The little Train that could...look any more less like a train

In an effort to document my follies as an over-eager cake maker...

Note the engine of the train. If you look closely you can see how it is starting to separate. Apparently gravity works and toothpicks were not doing their job.

Here the birthday boy is getting instructions from Dad about how to blow out the candles. His eager face is what I'll remember, not the slouch of the cake or the fact that jelly beans DO NOT taste good on cakes.

The first candle gave him some trouble, but....

He succeeded!!
(Here the slouchy engine can be seen actually
being supported by the train car behind it.)

My eagerness to make fun cakes for my kids matched with a slight competition between some more crafty sister-in-laws makes for good memories, eh?

Happy Birthday, Owen!!

Just don't get into Star.Wars or anything too complicated by next year, ok?? Not sure the Millennium Falcon is on my list of "can-do" cakes!!

Because they were just too white, I guess...

As I've noted in the past, my daughter's creativity knows no bounds. Especially when related to the medium with which she chooses to express said creativity.

Today's choice: New. White. Shoes.

To further explain why this a big deal (they were washable crayons, came off in a flash, bought at the cheapy shoe store, with a coupon, so really not a big deal), I must say a few things.

I am Dutch. I shop mostly at resale stores. This was only the second pair of real, live, brand-spanking, "I've still got the shoe box" shoes that I have ever bought. For any of my kids. Thanks to a very generous aunt who had boys and girls with a plethora of shoes and the resales, I have been able to avoid the shoe store.

Now I see a bit even more logic in skipping the store.

And just tying plastic bags to their feet.

Or maybe paper. She can color on paper.

He's Two!!

My youngest has turned two! Although it is extremely clique'...I can't believe he's two already. And this child is, as they say, All Boy. He's dirty, rowdy, loud, loves to land on his bottom for no reason except for the fact that it makes a fun sound, tackle, throw (every)things, and thinks colliding humans are hilarious.

And I love him.

He's very different from his big brother in how quickly he's joined ranks of the rowdy, but still has a sweet side to him as well. In fact, when he sees one of his sibs in tears or feeling sad, he'll head over and with a slightly tilted head and a gentle pet on the arm, he reassures the ones he loves that all will be ok. And then he runs. Full tilt in any direction. E.R., here we come. We haven't totally celebrated yet, but I'm looking forward to watching him open some presents and chow on some boy-design birthday cake very soon.

This little boy, he is my third, my last, my Owen.

Happy Birthday, buddy. Momma loves ya!

Wordless Wednesday

What???
Doesn't everyone eat their bagel this way??