Cakes Galore

Ethan and I love to cook. In the past, we stuck to the basics....cookies. Then one day we were watching our favorite show together (Food Network Challenge) and they were making tall cakes. He wanted to make a tall cake. I went and bought cake pans and mix and we made a double layer cake complete with sprinkles on top. It turned out so cute. This is the cake he made with daddy for me.

One day I was perusing the bargain shelf at Barnes and Noble and saw the cutest cookbook. Easy Cooking for Kids. Each recipe has a picture of the finished product. In the margin there are pictures of each main ingredient, and it uses basics that are easy to get. Ethan loved the book! He wouldn't put it down.

So last night I told him we were going to make the recipe he wanted for breakfast (yeah this book breaks it up like a regular cookbook.) We looked at the page he wanted, mini cinnabuns. We read the ingredients, wrote our shopping list for the three things we needed. He actually wrote the list...so CUTE! Once our list was complete we had to go shopping. Ethan carried the basket while I read the list. He was so proud of himself. He even managed to put it on the register for the cashier.

This morning, Ethan woke up bright and early, excited to make his breakfast. The mini cinnabuns turned out wonderful....of course as a mom I added scrambled eggs and milk to make a compete breakfast.

Snow

I am sure everyone around here is sick of snow. We have seen more snow this winter than we have seen in over a decade. The December storms broke fifty year records. Today's light storm dropped another inch on us at least. But it was fun.

Ethan was home when I got off work. He and I played a bit out in the white cold wetness, made a snow angel, played hide and seek (which does not work as well with footprints tattle telling), and had a wonderful snowball fight.


Then we had to go in and warm up, eat lunch, and take a needed nap. Once those things were accomplished we headed back outside. Lucky for us it had continued to snow. Ethan and I did not want to build a snowman...at least I didn't. I am sick of our neighbors knocking down any snowman we build. So I taught him how to make a snow fort....Northern Michigan style. We scrounged for a rectangled shape container to use as the mold. And I showed him how to stagger the bricks. He is really good at building! The silly thing kept getting higher and higher. I have no clue how many bricks we made but is looks good.

The funny thing is....as we were building...two kids got off the bus in our drive way. Yes the stupid school district put a bus stop in my driveway...anyway....they looked at us. "Oh cool, they are building a snow fort." "I never thought of using Tupperware. I will have to try that."

I fully expect to see Tupperware forts up and down the street tomorrow if the snow hangs on through the night.

A day fit for a Knight

Ethan celebrated his fifth birthday on Saturday. Wow, my boy is five! Where did the years go??

So my dear boy wanted Knights this year. I had to rack my brain on this one. No one carries knight party supplies, but I had to stick with the theme. I am a theme planner, I guess it comes from years of Child care and throwing "parties." A theme is just how I function.

I planned on having the children decorate shields. What is a knight without his shield?? Then I thought about hobby horses but changed it to making paper swords to go with their shields. I know, a educator encouraging war play. Oh my what is the world coming too. The organization was a bit daunting until I found Oriental Trading had shields and paper swords to kids to decorate. They even had "Knight's Party" plates, cups and napkins! Woo Hoo!


The children (with help from a couple of Dads, thanks Ryan and Dale) decorated their swords with foil...to make them silver, and jewels on the hilts.

I turned the windows into castle walls...

Made a cake in the shape of a shield, decorated with a picture inspired by a real coat of arms....







The children built castles and wore crowns they made as a party hat. When their castles were finished we gave them knights and princesses and dragons to play with in the castles.

Ethan had a wonderful time! I know each of the guests enjoyed themselves too. I can't wait to see what theme he comes up with for next year.

Turning 5

Five years ago today, I was very pregnant, miserable, and ready to have a baby. Two days later a beautiful, amazing, HUGE baby (22.5 in and 10.5lbs) was born. Now on the eve of his fifth birthday I sit and realize I no longer have a baby. I have a school child.

Ethan turns five, starts school in September. He amazes me each day with his abilities, with his love, and his intellect.Each day I stop in wonder and think, "wow, this boy is mine. Thank you God." My boy turns five. This is a huge moment. He continues on the journey of growing up and maturing. He begins the journey out of early childhood into school age. (Save that one for September...along with a massive amount of tears.)