Celebrating Sophie's sweet 1st Communion

I felt so honored when my friend Kristy asked me to create a special cake in celebration of their sweet daughter Sophie's 1st Communion. I'm certainly not an expert on 1st Communion's but know they are very important and anytime our children can learn more about Christ and be closer to Him ... it is a good thing!

Both of my peepers, Hannah & Hank are just starting to ask questions about "the bread & the blood" (as they call it) and what it means to take that and what it means to be a Christian. Hannah was just asking me about being a Christian the other day and we talked about it and she was so sweet and said, "Mom, I think I'll wait a little bit." I love that she is really thinking about it and not just doing it just to do it. My sweet Hannah is very much a thinker and marches (or kicks to the soccer ball) to her own drum. My Hanker does the same thing for that matter!

I love that they are so curious and so wish I could share these things with my mom ... she would love knowing this and how her life and love for Christ played a part in their little lives. I'm so thankful that our peepers have my dad and his wife and Torie's parents to carry on that example and provide support where needed. I love that my parents and Torie's parents instilled such a good foundation of the importance of knowing Jesus and what that means.

So Happy 1st Communion Sweet Sophie! Your parents are laying a great foundation for you & your sister!

Oh to be 5 AND a Princess!

I love that my friend Nikki asked me to create "Princess Grace's" 5th birthday party cake. I very much remember my own "Princess Hannah's" 5th birthday party ... except it involved an Ariel cake ... we had already gone through "princess" phase @ the ripe 'ole age of 3! I loved that "princess" phase when it was all about pink, glitter & dress-up. We had the whole she-bang ... bedspread, dust ruffle and all things princess in her room. I think I secretly loved it more than she did!

Being 5 is tough ... Hannah had so much fun at her party ... about 15 girls (that should've been my first clue), too many pictures (my bad) and gymnastics on top of that. What set off the party into a melt-down was that "mommy" didn't get enough treat bags ... "Princess Hannah" did not get a treat bag! Oh boy, did everyone get to see my little "Princess" be not so much a princess. Oh well, I think one of her cousins (probably sweet Emma) gave up her treat bag and saved the day!

Now that my "Princess" is 8 ... it's all about soccer and certainly not anything princessy ... "mom, I'm way too big for that!" Where did my baby go? The other day, my other baby, Hank (who is 6) told me I could only hug him at home! What? At least Hannah was super impressed I knew what "TMI" & "FYI" meant .... yes, I"m pretty much a rock star mom who only gets hugs at home. I'm good with all that.

So to all those mom's with "princesses" or "princes" for that matter at home ... savor every moment ... even meltdowns because they don't last as long as you think (yes, even the meltdowns will pass and then it will be something else like not listening or a balant "NO!") ... our babies grow up too quickly these days but thankful for every minute!

Now back to the birthday girl! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY 5th Birthday Princess Grace! I think Princess Grace has a certain ring to it and knowing Nikki and how graceful and beautiful she is ... she's definitely got a sweet "princess" on her hands!

Someone else's baby is 8 today!

I love my friends & how supportive they are of my creative outlet ... creating cakes & cookies in honor & memory of my mom. Monday will be 4 years she's been gone and it still seems like yesterday and I miss her more than ever ... I just want to call her and tell her all the funny & silly things that H&H do. I loved how she had us over for dinner once or twice or whatever a week ... at least Torie could count on a good meal. I loved how my mom loved life. I've recently been reading her journals and she was just plain & simple ... happy to be living life. You wouldn't have known for a second she had Ovarian Cancer ... she always was giving & doing for others ... that & her faith in Jesus is what got her through each day.

Thank you to my sweet friend Lisa and her sweet son Anthony for letting me continue my memories and creating cakes & cookies for my mom! Happy Happy 8th Birthday Anthony ... Rock Chalk!

Can my baby really be 6?

Big Birthday Electric Guitar...Rock on Hank!

Birthday Party #1

Birthday Party #2

It seems like we were just dropping off Hannah (peeper #1) to go have Hank (peeper #2) ... in fact, we even managed to run by Babies R Us for some blue bubblegum cigars ... this is what baby boys do to daddy's! I still have hard time droppping Hank off for Kindergarten some days...he doesn't seem big enough to be getting out of the car with big sister Hannah and walking into school with a back pack and his hair done to a T (by himself I might add ... I mean, how many 6 year olds do their own "do"?). Hank was so ready to be 6 ... seems like he had a countdown going for a couple of months which of course extended into, "It's still my birthday week" .... Hank is constant entertainment ... funny, smart and of course handsome, like his daddy. We were at a Christmas program last week and the "angels" came dancing along on the stage ... Hank leans over to me and says, "Mom, those are not angels ... they don't have those circle things on their head" .... talk about sweet and funny at the same time ... that is my Hanker! I love how he wants me to "lay with him" every night and read to him. This is my baby who wanted me to "rock me mommy" until he was about 4 ... such a snuggle bug and I guess that's how he became my "love bug". I like to ask him if he's still going to be my "love bug" when he goes to college (can't even begin to imagine those days ... heck, I barely got through Pre-K graduation ... it's not going to get any easier with my Hankie. So, here's to my big 6 year old "baby" ... Happy Sweet 6th Birthday to my Hankie, Hanker, the Hankinator and of course, my love bug!

Sweet 6th Basketball Birthday!

I was so excited when my friend Julie (be sure to check out her sweet blog too - http://justjuleseveryday.blogspot.com/) 
asked me to do Brady's 6th birthday cake ... of course I'm a little partial to 6 year old boys ... because our own Hank is turning 6 this week too! AND ... Brady & Hank are buddies in the same Kindergarten class! Nothing sweeter than boys ... don't get me wrong little girls are great too ... but something about little boys and my love bug Hank ... he has always been a snuggler since day 1 and still lets me call him my love bug! I love how he gives me compliments and notices all the little things like even when I've had my toe nails painted! I love how he always has to give me a kiss AND a hug. I love how he winks at me and raises his eyebrows ... makes me laugh everytime! I had lunch today with my love bug and love sitting with the Kindergarten boys and listening to all their stories, being called Mrs. Phillips and well, of course how many times they can burp ... they are all so sweet & polite ... well most of the time! So here's to being 6 and sweet and snuggly and so adorable! Happy 6th Birthday Brady!

Happy 8th Birthday to my sweet Hannah!

Can she really be 8? Seems like we were just getting everything ready for our 1st baby not that long ago...everything from attempting puffy clouds on pink walls (not so much clouds but we just went with a basic pink...cotton candy to be exact!), putting the crib together (well, I left the room), decorating her room (which included a wall border...I tried to help, but I wasn't that much of a help so once again, Torie came through...I tried not to "direct" too much!), getting all her clothes washed & ready and just so ready to put our new baby in her room! I can remember when my sister in law was planning our shower ... she wanted to plan it September 16 and how I thought that may be to close to when I would be having Hannah ... after all, I was due Oct 3 but lo & behold, we had plenty of time seeing that she decided to wait and "cook" a bit longer and not make her sweet debut until October 11. What a beautiful fall day that was ... this fall weather always reminds me of having Hannah and coming home to windows open and taking her on her first official walk @ Shawnee Mission Park (dog park of course with our 1st baby, Brittany). Even though all of this seems like yesterday, we had so much fun since then (well, there were those 1st two weeks where we weren't sure what we had done and Torie was so sweet, we were both tired and out of solutions, so he just pulled up a blanket & a pillow and slept on her floor by her crib ... nothing sweeter than that!).  

So back to Hannah turning 8 .... she is so cute about it all and

yesterday she just said, "mom, it's fun saying you are 8!" What a sweet & happy girl we have been blessed with. What a sweet & perfect blessing from above who was so wonderfully made .... I know my mom is celebrating every minute from Heaven and she loved being a part of every bit of Hannah & Hank's lives .... thank you mom for instilling your legacy in us! Happy Birthday Hannah!

So fun to be 4!



Batman Cake #2 - Walker's 4th Birthday



Batman is back ... and much more detailed I might add! I was so excited when my friend Mary asked me to make a Batman cake for Mr. Walker (the cutest boy who just turned 4!)  ... not only do I like Batman (and yes, the 1st Batman movie with Michael Keaton WAS the BEST ... hands down!) but creating a Batman cake is awesome! Probably the best thing about the cake was, of course the memories it brought back of my sweet Hank (Hankie, Hanker, the Hankenator) when he turned 4 AND had a Batman cake! So fun to think back of my baby Hank (who is about turn 6) and his BIG 4 year old birthday.

Batman Cake #1 - Hank's 4th Birthday

It seems like I was just checking into the hospital to have him and now my little love bug is in Kindergarten and about to be 6! I'm so thankful for Hank's sweet, sweet spirit and passion that I just can't wait for many, many more ... Happy FUN 4th Birthday Walker!