Diaper and Towel Cakes

A number of years ago I found a creative way to give a gift. I always loved making special, unique, personal gifts for people on special occasions. I used to make baskets with personal touches to accent the occasion and person. For example for a friends wedding shower I put together a kitchen basket with a bunch of seasons, towels, and utensils and a cookbook. For my cousins Grad Party I made a popcorn bucket, basket with microwaveable popcorn, different popcorn salt flavors and a few movies.
I soon got bored with baskets and after receiving a Diaper Cake from my Friend Christa I found a new love. Check out her Blog with the Diaper Cakes She's Made also, They are Amazing.

Here are all the Diaper and Towel Cakes that I've made. I hope to make many more...

A Small Diaper Cake for a friend at work:

Under the Sea Diaper Cake Theme for Mandi's Shower:

Pink and Brown Diaper Cake for Jenn:

 Pizza Themed gift made for my Aunt to give at a wedding shower;
             I shipped this to my aunt after putting it together and she also added a Pizza Pan underneath.

Towel Cake for my Sister's Peacock Themed Wedding Shower:

Kids Mini Pizza

I've decided that I'm going to start cooking with the kids more and get them involved in the food buying and preparation. I have been reading a lot about this helping then to be more well rounded when it comes to eating and trying different foods. It makes sense but lets cross our fingers that it works...

First cooking class - Mini Pizza

Ingredients:
1 Pkg Refrigerated Biscuits (8)
4 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Any Pizza Toppings
        Pepperoni  Onion
        Ham           Peppers
        Sausage      Mushrooms
        Etc...
3 Cups Tomato Sauce
2 Cups Flour

Sprinkle some four on your work surface so the dough doesn't stick
Lay out one Biscuit and press out until desired thickness is achieved.
Spread on Sauce
Sprinkle with toppings
Finish by topping with Mozzarella Cheese.

Place pizzas on a floured baking sheet
Bake on 375 for 10-15 mins depending on thickness, the bottom should be golden brown and the cheese melted and bubbly.
Let stand a 5 mins

Liam had fun, sprinkling the cheese was his favorite.

Lennox ate more while making his pizza then I've ever seen, even at dinner.

This was right up Xzavier's ally, He loves cooking and loves pizza.

and Nixon was a good quiet baby, taking it all in.

I would say our first cooking class was a success!

Although Xzavier and I were the only ones to eat the final product. They Were Yummy!

Harry Potter Party

This last weekend my family and I attended a Harry Potter 'Dress Up' Party. It was so much fun, I love themed parties. The boys were so excited. Xzavier was Draco Malfoy, Lennox was Harry Potter, Trevor was Ron Weasley and I was the fortune-telling Teacher Sybill Patricia Trelawney. Even Nixon had a black onesie with a Hogwarts Uniform Tie. Fun was had by all. 

Thank you so much Foila and Emily for putting on a great party and for all your hard work on the boys outfits and the decor in your house. You really made us feel like we were at Hogwarts. Even the candles were floating on the ceiling!

The Best Family Photo Ever!

Everyone was so amazed at how good Nixon was all night. Everyone passed him around and held him then he sat nicely in his seat for the rest of the night... We are lucky to have always had easy going babies.

I was so happy and shocked at how long the glasses lasted but I tried to put them on him the next day and he threw a tantrum... oh well!

Xzavier had so much fun. He was telling everyone "I'm Draco Malfoy." Then he would use his wand to turn you into a frog.
Emily was a great Dolores Umbridge. Too Funny!

The party was not complete without a spell fight with Harry Potter (Froila).

Paper Bag Puppets

I remember making these fun puppets when I was young. They really help Xzavier's imagination. He comes up with great stories and gives the rest of us a puppet show at the end of the table or over the back of the couch. Hopefully I can build him a puppet show stage... That's something that's been on the list for a while now. (the list that never gets shorter).

Take a simple brown (lunch) bag,
some construction paper for mouth,
a puff ball for nose,
googly eyes,
and an old ribbon for a tie.
You can also add hair using (separated) pieces of yarn.

The Finished Product.

And Nixon Slept

Nonnie and Papa Get a Glimps into our Crazy World

My Grandmother and Grandfather came to meet the new baby Nixon and get to know the boys a little better. Our visits to Ohio are always filled with so much running around and seeing so many people, its always nice when family visits us. During these visits we really get to have one on one time so they can really get to know the kids (in their element). My grandma was amazed at the hustle and bustle that went on during our everyday routine. At one point she said she was going to write a book about my life. We had such a wonderful visit with them, we all really missed them when they left.

Just about everyday we would wake up and get our day going with a few cartoons. I would then serve lunch and lay Lennox and Nixon down for nap and Grandma and I would head out to the Grocery or the Mall leaving Grandpa and Xzavier to have a quiet afternoon. Most of the time we would be out a tad too long and by the time we got home Grandpa would be manning the fort and doing a GREAT job. I truly am blessed to have such great genes, I hope I'm as active and young at heart at 80 as these two are. Thanks for being a great inspiration to me and my family. I've learned so much about being a great mother and provider to my family from your example. You two have such a strong, loving relationship, I hope to provide the same warm spirit and environment to my family that you have always provided to me. Love you both so very much and can't wait to spend more time with you soon.

Nonnie Relaxing with Nixon

Lennox Made a Buddy with Papa Real Quick!

Coffee and Pastries for Breakfast.

Xzavier showing Nonnie his Painting Skills.

Papa was a great story teller

The boys loved wearing Nonnie's shoes all around.

This was Nonnie's Buddy. She held him All Day Every Day. Thanks so much for giving my arms a rest.

Nonnie doing it ALL

Yummy Dinners Every Night. I swear we gained 10lbs each!

Papa and His Boys

Of course Trev missed out on most daytime activities but he always made it home for Dinner and Desert.

Learning to make donuts with Nonnie

Homemade Pizza

Homemade Donuts

Then Nonnie and Xzavier made cupcakes with clowns.

Then were so yummy. Homemade frosting took me back to my childhood.

Lennox started with Manors.

Soon that went out the window. What a Mess!

More Love from Nonnie. Nixon loved listening to her.

Great Pic.

Xzavier had to take Nonnie and Papa to watch him swim. Nonnie almost had a Heart Attack.

Out to Dinner at The Lucky Dill

What will we have for Desert!

All the Guys Waiting for our Table.

Lennox ate so much Bread.

Grandpa make Lennox so Happy with More Bread.

We all had so much fun and the boys were so well behaved.

My Lil Love.

Nixon listen to a story form Nonnie

This is how he looked at her the whole time they were here. So Content.

Cuddles from Papa

A bottle at the Mall so I could finish my lunch.

Of course Nonnie had to break out her change purse for the boys to take a ride. It's between $.75 and $1 now a days.

My Handsome Man.

We had to make sure Nonnie saw the Marry Go Round at the Mall. Those are her Favorite and I always think of her when I see them.

All the Boys going for a Ride.

And we had to get Ice Cream. The day was never complete without Ice Cream!

Nixon Learned to Smile.

I love my Papa!

A freezer from Nonnie and Papa. Thank you so much! This is really going to be our money saver.

Xzavier modeling the Spacious Inside.

and the boys thank you for a week of playing in this great house. They even colored it to make bricks like the three little pigs house and a sign on the front door that said "No Wolves". They colored pictures and even ate lunch in there.