"B" is for Birthday Parties (part 1)

So, I said I would post pictures of the un-birthday parties I have done for Ev and Princess Squiggles. Because Squiggles is young, I figured we could get away with joint birthday parties for now.  (I don't know how it will be possible when she's older. Unless my son agrees to Lego men wearing princess tiaras...)

Anyway. Last year we did the "Very Merry Un-Birthday" theme.

The Mad Hatter's hat with the date of the party

The opposite side had the party details.

The great thing about this party is that my son went along with the idea.  He thought it was cool that we were doing an un-birthday, and after showing him Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" movie, he was on board.  We went with a green (for him) and pink (for her) color palette.

We also did away with the traditional birthday cake.
 (Do you find it disgusting that we have people blow at flaming cakes?  Or is that just me?)

Anyway, here are some pictures of the dessert table we did instead.

 It was a first attempt at an Amy Atlas-inspired table spread in the pinks and greens we chose to go with.

I really considered making an Alice in Wonderland inspired cake with multiple tiers.  You know, the bright and colorful ones where it looks like the tiers are tipping.? Very whimsical.  However, I didn't feel really up to the challenge.
 Instead.....

......yup, Hostess cupcakes.  They did fit the bill though.  They looked like the ones I remember seeing in one of the many Alice movies.  Plus, being cheap and easy?  Totally.

I

 For the rest of the dessert table, we did other little baked confections that one might see at a tea party.  We had various cookies, donuts, and candy.

(We also had sandwiches, but you won't see them here on the dessert table).

For drinks, I had found little glass teacups at the D.I. (aka goodwill).  I bought twelve of them, no two being the same in design.  I plan on re-using them for other parties and bought little tasting spoons so I can put puddings or other small tasting items in them. (At least, that's what I told my husband (and myself)).

"A" is for Apples...

The letter "A" comes first, so I thought it might make a good title for this entry. An entry that begins (for all intents and purposes), a new blog. (It has, after all, been 3 years?)

I had originally thought about doing ""A" is for Angry Birds" and would have posted pictures of the most recent un-birthday party I did for my two kids, but apples are what I'm currently contending with.
(No fear. I'll share the Angry Bird party love in another post).

But as I said, APPLES. Our tree was supposed to take a break this year, but apparently some industrious bees helped pollinate it. And thank goodness!
This year's crop turned out wonderful and we didn't lose as many this year. (We do the organic apple thing).

So, when our tree produces, we eat apples till we don't want to look at another one, and then dry the rest. So I thought I'd share my favorite drying tips.

Here's what you'll need:

• Dehydrator (however many trays you want. I only have 4).
• Apple peeler (I know there are fancy-shmancy ones....I just use a veggie peeler).
• Apple slicer (or knife, or food processor)
• Corer
• Pineapple juice
• Cinnamon-sugar
• Wax Paper
• Plastic bags

First, wash your apples in soapy water.
Dry.
Peel your apples and core them. (Apple core....Baltimore...who's your friend...)
Cut one side of the circle of the apples (so they look like apple donuts).
I do my apples 1/4" to 1/2" thick depending on how long I have to let them dry. I am NOT getting up at 3am to check apples.

Dip apple slices into a bowl of pineapple juice. (You can use lemon juice, but pineapple is yummy). Have another bowl with a colander in it to let the apples drain off the juice. (You can use the drained juice for more apples).
Lay your apples on your dehydrator tray, making sure they don't overlap.

Sprinkle one side of the apple with cinnamon and sugar.

Dry for 3-4 hours. (My dehydrator recommends 135 degrees).
Turn the apples over and dry another 3-4 hours. (Really, it depends on how many trays you use. So check them. They will continue to dry more after you are done. You just don't want them to be wet. You also don't want them to go too long. They have a tendency to stick to the tray if you do. You can continue drying them out on the wax paper).

When the apples are done, put them in plastic bags and hide them. (No, seriously...they are addicting).

They also make for good gifts.

As after-school snacks...

                                                         ...or glasses, apparently.

Anyway, have fun!

Summer Ketchup

Ev thought that when I said, "Mommy's playing catch-up on her blog," that I said, "Mommy's playing ketchup on her blog".

Catchy title, I thought. Perhaps enough to get people to look at boring family photos. Plus, if I started with "summer: part 1" like everyone else, I may soon find myself with "summer: part 263"

So here's a brief photo history of the start of our summer - in May.
(You did catch that I was behind, right?)


Well, courtesy of the grandparents, we took a vacation to southern California.

We went to the largest human-trap ever set by a mouse. It was great and Ev loved it there.
What am I saying? I loved it there! (Yeah, kind of a freak for that place......but I get it from my mom).


We had lots of fun and Ev was able to go on almost everything. He says that he loved the Matterhorn the best, but I think Splash Mountain was a close second considering how many times we went on it.

Here we are the first time we went on it (with my brother-in-law and his daughter in front). (If you can see it very well).
And here is how soaking wet we were after riding it more than a few times right before closing. Ev was cold and became a miniature dark sith lord in my hooded black jacket. "Your [Disneyland] training is now complete."
We also visited California Adventure.
Everett rode some bugs,

watched some bugs,

and found Wall-E.

And here is Universal Studios.




Here is Ev's "red carpet" pose.














And here are the boys "monkey-ing" around.

The favorite place there was Curious George's ballroom where there is a continuous ball fight taking place. I only have videos of that place, but they are choosing to be uncooperative.



Another one of our stops was to Seaworld, but I guess big fish aren't exciting enough to warrant pictures...at least that's what my camera seems to think cause I know I took some there.
Oh well, I'm sure y'all are pictured out anyhow.
Maybe I'll be good and go another three months before posting more of them.

Maybe.

Baby Oil

Today my husband tried a well-known joke on our 4 year-old.

Daniel: If vegetable oil comes from vegetables, and corn oil comes from corn, where does baby oil come from?

Ev: Mommy and Daddy oil?

To Some Politicians: A Kind Request...

"Be open-minded, but not so open-minded that your brains fall out".
-Stephen A. Kallis, JR.

(I hope Mr. Kallis doesn't mind me using his quote, but I couldn't have said it better)

An Ode to Conversation Hearts

I remember the conversation hearts when we were young, with messages of "Be Mine", "Cutie", and "Kiss Me".

Those were the good ones....


Then came the "Fax Me" and "Email Me" ones.
(Because that's SO romantic...almost up there with "Be My Icon").

I haven't had conversation hearts for a few years, but I wonder...
....do they have "Text Me" yet?

Anyhoo, in celebration of Valentine's Day (or Singles Awareness Day, if you prefer) I thought I'd pay tribute to the little candies (especially the yummy banana-flavored ones) that have been a part of the February love fest since the 1860's.

Conversation Hearts

In February, bring them home,
pink, yellow, lavender
and lime pastels
BE MINE .... I'M YOURS
to be read by the tongue
that licks the chalk
and tastes what it spells.

I'll give you a boxful,
tasting of daphne, lupin,
mint, and columbine;
a mouthful of secrets,
lovelier than whispers,
dear ones, friends
I'M YOURS.... BE MINE

-Nina Payne

No, I didn't miss your class...

Today at church, the bishop in class asked, "Are there any visitors or new people here today? There's one brother in the back I think I've seen before, but I don't know who he is".
Then gesturing at my husband, "Would you stand and introduce yourself?"

My husband stands and says, "Hi. I'm Daniel... We've actually been around a while, but you haven't see us cause.... we're ninjas....."