The Platt Family

How to.....

Make a Rapunzel cake for a 3 year old's birthday party.

Step 1. Bake a 9x13 cake.

Step 2. Frost it green.

Step 3. Figure out how to make brown frosting, then add a windy stripe down the middle of the cake.

Step 3. Mix dark and light blue sugar crystal sprinkles and spread down the middle (covering most of) the brown frosting stripe.

Step 4. Place/sprinkle flower shaped sprinkles along the 'banks' of the river you created on the cake.

Step 5. Bake cupcakes.

Step 6. Stack 3 cupcakes on top of sheet cake. Use toothpicks as rebar -- more substantial structural support might be needed, so possibly shove a 6" long x 1/4 or 1/2" diam. item down the middle of the stack.

Step 7. Frost the 'tower.'

Step 8. Make sure it's late. Make sure your husband is an architect. Ask him "what do you think?".....and this will be the result:

I love my husband!

....using a toothpick to get the stone detailing....

Step 9. Grab a wad of tinfoil and shape it into a roof-type shape. Wrap it in saran wrap (why? it seemed like a good idea....) Shove about 3 toothpicks (aka rebar) into the bottom of it. Stack it on the tower. Frost with the remaining brown frosting. Put entire project in the fridge and go to bed.

Step 10. Make a batch of decorator's icing and make it dark green.

Step 11. Have princesses come give their approval.

Step 12. Pipe 'ivy' vines onto tower and roof. Add flower shaped sprinkles to the vines.

Step 13. Find small Rapunzel doll in playroom. Brush her hair and braid it. Also find small Pasquale in playroom and wash him off. Put them on the cake.

Step 14. Invite friends and family over. Put 3 candles on the cake.

Step 15. Sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! and blow out the candles.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a wonderful Valentine's Day! Mostly due to Bob surprising us on Monday evening, so we got to see him ALL DAY on Tuesday.

Quite the lineup of presents.....

....complete with BEAUTIFUL roses that my FABULOUS husband got for me!!!

The girls.....hm, can you tell Danielle just got off the bus and took her hat off about a minute ago?

Cheese!

Double-cheese!

Showing off her cupcake necklace from Grandma Sweetie and headband from Aunt Linda...

Showing me HER cupcake necklace from Grandma and headband from Aunt Linda!

The shoes.....

Lastly from this past trip, these were 'the shoes.' Way taller than anything I'm used to, they were perfect for the bridesmaids dress. I also discovered they were super cute with jeans and a fun sexy top...... and I promised Taylor I'd take a picture of them.

The picture really doesn't do them justice -- they were tall!!!

....and sparkly!

The BEST tree ever!!

The one time I remembered I had my camera, I had to take a picture of a very special tree. It's the tree in front of the church....and also right next door to Yen Ching. This tree is so special because Bob and I took our engagement picture leaning up against it -- then we used that picture as our wedding favor bookmarks.

So yes, I love this tree. (and no Ann, I did NOT hug it!)

Such a pretty tree!

Back to getting the BRIDE ready!!!!

....and after a few days, it was finally time!!!! We had a relaxing morning at the hotel getting ready.....

...getting hair done....

....the stylists were wonderful!!

Then it was time to get into our dresses, and Stephanie and Salisa helped Andrea with her dress.....

SOOOO PRETTY!!!!!! (and getting all laced up in the back.....)

Then it was down into the limo and off to the church!!

Quite possibly my favorite picture from the day!!

From this point on, I pretty much forgot I even had my camera, so......yeah, kinda kicking myself for that.....

My sister is so weird....

You all know I love her dearly. But yes, my sister is weird.....and definitely has BOYS. The GIRL side of the family says "Ewwwwww!!!" So what am I talking about? One night while I was out there, Beth got a babysitter and we were able to get some sister-dear-sister time in. On the way down the hill (for those not used to Beth's house, this translates to 'out of the neighborhood') we saw what looked like a dead hawk in the road. My DLS immediately turned around and went back to investigate. Yep, before I know it, IT'S IN THE CAR!!!!!

On her work-out mat, I might add....

....and here she's telling me I'm a sissy and the boys will think it's so cool. Yes, I am a sissy.

The boys DID think it was cool. It was a small falcon of some sort (sad, because we think this type mates for life....) and we have no idea how it died. There were no external injuries.....which I do have to say that Beth checked for before she scooped it up with a spare magazine.....

The feathers were cool, and they spread out the tail and wings. I'm still slightly grossed out by this.....I totally love the princess world that the girls and I live in!!!