Monkey Lobster

10 resolutions

I've never done New Year's Resolutions before, but I am inspired this year so here goes:

1. make time to play more music
2. spend more time teaching Elsa to play the guitar
3. read more to Cyrus
4. become a runner
5. grow and eat more kale
6. make 2 new friends
7. play more soccer
8. be less judgemental of others
9. do things in moderation (excluding gardening)
10. talk to my mother more often

 

Just saw this message pop of for the first time, "No misspellings found".

Must be a good sign.

(I just noticed that I wrote pop-of instead of pop-up, oh well can't win 'em all.)

party people

A happy birthday it was. Filled with strawberries, sushi, family and friends to share it with, and well, a boat.  Yes, that's right, we now own a boat.

cyrus is four

My sweet boy is now four.  Hard to believe my baby has gown so much. For his birthday I made him a photo book with pictures of his beloved Meow, and a photo book of his family.  He was thrilled.



For the first time, his birthday came with much joy and anticipation this year.  Celebrating birthdays of a child with developmental delays can be bitter sweet.  I still worry, I still wonder everyday what he would have been like without a disability, I worry about when people ask me how old he is and how I have to say four, and how he obviously does not seem four, and how I am going to explain myself. But for the most part this year I celebrate his fourth birthday with joy.  

Cyrus is the sweetest boy on earth, and no mother has ever loved any boy as much as I love this boy.

Elsa is 8.

 


My wild-woman asked for a bow and arrow and a carrot cake for her 8th birthday.  What a cool kid you are.   
Not to mention kind, loving and generous. 

celebration

 

 

This chocolate crepe cake with almond meringue cream and ganache frosting was SOOOO good.  I usually go for the O.K. tasting but impressive looking cake.  This time I wanted something that was going to taste fabulous, and it did.  It was pretty easy to make and can be made days in advance. I could not find the hazelnut cream it called for so I substituted with almond paste. Thanks to martha and the company that helped to eat it.  

Cyrus turns three

I can't believe it's been three years.  It's been a crazy three years for us. Having a second baby, ending up in the ICU, learning that he was different, dealing with many medical issues, specialist and surgeries, learning to be a parent of a child with special needs and then one day without even knowing it just being a parent. I'm not saying that it's no longer on my mind that Cyrus is different than other children, it just isn't the first thing on my mind.  Things just seem more settled, I feel more "normal".  Not so worried that someone might ask me how old he is and not know what to say, or that no-one will like him because he doesn't understand language. He is just the cutest, sweetest thing on the planet, and I am so happy to have him in my life.

We had a party for him this weekend with cake and lots of music and dancing.  He had a good time.

 

Easier than pie

Maybe not easier, but this particular cake is surely as easy.

So the cake starts here, not so pretty.

I first covered the cake with a "crumb coat", a thin layer of frosting to lock in all the crumbs and create a smooth surface.

Then I filled a pastry bag and "star" tip with chocolate frosting.  I squeezed little starts along the bottom and then did a zig-zag around the edge of the cake. Here is a great site for tools and tips, Micheals crafts stores also have loads of tips and things.

I continued my zig-zag all the way into the middle of the cake and arranged strawberries in the center. 

Piled on some the chocolate covered strawberries, and finally covered up some blemishes with a star here and there.

The kids (and chickens) all loved it.

Birthday round up

The day started with a visit to Elsa's class to deliver some treats.................which took an extra trip to the store because apparently you can RUIN a batch of melted chocolate with just one drop of water.

Elsa wanted to go to some Japanese hibachi tables for her birthday party and invited 3 of her classmates to come along.  Afterward we came back home and enjoys some cake and dancing with chickens (sorry no photos).

I made this birthday ring this past winter, but you can buy just the ring and make the ornament to go with it.

I bought wooden peg people and a set of #'s and a few other wooden things at Micheal's and they came to life with some paint and bits of scraps.  I love these little woodland folk too I'd love to add a little mushroom cap kid to my collection. 

I have been working on a "birthday box" filled with hand made birthday decorations and traditions that are pulled out at every birthday.Here is a banner and some flags and I have napkins and a table cloth on my list of what to add next. And no birthday is complete without a cake.  This was a very easy cake to make, I'll do a" how it came together" post soon.  If you have never used decorating tips you'll be pleased at how easy it is.
A very happy birthday it was.

I dream of strawberries

I know I've been talking a lot about strawberries lately, but to put things into perspective it's been on my mind since the ground was covered in snow.

I dreamed one day I would have so many berries that I would be making jam with them.  Well today was that day (a little too runny though, any tips?)  Yesterday I made Ben this tart for his birthday, and today Elsa told me that she was sick of strawberries.  What an accomplishment!

After many strawberry sodas, tarts, and salads my cutting board is stained red and my children have nothing decent left to wear.  Leave me a comment and maybe you'll be the next recipient of a quart of berries on your front stoup.

birthday cakes

I just got back from the library with this year's birthday cake research.  I love cakes................they are  so impressive and exciting  and full of memories.  They fulfill  my crafty urges  and at the end of the day do not clutter my home.  And they are SO EASY!!!!!!!(or at least easier than I would have thought)  Last year my sister-in-law gave me some cake decorating tools for my birthday.  I made myself a cake and fell in love with the process.

This is the cake I made Elsa last year. Not difficult, I promise.   It is like using 3-D stamps and pens and a few little tools and tricks.  She has high hopes for this year........the search is on. (and I'll be sure to document the process)