Pizza Pie?

My baby is six years old. How did this happen?! He's no longer just a one hander. He now has to hold up both hands to show people how old he is. *sigh*

He's cute isn't he? I may be a little biased. Just a tad. ;-) This picture was taken by a friend of ours who happens to be starting up a photography business. If you're interested you can find her here. Thanks Rachel for the awesome pictures!

For his birthday he wanted to have a chef party. He wants to be a chef with his own restaurant when he grows up. So we went to this great little place called Young Chef's Academy where he got to have a pizza party! The kiddos each got to make their own personal sized pizza then at the end of the party they got to eat it! The chef in charge of our party did a fantastic job of including all the kids and really explaining each process. The best part, though, was the way they took care of everything! Everything! The only thing I had to worry about was the cake.

You can't have a pizza party with out a pizza cake, right? Right! So, I scoured the internet for pizza shaped cake recipes. I didn't find too many, but what I found was enough. I combined several ideas and came up with this.

Looks like a deep dish pizza to me! It's a lemon sponge pie. And when you cut into it, it really looks like it's filled with cheese.

This was my trial cake. I couldn't wait to cut into it and have a taste which is why it's a little lopsided in the picture. It really needs to sit in the fridge for a few hours to set up properly. But it was oh so good! The top is similar to a lemon cake while the center is more of a custard consistency. Yum-Oh! If anyone is interested I can put up the recipe. :-)

Saying Goodbye To My Aunt

I'm not eloquent with words when it comes to goodbyes. I become a big blubbery mess and my face gets all red and puffy while I stumble on the words trying to come out of my mouth. So forgive my big blubbery mess as I say goodbye to My Aunt today.

My Aunt that used to take me out to some long forgotten creek in the summer, where we would take our shoes off and dangle our feet in the frigid water as we sipped cherry limeades from the route 44s she always bought us.

My Aunt that taught me that family isn't always just the people you share DNA with. Family is also those you bring into your heart. Those that you share your life with can be called family too. It was a completely new concept for me. To bring a stranger into your home, into your life, just because you had enough love to go around and they happen to need love. Love and a place to call home. Two things my aunt taught me to appreciate.

My Aunt that taught me how to be a warrior, a survivor, as she stayed strong even in the toughest of times while she battled cancer for more than a decade. It would show up and she would go through the chemo and the treatments. And the cancer would go away for a while before showing up somewhere else and she would go through it all again.

My Aunt that I will always miss.

My Aunt that I will always love, I say goodbye to you...for now.

Dear Universe

Dear Universe,

You have quite the sense of humor.

I'm all for choosing your own path, but do you have to make both paths so darn tempting? At least you give me another chance to choose more wisely when I screw up the first choice. By the way, I can hear you laughing at me when that happens. Just so you know, your laughter isn't always appreciated.

While we're on the subject of your sense of humor...I don't find it a bit funny that you provide us all with so many tasty carbs and sugary treats only to make them "bad" for us, then give us holidays that center around them. Valentines Day...not funny. My thighs do not thank you.

There are times when your quiet sense of humor is greatly appreciated though. Like the way you seem to always introduce me to new friends at just the right times, when I need them the most. Or when we get a bonus only to have our television break.

I guess being all knowing has it's advantages. Now, can we talk about the lottery numbers?

Sincerely,
Jennie

Word Of The Day

Respect - To take notice of; to regard with special attention; to regard as worthy of special consideration; hence, to care for; to heed. (from Webster Dictionary)

My hubby and I work with our boyos everyday teaching them the values that we as human beings should have. We explain to them the whys and whats and hows then send them out into the world hoping beyond hope that they take those lessons with them.

I've always heard, and we all know it's true, that kids behave differently around their parents than they do away from their parents. We know it happens. We just hope it's small stuff they're doing.

Today is Awards Assembly Day at my boyos school. I always give them the same speech every Awards Assembly day. It goes something like "Sit quitely, listen, don't fidget, don't play with any awards you might win. I'll be there and yes, I'll be watching." And I end it with a few stern looks. Sound harsh? Yeah, maybe. But when I get there and I see my boyo behaving while a kid a few seats away from him stands up and walks around then starts yelling that he needs to go get a drink and while the teacher is trying to get him to calm down he starts tell her she's not his mom...I think to myself...Man, am I glad that kid isn't mine.

We've all seen little terrors kids while we've been out somewhere, fussing, back talking, throwing fits. The parents of said terrors kids all red faced and trying their hardest to drag the little dear out of the store or giving into the tantrum to shut the little dear up.

When I'm getting on to my boyos and they back talk me or give me some sass, I remind them about respect. My hubby and I have worked hard to make sure our boyos respect their elders. That means all adults. All of them. You may not like it, you may, in fact, detest it. But as a youth you're expected to give all elders your respect.

My boyos know this. They aren't perfect, no one is, but for the most part they do good. Almost every time we're out we get comments about how good our boyos are. You don't have to threaten them to get them to be good, you just have to start teaching them what is expected of them at an early age.

As a mom of three boys, I tend to be strict. But I'm trying to raise future men, not overgrown boys.

The Common Cold

The common cold is the most common infectious disease in humans...there is no known cure.

Symptoms include but are not limited to: cough, soar throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, muscle aches, fatigue, headaches, and muscle weakness. (I have or have had all of these in the past three weeks)

The common cold can lead to acute bronchitis, croup, pneumonia, sinusitis, or strep throat. (I really believe I have had at least two of those maybe three in the past three weeks)

I'm really sick and tired of being sick and tired. *sigh*

Christmas Vacation

Two words all kids love to hear. Christmas Vacation. They still send tendrils of excitement racing through my veins, making me want to squeal like the little girl I used to be even though I no longer go to school. Heck, I no longer have an actual job that I have to go to everyday. 

Two weeks of freedom from school. Two weeks of new toys and family dinners and Christmas candy and if you're lucky enough, two weeks of playing in the snow then coming inside and warming up by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. I'll take mine with marshmallows please.

Today marks the start of Christmas Vacation for my boyos. They announced it to be true as soon as they got in the car this afternoon. "Christmas vacation starts now, Mommy!"

There are traditions we have. One that is a must for us is watching the movie Christmas Vacation. Here's a little glimpse for those of you who've not had the pleasure of watching it yet.

What are some of your traditions?

Shopping and Friends

I went shopping with a friend this past weekend. *waves at friend*

It was so nice to just walk around the mall, chatting and shopping (yes, I said shopping at a mall). It had been awhile since we'd both been able to just get out and relax. I think we both needed it. As much as we love our husbands there's just something to be said about the company of a good friend. It relaxes, renews and refreshes the spirit.

We were there earlier in the morning so the crowds were just starting to get unbearable when we were ready to leave. We ended the trip with a stop at the book store (which is a must in my opinion...it would be wrong to be so close to a book store and not go in *shudders*) before we stopped at a fabulous pizza place for lunch. Mmm...love pizza!

So, to all the overstressed, overworked, overtired people out there...find time to have a day with a friend. It really helps!

Thanks again friend! *waves at friend*