1/19 - PAW Patrol party

It happened again.  I'm not quite sure how, but those little twins of mine have grown one year older (and cuter!)  I now have eight year olds on my hands.  Oh my.

We decided on a PAW Patrol theme, a show we enjoy watching (and re-enacting), about action rescue dogs with excellent vehicles and gadgets.

We started the festivities with the traditional "please bring a healthy treat" request from the teacher.  I'm not sure that I'd call these healthy per se, but they were not sweet, delicious cupcakes.  No.  I sent "pupcakes" instead.

Next up, one "pawty," which Lil' Guy kept hearing as "potty."  (He was not amused.  He lobbied for a "ruff ruff" party, but I am too juvenile to pull that off appropriately.)  We used printables from Nick Jr. for the invites and to decorate the house.  Thanks to Mama for her balloon and streamer wrangling!

"Pupcorn" holders:

I got dog bowls from the dollar store and used them to serve meatballs, little smokies, Scooby Snacks (graham crackers), Whoppers, etc.

And how cute are these lollipups?

We stationed every dog stuffie we could find (there were lots!) around the house as decorations.  For the goodie bags and prizes, I got stickers, dog collar bracelets, paw print stampers, some little plastic dogs, and Scooby Doo sour candies.

We played a few very fun games.  Lil' Gal set up a Fetch station for the kids to play while everyone arrived.

Our first game was Pin the Badge on Marshall.

Then we played Doughnut on a String, where the kids got to eat like dogs, with no hands.

We played Dogcatcher, where the kids took turns being the dogcatcher.  When they tagged someone, that kid had to go to the doghouse (predesignated area) until another kid tagged them out.  If the dogcatcher caught all the "puppies," s/he won.  (I just gave the kids that wanted to be the dogcatcher two minutes to catch as many as they could, then switched to another dogcatcher.)

We finished up with everyone's favorite canine version of Hot Potato.

Then, it was time for cake!!  I tried a technique I found on Pinterest for making the PAW Patrol characters in frosting.  Aside from having to make 11 different colors of buttercream frosting (which all tasted delicious!), and forgetting to reverse the image, it went pretty well.  The kids loved it.

Happy birthday, my sweeties.  I hope your 8th year brings you all kinds of joy.  You are my joy.

Love, Mommy 

1/07 - Jake and the Nevereaten Fruit Cake

Jake said, “I won’t eat it! Not even if I were stranded on a deserted island!”

Fun fact:  One of my family's holiday traditions growing up involved the Norwegian version of fruitcake called julekaga.  My grandmother would make it every year and mail us a loaf, along with a variety of Christmas cookies.  We'd inhale the cookies, but the julekaga...  notsomuch.  If visitors came along, we'd try to fob it off on them:  "Try it!  It's Norwegian!"  They'd take a polite bite or two, but you really could not get rid of that stuff.

12/06 - Diny the Saur gets a sugar buzz

Diny the Saur and I enjoyed our first cake at the new office today.  Its pastel frosting was a bit unnerving (as are baby showers), but it tasted fine.

Then Diny got all crazy on me and tried unplugging all the cords on my laptop.  Bad dino!

7/17 - Mary Katherine takes a number

It’s a counting parade!

We went with Jeanine to pick up a cake for her boyfriend’s birthday in Chinatown.  The bakery had so many kinds of moon cakes, we couldn’t decide which one to try.  Next time…

7/16 - Mary Katherine thinks she is being followed

She was right!  A giant slice of free cake was totally following her.  How lucky is she?

Here is Mary Katherine in an aloe forest.
'Allo?  Anyone else here?

7/07 - Weekend fun: County Fair Edition

We hit the county fair on the last day, and were rewarded with cooler temperatures and light(er) crowds.  First, we had to hit the pig races!

Then, we spent quite a while at the petting zoo, where I once again confirmed that roller derby blocking skillz work really well vs. aggressive goats.

 Hello?  Can you hear me now?

 I may or may not have stalked this llama and made it pose with me.

 Pre-birthday funnel cake for me!  NOM!

 Not exactly a cowboy, but having lots of fun.

 All aboard!

I sure do love me a county fair!  Thanks to the kids and to Mama for taking me.  :)

5/13 - Weekend fun, Mother's Day edition

This weekend, I got to go to a very exciting double-header Bay Area Derby (B.A.D.) Girls bout.  I was so inspired by the talent of the skaters, the strategy of the game, and the passion of the crowd.  

Sunday, we celebrated Mama's birthday (which happened during the week) and Mother's Day.  First, we groomed all our Pretty Little Ponies.

Then, we wrapped presents and picked some flowers from the garden.

Mama was pleased.  Happy Mother's Day.

Oh, and Lil' Gal made this picture of me in my derby gear.  I love the sharp teeth.  :)

4/12 - Wheel and the surprise birthday party

Wheel (yes, just the one today) and I saw this truck with a big spool on our way into work.  She asked, “Who are you calling a spool?!”

Elizabeth didn’t tell anyone it was her birthday – the surprise was on us!  We managed to round up some folks and take her to lunch anyway.  Here’s Wheel and the flaming flan.

Happy one-week anniversary to my ear infection.  NOT.

3/27 - Sad bikes in the rain

Rainy days are not so fun for bikes.  Or Mommy, whose umbrella turned inside out 5 times on the way to the old work (and back) to wish Ron a happy retirement.  At least the cake was good!

2/27 - Nigel wants some new kicks

Nigel and I really liked these fancy sneakers we saw on the way into work this morning.

And then we sat at my desk all day doing lots of work.  We did get a cake break (not pictured), though.  :)

2/20 - Mickey proceeds with caution

Look!  Someone made a cake that looks just like Mickey Mouse! My toy friend Mickey couldn’t stop pointing at it.

We found a broken glass door while we were out for a walk.  It almost looks like raindrops, doesn’t it?