TreasuresInTerraCotta

I shouldn't hate birthdays as much as I do.  And it's not for the reasons most women quintessentially hate birthdays.  It's not about getting older or the passage of time.  It is really all about expectations.  Call me crazy, but I just want the day to be special.  I have had trouble defining what I want to be "special," but the more I ponder it, the more it comes down to being known.  I want to be known and celebrated.  I don't want to choose the restaurant, I want someone to suggest the one they know I'll love.  I don't want to have to ask to not cook, I want it to be offered.  I don't want to do things out of obligation, I want to have a day of joy.  I don't want to ask for a gift and be given that exact thing, I want to be known enough to have inspired gift-giving.  I don't want to have to ask for everything, I want it to be offered, as a gift, because I am known.  That is the gift! No wonder I...

My first-born turned 8 this weekend!  How can that be?  It really seems like no time at all.    And here we are 8 years later!  You are amazing and smart as a whip and inquizative about every thing.  You study and look and explore and ask questions.  I love the way you interact with adults as if they should answer you when you ask how much cement is in a cement truck or why the gas company is digging a hole on our street or when he last went elk hunting.     You are a first born, like your mama.  You are strong willed.  And you are tender-hearted.  You are a perfectionist.  Like your mama.     And you have the best laugh and adorable dimples.  You are super strong.  You have a funny sense of humor.  You are amazing!   When you asked for a Ninja themed party I told you No.  Immediately you suggested a Garden Party.  Absolutely y...

Two weeks ago my baby turned two years old.  The second birthday for this third child was sadly lacking in creativity and, perhaps, missing the appropriate celebration. On his actual birthday we made chocolate instant pudding.  Nothing but the best for the birthday boy. But everyone had a hand in it.  When the cousins were all together over the weekend we decided to celebrate with Banana Splits.  None of the kids had experienced a banana split (that they remembered) so it was a grand dessert indeed.  Mini versions, but with all the fixings: bananas, ice cream, fudge, strawberries, pineapple, with Redi-Wip and a cherry on top. All the cousins getting in on opening presents. Truman suddenly knows how to smile for the camera!  What a ham! Truman:  You are super loving and so snugly and perfectly squishy and soft.  You enjoy giving hugs to others, not so much because you need the loving, but rather becaus...

It was a surfboard birthday for our one year old!  Having a theme always makes it easier to decorate a cake.  And to dress up! We always wait until the first birthday to give the kids any sugary sweets.  So that's always fun. There's nothing like teaching the baby that delicious things come in colors that would never occur in nature. Of course he likes it!   All babies love the boxes better than the presents. The six cousins in their surfboard, shark and beach shirts. In honor of the surf theme we served Baja style fish tacos.  I wish I had taken a picture of my plate.  They were so beautiful and so yummy.  Another pretty thing...we served fancy soda in a galvanized steel bucket with lots of ice.  Totally beach worthy, don't you think!

Almost every birthday cake, graduation cake and even wedding cake in my paternal family history is made from  this recipe. I know its flavor. I know the way the frosting feels in my mouth. And I am learning how to use it to create fun, decorated cakes. And at the risk of sharing family secrets, I am going to share these "recipes" with you. Cake: Duncan Hines yellow cake mix Add a box of vanilla pudding Make as directed on the back of the box Frosting: 2 sticks butter 2 pounds powdered sugar (1 bag) 1 tsp vanilla or lemon extract ~1/2 cup milk This frosting sets up with a nice "crunchy" crust, but remains soft underneeth.  That makes it perfect for decorating and it can even be covered lightly with plastic wrap without sticking. Here are a few other tips I've learned along the way.  Or maybe I should say tips I learned the hard way. -Use fresh powdered sugar.  C&H  says powdered sugar has an indefinite shelf life, ...

Today Andrew turned three!  We headed to the Zoo for some fun.  I sometimes wonder why I take my camera to the zoo.  The pictures are really always about the same.  The animal look about the same and perhaps even the same as the postcards you could find in the gift shop. But the zoo just seems like a photographic place to me.  And now that I have so many zoo pictures I could compare them if I wanted to.  "Look how tall Calvin has grown" or  "When that picture was taken we were at the zoo with Kaley" or "Andrew was the age the Truman is now!"  And then, there are times, when something magical happens and a snapshot turns out more stunning than I expected.  Like this...  And then there is the possibility that an older gentleman with three children and college-age grandchildren of his own, will offer to take your picture. I told him he was very kind. I told him that it was a true gift he had given me....