Special Day for our boy

 Lunch with my boy for his Birthday. The cakepops were a HIT! The kids were so excited and it made it extra special for Logan to see his classmates excited for his birtday. Logan unashamedly hugged and tucked his arm around my back while we ate lunch together. I love how tender and affectionate he is.

 

 

I couldn't pull my phone out fast enough as the kids spontaneously sang Happy Birthday.

 

Okay, not my typical cake baking for birthdays but I go with the request they give me and this year Logan wanted a cake with Reese Cups  and chocolate all over the top so that's what he got. In between the layers of cake is a layer of Reese's cups and homemade peanut butter frosting, covered with dark chocolate ganache on the top. Ohh my word how many calories can you put in one cake!!!!

 

 Whoo hooo! RGIII Jersey!
 

 AND the magic kit that he has wanted for a while. We have been entertained for the past few days as he is learning to work some of the illusions.
 

 

This is a face of "I am special" He was so appreciative as he thanked us several times for the gifts and making the cake just the way he wanted it. God has big plans for this boy that is growing into a young man. He is 100% boy and the most tender, compassionate, protective boy I know.

 

We love you

 LoMo, Ltrain, Lo, Carolina



All within a week # 3- Maddy's Birthday Party

Maddy is our animal lover, so she requested a safari cake this year. We typically do "family birthdays" besides pivotal years such as 5,10,13,16 years old. She was turning 10 so we pulled off her Birthday party the Thursday after her actual Birthday. She had some kids from school join the fun and neighbors/friends came by throughout the evening. We had a blast at the party as the parents, friends and party goers joined in on the games. The evening went very fast and we didn't  have enough time to play all the "minute to win it" games we had planned.

Who knew you could use plastic cups for so many games that the kids would eagerly wait to play!

Cup stacking was a hit!

another game...

and another cup game!

Putting cut out cereal boxes together

The party didn't stop until well after dark.

We had a fun celebration for Maddy, she ended the evening saying..."THAT was the best birthday party ever"  We are blessed beyond words that the Lord entrusted her to us. She cares deeply for others, she is compassionate, caring, quick to serve, outgoing, teachable, friendly, energetic, loves adventure and she is spontaneous, gifted in music/singing, enjoys deep conversations, innovative, independent....I could go on.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14

Olivia's 5 year old Super Mario Birthday

We had a special celebration for Olivia's 5th Birthday. Just like any parent, I can't believe how time has flown by and my "sweet pea" is 5 years old. It seems like yesterday I was a bit surprised to find out I was pregnant with my 4th child. She brings so much to our family. Her animated faces, inquisitive nature, silly dancing, competitiveness, creativity, endless pretend play, flexible, love for her siblings, her continuous words of affirmation "Mom your the best cake maker in the world" "Dad your the best worker in the world", Maddy, your the best book reader in the world", "Logan your the best sports player in the world", "Breanna your the best art person in the world"

Blowing out her candles

 We had a few friends join us for cake and ice cream.

 Even though we said it was totally not necessary to bring gifts she somehow ended up with a few to open.

 We spent some time hanging out playing. I met this sweet family at Logan's bus stop and I am so thankful for our walks in the neighborhood, chats at the bus stop and quick childcare exchanges with the kids when we are in a pinch.

 Here are a few pictures I put up for Olivia's Birthday. Olivia and I spent some time looking at her baby book during the day.

I surprised Olivia with a trip to Chucke Cheese (yes I took Tylenol after our outing!)  and she had a blast picking out a few toys with her money from grandma and grandpa.

Papa and Nana have a very special way of singing Happy Birthday. The kids look forward to their phone call and now thanks to technology skype! Also, a bonus she was able to open her gift while the grandparents watched.

Olivia went to bed and said "this was the best birthday ever"

Cakes are a BIG deal at our house. Our kids start planning for their birthday cake months in advance. While working on Olivia's cake she started planing for her cake next year! The kids anticipate the cake "coming together" while they come in and out of the kitchen however Olivia tends to be in the kitchen most of the time helping.

Olivia's favorite thing to do is sifting. Can you tell?  Well....I did tell her she could lick the bowl. She cracks me up!

Olivia asked for a Super Mario birthday cake with a princes peach castle (All Chocolate!) .  A pretty big request but she is turning 5years old right?  This is a picture after many, many hours in the kitchen making cakes, icing, making fondant and more fondant. This is the fun part for sure! It was like I was really playing the game while decorating. 

Olivia is holding the super Mario book, giving gentle suggestions on what I should make to put on the cake.  ohh and yes, the castle is cake as well. lots and lots of cake!!

 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  Psalms 139:13-16

Happy Birthday, "Sweet Pea"

Logan turns 8 years old PA style!

We had a fun time celebrating Logan's Birthday. God has certainly blessed our family with a "wild at heart" boy.  Logan has a gift of compassion that sharpens my walk with the Lord.  He is curious, adventurous, caring, passionate, protective and fun spirited.  Yes, today is a huge reminder of the person the Lord created and all those qualities can drive a momma nutty at times!   I am thankful and pray the Lord will guide Logan to use all of those qualities in his character to bring the Lord Glory.

“A man needs a battle to fight; he needs a place for the warrior in him to come alive and be honored, trained, seasoned. If we can reawaken that fierce quality in a man, hook it up to a higher purpose, release the warrior within, then the boy can grow up and become truly masculine.”
John Eldredge, Wild at Heart

Logan has been talking about what type of cake he wanted for weeks. Cakes are a big deal here for Birthdays. The kids wait in anticipation and are thrilled to watch the progress as it all comes together. We typically only have actual birthday parties every couple of years. This year was non-party year for Logan so he had a few friends pop in for a few minutes to eat cake with him & sing Happy Birthday. It was fun and it was very special for Logan to have them here to celebrate. 

I have no idea what I am going to do when my side kick goes to school next year....okay, okay I am not talking about that right now. Olivia has become quite the baker and really does now how to make cakes, fondant and butter cream.  

Do you see all those little blue and red fondant balls around the cake?  They disappeared within seconds between the 6 boys. THAT is a lot of sugar. We adults turned our backs for just a minute while talking and poof they were gone!

Billy and I stayed up into the early hours of the morning working on Logan's cake. I usually make the fondant and butter cream a few days ahead of time, but we made the whole cake all in one day....that's a lot of hours in the kitchen! Billy hand painted the edible logos and scoreboard with food gel on fondant.

So Maddy came straight in from school and asked to look up music on the computer so she could learn how to play Happy Birthday for Logan. She researched a few keys that she hasn't learned yet in her lessons so she could play a song for Logan.

Nana and Papa have called the kids on their Birthday's for years to sing Happy Birthday. They certainly have a "unique" way of singing each time. The kids look forward to the calls on their Birthdays and  this year Logan was able to Skype his special song.

 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

   your works are wonderful,

   I know that full well. Psalm 139:14