Introducing the Birthday MONSTER

This past Sunday was Brad's Birthday but in our family it's not just a day it's an entire week that we celebrate. So I decided to come up with The Birthday Monster and it was such a hit. The Birthday Monster leaves a gift that is hidden where Monster's hide (under your bed, closet etc.) each night all week until your birthday. I chose a monster because I figured I could tell my kids that their closets and underneath their beds had to be clean if they want the monster to come, and it makes monsters a little less scary. It really made the entire week fun and at the end I through him a birthday luau. He said he had the best time and loved his birthday week. I want to say thanks to those who came and celebrated with us you really made Brad feel loved.

Jumbo old Grump

So we scored some great tickets the other night from my dad to go to the D-Backs game. Brad really wanted to go for his birthday month so there you go. The two seats next to us were filled by my uncle and his wife who just got back from Disneyland. (it seems like every one is either going or coming back right now). They came directly off the plane to the game and so they were sporting there new d-land gear. My uncle had a Grumpy hat on that you could see clear across the ball field because the brim was so big and white. The top part of the hat was Grumpies head and the brim was his huge beard. Well I wasn't kidding when I said you could find that hat clear across the ball field because the guys with the camera's found us and we got to be on the Jumbo-tron!!! I thought I would never in my life get to be on there but my aunt tugged me on the shoulder and said look that's you! I know we got on there because of that hat. So we're crossing that off the bucket list.

So we had a grand first birthday for Vanessa. She shared the day with Dallyn and Curtis who just came home from Alaska. All of Curtis's family were there also to celebrate their homecoming.It is so good to have my baby sister back and giggling as ussual.

As far as the look of the party went I was pleased with the decorations but my cake was a disaster. I decided I don't want to ever take so much time making a cake ever. So fondant is out the door, pherhaps some emblishment but never the entire thing. It didn't turn out how I had wanted, who wants a cake that looks like a pile of rocks with two flowers out the top, but Vanessa & Brigg would shovel a peice of the side decorations in their faces when I wasn't looking. Which by the way you are not suppose to eat fondant, I know hard to believe that you spend all this preperation on an yucky frosting. On the upside the cake inside stayed nice and moist because of the thick layer of icing.
So here's a few pics from the party. Brad was behind the camera so there is a lot of me and Vanessa. He sure loves his girls.
We had a great time and I am so thankful to have my smiley wiggly Vanessa in our family. She has been such a great baby from the start. We took her to a football game the other night and she cheered, clapped, and ate two bowls of popcorn. I just love that girl!

Warning kindof a dumb post but cool ideas

So I have been trying to find some great cake ideas for my little girls birthday. Which wouldn't be so hard if the event wasn't combined with a full grown man's coming home/ belated birthday party. Yea try and come up with a theme for that. As I looked for the ideas I stumbled on these cupcakes and they made me laugh. Cupcakes used to not make me laugh until recently. It would sound stupid if I tried to explain the humor behind cupcakes but it has everything to do with Kelly. As I was looking at different cakes I thought about different people and thought I would come up with a really dumb blog post. But the cakes are really cool so you might take a look.
Kelly the cupcake queen here's a new idea for your cupcake loving fam.

This is so my sister in law Fawn. She understands the importance a beautifully put together cake. Before her I looked at a wedding cake as food, foolish me, what a work of art they can be. Thanks again for doing mine fawny.

For Brigg because I don't know any other kid to say truck so cool.

For my wanna be rock star sister. Here's to having a leather shower curtain eh' sis

This cake I have no idea how they did it but I am just starting in my cake decorating. But this is for sure for my father in law who loves penguins.

This cake is for my sister in law Valerie. It just has so much personality and she is having a Halloween party soon so I thought I would throw the idea her way.