Happy Birthday to Me!

So, we have concluded birthday season here in the Hoots' house. We ended the birthday marathon with my birthday. Usually, by the time we get to my birthday I am just plain birthdayed out! I only wanted one specific thing... our dining room painted. So the handy husband obliged me and the dining room was painted. Now you can see all the glorious trim in the room (it was hidden by all the wall and trim being the same boring builder beige). Take a look...

Before... junk everyone and furniture in random spots. trying to get the room clear and ready to be painted.

And, after! A traditional room with olive green on the walls and bright white trim. It feels so much more like home. We choose Palm Leaf by Sherwin Williams.

Now my family black and white's really stand out.

We still need to add a few things to the room (a rug for one).

And we need to take a few things out (a train table for one).

But, at least we are done with the boring beige.

How to Make a Pirate Birthday Cake

Okay... so here is a "how -to" for the birthday cake. I got a lot of my ideas at http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/. They have every theme you can imagine and lots of pictures.

First you need a child who will not let you get away with buying a cake or making a traditional stacked cake.

Next, you need a handy husband who can make you an over sized cutting board (turned cake - board) to put your cake on!

Finally, get lots of ideas from the web. I mentioned the website above, but there are many. So just get some inspiration and then go for it.

Bake two sheet cakes in 9 X 13 pans. I choose one chocolate and one yellow.

Ice them with plain vanilla frosting.
This is going to be the ocean - so I tried to make it look wavy - not flat/ smooth.

Spray with Wilton color mist. Come in lots of colors. Buy it at any craft store.

I like the effect better than just blue icing.

Now take two pre- made pound cakes. (Pound cake is denser and easier to ice and from into a shape). I used one large "family size Sarah Lee cake (freezer section) and one regular size Sarah Lee Pound Cake.

Place the large one on the bottom.

Cut the smaller one into three pieces and assemble as seen.

Use skewers to hold it in place.

Now ice it- I used chocolate fudge - to get the darkest brown.

Don't worry right now about getting it super smooth.

Now carefully pick up the pirate ship cake - and place it as seen on to the sheet cakes- so it looks like it is in the water. Push the skewers all the way through to the cutting board.

Now comes the creative part. Using whatever candies and such I found at Target and Michael's I started to "theme" the cake.

Here are some of the things I did...

Brown Sugar to make an Island the boat landed on.

(On the island I also bought a little treasure chest and filled it with unwrapped rolos - since they are wrapped in gold - they looked like treasure).

Oreo Sticks for the sides of the boat.

Unwrapped Rolos- stuck to the side in a row like cannons.

Whoppers piled on board like cannon balls.

Chocolate Twizzlers for detail.

Cut out sails from cardstock and put them on skewers.

Bought crocodile figurine and tube of Pirate figurines at Michael's to complete the look.

Have your best friend wrap it in Saran - Wrap overnight because you are no good at it!

Unwrap in the morning and enjoy your kids excitement!

Finished product.

On a side note - the handy husband also made the dining room table that the cake is sitting on.

Let me know if you try to make the cake.

Birthday Bash!

This weekend, to celebrate the kids birthdays we had one big birthday bash. One of the benefits of having birthdays that are close together is getting to throw one big party! So here is what we did...As you can see we had a pirate theme (much to my chagrin!). Most of the kids dressed up and they all enjoyed pirate activities. Above is Captain Ethan in the bounce house (John surprised the kids and rented a giant bounce house - it was a big hit).

Ethan enjoying some pirate grub.

My paternal grandparents came down for a spring visit and enjoyed the party while they were here. Grandpa and Captain Isaac.

Grandma and Princess Livy.

The pirate cake. Yes, I made it myself. No, it did not take forever or a lot of skill. I will post how I did it later.

We walked the plank for gold.

The princess needs assistance in the plank walking.

There were small pirates.

Enjoying a pizza break with friends.

Cousins battle it out.

We searched for buried treasure.

Searching for the treasure with their pirate maps.

Want to make your own treasure map- I got the idea and pattern from here.

Check out my mustache.

So, here is the princess. Even though Livy agreed to the pirate theme - when it came down to it - she refused to dress like one. So (with big brother's permission;) she was the lone princess.

Ethan and a good buddy from school.

Enjoying the bounce house.

After most of the kids left, my mom, my best friend and I joined our kids in the bounce house. WOW was it a workout! No wonder all the kids were so tired!

Thanks to all our friends and family that made it possible! We were thrilled to finally have a birthday party with perfect weather! Third time's a charm!

We are THREE!

It's hard to believe- but the twins turned three this weekend!

They were thrilled to celebrate Hoots' style.

Cupcakes for breakfast.

Isaac's favorite present- "the bad guy" also known as Zurg from Toy Story.

Livy's favorite present - Strawberry Shortcake, Blueberry Muffin and Lemon Meringue dolls.

New Baby for the pool!

Buzz, Woody and Alien diving sticks- again for the pool!

After breakfast we went to Ethan's soccer game (I think they like going more than Ethan) and then out to lunch.

Birthday Celebrations at School

One final note of celebration for Ethan, before we move on to the twins... Last Monday, Ethan celebrated his birthday at school. He was thrilled to bring in doughnuts and juice boxes for the class and to have the spotlight on Ethan for a day! I don't know who was happier - Ethan or the twins. The twins even got to sit with the big kids and celebrate!

A Day to Celebrate

On Easter, we headed out to a local park and climbed walls, explored old houses, climbed trees, and attempted to get a picture of the three kids. The weather was beautiful and HOT. We have skipped over Spring and landed in Summer. Hopefully Spring will return.

Why will they not all look at once? No matter how many I take - this always seems to be the case!

Just kicking back.

Livy and her cheesy smile.