Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Danielle's 4th Birthday!!!!

Once you've got all the prep work done (see previous post), you may now relax and enjoy the party craziness!  We had so much fun with our friends and family!!!  Here's some great shots:
Fun opening presents!
More presents!
Hi, everyone!
More friends!
More presents!
....and yes, more presents!
And finally the main event!!
Lots of fun had by all!!!

Cinderella birthday cake!

So how do you create a Cinderella birthday cake?  I'm so glad you asked!  First bake a cake in a bowl....glassware is best.  It'll take about twice as long to bake.  Then turn it upside down onto your platter to look something like this:
So then you cheat and buy frosting.  But since this is a Cinderella cake, you need to add about half a jar of blue food coloring to the frosting.  Then throw the frosting in the fridge to let it thicken up a bit.  While that's happening, steal a Barbie doll from your daughter (while she's sleeping, and preferably one she doesn't play with too much) and pull the top off.  Cut one leg off the bottom half and cut the top third of it off.  Wrap it with saran wrap and use it as a pick to support the top half.  Grab a baby rubberband and two clips and create a cute little up-do for the doll.  Stick this lovely creation into the cake.  Voila!  You have a princess cake base!  (or for those so inclined, go to Michael's and buy the doll cake-pick)  Now pull the slightly cooler, very blue frosting out of the fridge and frost the base of the cake.  Then fill a decorator bag with blue frosting, add a star tip, and start adding detail!  This will be the result:
Then realize that it is so humid that the frosting is melting and starting to slide.  Put the WHOLE thing in the fridge and leave it there overnight!!!!!  Then wake up before the birthday girl to finish the details.  Oh yes, but before you go to bed, take another can of frosting and add about a half pound of powdered sugar to it -- but no food coloring this time.  Put this in the fridge as well!!!  Then you can go to bed.  Now in the morning, pull the whole thing out and fill another decorator bag with white frosting and a star tip.  Add your fields of color and some stars and other details.  You'll get something like this once you add some large white sugar crystals to the base:
Finish off the bottom of the cake with an extra border of blue.
Lastly, don't forget that some of your little one's friends might not want Cinderella cake, so make a batch of cupcakes to go with it all!
....you have now successfully created a Cinderella party cake!!  (and Mom, Grandma, and Carol will be proud of you!)

Cinderella dress and a little climber....

Danielle's birthday has been so much fun!  One of the boxes that arrived was from Grandma Sweetie....and we let her open it the day before her birthday.  Inside was one of the coolest things ever -- a REAL Cinderella dress-up dress!  It's complete with gloves, bead necklace, ring, and purse.  She LOVES it!
 Mommy, I'm soooo pretty!
...showing off all the accessories!
Happy girl!
In the meantime, Ashley has decided that she WILL conquer the couch.  Danielle has a habit of 'hiding' toys from her little sister by simply placing them on the couch, but far enough back that Ashley can't reach......and Ashley has had enough of it.
.....really wants the ark....
....OH!  If I just put my leg up here first, I might make it!  Needless to say, Ashley can now climb up onto the couches! 

Monday, July 5, 2010

Waiting for FIREWORKS!!!!

So.....we like fireworks.  4th of July is the ONE night of the year that we throw the bedtime schedule out the window and stay out super-late so that we can all watch the fireworks!  Ashley actually went to bed at her normal time, then Mommy woke her up a few hours later and packed everyone into the car and over to the Commons we went!  Actually to the Shen main entrance, but that really doesn't matter!  Here's a few from while we were waiting.....and yes, the girls LOVED the show!!!
 Chips!
Graham Crackers!
Coffee!
Smiles!
....check out the crossed legs!

Happy 4th of July!!!

We had a GREAT day for our 4th!!!!  Our neighbors had a party and invited Danielle to come over and play with their great-niece and nephew.  They set up a slip and slide and a large inflatable pool.  Needless to say, Danielle had a blast with Carly and Aiden -- and Mom forgot the camera to record that portion.  Sorry.  I DID manage to get pictures of them in their adorable patriotic sundresses (thank you Aunty Beth for the idea).  So here's some cutie-pie pictures!!
Smiler with messy-hair!
.....off to explore....
Showing off the pool toys!  Danielle got an inflatable kick-board like thing -- it's between two seals.....and she LOVES it!  Ashley's got the little toddler floatie seat right now...it's perfect for her!
Ooooo....I found the bubbles that Lindsey gave us!!!
...pretending to be a shy girl....and we all know better!
BOTH standing still investigating the bubbles....
....and officially showing off the bubbles from Lindsey!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Technical Difficulties....

So.....yeah.  At first I couldn't find the camera.  Then I found it in the car.....where we had stashed it while on our camping trip....where we TOTALLY forgot to take ANY pictures.  Oops.  So then this morning I found the camera, took two pictures and the batteries died.  No biggie, we've got extras! (Does anyone else keep batteries in their freezer?  Why do we do that?)  So as I'm changing the batteries, the cover bends a little more than normal -- this isn't immediately a concern as this little cover is almost entirely encased in electrical tape.....but then one of the small, important looking little brass thingies (and just how would YOU describe it?!) falls into my hand.  I quickly try to put everything back together.....and realize that I only have 1 spare battery.  So I'll pull one of the ones I just dumped.....but they landed in the coffee grounds.  Needless to say, I put the whole thing (gently) down on the counter and walked away.  Later I'll cannibalize some unsuspecting remote and see if our poor camera has survived......  Until then, I'm sorry......

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Thank you Aunt Diane!!

I don't want to even admit how long ago it was (2 months?) that we received a package from Aunt Diane and Uncle John for the girls.  It seems that Aunt Diane had to be down in Florida for business, so she made the best of it and picked up a few cute things for the girls!  As many of you know, Danielle LOVES Toy Story and especially Woody and Buzz Lightyear -- so it only made sense that a T-shirt and big girl sippy cup would be perfect!  And of course Ashley is our little cutie-pie and who better than Minnie Mouse for her?
 How adorable are they?!?!  (Of course, I might be a little biased....)