Drew's Second Decade: Happy Birthday!

So, this kid is probably somewhere on the other side of the country 

eating more pie or cake or something to celebrate his 11th Birthday!

How is my eldest nephew 11? Today? How does he turn 11 today?

He's had quite a year. School, family, family trips, and 

especially the trip he and mom took to Washington, D.C. in the spring. 

(Thanks for the pictures Kelli via Grumpa.)

 From the temple, to the Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum,

 to his first train/subway ride, and the super steep subway escalator,

 he and Mom were tuckered out by the end.

He's quite the big brother to Cannon and Sarah, 

with all the odd and conflicted dynamics that being a big sibling, particularly being a

big brother to a brother, and a big brother to a sister entails.

 On the one hand, there's teaching about FOOTBALL!

 Drew, even though they may bug you, you still have them eating out of your hands.

 On the other, I know you sometimes just want to play pretend on your own,

 but they pick up weapons skills too quickly

 and manage to hit you in the face. 

But even after some initial sibling screaming and squabbling, 

they still want to hang out and just watch you, and see what you are up to,

 even when you are trying to chill in front of the cartoons after a hard day of 5th Grade, 

basketball, Scouts, homework, and "just life."

(Sarah juuuuust had to see how close she could get to poking him in the head with her toes.)

Luckily, Drew's swinging some outside interests of his own, 

and running away from the rat race with his Dad and friends.

Which is really awesome.

But MY favorite part of the year is when we get to hang out, just the two of us (and hundreds of other people in a crowded games facility), or eat and talk, or play games with our own rules, or go hiking.

Drew, I know you were annoyed that you were 2 inches too short

 to drive the Go-Kart on your own, but soon kid ...

Too soon, TOO TOO SOON, *

you will be more than big enough to drive your own car - and then, we shall see.

Happy Birthday, Drewbie.

Why are you growing up so fast?

Stop it.

~photos from all over the place, c. his folks, Grumpa, iTouch, and iPhone

*Maybe my bruise from trying to get OUT of the Go-Kart will heal by then. Seriously, I still have a bruise - and this happened on Black Friday. MONTHS ago.

 

Retroblogging: Celebration California CEO, March 16, 2015

Mid-March was chock full of celebrations. This was celebration number 2.

For the surprise one in honor of our CEO's birthday, I thought I was SO clever to find a recipe that would pay homage to his California background. I found this recipe for an Earthquake Cake in my new-to-me Cake Mix Doctor cookbook (thank you public library sale for $2) and said to myself -- voila! Perfection.
 

You would think. Wouldn't you?

My first clue should have been that all of the overhead lights in my kitchen chose that weekend to burn out. Both of the large, overhead, florescent circular tubes ... BOTH. Two tubes that are so "vintage" that you have to go to a specialty store to find them. NOT your local CVS or 7Eleven.

LUCKILY, my emergency preparedness kit had a lantern in it for ... emergencies. Earthquakes = emergencies. Baking Earthquake Cakes in the dark = emergencies, right?

I SHOULD have realized that if you are making something and the name of it is something that is used to describe a natural disaster -- well. That should be a CLUE.

Even though the recipe did have directions to adapt it into cupcakes, let's just say ... My Earthquake Cake should have been called Volcano Cupcakes or Tsunami Sticky Cups, because ... oy ... my oven. Those sticky suckers needed some serious time to cool and even then I couldn't get them out of the tray. I think I am still chipping off gooey coconut from the bottom of the stove.

I took the extra batter and poured it into a regular rectangular pan for the remainder of the bake. That was somewhat better.

At least they tasted good. Sweet, but good.

Luckily, my contribution to this party was just a few treats and my space. The CEO's assistant came in and decorated it into a beach party extravaganza. I got to "enjoy" the ambiance for a while - and not being able to see out my windows.

View from my computer out into the room:  

Yes, they wrapped the windows AND the filing cabinets.

 Yes, I had to duck around lanterns all week.

 Yes, all I could smell was chocolate.

It was INCHES FROM MY FACE!

Yes, we dressed up in silly outfits. 

 Yes, we got him good.

 

 Yes, I think we exceeded the Fire Marshall's occupancy rating for my space.

 

 Yes, we like to party.

43 Ideas for Birthday 43: Amazon.com

Yes, yes, I know. Amazon = monopoly ... crushing the little guy.... buy indie ... shop small businesses. 

But still, sometimes it is the best option. ESPECIALLY if you have not one, but two large, wish lists on it.