Choo Choo Cookies

I wanted to give something other than toys for the party favors for Jack's party. (Besides, what mother would want her kids coming home with a train whistle? You can thank me later.)

I really wanted to give Thomas the Train trains as party favors but have you looked at the price of them? Times the number of children at our party. Equals not in my party budget.

So I settled for train cookies. I had a ball making these, figuring out how to make royal icing that hardens this century and then bagging them up cute.

My children loved the broken ones. So did my husband. Oh, who am I kidding? I loved them, too.

I'm No "Ace of Cakes".

Are you familiar with that show on The Food Network? I've watched it a couple of times and thought to myself, "what's the big deal?" Yeah, well. I now have a new-found respect for people who bake and decorate beautiful cakes.

I decided to try my hand at it for Jack's party. While shopping online for plates and napkins, I found this cute train pan. I read about it, looked at the pictures and thought I would add it to my cart and see what I could do.

I wanted to do something for his party that was different than the typical cake that matches the napkins or cupcakes (saving that for his sister's cupcake party). So a train cake it would be.

I wrote last week that I had a cake dress rehearsal to see how it would turn out. So glad I did. I ended up making several adjustments and figured out that I was decorating the cake backwards. (Only I would do that!) So decorating the cake for the real deal went much smoother.

I think the most fun was mixing all the icing colors. I felt like I was playing with grown up playdoh.

I wish I had taken pictures of the process for you. But honestly, I was so nervous, that I didn't have the forethought to do so. Instead, here's the finished product.

My Dear Boy is Two

Yesterday was Jack's big day! He's two years old and I can hardly believe it. Where is the time going? (I feel old just saying that line!)

We had such a fun train birthday party yesterday afternoon. The weather was perfect, windy, but nice. All our friends came. Everyone took turns riding the train and the kids played. I know mine had a ball.

I successfully baked and decorated a train cake. And didn't trip as I walked it from the dining room (where it was hiding from my nosey children) to the back patio for the party. I think I held my breath the entire time. I'll post details about baking the cake in a separate post.

Jack has a love affair with balloons. So today after his two year checkup at the doctor, we played outside together and he carried balloons around and had a blast doing it. Who knew balloons were so fun?

(I have uploaded 170 photos from yesterday's party. Needless to say, I'm dying to share them. I'm creating a photo album on the Kodak Gallery like I used to (for those of you who weren't in the loop back then, I used to email pics out once a month for more than 2 years!). So, leave a comment and let me know if you want to see them. Otherwise, I won't bore you with all these pics!)

Happy birthday, my sweet little boy!

Stage Fright

I want to make a post, really I do. But I don't have much to say (or am I running low on energy and that's why I can't come up with anything?).

I've spent the afternoon making a "dress rehearsal" cake for Jack's birthday party. I just thought it would be too cute to mess up at the 11th hour, so I wanted to do a trial run. Turned out decent, so I'm glad I did it. Now I'll know what to do to improve for the real thing.

Speaking of dress rehearsal, JA's ballet recital was this past weekend. Can I just tell you that I felt like I have been holding my breath for her all week long? I'm so glad it's over. (And I've since exhaled.) She did a fantastic job ----- at the dress rehearsal. At the recital? Not so much. She screamed when I left her, which made me cry, too. And then when her dancing debut came up, she stood there. Literally, just stood there. The night before at the dress rehearsal, she did 100% of the dance. On cue. Perfectly. I suppose she had stage fright. Or was a dancing diva drama queen.

Oh, but she was cute.

Didn't I start this post with nothing to say? Oh yeah. I did. I'm done now.

Off to enjoy peace and quiet tonight and do a little smocking. (I'll post pictures soon, I'm working on my second dress!)

A Sweet Morning In The Park

We went to the park this morning and we were the only ones there. Jordan Ann had requested to go to a specific park in town -- "the one by Gammy's house with the fire truck". (To the girls who usually go parking with us, you were missed. JA asked no less than 14 times where our friends were!)

But being there, just the three of us, was rather nice. It brought back memories of when JA was a baby and she and I LOOKED for places to go and things to do just us, because none of my friends nearby had babies yet.

It was a little chilly this morning and luckily I had jackets in the car (right next to the loose Cheerios and sippy cup with what used to be milk -- I know, nice!).

I was able to sit and watch them play, run, slide and hop around together as friends. When they needed a break, they came to me for a drink and handful of Apple Jacks. Then they quickly scampered off.

Even as I write this, I have tears in my eyes. I know that in they fastest blink of an eye, they won't be little anymore. They won't be calling out, "Watch me, momma!" every 45 seconds. Their legs will finally move as fast as their minds want them to and there will be no more clumsy falls.

Jordan Ann won't be wearing a white sweater buttoned at the top with a pink bow in her hair as big as her head. Jack's little New Balance tennis shoes will one day be bigger than my size 8 flip flops.

They will not be content running and playing, singing and laughing on a playground such as this.

Oh, but what joy and pleasure I have had today watching and listening as they tried climbing up the slide and laughed hysterically as they slid to the bottom.

And then that moment when I heard Jack say, "Hi 'Nan (which rhymes with "train") when she got to the top of the stairs where he was standing. She enthusiastically said, "Hi Jack" right back to him and put her arm around him for a sweet hug. Can I tell you that I almost lost it right there?

One of my prayers of many for their precious lives is that years from now they will share a very special bond of family and friendship just like they are showing me now as little children.

I realize that I have just rambled and shared random details for no other reason than to say:

I've had a full cup mommy moment with my children today.

Easter From A Child's Eyes

We had a wonderful Easter filled with several egg hunts, parties and lots of candy! Here are a couple of pictures from a fun Easter Egg Hunt hosted at Mati Claire's house. (You can click here to see more details from Carrie's blog.) And every last detail was arranged at this party. Carrie, her mom and sister thought of everything.

Although my attempt at a decent a group picture was just a joke, I think these pictures tell the story of this fun Easter party nicely.

Would You Mind?

****UPDATE****

First, thank you for your prayers. I felt them for sure.

The appointment could not have gone any better. We were seeing a pediatric neurologist for a series of headaches she has been complaining of. Fortunately, the doctor did not find anything upon exam that concerned him. Our next step would be to sedate her and conduct an MRI, but before we go to that degree, we're going to wait and watch her. If the headache episode happens again, we'll get the MRI done right away.

Again, thanks for your prayers.

****************

Good morning! I hope you and your family had a wonderful Easter Sunday yesterday. Ours was perfect.

But right now would you mind sharing your prayers with me today? Jordan Ann has a doctor's appointment today and while I'm hopeful that all things are just as they should be, I'm still feeling a little anxious. I'll update more when I can and after we get finished with the doctor.

Specifically, pray for bravery for her - she's so skittish in unfamiliar environments - and an outcome that is in line with God's will for our lives.

I love you, blog readers!