Sunday, June 14, 2009

Happy Birthday Cash!


We had a super fun birthday weekend around here. Luckily our month straight of rain let up enough that we actually had a fairly decent week and an absolutely perfect day for a beach party. Good friends, good food and no babies! (Had a sitter - like I would attempt bringing them while trying to do anything organized, besides, more attention for Cash. Uh, sorry you missed the party, guys.)
















We did a few games like three-legged races and a water relay. We had a few other things prepared, but really everyone was so happy being at the beach that we didn't really need anything else.


























We had BBQ beef sandwiches (a family recipe that I LOVE - it's all about liquid smoke, I'm telling you), and managed to keep the food fairly sand-free (my big fear, that whole gritty teeth thing drives me crazy).



























And then there was my pride and joy:

My beach bash cupcakes. (You can click on the picture if you want a closer look.) Teddy grahams in swimsuits, sunbathing, surfing, floating in inner tubes, building sand castles; flamingos, fish, octopuses, water, sand, beach umbrellas...I tried to cover it all. It was fun. I probably should have reigned in my ambitions and not made everything from scratch - two kinds of cupcakes, two types of frosting (wow, never made buttercream before - that's a pain, plus I'm pretty sure all that butter will be showing up on the scale this week), and I filled the cupcakes with a cream-type filling. Mmmm. I don't think I'll ever make non-filled cupcakes again. One of the mom's even commented - "Did you do something inside these cupcakes because the kids are eating the whole thing." And I realized, yeah, that's totally true huh? Once you're done eating the part with frosting, the rest of the cupcake just isn't that interesting. The sand was even yummy. (And in case you're wondering - I tried just brown sugar first - just ok. Then crushed graham cracker - still ok. Then I mixed raw sugar and graham cracker - perfect amount of sparkle to the sand with a really yummy kind of crunch to it.) I must say that heat and humidity aren't so great for buttercream frosting, so by the time we ate them they were super soft and said more like HA P P Y B I R --------- C A ------ , but they were still yummy. And thanks to my friend Betsey who came over until late in the evening helping to bail out my ambitiousness. They were a hit.




















Really, couldn't have asked for a better day. Warm, sparkling clear water, Beach Boys playing in the background, great group of friends, and a sting ray even paid a birthday visit (apparently swimming around in labor, we heard later - even more fitting for a birth day, right?)


You are one funny little dude, Cash (I'm going to blame this new high-heel obsession on an absentee father).

He is sweet as can be (and sour at times of course), shy around others, can keep a better poker face than anyone I've ever seen when we're with other people (elated or ticked off - it all looks the same), and he rarely misbehaves in public (thank goodness, because I have two that don't hesitate to), which makes other adults fond of him. A few weeks ago I heard about seven voices screaming in the church nursery so I went and peeked in the window and saw every single kid climbing up on a chair, up onto a table and jumping off...except one (Cash), who was, of course, sitting in the corner quietly by himself playing with his cars. He's pretty dang smart for his age (can spell words, recognize numbers separate from each other, count to 100, and today walked around the parking lot reading off every license plate), and so much fun. A little socially inept and not quite the athlete yet (pretty much turns his head and gets hit in the face anytime we throw a ball to him), but I couldn't be luckier to have such a chill little boy. Especially with what followed. :)




23 comments:

Chadlee said...

Happy Birthday Cash!! What a great post. The way you describe him is so cute, and that last picture is so adorable of him. Okay, nice work on the cupcakes! Who knew you could make sand from graham crackers and sugar. I should try it sometime. Every time I see the ocean in your blog pictures I'm just amazed. The color is so vibrant. Looks like he had a great party.

Tanya said...

You know I love cupcakes, right?! Props to you on those, I don't know how you had the time. Recipe please for the filled ones.

You are looking great by the way. I told you the pounds just fall off when you are chasing 2.

Happy Birthday Cash!

Anonymous said...

Love that last photo, and I am so happy to get the complete report on the birthday party.

Much love to Cash - our three-year-old!

xoxoGrammy

Anonymous said...

Thanks to Jen and the new-age technology Aunt LeJeune has just enjoyed peeking in on Cash's 3rd birthday at the beach. Adorable pictures and pass me a cupcake, please....and it is 4:44 a.m. here in Arizona.

Laura B. said...

Those cupcakes are the cutest things EVER! How you did those and threw a beach party is beyond me! You rock!

Catherine Call said...

I can not believe those cupcakes!! Each one different, each one PERFECT!! They are amazing. What a fun beach birthday for Cash! I love the pictures of him!

ps--I got a babysitter for Aaron during Brady's party. He got to come but the babysitter had to follow him around, feed him, and make sure he didn't hop the fence and escape! We are brilliant, huh?!

Melanie said...

Happy Birthday Cash! Harrison loved those cupcakes! He sat here at the computer forever admiring them and asked me every 3 secs if we could eat them. Jen you may have a future business in you. I have never seen cupcakes look so cute and yummy!
What did you fill them with and how? Did you pipe in cream or fill then bake them?
You are a great cook!

Aloha_Misty said...

e suprised if you see those cupcakes on my blog in a few months! They look incredible. I will have to look up a recipe for putting filling in cupcakes. The girls would love that!

Anonymous said...

What a nice guy. "Elated or ticked off, it all looks the same." That made me laugh. And I can't believe he can spell words, count to 100, and all that! We are just starting working on letter recognition with Beth, who just turned 4. Don't feel guilty for not inviting the twins. They wouldn't have remembered anyway.

Tara said...

I love that last picture of Cash. He is such a handsome little man. I hate it that we missed the party. They actually ended up doing four 'at bats' and we were no where near being able to make it in time. Looked fun...and I love the cupcakes!

Sarah Starr Alleman Smith said...

Happy birthday Cash! How can he be three already? When Malcolm wakes up I'll show him the pictures, he'll think it's great. And those cupcakes are (were) GREAT. Do I recognize the flamingos? So happy they got put to good use:).

camille said...

Hello, I'm now your newest blog following fan! Your aunt, Elaine, is in my ward and gave me your blog (she has told me all about you and your boys). We have an almost 3 year old and 8 mo. old twin boys and I'm trying to figure out how you are doing it with all your boys much closer together! I must admit, I'm a little scared for the future after reading your blog, but love your stories. Your boys are beautiful! Hope you don't mind me intruding a little..

Anonymous said...

LOVE IT! That party looks like it was so much fun! Cash is just darling! I can't wait for you guys to come!!!!!

Julie

AnnaMarie said...

Those cupcakes are a-ma-zing. Way to go. And yes, I agree...you are looking fabulous! What an awesome time at the beach for Cash's big day. Fun.

Stefanie Miller said...

Wow, those cupcakes are amazing. I had no idea you could do that. I mean, that's not the type of thing you just pull out of a hat, right? I imagine you've practiced here and there? They look delectable. Fun party.

Shannon said...

Happy Birthday Cashy Pants. Way to go on the cupcakes Jen. Ryan was a very mild child also. Cash reminds me of him.

todd & nicole said...

Happy Birthday Cash! We left James with a sitter at Hailee's party as well. Great job on the cupcakes, they were so cute. I'm intrigued by the filling...how did you do it and what are the recipes for that and the BBQ, it all sounds so yummy. I wish I could have jumped on a plane to be there. The beach is beautiful, definitely different than the Oregon Coast (it's pretty too, but not one to go swimming in).

LuAnn said...

You are amazing! Nice work.

SuburbiaMom said...

After all that work on the cupcakes I wouldn't have let the kids touch them! But, at least you got pictures first!! Good job!

Byron & Susan said...

Thanks for the great party. We all had a blast! Cash is a special kid, and I hope you keep up your blog so I can see how he progresses.

Ty and Trista Swartzlander said...

Happy Birthday Cash!!!! I am so sorry we missed your totally awesome party. It looks like you all had a complete blast. Your liquid smoke sounds yummy. Cash is such a little sweetie. He looked like he was on top of the world. Good call getting a sitter for the twins. It made Cash's day about him. :) I miss you.

Tania said...

Happy Birthday Cash! I am in love with the cupcakes, they are great.

Did you ever get him any plastic animals? I swear he'd love them. We like schleich the best. Many of them are now available at Target.

What a happy day!

Susan said...

That last picture is a real treasure, and well deserved after all you did for the birthday! The cupcakes were fabulous, and so clever on the sand! I'm going to have to try that sometime!
Lucky boy! Happy family!