Buggy Buggy Birthday Cake

For Amarra's Buggy Birthday party she put in a special request for some very "buggy" cake. (I tried to talk her into cake from the bakery, but when the answer is, "But Mom, your cake tastes so much better!", what can you possibly say?) We made chocolate cake for the "dirt" and some green whipped cream/cream cheese frosting with green "sparkles" for the grass. Amarra giggled and giggled as she and I placed the bugs ( two packs of plastic bus from the dollar store) all over the cakes. She then ever so graciously took the time to tell me what each and every bug was. (Mmmm, cockroach frosting.) Some people laughed their heads off when they saw the cakes, a few said, "Ewwww!", but everyone gobbled it up, bugs or no bugs! Amarra was simply in heaven. And really, that's all that counts.

Cookies!

What do you get when you mix 14 kids, a quadruple batch of gingerbread cookie dough and a table full of toppings? Why a rockin' good time, of course! I love watching kids create. Not only did they make some awesome cookies with the crazy variety of cookie cutters I inherited from GGB...giraffes, elephants, pigs, lips, etc....they created a safari in the garage. They made tickets you had to give to security, and then you were free to tour the grounds. They took videos of themselves acting all kind of nuts and then laughed hysterically when they watched them! The cookies were my favorite, though, hands down. Everything from a TARDIS and a dalek (and not even by my kids, ha!) to crime scene victims, baby zombies, and snow giraffes. Kisses.  Mustaches. Flamingos and palm trees, of course! Every sheet of cookies I put in the oven was so fun to check out, and I loved the pride in the faces of each and every artist that triumphantly brought me a sheet to bake! We're grateful for such a great group of friends!

Beauty School

OH SO MANY pictures of beaming little ladies being pampered and feeling beautiful! For Emma's 11th birthday (Which I can't get over because I swear just yesterday she was 3 years old!) her mother had a stroke of genius and held her party at Elite School of Beauty. Hairdos and pretty nails for everybody! There were curls and glitter galore by the time these beaming girls were through.  Amarra wasn't sure at first, but then finally consented to getting her hair done if I stayed by her and, and she kept her (security) sunglasses on. By the time they needed to take the shades off she was having a grand ol' time, with 2 girls working on her hair and gushing about how gorgeous it was. Even Dash had fun playing footsie with Elora until Emma decided to take him for a walk around the salon and turn him into a bit of a party mascot. He kinda liked that, too.
For her birthday I made Miss Emma a fun little adjustable apron, and was pleased that it was a hit. She looked ever so fabulous, sporting it for the rest of the party. (And Shonna had fun bonding with Dashiell.  Best way to win over a baby and make him come to you? Give him a bite of cake every time he does. It was terrible and hilarious all rolled into one.)

Happy birthday, Emma!  We love you!

Finn's Pinata

Saturday the girls attended a party for Infinity, who was turning 7, and her little twin brothers,  who were turning one year old. Finn had a giant Strawberry Shortcake cake (that now, of course, the girls would like me to duplicate!) and a big pl' pinata. After Elora took a few whacks at it, she helped hold the rope and move it around while Seleia took her turn. Seleia ran all over the place with her new bff Jasmine (Jasi, although 3 months older than Seleia, came up to her waist.  It was pretty funny.) Amarra declined a turn at bat (too many people there for her taste!) but was not above going after the candy, once it was finally liberated from it's cardboard prison. Everyone got a very full goody bag of candy, and even shared some Skittles with Mama. :) Fun was had by all!