1/1/11

Happy New Year

I listed these Smurf people on ebay in December. The guy that was the highest bidder didn't pay. I reminded him when you bid it's a contract ...and he was sorry. This buyer had what they call "buyers remorse" So...grrr I let him off the hook, reported it to ebay so I don't pay twice for them and them relisted them. Sellers don't have much choice these days. It's a buyer's market.

If nobody buys them these will be my mascots for 2011. : )

Xavier's Eighth Birthday

Before Xavier went to sleep I took his picture because it would be the last time I saw him as 7 years old. I'm sentimental that way...................................................................................................

Then while Xavier was at school I baked a chocolate cake and blew up 4 punching balls that look like big balloons I hung some crepe paper and wrapped a few small gifts to surprise him.

Tom frosted the cake and put a little plastic Mario, a number 8 candle and way too many sparklers! If I did this myself I would have only put 8 sparklers..........but it was very exciting to see all those tall sparklers shooting sparks at once. I couldn't get it on camera. Speaking of not getting a picture. I didn't even think to take a picture of his classroom treats this year. They were so pretty too. Ice Cream Cone Cup Cakes. I used wafer cones with flat bottoms. Inside each cone I put 8 M&M candies then I peeled the paper off of a store bought mini cup cake and placed it right inside the cone. It was just the right size and the way the store swirled the white frosting it looked like ice cream. They even had colored sprinkles on top. What kind of a blogger doesn't get a pictures of that? Oh well.....I live for the moment. Oh and when you make these be sure to find a pretty box to send them off in. (presentation!) Size is important these fall over unless they are packed tight. I lined the bottom with a sheet of waxed paper and covered the treats loosely with another sheet of waxed paper. Xavier told me that all of the kids loved them except Olivia complained the cone was stale......... but he told me she still ate it just the same. I imagine the cones sat in that box all day and the frosting probably was softening the cones where it touched. I will keep that in mind next time I make these and brainstorm a way to keep the cones crunchy. I know what Olivia means. There must be a way to keep that cone crunchy. No more birthdays in our house for a good while.

Another Birthday...

We had Chinese food for dinner. Emma is wearing chopsticks in her hair.

Tom made Papa a King Size Cake!
( Lemon cake with butter cream frosting.)

Xavier's birthday is next week!
***

Happy Birthday Emma

Emma is 19 now.

Happy Easter

Rejoice in the Risen Lord in every present moment
( Rallegrarsi nel Signore Risorto in ogni attimo presente)

Happy Birthday Emma

Remember I would sing to you?

Just as my Mother sang to me.

Where are you going my little one, little one?
Where are you going my baby my own?

Turn around and you're 2.

Turn around and you're 4.

Turn around and you're a young girl
going out of the door.

******************



God Bless you Emma,

and God Bless your path in life.
I Love You.

SEE!

Xavier has a surprise to show you.

SEE?
It's exciting to be almost 7 years old,
and your tooth wiggles out all by itself!

The tooth fairy used to bring me a shiny quarter for each lost tooth.

Xavier is hoping for a dollar.

Happy Easter

A Day to Remember

When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it happened or not.- Mark Twain

Xavier just turned 6 years old.

Instead of making the usual cupcakes for the class, I thought up another treat. I bought a box of giant POCKY sticks and tied a bright colored party blower to each one with a length of blue rafia. Then I tucked them all into a Spiderman gift bag and Xavier brought them to school. It was also his classmate Clarissa's birthday and the children did have cupcakes after all.

The theme of Xavier's birthday cake is my original idea but yet simple...another year older. A toy bulldozer pushing 5 birthday candles out of the way to make room for the Big Number 6. It's chocolate cake with chocolate frosting just as he hoped for but with pink vanilla frosting between the 2 layers for a little extra surprise. The cake is sprinkled with tiny bright colored confetti candy.

We have a tradition in our house that the birthday person may have the birthday meal of their choice. This doesn't usually get out of hand except for the one year Emma requested a cornish hen for each of us. I honored the request but the entire meal was very expensive and consequently her presents were limited that year. Since then she's been more frugal with her requests. Xavier had his favorite, spaghetti.

He got lots of presents and enjoyed his birthday. I hope it will be one for him to remember, although I must admit I have a hard time remembering many of my own past birthdays.