Winner, winner PIZZA dinner!!

All of my time spent wrestling Barnum and Bailey in the Kitchen has PAID OFF!!! Thank you Woodlands Mommy!!!

A Pleasant Surprise!! Cake Pops!!

A step by step guide to YUMMINESS!!!! The idea was inspired by Bakerella and executed by our very own Costume Designer! I was pleasantly surprised by these last Friday night as a Birthday Treat! Knowing I would want to share the love, she also documented the steps for me!!

Step 1: Two Vanilla Sheet cakes


Step 2: Crumble Vanilla Cakes into a large bowl and mix with Rich and Creamy CHEESECAKE Frosting. It MUST be cheesecake!! The icing is what made them extra spectacular!!



Step 3: Form this newly made concoction into bite size balls and stick onto the end of a lollipop stick.

Step 4: Dip into melted white almond bark, roll in colored sanding sugar and stick into Styrofoam to dry

Step 5: Hot glue coordinating ribbon around a clay pot filled with flora foam

Step 6: Tie a Pretty Bow

Step 7: Arrange Cake Pops like a lovely bouquet of flowers!!

Aren't these LOVELY????!!!!!!

I was very surprised and VERY HAPPY to have these as my Birthday Cake this year! They were made with a lot of work, creativity and mostly love. Thank you for making my 32nd Birthday VERY SPECIAL!!!!

Barnum's Birthday Breakfast

Our Circus Fare feature this week is da da da daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...

A Four Year Old's Special Birthday Breakfast!!!

Barnum requested heart shaped pancakes and milk for the first meal of his Birthday!

Barnum proudly displaying the ingredient list: Organic Batter Blaster (WORTH THE MONEY!!) and sweet creamy buttah. (The Lemonade, which is complete heaven, was for Mom and Dad.)


Any self respecting fan of Paula Deen knows that to get the Pancake Party started you better be tossing in the buttah.




It is SHOW time!!

In the following picture, my Pancake Molding Dreams FINALLY came true!! THE BATTER STAYED WITHIN THE MOLD!!! After various types of batter dispensers and 6 LOOOOOOOOOONG years of trying to pull off what Martha Stewart and Williams-Sonoma would have you believe "just happens," it happened; the batter stayed within the MOLD!! All thanks to the BATTER BLASTER!! I LOVE YOU BATTER BLASTER!!!

THEN!!! I removed the mold and flipped the pancake and all hell broke loose!!

The Strong Man hears me screaming in defeat, comes in to rescue and delivers THIS:

The Strong Man knows no limits. If I have said it once, I have said it 90000000 MILLION times, there is no justice in this WORLD!!!

Finally and most importantly, here is the sweetest Birthday Boy in the World proudly displaying his custom Birthday shirt featuring Buzz and Woody. (Per his request). Readers, any guesses on who made the shirt?

Barnum,

Always know that you are very, VERY loved. You are deeply loved by your imperfect parents but PERFECTLY loved by your Creator. God has B-I-G plans for you. It is my prayer that you will be obedient to Him and always give thanks for His blessings.

God has created you with an amazing personality and wittiness. You keep me laughing and constantly on my toes. You are precious in His sight and mine.

You are and will forever be my Googaly Boy!

Love,

Mommy

32

32 years old TODAY!! If my first 32 years have taught me anything it is that I still have a LOT to learn!! Learning is so So SO hard!!! He never said it would be easy though, did He?

I have recently been a part of an amazing study where we have gone word for word through The New Testament Book of ACTS. Our group definitely uncovered some INCREDIBLE life lessons and INCREDIBLY hard self examination questions. I have been specifically moved by chapters 21-28.

Chapters 21-28 are Luke's account of The Apostle Paul's journey to Jerusalem and his subsequent arrest, imprisonment, trials, shipwreck, snake bite, and arrival in Rome. (His first arrival in Rome, not his last.)

Throughout all of it, Paul tirelessly used his talents and gifts to further God's kingdom by preaching the Truth about Jesus. He lived his life in such a way that even the Roman officials took note that it was all about Jesus with Paul. I encourage you to visit these chapters and possibly ask yourself some of these questions; What does it mean to "take heart?," What can I apply to my own life from Paul's example?, What do these chapters tell me about Jesus? What can I apply to my own life from Jesus' example?

I have been batting around these questions and albeit some conviction regarding my answers! Therefore, I thought this would give The Strong Man and I plenty to talk about. Over lunch yesterday, I cornered him and asked, "Beloved, how do you think Paul spent his retirement?"

His answer, "traveling."

Easy Peasy Cheesy Potato Soup

First of all, please note the juxtaposition of ingredients. You will believe me when I say it was for artistic sake, right?

Here is how today's cooking lesson went. Bailey grabbed ingredients from Barnum, there was screaming, crying and tug of warring involved. They were exiled from the kitchen and then I opened all of the ingredients and dumped them into a single pot!

Despite the events described above, it was VERY palatable!! I hope you agree!

Easy Peasy Cheesy Potato Soup

3 cups of diced potatoes (We used frozen!!)
1/4 cup of chopped onions (Also frozen!)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup of water
1 large jar of cheez whiz
1 cup of shredded cheddar jack cheese
32 oz of chicken broth
1/2 cup of crumbled bacon pieces (optional)
pepper to taste
salt to taste

Place potatoes, onions and broth in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and then simmer until veggies are tender. Gradually add milk, cheez whiz and bacon pieces. Cook until thick. Add shredded cheddar cheese and cook until melted. Add water if a thinner consistency is desired.

Serve with lots and lots of Saltine crackers!!

Harvest Hoe Down!

We had INCREDIBLE fun at the annual fundraiser for the Christian Classical School down the street!! If you are not familiar with classical education I encourage you to check out The Well Trained Mind by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer. FASCINATING stuff!!

Here is Bailey, THE ORIGINAL COWBOY!!

Here is his brother, Slim. Claiming that it is COLD. COLD?? We are in Houston, Texas!! It is the end of October and 75 degrees!! YOU ARE SO NOT COLD!!!

First stop, COOKIE BREAK!!

Next stop, Horse training.

Off to find The Candy in The Haystack! Barnum actually dove in!! It was little brother who was a little standoffish. It must have been Opposite Day!!

They actually had to throw the candy right in front of Bailey!! He refused to touch the hay or dig for it!!

OH YES WE DID!! We turned this Mad Man loose on the MECHANICAL BULL!!! You know what??? HE DIDN'T FALL OFF!!! Is there Rodeo in his future??

MORE COOKIES!!!

Here was the highlight of Barnum's night. The ZORB ball or "Texas Tumbleweed" as they were calling it! He has asked for one every day since!!! We all know how much hamsters love them...who knew it would be the same for little kids!!