Laurel in Wonderland

It's no secret that I spoil my kids on their birthdays. I love to make cakes for them and please them as best I can. Sometimes my cakes turn out to be family masterpieces, other times they're alright. My kids appreciate them whatever they seem to look like.

This bit of creative craziness around their birthdays makes me feel like I am creating a magical atmosphere. My mom seemed great about doing this at Christmas every year, and I remember a birthday or two with that same special feeling. I think everyone has their own times and abilities that make those "magic" moments for their family.

This year, Laurel has been enamored with "Alice in Wonderland". She really wanted to dress up just like Alice. I was out to do my best. I bought a pattern for Alice, but it turned out to be women's sizing. Oops! I picked up the wrong package. Rather than get a new one, I just altered a different girl's pattern. The apron I had to completely design myself. I think it all turned out quite well.

Making an "Alice in Wonderland" cake was going to take a little more interpretation. I made an inspired by cake. It was a lot of fun for me. The house was a complete disaster, but I loved the outcome and so did Laurel. We didn't have a birthday party this year. After the dress and the cake I just wasn't up to it. Besides with trying to sell the house I didn't want to worry about new toys. I talked with Laurel's preschool teachers and they graciously allowed me to take this beauty to school on her birthday for the snack. Perfect! She was with all of her friends, I had no clean-up, and she was the star of the show.

She was just beaming all day. Here she is eating her cake at school.


Later we still had the bottom round of cake left, so I put her preschool crown on top and her painted rose, and she blew out the candles for a second time. For some reason my children think that they turn the next years age right when they blow out those candles. It's funny to me, but I guess it helps them mark that change in their minds. So for a second time, Laurel was 5 that day. I think the day was pretty special, and the magic was definitely in the air!

The Derby (dar-bee)

Pinewood Derby was a greatly anticipated event in the Williams' household. Walt and the kids started a month before. So great was the excitement that not only did Ethan make a car, but Cameron and Laurel each "needed" one of their very own. That's right 3 cars.

Walt let each child pick and draw their design on a paper that he cut out and then cut the pine with. Ethan did all the work on his car except the cutting of the wood. It was truly HIS car. He loved it.

Unfortunately, even with starting a month earlier than the race we ran into some snags. Ethan was sick. He got sick the week before the race, when they planned to have all the painting and wheels on, pretty much done. Then Ethan and Walt were going to test the car and tweak it. We he just didn't feel up to it. So the car didn't get finished until the night before.

The morning of the Pinewood Derby Ethan woke up sick. Really sick. His throat hurt. I took him to the doctor to find out that he had strep throat, again. Normally, I'd have made him stay home. But come on, the kid spent a whole month designing and building his 1st car. Not to mention the years of watching previous derbies. Oh the anticipation was very high.


So this was our solution. I gave him 2 doses of antibiotics and he wore a mask. He had strict instructions not to touch anyone or any other car. He washed his hands about 10 times (I exaggerate, but it was a lot) during the event. To my knowledge, no one else got sick and Ethan enjoyed himself immensely! He also took 3rd place, of which he was pleased. It was a fun night, even if he was sick. Success!