Packing fun...

Hallie making sure she's not forgotten...Breaking up the packing blues

1 year pics

One year later I FINALLY made it in to get Micah and Hallie's pics done, with the advice of Lisa and with the last minute help of erica I headed down to JCP's and got them done! So here they are!

if you made it this far which I'm sure you did- cause they are so FLIPPIN' cute! HOPEFULLY TONIGHT I'll fill you all in on our "Adventure" cross your fingers we'll get our answer today!

Baby cake recipe

I was totally one of "those" mom's and didn't want to give Micah and Hallie tons of artificial sugars wam bam style (if at all!) in their b-day cake. I scoured the Internet and wholesomebabyfoods.com and found this recipe that sounded yummy.

Apple Spice Cake

As with any "non traditional" cake, the batter for this cake will not seem "right."

1/2 cup molasses
1 cup applesauce
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp ginger

Mix the molasses and applesauce in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Bake in nonstick 8x8 inch baking pan or one sprayed with a non-stick spray, at 350 F for 30 to 45 minutes, or until it tests done. **The batter may be a bit dry and you may need to add more applesauce or a bit of water. Try adding 1/4 cup of applesauce first then gradually add a bit of water by tablespoon** I added 1/8 cup of applesauce, but when done it was pretty dense, you could definitely get away with adding the extra applesauce and some water for a more "cake-like" texture.

The reviews of the cake from others were mixed- it definitely isn't a cake cake, but I didn't think it was bad, tasted like a molasses cookie with the texture of a dense cake :) Now if I could only give up cake cake... some day maybe???

Now frosting on the other hand is another issue... I tried using 8oz cream cheese, 4 oz sugar free apple juice concentrate and 2 tsp pure vanilla extract. It was disgusting. It definitely wasn't frosting consistency, it was more like a runny milkshake with little balls of unblended cream cheese. So I added a tiny bit of flour and mixed and mixed and mixed... the consistency STARTED to come around, so I tried using it, but it didn't spread well on the cakes and the apple flavor was a little (ok REALLY) overpowering. So I gave in since it was 10:45pm and whipped up some cream cheese frosting (with sugar) :( So if anyone has a tried and good "healthy" frosting recipe I'd love it!

As for Micah and Hallie, Micah went more for the cake, poking and digging with those cute little fingers trying to get handfuls of it. Hallie mainly played with the frosting, with lots of licking of the fingers, sprinkled with a few bites of cake here and there. Sadly, I'm pretty sure she must take after me in this department... if there's hope for me there's gotta be some for her right?!?

Birthday Party: The Kids

Thankfully the party wasn't this boring for all of us...
We had a great day (minus the fact they took horrible afternoon naps! and my mini-meltdown of frustration because they wouldn't sleep! I admit it sometimes I just need to chill, but frustrating none-the-less) Micah and Hallie were thoroughly spoiled by grandparents and aunts and uncles. We ate food, watched Hallie and Micah be cute 1 year olds, watched them do everything but open presents, and of course watched them devour their surfboard cakes!

Micah inspecting the party grounds

Micah hanging out with grandpa and for once being somewhat interested in cousin MadisonPresentspresentsand more presentsand even more presentsmicah telling us all he's 1 nowhallie inspecting the wrapping materialsDaddy and uncle Mike preparing the goodsFun times in their doggy house with, you'd better believe it, 50 balls!

and last but definitely not least- the cake sorry for the million pics I didn't feel like sorting them!

Beach Birthday Party: The goods

I enjoyed this theme SO MUCH! It was tons of fun! Not to mention it was for my kiddos FIRST BIRTHDAY!! which makes it that much more fun!

You might notice something different about this post... there are way less words and no descriptions, not because I don't want to share, but cause I'm starting a new blog for all my crafties and big hint hint for possibly selling my crafties. :) scream yay for me! It's still a work in progress, BUT if you wanna know how I did all these goodies you'll have to go visit my *other* blog (feels a little scandalous!) http://www.sweetdaisydesigns.blogspot.com/ I'll be posting them soon!

The Invites
The Table of GoodsPictures of babies in Beach FramesHawaiian Water Bottles and 7 up Hawaiian Punch with sunkin' sweedish fish

(poor fishies couldn't swim in all that fizz! AND note to self and all others who may care- sweedish fish soaked in punch are NASTY!) The Cakes- Fish for the big kids and Surfboards for the birthday babies :) Pumpkin Spice Fish

Thanks Jen for the idea!
Chocolate Fish

Hanging Beach Balls Surfboard Signs
The one onsies...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY CUTE KIDDOS!

When I grow up I wanna be...

A Baller!- way to make daddy proud!

And Hallie a trucker?!? I don't know if gramps H would approve!