Happy Birthday Boys!

Today we had the boys Birthday Party. I am not real big on goody bags (remember my kiddos have dreadful teeth, so I had prefer not to give out candy) So I decided on a craft for the kids to make. I planned on the kids making monsters. Ethan is all into monsters, so I figured this would be right up his alley. I made them up ahead of time (well most shells were made ahead of time, Emma kept going and inviting neighbors over, so the stack of monster shells grew) and let the kids stuff them by them selves. That way they could think they made them all by themselves. I used ugly tea towels, napkins and wash clothes that had seen better days, so I really didn't delve into my fabric stash (which a ton is going to have to be sold before we move since we are moving to a far smaller dwelling ;o(


Here are most of the monsters after they have been stuffed and had legs sewn in. We used cotton stuffing and dried lentils. The legs are 55o cord, the eyes are army buttons and red buttons, the hair is 550 cord, 550 gut or wool fleece or a combination of the 3.

I had the kids sit on a quilt so I could keep a bit of control over them (it is like herding cats no matter how you slice it) while they stuffed their allotted monster shell. I see Erica is there helping and I have the finger of power pointed at someone.

I made one tremendous cake for both boys to share (Ethan's birthday is on the 5th and Sam's is on the 8th, so they are just going to have to deal with having joint birthday parties) It was supposed to be a checkerboard cake, but it really is more of a marble. The 2 cake recipes are from Martha Stewart but the Icing is my own and it rocks:

Strawberry Butter cream:

You are going to blend these all together in a mixer until it is at the consistency you like. I also add milk or cream if I have it on hand to give it a bit more creaminess.

• pint of fresh strawberries chopped, capped and squished
• 1/2 cup of butter at room temperature
• pinch of salt
• dash of vanilla
• bag of powder sugar
  

Sam got to the cake while it was in the fridge and helped himself to his birthday cake...that part was kinda quarantined.

Overall it was an awesome birthday party. We had some great friends stop by for a visit...and another stopped by later in the afternoon and stayed for dinner, but now the house is silent again, and I count my wonderful blessings. My cup runneth over. I think of the trouble I had having babies (3 Miscarrages and 3 Circlages) and now my youngest is 4...

xo,

tia