AFTER THE PARTY ...

Cakes and Bean had a great time at Cakes' birthday party.


There was plenty of sugar shock to go around.

Cakes was excited with the gifts she received. When she unwrapped the Ken doll that Bean had given to her, she announced, "Finally! A Barbie of my very own!"

After cake, presents, and play time, it was into the bath to wash off all the chocolate crumbs and yellow icing. I went into my bedroom to nurse Peanut, while Big Daddy got the girls all pj'ed up and then relaxed on the couch to talk on the phone. He was still on the couch when I emerged from the bedroom. And the girls were here:

This is what was left of Wubbzy:

I'm not sure of those marks are from their fingers or their tongues. Honestly, it could be either.

I'M NOT A BAKER, EPISODE 3

It's Cakes' birthday. So, we continue with the tradition of Mommy baking an ugly cake for her cherub's birthday. Cakes loves all things Dora. However, we've already done the Dora Cake. Yes, it was pretty terrible.

So, this year, even though Cakes loves Dora, I decided to go with a Wubbzy cake. How hard could it be? It's just a yellow rectangle with arms, legs, and a tail. Of course, I thought the same thing about Pablo being just a blue circle with a hat, and look how that turned out.

Anyway, this is what the Wubbzy cake was supposed to look like. And this is how it actually looked when I baked it:

I must say, I think I'm improving ...

SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS

I'm not a big fan of Sponge Bob. I find him a bit irritating. I don't like the potty humor or the sometimes grotesque distortions of the characters. And, I don't think it's age-appropriate for my cherubs. I must have really drilled that into their heads, because I had this conversation with Cakes today:


Cakes (watching "Lazytown"): Momma, this is scary.


Me: This episode is making you a little nervous?


Cakes: Yes. It's not age-appropriate.


Me (putting on "Go, Diego, Go!"): Is this better?


Cakes: Diego! That's age-appropriate!

SOCCER BEAN

It is soccer season again. Last year, Bean was a little shy about playing. She wouldn't even go on the field without holding either my hand or Big Daddy's hand. This year was a different story.

She had her first game on Saturday morning. She started off with a pose by the goal.

She sat on the sidelines for the first quarter. That didn't sideline the fun, though. There were a few rousing cheers of "Yay, team!";

then, some aggressive Ring-Around-The-Rosie.

When she got onto the field, she sprang into action like I have never seen before. With a huge smile on her face, she cheerily plowed through anyone that got into her way in her mad dash for the soccer ball. Every fiber of her being was focused on kicking that ball.

At halftime, the coach asked her if she was tired, or if she still wanted to play. I saw her lips form the words, "I want to play," and she was off again.

All the excitement was a little much for Peanut.

COUNTY FAIR

We went to the County Fair. It was the first time my girls had ever been to a fair. It was the first time they had ever been on rides. Big Daddy and I always thought fairs were fun, but taking kids to fairs is even more fun than going on the rides ourselves. Bean loved the rides right away.

Cakes ... well ... not so much.

She did warm up to it eventually, though.

We explored farm equipment,

looked at animals,

and ate really expensive and unhealthy carnival food. We can't wait until next year!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - MY PEANUT'S A HAM

For more Wordless Wednesday, check out 5 Minutes for Mom.

PRINCESSES AT PLAY

My girls are very princess-y. They like clothes, costume jewelry (including earrings, necklaces, tiaras, the whole deal), Barbies, make-up, etc. So, one would expect their play to be rather refined. One would not expect their play to be like this:

They must get it from their dad ...

PLAYING DRESS-UP

Big Daddy kindly let me sleep in this weekend. He kept an eye on the cherubs and prepared a wonderful breakfast of fresh fruit, pancakes, turkey bacon, eggs, and biscuits. While he was in the kitchen, the girls said they wanted to play dress-up.


Bean and Cakes got me up for breakfast and let me know they'd been playing dress-up. I admired their wonderful clothing choices, and we all had a hearty breakfast. After breakfast, Bean said she needed new clothes because her outfit was dirty.


So, I went to the girls closet to get a new outfit for Bean. This is what the girls' closet usually looks like:




This is what I found:



And this:



And this:




So, I dug through the foot-deep pile of clothes for new outfits for my girls, and spent the next two hours sorting clothes while simultaneously nursing and burping Peanut. I didn't really mind. At least they got along swimmingly for a couple of hours - they could only wreak this much havoc by cooperating!

DAY AT THE PARK

It's been in the 90's here. Very hot. I'm not a big fan of hot. I'm not a big fan of cold either; I prefer a Mediterranean climate. But, I digress.

It's been very hot here. Normally, that would keep me holed up in my air-conditioned house; but, work has slacked off for Big Daddy after six long weeks of working double shifts and going out of state for jobs. So, he was itching to get outside with the cherubs and their new bikes. Bean has been riding for a few weeks now.

She did very well. She did panic a bit on some downslopes, and she took a few spills; but, she always got right back on that horse like the little trooper that she is. We even had the appearance of *gasp* blood, bit she shook it off and tackled those little slopes before Big Daddy and I were too sweaty to go on.

Cakes is new to the bike scene. She's done the whole tricycle thing, but a two-wheeler is a whole new animal. She spent the first hour or so trying to pedal backwards. But, she eventually got the hang of things and was riding around like a pro by the end of our outing.

GOING NATURAL

I encouraged my friend over at Chico and Me Plus 3 to go natural for her childbirth. Check out her birthing story! It made me laugh out loud.

How many of you went natural? What made you decide to go that way?