesome idea. For Jake's birthday this year I made a costume box. (We thought it sounded girly to call it a dress up box) I made several costumes and bought props to go in it. Exhibit A: Pirate costume. This vest reverses to become a knight tunic.

I also made a superman cape that is also reversable to Batman on the other side.

Cowboy, YEE HAW!!!

These fabulous pop out batman wings and mask came from Utah Grandma and Grandpa. The box really didn't make it clear that they extend to a wingspan of 4 ft. Thank you toys r us.

This is a spring action-glowing-realistic-noise making light saber. Yes, I know we already have 6 light sabers. According to Brian this was a totally necessary addition to them all. This one is from Swingset Grandma and Grandpa. It was a hit!

Passion for pink

Ok, you all know me. You know how I am. For many months now I've just had this wild hair that my neighbor's (and dear friends) yard would look stunning accentuated with pink flamingos. I think the marketers for target agreed with me.

I was strolling thru the dollar section of target about 2 weeks ago and lo and behold, there they were, in their pink, smiling glory. I couldn't help myself. I bought 6. Two days later I decided 6 wasn't enough. We'll just say I bought a "few" more. Last week my neighbor awoke to a flock of flamingos grazing on her lawn. Brian was a really good sport about this and even admitted to having a blast thru the whole migration effort of flamingos traveling from our living room to their yard. They looked stunning there in the morning light. :-)

Precious moments

This is one of those moments that are rare these days. Upon growing as tall as his mom, reaching first grade and becoming "cool" I don't find Tyler looking to cuddle with me much. Part is of this is due to logistics, how do you hold a child that is the same length as you? Whose arms can circle your waist one and a half times if arms did that sort of thing?

The answer is, just like this. I was sitting on the couch, minding my own business and here comes my to-cool-for-this-nonsense kid. And he just climbs up and chills with me for a record 30 minutes. Best 30 minutes I've had with this kid in a long time. I started thinking about how I would have given anything to have 30 minutes without having to hold Ty when he was a baby. My how time changes things.

Manipua/Pork Bao

As strange as this post seems, it is necessary. This is the end of a 9 year long search for a little something we call manipua. (Right around now, I'd like to send a little holla to Christie, I know you know what I'm talkin about!) Between Guava bread and Manipua, I think I trace the beginning of my marriage weight gain. It all started on a sunny lunchtime in Laie, HI. Brian is showing me around the island and all his favorite places, which include the corner market that sells this fabulous creation called Manipua. I fall in love. Every day of that blissful week finds us at the corner market searching out a fresh little pork pouch.

Flash forward about a year. Finds us in San Fransisco on our way to Disneyland in China town. Searching from bakery to bakery looking for Manipua/Pork Bao. No one has it! No one!! Disappointment is mine, yet still dreaming about it.

Flash to present, 10:32 am on Saturday morning, April 25, 2009. Finds us driving thru Salt lake city, post haircuts and donuts at Banbury and we pass an Asian market. My thought is "hmm, lanterns for the patio, let's stop" My second thought, yes, you guessed it! " I wonder if they have Pork bao?" We search, none fresh. I get this crazy idea that maybe Asian would enjoy their favorites frozen the way we enjoy a frozen pizza. I wander the frozen isle, hopeful and longing like a child looking for the toy they have coveted on the shelves of a toy store. When, like a beacon, from down the isle I see it, in the distance, my long lost love. A bag of frozen manipua. I run, arms outstretched to recover it (ok not really, but my excitement did make a few of my fellow shoppers turn and stare for a minute). Five dollars! Five dollars for a whole bag of this deliciousness.

When we got home I just couldn't wait to see, so we tried one and it was EXACTLY the same! I am finally at peace with my food needs! Well, almost. I still haven't found a Nanaimo bar that stands up to the one from that little bakery in Surrey Canada..........

Ty's birthday

I'm finally getting around to blogging! After that whole cake fiasco I was very "over" Tyler's birthday. I'm finally having happy feelings about it all again, so here is the final cake result. Now mind you, this was not the cake I had designed and planned for. The cake I had designed and planned for was the uber cool creation of cake, frosting and fondant that was going to take me a few hours to put together. About 1 1/2 hours into THAT cake some friends stopped by, as we were talking in the kitchen I hear Bethany let out a slight gasp. I turn, to find Jake has reached up and grabbed a huge chunk out of the giant lego cake I had just painstakingly smoothed fondant over. (Mind you, I still had several hours worth left to do, so I was already pretty exhausted) I simply removed the cake from his hand, washed it, removed his glasses and escorted him to bed. At 7. In silence. Mommy done. I think the only reason I restrained the tears was because there were other people in the house.

So after all that ra-ra, I sat down in the toy room and devised a new plan. Toys on the cake. I hate toys on cakes, I think it's a cop-out. And frankly, I'm okay with that this year. I think it turned out to be a pretty dang cool cop-out if you ask me.

I went for Indiana Jones theme; and yes, I built those props all by myself. We've got a tent, a picnic table with lantern, map, walkie and cocoa cup. We've got Indie himselft and dear old dad, who is holding a shovel next to recently dug up buried treasure. I had a much better picture, but for some reason blogger won't let me stick it up.

The party was at Classic skating this year. We picked up 7 little boys and escorted them to a night of bouncing, laser tag and pizza. It was wild to say the least. I have to say this, Tyler has some awesome friends. I love each of these kids like family, so it was really fun. This picture has a couple of strangers in it, but for the most part you get the idea.

This picture disturbed me. Ty looks really handsome in it. And a little older. :.(

There they all are! Top row we've got Josh A., Tyler M. Hayden P. Bottom row: Gabe C. Our Tyler, Eric, and Jakey. The boys had a blast! All in all, it was a terrific birthday.

Update on us

Since I've been lazy, here's an update on us. Tyler had a tooth pulled on the 7th. One of his front baby teeth was jammed into his gums after a sledding accident. At a friends house. Sledding down the staircase. Uh yeah, 'nough said. It jammed behind the permenant tooth so we had it out. That wasn't his finest moment. Tyler also turned 7 this week. I'm feeling a little old after that. We celebrated by going to classic skating with friends, I'm sure that will be a post all it's own.

Jake's eye is greatly improving. I mentioned it in the bedroom remodel post. And he is showing his true capacity for naughtiness lately. I've never seen a more opinionated child before. He has the art of the silent treatment down and I'd like to say I handle this well, but I just can't help but laugh. Eventually I'll learn to keep a straight face.

Brian broke the cardinal law of eating in the living room and for some reason thought it would be smart to let the boys take bowls of raw brownie mix in to watch a movie. I'm sure I don't have to explain what happened next. Yeah. So Brian tried to clean it. With dish soap. Now I have a very large, conspicuous bleachy red stain in the middle of my living room. We are carpet shopping. When I'm less frosted about it, maybe I'll post a picture.