Daddy's lil helper

I tried to get him to smile, but according to Ty, "Workermans don't smile. They're serious."

Happy 6th Birthday Aaron!

It seems like just yesterday we were bringing home this precious little {5 lb. to be exact} bundle from the hospital. I look at him now and I can not believe how quickly he has grown. He has such a great personality and puts a smile on my face everyday. Aaron is easily the sweetest kid I know.

Speaking of putting smiles on faces...here's one for you. So I woke Aaron up this morning for school and sang him "Happy Birthday". When I was done I said "Happy Birthday mister six year old!" He looked at me and smiled while he was stretching then said "Hey! My name is Aaron not Six!" He is so literal...I love it!


Aaron requested a zucchini chocolate chip muffin for breakfast so I made him a place mat and threw a candle on top...voila you have a birthday breakfast!
*Side note disclaimer here-I made this banner late at night after a long day so yes- i spelled Birthday wrong and you better believe Aaron noticed this morning that I made a small addition to his lovely banner. Aaron told me it was OK that the h was smaller than the other letters he still likes it...and that's all that matters!

His two favorite kinds of Rice Krispy Treats. He was so excited to share BOTH kinds with his friends, although I did have to individually wrap them it was worth the effort. {This was before I did the Banner}

Here's a little flash back...

One year old

Two year old

Three year old

A winking four year old

Sweet little five year old

Our six year old. Aaron wanted to take a sideways Birthday picture. Not sure why, but still cute!

Happy Birthday Mister Six Year Old! We love you!

First Day of First Grade

My little man is getting so big! Aaron woke up this morning and got ready for his first day of school like the independent boy he is growing up to be. He decided to wear a crown during breakfast because it was the first day of school ...a special occasion of course.

All ready to go and feeling a little nervous...

Posing with his friend Avery before we left...So Cute! When we got in the car, he said he had a few questions that he needed answers to. He asked A LOT of questions about what first grade would be like. I think he had a case of the nerves, I know I did!

Aaron and his First Grade teacher Mrs. Sahyoun... Aaron told me he thinks she is beautiful, but she is not a princess, she is a teacher.

After a few minutes, Aaron realized his desk was right next to one of his friends from Kindergarten...they started coloring together and he turned around, smiled, and said "Bye Mom!" He then turned back around and kept talking to his friend. Talk about break my heart! I have to admit my eyes welled up a bit and I left. I could have stood there and watched him all day long. I'm sure this first year will be full of a lot of firsts as this sweet boy of mine grows up and I am so thankful to have a front row seat to sit back and watch it all...

Boys Birthday Bash

I'm a little behind on the blog front, but better late than never right? Anyway, I decided to do one summer "Birthday Bash" for Jeremy, Aaron, and Ty this year. It was a lot of fun and I really made it easy on myself this year by combining them. I was able to just enjoy the company of good friends and family. We did a pirate theme and I, of course, made the cake. I cheated a little bit and used playmobil pirate figures...the boys were a little bummed that I didn't make the pirates completely out of frosting. I swear they think I'm a magic cake fairy sometimes, but they ended up loving it. Here's a few highlights from the party collage style...

In order of appearance left to right...
silly "friends forever"...
Aaron with his goggle head...
the fam...
Grandpa Kelly and cousin Maddi...
a sad Ty because the party was over...
Mason, Avery, Aaron and Ty...
Grosser Boys...
Crazy Gram and Papa Carl with the boys...
Mean little pirates...
Blowing out the candles...
Baby Reese...
Pinata time...
Dirty boy trampoline feet...
The cake...

Happy Anniversary!

Our first date

Well I can't believe another year has gone by. I swear the older I get the faster time goes. I can still remember 17 years ago (woaza!) when Jeremy and I first met. He used to sit behind me in math class and fall asleep almost every day. When he left there would surely be a puddle of drool left on the desk. He caught my eye though, and I'm glad he did. Our first date was October 9th 1993. We went to homecoming together with a group of friends...got married August 7th, 1999...and the rest is history.

So here we are married for 11 years now with two beautiful little boys. I don't think there is a day that goes by that I don't think how lucky we are to have found eachother. We are truly blessed and so very happy. I love my family and I could not imagine my life without my wonderful husband. Happy anniversary baby!!!

You're still the One...

butter-cream cheese frosting

i decided to throw a party for my boys and my husband so i had to get my hands dirty and bake a cake. it may not be my hubby's favorite theme, but for him, it's what's on the inside that counts! he loves rainbow chip cake with vanilla custard filling...to that with a pirate theme and voila! you now have the perfect cake for a 4 year old, a 6 year old and a 32 year old.

here's some pix and a recipe for my favorite butter-cream cheese frosting. i am absolutely a frosting fanatic and if i am making a non-decorated cake, I love the real cream cheese frosting. it's so ooey and gooey and yummy...my mouth is watering right now. anyway, it's super hard to decorate with so i came up with a compromise and i have to say it's pretty darn good!

my cheater vanilla custard tip. {JELLO vanilla pudding made with half and half with 1/2 cup less liquid that the pudding recipe calls for on the side of the box.} sooo good...

for the cake itself, i use betty crocker...no easier way i know to get rainbow chip cake and it's yummy. betty knows her bakin'!

aaarrrggg!

butter-cream cheese frosting

{enough to ice and decorate a 1/4 sheet cake...need less? cut it in half}

ingredients

2 cubes butter {room temperature}

4 oz cream cheese {room temperature}

2 lbs powdered sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 tablespoons milk

pinch of salt

directions

beat together the cream cheese and butter until all the lumps are worked out.

add milk, salt, and vanilla.

mix in {1 cup at a time} powdered sugar. beat about five minutes until smooth.

ice cake, or just eat on graham crackers. yummm.

*keeps in fridge about 10 days or in freezer for about a month.

Funny Story

It was a nice, relaxing evening in the backyard with the boys and Aaron was wearing his green frog rain boots. A bit warm for summer, I know, but he LOVES to wear them. Anyway, he is running around, swinging on the swing set and going on the slide. Then the boys decide to play pirates and run around some more. Basically, quite a bit of time goes by when Aaron says there is something in his boot. Jeremy and I think it's a piece of bark or something and watch him take it off , but with great haste. Then he throws it out of his tree house and says "Can you please get that lizard out of my boot...it's botherin' me!" I go to check it out and laughed my head off! There was indeed a quite large and completely freaked out lizard inside. That poor thing went around in the toe of his boot for quite a while...talk about the ride off his life. :0 When we let the poor thing out of the boot, he ran right toward Ty. He basically jumped a foot and screamed like a little girl. Man I wish I had my video camera! LOL!!!