The CakeS

Sometimes it's the food.

Sometimes it's the location.

Sometimes it's the decorations.

Sometimes it's the invitations.

But it is NEVER (well, almost never) the CAKE.

I always try to make my kids' birthday cakes. Whatever they want, I try to figure it out. In my next post, I'll add some past cake creations.

Big Boy is in a monkey phase and so he got a monkey head. I know, it kind of looks like a bear. I asked him to get a toy monkey to check where the eyes were and the one he gave me had a nose like a bear. I wish I would have changed it to two nostrils. But, the Bear-Monkey was just fine for BB.

Little Man, well, he wanted a bunny. A pink bunny. Really? Pink?

I bought a strawberry flavored frosting that was pink and used it for the filling. I then added some blue to make the outer frosting purple. Purple is a bit more manly than pink. I'm sure when he gets older, Little Man will tell me I was crazy to allow for a pink/purple bunny. Your wish, baby, your wish.

So, for both cakes, I started with a casserole pan for the large upper piece, using a pound cake mix. A simple round cake was the bottom with a layer of frosting in between. Although I should have cut the casserole size in half for more frosting, it probably held up in the heat better without it. I then chopped two sides (hang onto for later) and cut off more cake to create a rabbit shape.

The sides of the round cake were used for the ears, tail and the head came from the casserole cut. All pieces held on with toothpicks. I was pretty jazzed at the shape at this point.

And the boy? He LOVED it.

Next year, I'm working on my frosting abilities.

Monkeys and Puppets

There are days when I want to hide in the closet. I've done it before.

There are days when I question every parenting choice I've made since the epidural.

There are days when I envision my life 30 years from now and see myself still making bag lunches.

There are days when I think my boys will never stop fighting.

And then there are days where the creativity takes hold.

Big Boy made a momma monkey and a baby monkey out of boxes. The sides have hands and the back has a tail. Of course the momma monkey is bigger and the baby monkey likes to fit inside the momma so she can carry him around.

I love the days where creativity trumps fighting and TV watching.


And, not to be outdone by his brother getting photos taken of his creativity, Little Man displays the sock puppet he made last Christmas. We took several videos, as well.


It is a SOCK puppet...it MUST go on the foot.

Creativity rocks.

The Rare Sock Monkey

I go through phases. I'll be interested in something, carry a torch for a certain hobby or collection. Then in three weeks I'm over it.

My son is the same way. Both of them, but especially Sam. My almost seven year old loves to collect thing. Strange things at times.

Magnets.

Rubber items.

Wheels.

Erasers.

Sock Monkeys.

I made a sock monkey from a kit 20 some years ago and both boys have claimed it as their own. He sleeps on the floor next to turtle. There was also a recently pilfered from my collection, sock monkey key chain.

Sam asked me to make him a sock monkey. Make you something? Of course, my child. I live to please you. But then, I succumbed. I even bought some long socks to make this easier.

But he wanted a "miniature" and "very very very rare" sock monkey. So, in the truest sense of the word, I got a sock out of my drawer that had a hole in it. It happened to be a sock with monkey's on it - go figure.

So here he is, the rarest miniature sock monkey monkey.

And I have two new pairs of tall socks!

On the Boardwalk

There is a hidden treasure in Williamsville.

The Boardwalk. I first learned of it when Tom's parents would go there for walks. Flat footing for people with difficulty, yet immersed in the swamp as if you were 20 miles from a road. Until you look the other way and see Hopkins Road. Tom's father used to see Emily the Monkey on this same Boardwalk. I often look for her (and her owner) when I take my boys. I haven't seen Emily, but...
There is a monkey named Big Boy that brings along...

his little monkey brother Little Man.

Cystic Fibrosis Boo Bash

Can you guess the boy? First pick is Little Man, second is Big Boy. This was BB's costume when he was one and a half, and LM's when he was one and a half. It had to be shortened for LM, but he was fortunately able to wear it last night to the Cystic Fibrosis Boo Bash. The best part of this costume, is the tail. Just long enough where it hits the ground and bounces as the child runs or moves.

Twice, LM was chasing his tail, so funny. And one girl guessed BB's costume correctly. Again, he wore last year's costume. I can't be expected to make two costumes two weeks prior to Halloween! I am more of the 29th kind of girl. I was hoping to start the base this weekend. They both want to be the same thing, so that is kind of exciting. I don't allow commercial heroes or anything that is plastic yet intended to look like fabric. I want to let their imaginations work and come up with something they think is neat, hence BB's costume last year. His idea. Completely. Have you guessed yet?

Growing up, my parent's made our costumes. We always had great costumes. It was one time in life where I felt like I was in with the in-crowd. Being someone else, in an impeccable, well crafted way beat that plastic super hero every time. My parent's also liked making us a set...mouse and cheese or Princess Leia, Darth Vader and a Jawa. I was also once a baby bottle. And don't imagine anything easy...this was foam core and pantyhose wonder. I have no idea how I even got to school with that thing.

Oh, and after three years of the Monkey Costume...we finally got first place in the costume contest last night. It was pretty fun. LM was crying and tired, so it was a quick acceptance, but nice. We gave the ribbon to BB, since it really was his costume first. But, shouldn't it have been for me???

And BB last year...

Was a Slug.

This year...you will have to wait and see.

What Is Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:
clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.

If you would like to donate to Cystic Fibrosis, you may do so here .