Happy Birthday Judah!

Our Judah is one! ONE! Every sentence I begin sounds foolish and cliche about how I can't believe it...and he's so amazing...I miss him when he sleeps...etc. But it's all very true. And it would be unfair to write about him without including some of those thoughts. I just can't figure out a way to convey all these twisty, warm and fuzzy, unreal and quite dreamy ways I feel when I think about he and John Jay. Oh well, I tried. You'll just have to take my vague word for it.
I made him a Mama and Baby marsupial owl set for his birthday. I know, I know. Owls aren't marsupials. But look how cute!































I'm sure I enjoy their adorableness a lot more than he will...and Mama's pouch will probably be filled with bugs and frogs one day, but that's okay. It's his to "personalize" however he chooses. Just remind me I said that when I find a roach or spider in there.

Queen of Cake-Eating Excuses

I made a practice cake for Judah's birthday. We tried to think like the wee one and judge whether he would like it or not. It was so good, but an awkward size to split. Of course John Jay didn't even want his entire half and I was forced to finish it all. Here's the slightly healthier, less sugar recipe I made. I'm sure you could double it for a regular sized cake.

Judah's 1st Birthday Cake:
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c brown sugar
1/8 t baking soda
1/8 t salt
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 c oil + 3.5 oz container of baby food (anything...carrots, pears, apples...etc.)
1 egg
1/4 t vanilla
3/4 c grated carrots

• Preheat oven to 350˚
• Grease and flour (or parchment paper) cake pan.
• Bake about 35 minutes - depending on pan size.


Less Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting:
2 t butter (softened a little)
4-5 oz. cream cheese
1 t vanilla
1/3 c confectioners sugar
1 T milk

My Cinderella Dress

This is totally my "what I would've made when I was a little girl" project...and the twirly girly pictures to go with it. Very reminiscent of the piece-it-together quality of Cinderella's pink dress - except no help from mice or birds.
I took this shirt:



















and this skirt:



















and made this dress:

Celebrating the 4th

This is a drawing of my husband. It's a page out of Judah's "The Letter J" book I made him for Christmas...which explains why John Jay is Juggling Jack-o-lanterns.



















Anyhow, my point is that he is easily caricatured: furrowed brow, puffy vest, capri pants, tevas, the v-neck (now), and an occasional makeshift mohawk. But thanks to me, he will no longer have to roll those normal pants of his any more! He has been begging me for months to hem some perfectly good pants in to capris and tonight I finally did. What better way to observe our nation's independence than to make capri pants for my husband? George would be proud.














Here they are, in all their cropped glory.



















Since I spent my evening doing this, instead of a "fun" project, I added my own little touch to the tag.
he he.

To Stink Or Not To Stink

I'm thinking about trying this. I'll let you know how it goes. Or you'll let me know if you can smell me from a mile away. I've read a lot about carcinogens in deodorants, toothpaste, etc. so we figured we'd give it a go. My head spins to think about trying to make our house/products/food all natural and safe all at once, but this is a first step.
Oh, also...I bid farewell to my beloved blistex as well. This article pushed me over the edge. I can't even imagine how many tubes of that stuff I've eaten in my lifetime.

john jay berry pie

My wife is letting me post on her blog for the first time and I could not be happier. That is not all the way true. If I were, say, eating Pizza Rolls whilst posting, then I could not be happier. Right now I am just shy of "could not be happier." Ah well, now I am really craving Pizza Rolls and still have not stated my business on a blog that is not my own. I have a project to share with you all. Actually, my assumption is that no one who visits Corrie's blog will be interested in my project, but that has never kept me from sharing.

The McIntire Family, saints that they are, donated a road bike to me. It was in great condition and needed no work but I still was in the mood for a project. So what did I do? I took and perfectly good bike, functionally and aesthetically, and tried to remake it. It started off a black color scheme and I wanted something more breezy. So I took it apart, painted the frame, applied new decals, re-wrapped the handlebars, and added some new components. I thought this would only take a week or so to complete. A month and a half later, and I am finally finished. Here it is, The McIntire, in all its pastel and leather glory.

The Case of the Disappearing Blueberries

A few weeks ago mom and I took Judah blueberry picking. I'm embarrassed to say that out of the two buckets worth that we obtained, only one dozen muffins were made. Yup. We ate the rest in a weekend. It's shameful, really.

Judah with remnants on his chin:














The recipe for our collaboration:
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. oats
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
2 eggs
1/2 t. vanilla
1/4 c. unsweetened coconut
3/4 c. vanilla yogurt
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. milk
1 1/2 c. blueberries? (mom, do you remember if that's right?)

Mix dry ingredients, then add the wet ones. Fold in blueberries. Bake at 350˚ for about 25-30 minutes.