One Year Older and Fatter Too

People. I turned 33 last week. Since I was born on March 3rd does that mean that it was my Double Golden Birthday? (I had never even heard of golden birthdays until last year. I called my sister Adrienne and asked her if she had ever heard about them and she said, "No, that sounds stupid." Maybe my mom never dared breath a word about them because she knew Adrienne harbored such strong, negative feelings.)

Anyhoo, my Double Golden Awesome Fantastical Birthday was chill and relaxed. A few friends surprised me with lunch and then another friend, who also happens to be my unofficial clutter coach, totally cleaned and organized my kitchen while I taught her kids piano lessons, and then we just had a little family dinner and went to bed. It was awesome.

The next night (because I can't let my birthday be just ONE day) we had some friends over for pizza and I made a "Giant Ding Dong Cake." 

Not kidding. 

Behold...

Disclaimer: This was not the actual cake I made (which explains why the cake is wishing "Christopher" 

a happy birthday. So you can stop wondering who he is -- I have no idea who the heck 

Christopher is). Mine actually looked a hot mess because I didn't let it cool long enough before 

cutting it into layers to add the marshmallow-y goodness.

The funny thing is, it's not actually a Ding Dong at all. It looks and tastes way more like the Hostess cupcakes, hence the frosting curlicues. I think they just called it that because really, what sounds better -- Giant Cupcake Cake or Giant Ding Dong Cake? Kind of a no-brainer. 

And seriously, it was gooooooood. 

What's that you say? You don't like Hostess cupcakes?

Well fine ... you're dead to me!

....

{awkward silence continues}

...

However, if you ever decide to come back into the Hostess cupcake fold, here's where you can find the recipe:

Giant Ding Dong Cake (aka Fattening Heaven on a Plate)

The Piano Man

 Guess who started piano lessons?

(Disclaimer: The author of this post, who also happens to be the strict and professional teacher of this 

young lad, does not condone the stick-straight fingers technique demonstrated in this picture.)

Guess who's tickling the ivories like he's been working 10 years at a dueling piano bar in Vegas?

With crazy double-jointed fingers no less (sorry Henry, that was my genetic bad)...

 

He's my prized pupil...but don't tell any of the my other students (especially Ruby, por favor).

I'm BaaaaaAAAACK!

Umm ... hello? 

I hesitate to even ask but ... is anyone still out there? 

If you ARE still around ... GOOD NEWS! My super creative friend Halsey is having a giveaway on her cute blog Spunky Junky for my jane henry hats! 

I guess it's true -- good things come to those who wait!!!

So get over there and win yourself a hat!!! 

Just a little FYI -- Halsey makes and sells super cute headbands, modeled here by my Ruby girl. Check out all her adorable stuff here!

First Days

So it's been three months since my last post and two months since this event actually occurred ... but whatever.

Although I failed to blog about my kids' first day at school in a timely fashion, I did NOT fail to take pictures of the blessed event.

I still can't believe I have a kindergartner ... so bizarre:

What the? How can he look so grown up one minute ...

... but only 15 minutes later look so small?

It was seriously mad chaos that morning. Kids and parents everywhere, crying, clinging to one another. Am I an insensitive mother if I didn't cry? I mean, I thought I would. I even tried to get a little verklempt, feeling like it was an appropriate response to one's oldest "leaving the nest." But after about twenty seconds, I realized I was perfectly okay with it. I guess because he was okay with it.


A few days later, we got to experience Ruby's first day of preschool. She's always been our more "reserved" child so I wasn't quite sure how she would respond. Luckily, she's going to the preschool where Henry went so it only took us two years to warm her up to the idea.

 

 She sure was excited about being the main figure behind the lens. It was {FINALLY} her big day!

Roughing up her little brother one last time ...

Yes, that is a plastic croissant in his mouth. Don't ask ....

Look at my little people. Aren't they adorable?

I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia as I took this picture. Two years ago, Ruby was the little one on the right, clutching all her precious crap she couldn't leave home without, while Henry was ready to venture off and blaze his own preschool trail.  

2008

Anyhoo, here's my little lady making her way in the big, wide world (with the prerequisite ginormous backpack):

That's odd. I'm suddenly feeling a little verklempt.

On the Road ... Again

I don't even know how many days we've spent away from home this summer, and still it continues. We're currently in Utah staying with Scott's family for a few days before heading out on our annual river trip down the South Fork of the Boise River. 

I figured before I post about that (if I actually ever get around to it) I should probably (finally!) upload posts from our day float a few weeks ago.

We got a sitter for Abram and took Henry and Ruby for a short float down the Gallatin River near our house.

The Launch (I sure hope this craft is seaworthy):

Starting off the float like any respectable person does: with lunch and cold Diet Coke.

"It's a helluva day at sea, Sir!" (Name that movie)

 She was a little nervous at first and clutched my knee for the first half of the trip:

 Reaction to the first small set of rapids:

Ruby finally loosened up with the help of some not-so-liquid courage. We discovered her artificial courage comes in the shape of an Oreo:

 (She was saying, "MORE!")

 Poor kids:

My turn at the helm. Don't mean to brag, but I'm kind of a big deal:

Wish us luck on our next adventure -- the kids are staying home as the water gets MUCH bigger. Cross your fingers no one flips their boat!