Dos de Mayo

I am addicted to making cake pops. I need to join a 12 step program. I had a little Cinco de Mayo get together last night, ( I know that would make it a Dos de Mayo party, but whatever,) and I made these cute little chili pepper pops, with pretzel stems. What else could I make into a cake pop? Maybe I will make a replica of PJ's head for his birthday...............

Allergies

Notice Ellis' puffy left cheek in the picture below. Notice also the sequins taped to his chin. When asked "What's on your face?" His reply, "Oh, those are my extra eyes."

Back to the puffy cheek. On Tuesday he had a filling and was numb on the left side of his face. Well, sometime while he was still numb, he bit the inside of his cheek and it became infected. On Thursday I took him to the walk-in clinic. The doctor asked me if he had any allergies to medications and I said no. "But, I am allergic to monsters aaaand spiders," replied Ellis. He then proceeded to describe the spider trap he had created earlier at daycare. "I used a truck and put some food in it, but the spider didn't come out yet." Doctor-"What kind of food did you put in it?" Ellis-"A boxelder bug. Then Gabe tried to put the truck away. He didn't know it was a trap."

Cake Pops!!!!

I saw these cute little cake pops on Bakerella's blog and just had to make them for Easter. I used red velvet cake in the middle, which I have never used before. And it is indeed red. My hands were stained after forming the little eggs. I can't wait to make chili pepper pops for Cinco De Mayo!!!!

A little story about a cake......

PJ decided to "surprise" me by helping the boys make me a birthday cake. I say "surprise" very loosely. The boys thought it was a surprise. He took them to the store to get the cake mix and acted very secretive when he got home. He and the boys told me they were making dinner rolls, and they didn't want my help. I was banished to the basement, where I stayed until I smelled the familiar scent of smoke.

Ellis came running down the stairs "Dad needs your help!" When I got to the kitchen, smoke was billowing out of the oven, and the front door was wide open. "What did you do?!" I exclaimed. Apparently PJ was trying to be fancy and bought a yellow cake mix as well as a chocolate cake mix. He was going to make a 4 layer cake with alternating layers. I was not aware of this, and thought he was only using 1 cake mix. When he asked if it would fit in 2 cake pans, I said it would. It in fact did not. The cake overflowed as it rose and covered the bottom of the oven where it burned and filled the house with smoke.

PJ decided to try again, but this time the boys couldn't help because "they screwed everything up last time." While he went to the store to buy more cake mix, I stayed home and cleaned up his mess. (Happy Birthday to me.)

Two hours, two cake mixes, and two cans of frosting later, we have a ginormous 8-layer cake, that was made by PJ with some guidence from his Home Ec. teacher wife. And yes, it was delicious.

Waiting for Jilly Bean

On Monday I received a phone call from PJ that Becky was being "seduced." You see, my phone was not working and so my mother called PJ to tell me that my niece would soon be born. I drove to Spokane with Mom after work and we picked up Alyssa and went to the hospital.

March 16th 2009

*8:00 pm- Arrived at hospital. We parked next to Becky's car and notice the sunroof was open and it was snowing. (Yes it was snowing in March. Crazy.)

8:15 pm- Find Becky's room. Visit. Josh gets some coffee. Coffee stinks. Becky gets irritated.

9:00 pm- Make Becky laugh too hard. Blood pressure increases. Get kicked out by nurse.

9:45 pm- I go check on Becky. Josh goes to get more stinky coffee. Give Becky a minute by minute run down of how big her contractions are. Becky threatens to puke. Josh comes back.

10:30 pm- Start eating snacks from the vending machine in the waiting room. Drink some stinky coffee. Alyssa tries the "Munchies" from the vending machine. I also try the "Munchies" without knowing Alyssa tried the "Munchies". Discover that we both try the "Munchies." Chuckle. Think that's funny.

10:45 pm- Mom gets Salt and Vinegar Potato chips. Alyssa says "I almost got those." Chuckle. Think that's funny.

11:00 pm- Alyssa gets Salt and Vinegar Potato chips.

11:15 pm- I start wandering.

11:30 pm- I get a granola bar. Think it is stale. Eat it anyway.

11:45 pm- Josh comes out. Gives Mom a hug. Needs a snack. "The Munchies are good." Doesn't take my advice. Gets a granola bar. Bad idea.

12:00 am- Mom and I get tired of waiting room. Wander down the hall. Wait outside Becky's room. Nurses don't like that. Josh tells us it is almost time to push. We can go in and talk to Becky and then we need to go away.

March 17, 2009
12:15 am- Mom gets some cookies.

12:35 am- I wander around the hall.

12:45 am- Mom offers to give Alyssa $100 bucks to take the St. Patty's hat off the receptionists counter and dance down the hall. Offer refused.

1:00 am- I wander around the hall.

1:15 am- I wander around the hall. Act like I am going to grab the St. Patty's hat. Look back and smile at Alyssa and Mom who are watching me.

1:30 am- Mom and I are bugging Alyssa. Alyssa is irritated.

1:45 am- I wander around the hall. Listen briefly at Becky's door. Report back that she is still pushing.

2:00 am- I wander around the hall.

2:30 am- I wander around the hall.

2:50 am- I over hear the nurse say "Baby girl born at 2:45 am, Simmons." Run and report.

3:00 am- I wander around the hall. Hear baby cry, not sure whose.

3:15 am- I wander around the hall. Dr. takes pity on me and asks "Have you seen the baby yet?" Goes in the wrong room to see if I can come in. Is corrected. I see JILLIAN!!!!!!!

3:35 am- I smuggly go tell Mom that I saw her. Send her in. Alyssa refuses. Doesn't want to get in trouble.

3:40 am- I try to talk her into going in. She still refuses. Go tell Mom. Mom goes and gets her. Visit.

4:00 am- Leave hospital.

*NOTE: Times are approximate. It may not have happened exactly like this, but this is how I choose to remember it.

Chuck E. Cheese (or "My Child May Drive Me to Drink")

Well, we just got back from an exhausting freestyle wrestling tournament. No medals were taken home, but Ellis had an excuse to wear his singlet all day long. (When asked if he was going to wrestle he replied "Yes, I am right now.") We only lost him twice at the tournament and once at Chuck E. Cheese. Somehow the little rascal made it all the way into the games without being stamped (children are stamped with a number that matches their parent's for security purposes.) He was found a short time later watching a little girl ride in a toy jeep as he was "shooting animals" with his pretend rifle.



After being seated and letting the kids play, we all looked around again, wondering where Ellis was, and then I looked up at the big screen where my child was standing on a chair with his butt sticking out spanking himself, for the whole restaurant to see. (Of course I hurried to get my camera, but I missed the action.)

I have opened up comments to the public so feel free to leave a comment. As soon as I get ten I will post a Guitar Hero video per Tyler's request.


Outie!

Hello? Anyone There?

I'm just curious, as to who exactly is reading this blog. If you would be kind enough to leave a comment, I will be sure to post some embarrassing pictures of PJ from high school, or something cool like that. This will only happen if I get at least 10 responses. The challenge is on!