JACKS BIRTHDAY AT SCHOOL ICE CREAM CONE CUPCAKES...whew

That was a mouthful.  Hopefully, his classmates will think the same of the treats we brought for them!

I love making these because you can make them look so realistic, it causes double takes all over the place.  And I am all about double-takes.  And general Tom Foolery.  And Silly....I do silly REALLY well.  Ahem.

Just fill flat bottomed (don'tcha wish you had a flat bottom.  I sure wish I did!) ice cream cones 3/4 of the way full and bake as normal. 

FYI - I suggest doing this in a mini-cupcake pan surrounded by tin foil to keep them from falling over.  Just a small tip learned from a very bad experience....:)

I frosted mine with bubble gum flavored REAL buttercream, sundae sprinkles and a sour cherry candy on top.

Again with the FYI - These things are REALLY DIFFICULT to transport!  If possible, do not introduce them to a moving vehicle.  Disaster will, I promise, ensue!  They are worth the effort, however....looks good and SO tasty!

The Ice Cream Cone Cake

By Request...

The Ice Cream Cone Cake....

Jacks 4th Birthday Party

GOTTA LOVE snow in April. And in particular, in April on the exact day that we invited 20 three and four-year-olds over. These poor kids where packed in my tree house (what I call my home because it is so small), all bunched up on the floor eating hot dogs and popcorn. They were so cute!! Our outside carnival party was a bust, but I think the kids had a good time. The crane game was the favorite. I tried for 20 minutes to get a damn piece of candy out of the thing and couldn't do it, but these kids were getting handfuls of it. I was so impressed!

 

My three sons had a blast. James was in heaven having all of the kids to run around and play with, and it goes without saying that Jack had fun. Not only was there unlimited food and a MOUNTAIN of gifts, but the love of his life was here (his teacher...giggle), and he just adores her (SORRY MRS. BENTS!!). I think she must still be blushing over how he wanted to introduce her to everyone at the party. Jack has also become enamored with his Uncle Dave since seeing him at Christmas, and was thrilled to see him and his cousin Cam! Joey was a little angel through the whole thing. Kids running around, people laughing and being loud, very little nap time and being completely off schedule didn't even phase him. Between Grandma Darlene, Aunt Dawn, Aunt Robin and his favorite preschool mom, Nancy, all paying attention to him, he was happy as a clam!



Jack is quite annoyed at the fact that there is not a HINT of his birthday cake left. Every time he sees a picture of it he walks away grumbling about not having enough of his carnival cake filled with blueberries. I have comforted him by telling him he can have a Dora cake next time. You know how he feels about Dora! He did got the one present he had been asking for since Christmas. Yes, you guessed it...a real vacuum cleaner. I know, I got that one wrong too. Never would have thought that he would want one, but he sat on Santa's lap and asked for a yellow vacuum cleaner. I have bought the boy every conceivable play vacuum, to no avail. The poor thing thinks Santa forgot about him, because, of course, Santa should have KNOWN what he wanted. Huge thanks to Aunt Robin for that one! Jack had to call her last night to thank her for the best present EVER, and of course, at 7 am this morning, he had to try it out.

There is just something about a kid who hugs a vacuum cleaner that makes me smile.

Happy Birthday Jack!

At our house, birthdays are kinda a huge deal. Mostly because I make them a big deal, but still. We have over-the-top parties....and if I could do more, I would! I think each of my 3 sons should not only feel, but see the joy in celebrating a milestone like a birthday.

It is also a day for me to commemorate bringing an amazing little life into the world. In most of the blog entries I write we concentrate on the funny things that happen around here, but it is important to me to document how special I think each of them are, and nothing reminds me of that more than their birthday.

Jack came into the world the same way he enters a room today...with a lot of commotion. He was perfect...and had the most amazing blue eyes. I remember thinking while his eyes were closed that they were the exact size and shape as an almond. He had red, pouty lips and a ring of hair around his head like an old man. He had, and still does, an intense way of looking at you. On more than one occasion, people (including his pediatrician) have said to me that it's as if he can see what they are thinking!

My little Jacky wants what he wants when he wants it. He potty trained himself at 2 because he "didn't like the smell" of his diapers, and could ride a bike 2 years earlier than James....so he could "ride a bike like his brother". If you give him the right tools, he can dismantle everything in the room in 5 minutes flat. It can sometimes be a challenge (!!!) trying to reason with a 3 year-old who has more personality than most adults, but I wouldn't change a thing about him. He has an opinion about EVERYTHING, but at the same time you get a sense that he is trying to soak up everything around him. He is extremely intense sometimes....but conversely, he "feels" and loves strongly too. He can't stand not having his family around, and there have been some nights when he won't go to sleep until everyone is home. He is forever thinking of his big brother.... whenever Jack gets something, GOD FORBID if there isn't another one for James.

 

I am so proud and honored to have been chosen to be his mom. I can't wait to see who he decides to become! I love you Smoochy Face!