Alyssa's Birthday Portraits

We did these today since last week was so crazy. She sure has changed from just 6 months ago. Why do babies grow up so fast. Can't they be our sweet little babies a few years longer and be mouthy teenagers a few years less?

The Epic Elmo Cake Saga

For those of you that are my friends on facebook, go ahead and ignore this post. I am just reposting the cake journey on here for those who haven't seen it yet (So I am thinking there are only two out there that read this but aren't on facebook...this is for you!) Anyway, here it is:


If you are interested in HOW I made it, here you go:

Step 1:
Make a batch of rice crispy treats and shape into Elmo's body parts. "Glue" the body to a cardboard base with royal icing. Allow to dry overnight.
Step 2:
Cover Eyes and Nose in fondant. Attach arms to body and feet to legs with royal icing and toothpicks. Make sure feet and arms are supported so they will dry at the correct angle and won't droop. Allow to dry overnight again:
Step 3:
Attach head and legs to body with more toothpicks and icing. Pipe on black icing for pupils and spread on bottom half of face where the mouth will be. Lay down and AGAIN allow to dry overnight. (Are you now getting why I am calling this the Epic Elmo Cake Saga?)
Step 4:
Roll out fondant and cut into shape for Sesame Street sign and letter blocks. Assemble sign and mount on cardboard support. Press letters onto back of Chessman cookies, and you guessed it, allow to dry overnight. (Actually about two days would be good for the sign You can do this step the same day as step 2 or 3)
Step 5:
Bake and decorate cake. I made a chocolate fudge cake with a peanut butter cream filling. I used vanilla butter cream and orange & yellow fondant for the icing. Designs on fondant where created with impression roller.
Step 6:
Sit Elmo upright and apply red butter cream frosting with Wilton Tip #233 (I think?...it's the grass tip) Make sure you have enough icing before you start. Make 3-4 cups, not 3/4 cups (I got this recipe off of a Canadian website, I guess I can't get mad at them. They are on the metric system and don't use pesky fractions like us crazy Americans) Just a tip, red icing is HARD to match exactly so make sure you have enough to finish the job before you start or your Elmo will look like this:
(Don't you LOVE Elmo's pink speedos?)

Step 7:
Finish icing Elmo and place on top of cake. Secure with cake dowels. Place cookies along bottom of cake. Rearrange the entire contents of your refrigerator and remove a shelf in order to place finished cake in fridge so the butter cream doesn't melt before the party. Sit down and rest for 1/1000 of a millisecond before your husband starts complaining that the table is such a mess. Tada...Now you are finished!!
**EDIT**
For all of you Canadians out there, that is one one-thousandth of a millisecond, NOT 1 to 1000 milliseconds.

Little Miss Pookey-Loo is TWO!!

Our little princess has gone from this:


To this:

I have had some of the sweetest moments of my life being the mommy to this little girl. From the joy of her mercifully making her arrival 10 days early, to the utter fear of a rare medical condition that required flying specialists in from Stanford to treat her, my highs and lows have reached new peaks. In two years she has gone from recognizing the lullaby I sang to her when I was pregnant to singing it to me. (The song you are probably listening to right now as you read this) After having Jay, I thought I knew it all, however, having a daughter has forced me to learn new skills such as getting a squirming toddler to hold still long enough to put her hair in pig tails, painting teeny tiny little piggy toe nails, and checking for a messy diaper while she is wearing tights AND a onesie. I also have a new appreciation for shoe shopping. Watching her in a shoe store is one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed.
Stay tuned for birthday portraits and pictures of the Epic Elmo Cake Saga...

Validation

My Junior English Teacher posted this on her facebook page and I loved this video. After the rut I have been it it was kind of a kick in the butt to snap out of it. Plus TJ Thyne is in the video so that makes it worth it too. Prepare to smile!

Oh Happy Day!!!

Alyssa just made a BIG step in her potty training process. (Those of you squeamish about such issues, I would advise you to stop reading now) She came and stood by me and starting "concentrating" really hard. I asked her if she needed to poop and she said "Yep, Stink!" I took off her diaper and told her to go sit on the toilet. She actually pooped in the toilet! I was shocked that she actually did it. I know this is just the beginning of potty training with her and we have a LONG way to go, but WE ARE HERE! She is finally ready to start! We've been hootin'& hollerin' for the past 1/2 hour. Lots of hugs, hi-fives and way-to-go-princess'. We just might be getting some big girl panties for her upcoming birthday. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that it won't be the same 2 year battle that is was with Jay.

Shoose

Rhymes with goose and Alyssa's eyes light up when she is talking about it. This one word excites her more than Elmo, more than snacks, and dare I say, more than SILKY!!?? I am pretty sure I have a force of nature to be reckoned with when it comes to Alyssa and her shoes. If she is getting cranky about getting dressed in the morning, I just bribe her with "shoes?" and she will start throwing her clothes on as if her life depended on it. This morning as we were getting ready for church Alyssa was ready to go out the door except for having her shoes on. I told her to go get her shoes for mommy. She came back with an arm load of 6 different shoes (pictured below) and then put two of them on and wanted to carry the rest with her to church. None of them matched of course. I just have to say how thankful I am for friends with twins a year older than Alyssa and all of their hand-me-downs. This isn't even 1/2 of her shoe collection that currently fit her, let alone the ones she has yet to grow in to.

Can't Stop Laughing...

Not sure if it is due to my 10th day in a row staying up past midnight and I am just laughing at anything and everything due to lack of sleep or if this blog is the funniest thing I have seen on-line. For those of you with some time on your hands and have a sense of humor check out http://myregisblog.blogspot.com/