Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing - The Star of the Show

I'm longing for Spring.  Or at least something warmer.  Or consistent.  This weather...makes me wanna slap somebody.  Crazy Ohio.

So, in order to think warmer thoughts -- here I sit, hoping for a 2nd attempt of an uninterrupted bubblebath.  Blogging.  In the hottest water imaginable.  Skin is red.  But I'm happy.

A computer sits inches from my bathwater.  If my blog so happens to be made public before it's finished...know that I died dreaming of balmy spring days and my Spring Strawberry Salad with Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing.

Ahhh...spring salad.  Fyi, I make this all year around because it's THAT awesome.   Ok, maybe not the salad part - but the dressing is AMAZING.  I drink it when no one is looking.  Kidding.  (Kinda.)  ***

Every time I make it for guests or take it to someone else's house, I'm asked for the recipe.  So much that I have pre-printed recipe cards in my front pocket wherever me and my salad go.  I'm so confident.  Idiotic.  And totally joshin' ya. ;) Below you shall find what you've been asking for.  Yes, I just ended that sentence with a preposition.  { Too tired. ;) }

For the salad part, you can put whatever makes ya smile.  For us (and mainly the hubby), I do a bed of baby spinach leaves.  Top with lots of sliced strawberries.  Add some dried cranberries.  (If cranberries don't complete you, use dried pomegranates, or blueberries which these are all on sale for ONE buck this week at Kroger - time to stock up, folks).  Then I whip up a homemade batch of sugared chopped almonds.  The perfect crunchy topping.  Now, the yummiest dressing your taste buds will ever, ever encounter.

{ Picture will be posted tomorrow.  Too tired. ;) }

Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing
• 3 T red wine vinegar              • 1/4 C. sugar
• 1/2 tea. salt                              • 1/2 tea. ground mustard
• 1/2 C. canola oil                      • 3/4-1 C. sliced strawberries
• 3/4 tea. poppy seeds {I've been fighting with the format of this last ingredient for 5 minutes.  Wahh, I can't make it right.  I GIVE, BLOGGER.  Too tired. ;) }

**UPDATE: By giving into Blogger, it corrected my format.  Ever so thankful.  And tired.

1. Place vinegar, sugar, salt and mustard in a blender.  Pulse to mix together.
2. Drizzle oil in until mixture is creamy.
3. Add strawberries and process until mostly smooth.
4. Add poppy seeds.  Pulse to mix together.
5. Refrigerate until ready to serve.  The longer it's refrigerated, the better.  But I've made it and let it sit for 15 minutes, and it still tasted divine.

***When strawberries are in season, your dressing will be just right with the above ratio of ingredients. However, during those times when they're not, just add a little more sugar and more strawberries to compensate for the lack of sweetness.

Now, go take your dressing, sit in a corner, and spoon feed yourself this yum yum mess.

Sighhh.  No casualties reported during this bubblebath and bloggin' time.  Nightey-nite.

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Get Your Move On ---- To TARGET!!

I have been scrubbing and cleaning all day.  Stop thinking Susie Homemaker. Not in the least bit. Today has been coined, The Day of Accidents."  Two of the accidents will not get any blogtime from me except to say UGGHHHH GROOOOSSSSS. Gag, gag, gag.  The end. 

I've also spring-cleaned my mom's dining room walls.  And baseboards.  And berber carpet.  Not a trace of chili anywhere.  Splatter marks were staring at me in my face.  And I'm a tall girl.   All I gotta say is my mom should be happy that I ate half of my bowl while walking to their house...or I think I would have been cleaning her living room as well.  Why couldn't the cafeteria served potato soup today???  Something a lil' easier to clean.  Something not red.  Hmmm.

I was responsible for the chili.  I was not responsible for the other gag, gag, gag ones.

I needed to find a happy place.  Right away.  I finally located one.  :)  After some yoga/breathing exercises hot white tea,  my thoughts turned to my awesome deals that I scored last week at Target!!!  Thought I would share so you all can hopefully score some of the same finds!

Last week, most Targets were putting their Christmas on 90% clearance.  I HAD to go.  Not necessarily for wrapping paper, bags or bows.  But for other goodies.  It just so happened that any products that were Christmasy/holiday-ish were also 90% off.  We're talking clothes, undergarments, accessories, paper products and so on.  These were NOT in the Christmas bins.  One of the Targets that I went to had their act together and some of the forementioned items were actually back in the 90% clearance.  However, most of the time, I just had to go look through the stores, in the departments that you would normally find the items.   

Here are some of the things that I found.  My phone pics are all I have.  And believe me, when I say that I got LOTS more than what's pictured.  This is just some of the "highlights." ;)

Dixie Plates: $.22/each

I normally don't buy paper plates or products.  Since I normally can get dish soap for free through couponing, I choose that route.  BUT, when I can find plates for $.22 cents, I think I'll buy any and all packages I can find.  Which only happened to be a couple.  These were located with the other paper plates.  Notice that they're opened.  There were coupons inside the package.  Due to scoring such an awesome price on them, I wasn't thinking clearly, or I would have opened the plates before I checked out and used the coupons while there to score them for free and get overage.  However, I did open the plates as soon as I got out in the car to see what incredible coupons the manufacturer had given to me.  I'm so weird.

Boxer briefs: $.59/per package

So, my husband might disown me.  Wouldn't be the first time he's been tempted to though...this is for the sake of saving money and letting others know about it.  Just remember that, k? :)
These boxer briefs were originally $5.99 a pair.  I know that, because I had actually bought some for the hubs' Christmas stocking.  He's picky.  He's gotta have a certain kind.  Sighh...men. Sighh...paying full price for items.  Sighh...then finding them 90% off.  Sigh...
So, was I EVER excited to find them for $.59.  And they weren't even all Christmas or holiday patterns.  Because I am awesome and price-checked other colors like that, I was able to find LOTS of packages that were just everyday wear for 90% off!!!! :)  And Scott really did need some of these.  So, thank you God.  I won't take all of the awesome credit. ;)  The packages that weren't holiday had been re-barcoded and re-packaged.  Incorrectly albeit, but for my sake, I'm so thankful.  They were located in the men's "undergarment" department.  I'm thinkin' I got maybe 10 or more pair.  And several packages were left.  I got all of the ones I could find in hubby's size, and was tempted to get the smaller ones as well.  But I didn't want anybody hurt in the process of getting dressed.  So they're still there.  Help yourself.  If you're married to a boxer brief kinda man.

I also found some ladies' undergarments for $.49 each.  I will not post a picture of those.  (Trust me, I'm being fair...lol!)

I'm guessing these were accessories to some winter Christmas outfits.  Whatever, dude.  My kids can wear the black/white ADORABLE hats all year 'round.  And the blue velvet ones are PERFECT for winter.  And the ties - HOW CUTE?!!?  The hats were .$70/each and the ties were $.40/each.  Socks were $.29/each.  I'm telling you - the hats look like Janie and Jack.  At a fraction of the price.  :)  These were located in the baby clothes.  Not a single clearance sign near them.  I just happened to price check them.  And lo and behold...dirt cheap!! :)  The ties aren't pictured.  Drake's already worn one of his...and honestly, I don't have a clue where the other ones are right now.  The socks pictured here are for men.  They were also $.29/each.  You'd think the baby socks would be priced cheaper. :)

Stirs: $.29/each     Cookie Sticks: $.29/each

 These cute stirs are gonna make my 2013 Christmas party HOPPIN'! ;)  Maybe not just the stirs, but...previously, I had bought lots of other of the same themed party decor and accessories that were 30 or 50% off a couple weeks earlier.  Well, these match perfectly.  Along with the stirs are some cookie sticks.  Which always come in handy for birthday parties, special holidays, etc.

I only chose to buy one of these iPhone covers, but there was several different patterns.  All VERY CUTE.  The price on this bad boy - $1.99.  They aren't much protection, so I prefer my Otterbox over them.  But they are cute, so I might change it out when I feel like it.  And try not to drop it on that day.

Gigantic Gift Bags: $.40/each    Gift Labels: $.19/each   Seals: $.19/each

I did go ahead and buy some bags/boxes/labels/tissue paper for next Christmas.  In the "normal" wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., they had tissue paper that was 90% off as well.  It was a three-color package.  Gold, creme and bronze.  Beautiful.  And can be used all year round.  Got several of those for $.30/each and then got some red tissue paper as well.  Can be used for Valentine's or any other red-themed birthday parties for little girls.  :)  Ya gotta think ahead, folks. 

Like I already mentioned, I didn't take pictures of everything (like one other favorite - some stationary that can be used all year long.  What's better than an actual letter to a friend??).  But, this should be the proof that you need to get to your local Target and see if they have anything left.  Please don't be miffed if everything is sold out.  I did get all of this LAST week.  I sure hope you're able to get in on some super good bargains if you haven't already.  If you were able to find something, share the love and tell me what all you found!  Steals like this are soo much fun!! :)

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Look WHOO's One!!

Just to get this outta the way, because we's got LOTS and LOTS of adorable pictures to share...

My apology.  I went missing for 3 months almost.  I missed blogging.  I missed writing.  I missed sharing. 

The reason being - I am a very chronological girl.  I like things in order.  After my last blog in October - the next thing I wanted to blog about my baby's first birthday in November.  I had to blog about that FIRST because I was afraid I would forget to blog on it if I went on with my other food blogs, mundane happenings and so on.  Weeelll...I didn't forget about the blogging of the birthday.  I had asked my SIL (**) to snap pictures for the party which she happily obliged to.  I was waiting on the pictures in order to blog, but then life went on. Both of us forgot about them!  I would think about the pictures, but never ask her.  Until yesterday.  Two months and one week after the "Big D" turned 1. :)  She had them done along time ago, so no blamin' her at all.  All my fault.  It was kinda nice looking through the pictures today though - brought back such good memories.  Here's a warning: now that this blog is underway - WATCH OUT.  I will be catching up.  ;) 

Now, onto the birthday celebration ---

LOOK WHOO'S ONE! 

Birthday Bloke.

It was a simple, low-key party for Big D.  I did a large party for Cole this year, so this happened to be Drake's off year.  Poor, neglected baby.  I only wanted family there.  And those who are pretty much considered family to us.  I managed to get my mom to let me have the party at her house so I didn't have to clean my own. :)

I just so happen to really like winged creatures. (minus bats.)  I decorate with them.  In my home.  Weird, maybe.  But since I had them on hand, this was the perfect theme.  It took one of the guests half way through the party to catch the correlation between the theme and my decor.  Whoo's 1 > owls > whoo-whoo.  Ok.  Just in case it's confusing. ;)

Purty owl.

Instead of gifts, we asked the party animals to bring $1 dollar bills.  With an older brother, Drake didn't have need for anything.  I created a "money tree" for him - it will be waiting for him when he gets older.  The money, that is.  Maybe the tree too - ya never know...I'm pretty sentimental these days.

The menu was comprised of Zuppa Toscano which was accompanied by Mini Baked Ham Sandwiches.  

  

Drake loves chocolate.  He's the child that eats all of the chocolate chips out of the trail mix, won't stop eating my chocolate ice cream, and can down 8 oz. of chocolate milk like it's nobody's biz.  Of course, I made the chocolaty of all chocolate cakes for him.  With some buttercream icing that was super hard to ice.  It was worth it though - total spoilage on his birthday.  I think he was happy with the end result.  Prepare yourself for some serious adorableness.  Love these pictures below.

K, not here.  Below this one. :)

Drake loved his sparkler.  And so did Cole. ;)

                                     

"A bigger bite shall tell me more."

"I like, I like."

 "My mommy tells me cake makes me strong.  Please don't tell her any different."

Some of the guests.  

Drake is incredibly blessed to have these people in his life.  People who love and pray for him.

After Drake had a quick bath, we opened cards and just relaxed with good conversation.  

Drake at 12 months:

 

♥ Says, "ma-ma, da-da, buhbuh, hi (more like "hiy" as in karate man), woof, pweas (real soft, but with a "s" at the end) and yayyy."
♥ Has only four teeth, top and lower central incisors.  Eats all types of food now.  Loves sweets.  Still not madly, deeply in love with veggies.
♥ Cruises all over the furniture.

♥ Crawls (loudly slapping the wood floors with his palms) to the door to meet Daddy when he gets off work.
♥ Waves bye-bye, smiling like a fool.
♥ Claps his hands together and yells, "yayyyyyyy." Espeically after I get done changing a dirty diaper.  (My sentiments exactly.)
♥ Wrestles and rolls with Cole - belly to belly, rolling over and over, laughing.
♥ If Cole and Daddy are wrestling, Drake will crawl over there as fast as he can and lunge into their pile, head buried down.
♥ He'll kneel, face down into the boucle blanket, and Cole will pull him around the whole house (think on the ground chariot races - benefit of wood floors throughout).
♥ Two weeks after birthday, Drake started taking 2-3 steps quite frequently. 

Happy Birthday, Drake.  We love you to pieces.  

**To view more of my SIL's great work, click here.

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One of my BIGGEST soapboxes. Stop this madness.

This is INFURIATING.  Who cares if the Senate Budget Committee numbers aren't exactly correct.  It's the IDEA.  It's the WAY OF LIVING, DEPENDING on the government.  NO INCENTIVE to get off welfare and start supporting themselves.   If you read this and you don't get upset or bothered, yes, something is wrong with you.

Status Update

By Mike Huckabee

Last month, the Senate Budget Committee reports that in fiscal year 2011, between food stamps, housing support, child care, Medicaid and other benefits, the average US household below the poverty line received $168 a day in government support. What’s the problem with that much support? Well, the median household income in America is just over $50,000, which averages out to $137.13 a day. To put it another way, being on welfare now pays the equivalent of $30 an hour for a 40-hour week, while the average job pays $25 an hour. And the person who works also has to pay taxes, which drops his pay to $21 an hour. It’s no wonder that welfare is now the biggest part of the budget, more than Social Security or defense. And why would anyone want to get off welfare when working pays $9 an hour less?

For more of the Huckabe Report, visit MikeHuckabee.com.

1. This is the average, so yes, I know that not everyone is receiving this much assistance.
2. There are those that NEED help.  Temporarily.  Those on disability. 
3. Most of the people I see and hear about on welfare - they don't NEED the amount of money that the government is giving to them.  You can survive with meat, starches, dairy, vegetables & fruit (get on WIC if you need it - least that is LIMITED like it should be) on your grocery list and not spend NEAR what these people are receiving each month.  With the limits of assistance that government is giving - they are ENCOURAGING people to stay on it.

BUT WHY WORK when you don't need to??  Why is my husband out there literally killing himself working two jobs to support his family?  A structured family.  Time away from his boys, his wife - people WHO HE WANTS TO SPEND TIME WITH.   Oh, that's right.  So he can be taxed more out of the earnings he has EARNED and that tax money can support those DOING NOTHING for themselves.  (I so want to use harsher verbiage but I'll refrain.  Maybe.)  Why doesn't he just quit working? Get on every assistance government program that everyone else is on that's too lazy to make a honest living. That way, he can sleep 6 hours a night instead of 3-4. That way, he can make more memories with his family - people that he's responsible for. That way, he might not work himself to death and have more days on this earth to milk the government for everything they're worth (more like, not worth). That way, we can eat better, wear better clothes, not have to worry about housing, get government grants for his education. Yeah, it actually sounds like my husband, the working man, the honest tax-paying citizen, is getting the worse end of the deal. Hmmm. Wonder how long it will be before most people figure this out and make the switch. When that 47% of welfare recipients becomes 60% or 80%. The more people that get on welfare, the less tax money the government has to support this mess. Hmmm. What happens, then??

What's so hard about making some stipulations on welfare - since part of OUR tax dollars are paying for it, why can't we have some say in it????  If the senators hear enough about how TIRED we are of this, maybe things will change.  WRITE or CALL your senator.  

1. Drug testing for welfare recipients. If they fail a drug testing once or twice, their aid gets cut.  If they fail it a 3rd time, they're unable to get aid for the rest of their existence.
2. Cut welfare aid down some.  If these so called needy recipients know that there are only going to receive the minimal of what they need to LIVE to SURVIVE, that might just change their perspective on finding a job.  
3. Put a cap on a lifetime of aid given by the government. 
4. Make welfare as hard to get on as disability is.  (And this is just what I've heard - but disability is so hard to get on, when people actually have a reason to need help; whereas, with welfare, apparently it isn't so hard to get on or qualify for help.) There's probably more that could be done, but why not start with just a few changes. It is getting insane, and something needs to be done about it. Join in. I'm writing someone. Somewhere. This week. A New Year's Resolution has been added to the 14 page list. And I missed bidding on Ebay due to reading the Huckabee Report, so this all makes me even madder. I need a punching bag. NOW.

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The Making of the Man With the Yellow Hat

First off - let me say that I thought I had an ingenious idea this Halloween.  I had found a monkey costume for Drake at Gap for .99 CENTS.  So - I thought about making a banana costume for Cole since I waited a tad too long to order one for him.  Oh yah and even if I had ordered it in March...seriously...who pays $30 DOLLARS for a 3 year old's costume?  Not this momma.
A banana also seemed like a bunch of work to create.  More sewing than I wanted to do.

Then I thought of THIS ↓ -

Aren't they just too cute for talk?

I had NEVER seen this done before.  Obviously, I thought I was brilliant.  :)

Then, we went to the trunk-or-treat tonight at our church, and there was another Man in the Yellow Hat with a Curious George.  Not so original after all.  Haha!  But still, he was a lot of fun to create.  Several had asked how I did it.  So here's the How To.  And what NOT to do on some things.

Main goal for costume - look cute and make it as cheap as possible.  This is how I managed that.  

Since spray paint and me are like Frank and Joe, it just naturally was the first thing I needed to get this party started.  No, I don't normally paint our clothes.  But, it worked for this.  That is, after 3 failed attempts on 3 different articles of clothing...good thing they were all from the goodwill.  I used a white cotton button-up oxford for the MWTYH's top and some gray play pants which happened to have blue stripes going down the sides.  These blue stripes were not going to be covered by the spray paint, so they had to come off.

*Suggestion: IF you are going to spray paint clothing yellow, find white or light colored clothing.  Also, don't use polyester fabric.  Cotton works the best. ;)

*Suggestion #2: IF you have time, use Rit dye and just change the color that way.  Probably healthier for all of those affected with the presence of the MWTYH.

I spray painted EVERYTHING.  If anyone just happened to breathe when our family walked by, I'm sure they would have had the pleasant aroma of Krylon wafting in their nostrils.

For shoes, I had picked up some goodwill rain boots that I -- wait for it -- spraypainted brown. :) 

For the belt, again goodwill.  And painted it yellow.

For the tie, I bought 6" of fabric from JoAnn's.  I used one of my dad's old ties as the pattern.  Traced out front and backing, and my mom stitched it for me while I was spraypainting some rain boots.
I used a marker to color in the polk-a-dots so it looked like it was supposed to.

*Suggestion: Do not use a water-based marker to color in tie.  With the rainy weather, those polk-a-dots smeared.  You couldn't tell from a distance, but up close, it showed slightly.

For the hat, I bought 2 pieces of yellow poster board.  I wanted it big - exaggerated BIG.  The yellow hat is the BIG DEAL.  I rolled poster board up to make a cone shape and super glued it so it wouldn't unroll.  I trimmed the large end of the cone straight, so it would lay flat on the table.  I cut the top off, so it didn't look like a witch's hat.  Glued a circle piece to fill in the top to complete that part.
On the other poster board, I took my 10" kitchen skillet and traced a circle.  :)  Cut that out.  Placed the trimmed cone shape on my 10" cut out circle.  Traced that out.  After all of the cutting was done, for clarification, I had one piece of poster board cut down to a 10" donut.
Took my cone-ish part and slid the donut piece over it.  It was snug, but I superglued it in place.  (Or so I thought.  See Suggestion #2.) 

It sure sounds like that hat took awhile to make - but it didn't.  Easy as pie.

*Suggestion: Make hat while your child is awake.  I attempted to size Cole's head while he was sleeping.  Obviously, I failed.  I ended up having to make 3 hats.  The last, once he got up from naptime. ;)

*Suggestion #2: If the MWTYH happens to destroy his hat on the way to the annual trunk-or-treat, do not attempt to superglue it back on while he is wearing it.  Superglue does NOT come out of hair.  Upping Cole's dosage of Vitamin B tomorrow and praying that clumped chunk grows rapidly.

Cole was SOO excited to dress up as one of his favorite characters.  He kept asking me about it, like every hour for the past 2 days. :)  So, when I was dressing him this evening, we were in the bathroom.  He was standing on the closed toilet, and was admiring his get-up in the mirror.  He kept giving himself two thumbs up, and raising one hand (like the president does when he comes out on stage).  And phrases like, "Wow, would you yook at dat!"  It was HILARIOUS.

I definitely feel I got the job done cute and cheap.  Here's the cost run-down.
   • Krylon - Indoor/Outdoor Paint ~ Wal-Mart $3.67

  • Rain boots ~ Goodwill $2.00 
• Belt ~ Goodwill $1.00 
• Botched clothes from paint ~ Goodwill $2.90

 • Two pieces of poster board ~ Dollar Tree $1.38 
• Piece of yellow polk-a-dot fabric ~ JoAnn's $.80

 • Clothes I ended up painting ~ Free, given to me.

Total Cost of Success: $11.75
Compared to $30 - savings of 61%. ;)

Curious George finally lost his pacifier and the MWTYH was caught mid-sentence asking for some more of his candy.

Happy Halloween! :)

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Cole's Birthday Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Cake 

with Chocolate Ganache

This was a yummy cake that I made for Cole's 3rd Safari-themed Birthday party.

It was a hit.  For more pictures and ideas from the party, click here.

If you're counting calories - don't eat for 2 days. :)  this pretty boy is loaded.

ingredients - chocolate cake

• 2 boxes chocolate cake mix (and required ingredients)
• Buttermilk
• Peanut butter mousse (recipe below)
• Whipped chocolate ganache (recipe below)
• Chopped unsalted peanuts

preparation

• Prepare three 8" or 9" round cake pans by coating them lightly with oil and then flour. Preheat the oven to the temperature recommended for your cake mix.
• Follow cake mix directions, substituting buttermilk for the water. Divide batter evenly in the prepared cake pans, filling each two-thirds full (there may be extra batter, which can be used for cupcakes). Bake as directed.
• Allow to cool for approximately 10 minutes before removing cakes from pans; set layers on racks and allow to cool completely. Trim off the rounded tops of each cake layer with a serrated knife to enable even stacking.
• Place one cake layer top down on a serving plate and spread with peanut butter mousse. Repeat with the second layer, then top with the third layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the whipped chocolate ganache. Add chopped peanuts to the sides of the cake.
• Cover and refrigerate until serving time.

ingredients - peanut butter mousse

• 2 cups creamy peanut butter
• 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese (room temperature)
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 Tb. vanilla extract
• 2 cups whipping cream

preparation

• Beat peanut butter, cream cheese and cinnamon in a bowl until blended. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla. In another bowl, beat whipping cream until it reaches the stiff peak stage. Gently fold the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture a little bit at a time.

ingredients - whipped chocolate ganache

• 1 pound semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 1/2 cups heavy cream

preparation

• Place chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring cream to a boil over medium-high heat. Pour over chocolate and let sit for 10 minutes. Stir until smooth. Cool the ganache to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Whip on medium speed until it reaches a spreadable consistency.

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Safari Time ~ Cole's 3rd Birthday Party

Cole is THREE!

Words cannot describe my love for this delight in my life.

God has truly blessed me.

He makes me laugh every day.

He tells me he loves me "berry much" every day.

He gives me the biggest 'Berenstain' hugs every day.

Because of Cole, my world is much brighter and sweeter.

v

For his birthday, I asked him what he wanted for his birthday celebration decorations.
"Elepants, ELEPANTS."
I showed him Thomas the Train.  I showed him airplanes.  I showed him trucks.  I showed him a bunch of other things.  Things MUCH easier to decorate a party for...
Nope, "Elepants."  He was stuck on it.  

Next question I had for myself this time - HOW do I come up with a CUTE party theme with elephants?  Not the prettiest animal out there.
Then, I thought of doing a Safari party with some exploration ideas for the kids to enjoy.
Kids, especially boys, love to explore.  It was perfect.  I had asked Jodi to snap pictures for me because I knew I would have absolutely no time to do so.  Grateful for the pictures.

LOVED how everything turned out.
Saturday morning was a bit chilly, but with the sunshine - it turned into a beautiful day.
My prayers were answered with no rain.  Just forgot to pray about the blustery weather which kept blowing most of my hanging paper pinwheels and globes down.

Things that make a party.

Since I didn't have my sewing machine set up, I wanted to make banners that didn't include any needles and thread. I wanted to do something different too - something I'd never seen before.   With some cardstock, handmade stencils, burlap, jute rope and some hot glue, this was the result.  Turned out to be one of my favorites.  I had everything on hand, minus the cardstock.  So super easy and convenient, too.

What cute explorers.


These animals were quite the hit.



Each child received a set of binoculars along with their animals.  Betcha never guess what I made them out of...
:)

The sweets.  YUM.

The Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Cake with Chocolate Ganache icing.  What a mouthful, eh?  And yes, IT was a mouthful.  For those of you who asked for the recipe, click here.

Orea Pops + Cupcakes + Cake
=
Extreme thankfulness that all of these kids with all of this sugar weren't all mine.


The party animals. :)


Brown food to match the decor.  Oh yah - just happens that Cole's favorite food right now is SKYLINE!  And that's what he wanted on the menu.  Smart boy.
Birthday boy digging in.



Right across the way was a playground for the sugar-fueled kids to run about and have a fun time.  There was also a pond nearby where the kids loved feeding the ducks.  And playing in the water.
And get a little too close to the water.  Cole lost one of his new birthday toys - a prized wooden train.  But it was rescued before it sunk to its death.


A VERY sweet moment caught ~ One of Cole's friends had come to him and wished him Happy Birthday.  Cole said, "Tank you berry much," and gave him this adorable hug.

He received many presents which he has enjoyed playing with immensely.

We ended the party with a scavenger hunt - four very easy items for these 2-3 year old explorers to find.  They loved it.


Cole had such a fun morning with all of his friends.  Thanks again to everyone who came out and made his party a grand time.

Happy 3rd Birthday, sweet babe of mine!

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