Cake Review 2013

I made four cakes this year; one for each of the boys and one for a baby shower. All were different and fun to make but the best part of this whole cake ordeal (my gift to them) is seeing the boys faces when they come downstairs in the morning (their gift to me).

 D.J. is into a computer game called Minecraft where you build whatever you want out of virtual, 3-D blocks. The main cake is made to look like it is built out of bricks.  He also likes a game called Clash of Clans and requested the two swords as a token from that game.  There are two incredibly annoying songs on You Tube called "Chicken Nugget in a Biscuit," and "Bacon on a string."  D.J. thought he was so clever to request this for his cake AND for his breakfast.

 Spencer is into Magic the Gathering, a card game and wanted the design on the back of all the Magic cards, I did my best to replicate this design in fondant:

10 guild signs are on the sides of the cake

One of my friends was expecting a little girl after having two boys, so I figured she needed a few pink things.  It was fun to host something in the pink realm!  I decided upon this cake for the pink fest.  I now have three huge pink balls of fondant in my freezer that I'm hoping I can use some other time!

This was, by far, the easiest cake I've done, but very fun to do! Only the light parts are fondant and the dark parts are regular frosting made to look like hair, with the ears being small chocolate doughnut covered in frosting.  This was for monkey boy James, who couldn't really decide what he wanted for a cake, so I surprised his with it!

The 9 year Old Monkey

The last festivity for the Astling calendar year is James' birthday.  We have an advent calendar for Christmas which James usually gets to before anyone else because it is both an advent for Christmas Day and for his birthday.  He gave us the countdown each day.  He is nine this year but plays and talks like the big boys.

There was a little bit of a melt down after the first gift was opened when his expectations were shot after discovering Mom got the wrong thing.  The Magic the Gathering deck was supposed to be a Dimmer deck belonging to a group other than "Theros." I thought I did my due diligence, but it turns out I could've been a little more diligent.  Everyone moved on though and after drying tears, moved on to other exciting gifts.

This monkey boy got the oldie but goodie "Barrel of Monkeys" game, a stuffed monkey with huge eyes, an Iron Man Lego set, a chess game from Granna, candy and money from Wheeler grandparents, and a pink feather accompanied with $10 from great grandma Wheeler.

James is the one on the right. You may notice that the monkey cake has mis-matched ears.  This is because a certain birthday boy forgot to push in his chair at the table in the morning, which was a invitation for Roxy to steal and ear.  A chocolate covered doughnut, unfrosted, sans fondant was the replacement. Roxy is still alive.

James now has three monkeys.  Let me introduce you to James I, James II, James III and James IV.  I like James I the best, he gives great monkey hugs!

Holly Jolly Christmas 2013

Our Christmas Day was full of fun, merriment, excitement, playing and naps.  All good stuff.  The boys were plotting to sleep in one room to wake each other up bright and early until Dad put the kibosh on that by saying whatever time they wake up Christmas morning will be the time we wake up every morning for scripture study.  They came to their senses and woke up at 6:30, the time we usually wake up.

After sorting presents, the boys were all ready to go, starting with the youngest.

James got Nano hex bugs, a rip stick, zoobs, shirts, the new book from Brandon Mull and a jacket Christmas morning.

D.J. had written on his Chritmas list, "the ability to play contact football, I'll even pay."  We treasure his brain too much, so Dad said he is free to play football when he is 18 and out of our house, so for the time being he can train and practice for whatever football position he wants.  So he crossed off contact football from his list and requested a kicking net and ball, which he received Christmas morning.  He also received Skylanders Giants (wii game), technic legos which took him longer than normal to put together (win), a Foxtrot comic book having to do with science and math, t-shirts and a jacket.  Also Dad gave each of the boys a 2 liter of their favorite soda, which they absolutely loved.

Spencer was elated to receive Battroborg, which is Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots on steroids.  He observed that it was the only toy he requested and received this year, an indication that he's growing out of the toy phase a bit.  He also received Tae Kwon Do sparring pads, four books, t-shirts and a jacket.

In the beginning of December I had this wild thought that I would make the boys each a levi quilt.  I should've had that wild thought in September.  Actually I should've had the thought of the 2 liter of favorite soda because they liked that just as much.  But being the crazy kind of person I am I cut and sewed through December and came out with these three cuddly quilts.  Spencer's quilt has black and orange monsters who are reading.

D.J.'s quilt has footballs and plays on the back.

James' quilt has monkeys, his new fetish.

The grand finale present of the morning was . . . 

an air hockey table!

James tried his ripstick out in the kitchen before risking the cement and cold outside.

D.J. was happy to brave the cold to try out his kicking net.

This overworked man took cough medicine on Christmas Eve (he really did have a cough). He was a little groggy in the morning and Spencer even said to him, "it doesn't seem like you are having a holly jolly Christmas."  Cough medicine can sure help you sleep, and sleep and sleep.  He nestled in for a long winters nap, which he completely deserves after the very long hours he put in at work throughout December. After he took his nap, I got a bit of a nap myself and by 5 pm when Granna came for dinner, we were all rested and ready for ham with mustard sauce.

Pre-Christmas Activities That May or May Not Have to do with Christmas

 There are plenty of activities that happen right before Christmas.  Some are in preparation for Christmas and some, well, not so much.

I have no idea what this is all about.  I just needed to include it for future black mail.  Wait, D.J. just told me that he is hiding one of Roxy's tennis balls under this neckerchief. I think a knit hat would've been easier, but perhaps the camouflage helps distract Roxy from the ball?

Roxy must have gotten over the ball hiding incident.

While we're on the subject of Roxy, Spencer has made great strides where dogs are concerned, wouldn't you say?

We do a lot of reading at our house. Even our dog likes books.

Spencer has joined a recreational wrestling team in preparation for the Jr. High team in the coming year.  He's the one not in a singlet. Yet.

James likes to go to the Utah basketball games with Dad.  Mark got really good seats this year in the 6th row. Swoop visits the lower bowl seats more often than the upper bowl, so James was able to get a picture with the famed red-tailed hawk. Go Utes!

Spencer made an apron, along with other items in his career tech class.  He was so excited to use it that he made pancakes for everybody one morning.

James has been practicing the ukelele with his class all fall in preparation for this Christmas concert. Some of the songs he played were, Silent Night (James played the tone bells for that one), In the Jungle (James played drums), Oh, Susanna, I've Been Working on the Railroad, Rock Around the Clock and I'm On Top of the World.  Every so often he would look at me and wink. I'm such a fan!

James also had a sing-along at his school before it let out for Christmas break.  

He sang "Gift of Love."

We had our Christmas dinner with our friends from Minnesota, the Parkinsons.  Despite what it looks like, the boys were all calm and peaceful on the couch.

We also had the Davis dinner where we exchanged gifts and the boys got goofy t-shirt from Natalie and family.

Lastly, we got a surprise visit from the Watson kids (who really do not have demonic glowing eyes) when their babysitter got the flu and Loni and Matt needed a new baby sitter. So glad we were close enough to be next in line! They are getting some god belly laughs while watching "Home Alone 2."

Thankfully it's Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was a quiet one for us, but we're not complaining.  With busy schedules and deadlines to meet, we were all ready for some quiet time.  Priscilla went to Colorado to be with David, Lieve, Stephen and Jenny (and to visit a great bookstore), so rather than make plans with other family or friends, we opted to have our very own Thanksgiving dinner with just the five of us.  Though it was just our little family, my brain still made me make enough food for 20. We had plenty of leftovers, which was great because after cooking for two days I didn't want to cook for the rest of the week. Also, my oven was broken so I had to use a neighbor's oven the day before Thanksgiving to bake the pies, rolls and sweet potato souffle. 

Our Thanksgiving Day started with a fun game of flag football with our friends the Cooks (plus their family) and the Wells. A great way to start a feast day: burning calories.

The highly anticipated, after dinner coma, watching football amid fuzzy robes and blankets.

Thanksgiving night we were treated to a surprise Skype session with the Colorado Astlings! It was a great way to finish our day because even though we enjoyed the quietness of the day, it just wasn't the same without family. We particularly missed discussing the scientific evidences, mathematical properties and statistical significance of all things associated with feasting with the Astlings.

 The day after Thanksgiving we feasted again with the Watsons!

Roxy had her begging face on both Thursday and Friday during all the feasting. She didn't have to beg too much because between nine kids and four adults food magically appeared on the floor.

The highly anticipated, after dinner coma, watching football amid fuzzy robes and blankets.
(De Ja Vu)

The new favorite appetizer for the weekend: bacon wrapped dates drenched in a balsamic vinegar reduction. Winner! Winner!

Saturday, all five of us made the trek to Rice Eccles Stadium to enjoy the last U of U football game of the 2013 season.  Sadly, the Utes won't participate in a bowl game this year, but that didn't put a damper on the fun we can have at a football game!

Five days AFTER Thanksgiving I got a new oven!  Or more precisely - TWO ovens!

It was a great weekend where we contemplated how blessed we are to live in a great nation, state and area, surrounded by family (whether through Skype or real live people) and friends, to know where we've come from and where we are headed and who directs it all.  It's a wonderful life! (Wait that's Christmas).