Carson's Darth Vader Cake

From the start, Tommy and I agreed that Carson could have whatever kind of birthday party he wanted. Wherever he wanted. He chose Star Wars themed...more specifically Darth Vader. He also wanted to have it at his school tomorrow. A Darth Vader party is not complete without a Darth Vader cake. Not the easiest thing to make, which is why I started this morning and not tonight. Very happy I did, because this dessert of darkness has taken me the better half of the day.

Started out making a 9X13 chocolate fudge cake and used one of his actual masks to make a cutout. Then baked another sheet cake.

After allowing time to cool, I carefully stacked the cakes and did a dark chocolate glaze. Then iced Darth by hand looking at the features on the mask.

I hope Carson loves the cake, I sure did love making it for him.

Haircuts!

Ella and I got our haircut and styled today. It was her official first- if you don't count when I just trimmed her mullet about a 9 months ago. We feel great and are ready to be taken out on the town...hint hint Tommy.

The Power of Products

Not all of my posts are meant to be glamorous, this is a blog after all. Today is my 35th birthday. I am thirty five. Mid thirty's. I keep thinking if I say it different ways 100 times over it will sink in. I don't feel 35, well some days I do. Where has the time gone? I look at my kid's faces and bodys every day and compare pictures and watch them grow at a rate that is beyond comprehension. I guess I don't like to think that I am probably aging at somewhat the same rate- hopefully a little less obvious.

I was standing in front of the bathroom mirror this morning studying my face. The lines, the way my skin is changing and digging around for a few gray hairs. I took difficult pause and said, "This is me. This is what I look like minus the makeup and straightened hair. This is 100% natural." I smiled and wondered if I would be brave enough to document an "undoctored" picture of my face. I decided that if any day was a good day to do this, today was perfect. A stamp in time, on my birthday to remember what I really looked like....then quickly getting out my makeup bag and chi hair straightener :)...

The Hair

Before: Brushed out. After: Moussed and air dryed. Had to document Ella's 2 year old fro.

Recap of Christmas Vacations 2011

Hiking, bowling, Smoky Mountain Jump House, Trip to Tennessee, Grandparents Visit, Christmas Party, tons of family time and saw many friends! Loved every second of our break and now ready to see 2011 hit the door and welcome in 2012!

Christmas Eve 2011

Tommy's parents are here and we are kicking off Christmas right! We started with a big dinner of ham, rolls, spinach casserole, baked pineapple, sausage balls and corn and saffron rice and homemade apple pie.

We then opened presents (Santa and stockings come in the morning). The kids went nuts! We got ready and went to the Christmas Eve church service and then home again to get ready for bed.

Carson and Ella sprinkled the lawn with "Reindeer food". Oatmeal and glitter are apparently the food of choice according to Carson's preschool class. The moon reflects off the glitter and helps Rudolph find his way to your house.

And last, Tyler wrote a letter to Santa and left him some cookies and milk. Three very excited kids are in bed right now tossing and turning with anticipation of the morning.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Gingerbread House 2011