Big Brother, Big Boy, & Tons of Toys

That's right... I'm cool!!!

2011-07-27T19:48:00.000-07:00

Whoppie Pie ~ Maine

2010-06-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

Not only is this the first recipe in the book, it's also the first one that was on Cakeboy's list for sure! Who doesn't love a Fresh Whoppie Pie?

And since we on a learning curve here we are making mistakes along the way, but isn't that part of the fun and adventures? Today we forgot to add the egg in the cake mixture so things ae a bit flat. And we also added the extract too soon in the icing, it never seemed to set just right. SO we added some powdered sugar to the mix (why not?). It did help a bit, but not a lot.

1st Grade Homework Recipe

2010-06-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

It started out as fun, we had bought some really cool cupcake liners (so they wouldn't stick). One of Cakeboy's math homework sheets had a recipe on it... looked decent, so we thought, why not?

Lesson learned today... recipes sent home on a 1st graders homework is probably not going to turn out as planned (why did they have to name it, "Mom's Best White Cake"?). The funny thing was, once again, it didn't taste bad. It did however, stick, crumble and have a cookie like texture. For those of you who understand the science behind baking... What went wrong?

Really didn't seem to bother Cakeboy!!!

Baking 101

2010-06-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

Don't use PAM... use crisco and flour (just like grandma taught you)!

Making a mess in the kitchen is just a part of baking... get use to it!!!

Two is better than one... and yes it's okay to lick the bowl when your done!

Sharing in the fun is after all... FUN (no matter your abilities)!!!
Sift 3 times (that's actually what the instructions said from Warren Brown)!

Learning to crack and separate the eggs... really messy, but all worth it in the end!!!

Silver Cake~Alabama

2010-06-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

We tried to decide what was the best route to take on getting through this ENTIRE cookbook. We Don't know about you, but have you ever tried to cook EVERY recipe in any cookbook you've bought? The first and most natural order was simply... in order. As fate would have it, we needed a vanilla cake to go with berries for dinner with friends. Well, the Silver Cake from Alabama fit the need, but not the order... so of course we choose "need" over "want" (he he he).

Our first lesson learned was that just because it says non-stck, doesn't mean it won't stick!!! And yes, we sprayed it with PAM, only to find that wasn't good either.( Memories of my grandmother using Crisco and flour came back to me and WILL be used next go round.) So there were several lessons learned here... but most importantly, "When life hands you broken cake, Make a Trifle"!

And no the pictures didn't turn out that great either... but the taste was pretty good! Would we make this one again, probably not. Did we have a great time, learn lessons and plan to continue this adventure? Most definitely!!!

United Cakes of America by Warren Brown

2010-06-12T18:41:00.000-07:00

"I also wrote to encourage people to get into the kitchen- it's one of the most underutilized resources in America. Baking a cake from scratch isn't quite as easy as "a piece of cake", but I think that just about anyone with enough heart to stand in the kitchen for an hour or so will find it rewarding. (Don't let fears and calories keep you away- eat in moderation and exercise!) Seeing and touching real ingredients will arouse a basic curiosity about what's in prepackaged foods, snacks, frozen meals and more. It gets easier to make better choices once you have the baseline knowledge gained by starting from scratch. If cake can kick-start that understanding, then I'm happy."
~Warren Brown Author of the United Cakes of America

Snow Day!!!

2010-01-11T16:56:00.000-08:00

Lost Tooth

2009-11-20T16:52:00.000-08:00

Grant FINALLY lost that wiggley, giggly, big front tooth!!! The tooth fairy brought a whopping $3.00!!! Was that because it was the 3rd tooth? What a lucky boy!

Bales of Hay

2009-11-05T10:34:00.000-08:00

We were just riding home one day when I saw these bales of hay. Thanks Grant for playing so I could get a few shots of you!!!

Big Catch!

2009-10-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

I don't think there is any other boy in the planet who could fish as much as Grant. He could go every single day and twice if I'd let him! So proud of how smart you have become in your academics at school! You deserve to have fun everyday at the pond!

First Dove Hunt

2009-09-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

First "real" dove hunt with Daddy. Grant shot two dove and had the time of his life with his best buddy! He's hooked, just like fishing!

Who needs Therapy?!?!?

2009-09-03T05:09:00.000-07:00

His little brother Drake might be the one who needs therapy in the summer, but Grant is the one who has ALL the fun!!!

Fun Fourth!!!

2009-07-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

Sun & Sand June 09'

2009-06-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

What a big time at the beach!!!

It's not often I get pics of just you posing and playing. As much as I love taking pictures of your bugs, toys, and things, it's so nice to see you having ALL the fun. You deserve it for being such a good brother and a GREAT kid!!!

The Last Day of School for Kindergarten

2009-06-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

G- & Mrs. Moss

G- & Mrs. Payne

G- w/ buddies, C & A

Grant's Kindergarten year started off a little rocky. The verdict's still out who it was tougher for, Mommy or G-. By the time the year finished, Grant made a huge change! Not only did he love school (maybe not the getting up early part), but he made great friends, had the best teachers, learned to draw the coolest pictures, and even learned to speak Chinese!!!

On the last day while driving to school he said, "Mommy, school only felt like it lasted only 10 days!". I replied, "You remember that at the beginning of 1st grade!"

I'm so proud of you, Mommy

A Boy & Baseball

2009-06-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

This year Grant played t-ball for Stokesdale. He played first base for the Indians and loved every minute of it! It doesn't get much more "American" than going to the little league games. The boys are bored after about 30 minutes, pick the clovers in the out field and dig dirt around the bases on the infield, but oh how they love to bat! Can't wait to see if he continues next year.

G's New Ride... Giant MTX

2009-06-06T07:57:00.000-07:00

Free to be...

Hook, Line & Sinker!!!

2009-05-28T08:21:00.001-07:00

Grant still does and I have a feeling always will LOVE to fish!!! This was a snapshot taken by his cousin Katie as he was coming back from the pond with a group of friends. ( I hope he shared his rod with the two boys on the right!!!) No one should be with out the experience of catching a fish for the first time!!! Truly...Hook, Line & Sinker!!!

Beetle Bug?

2009-05-16T17:56:00.000-07:00

Just happen to catch a pic of this strange beetle bug!
p.s. he was a whopping 2 inches!!!

Feed the Tree Frog :)---

2009-05-15T16:47:00.001-07:00

Just a fun way to waste a little time!

What exactly is this ?

2009-05-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

What is it about this Bakugan thing? I completely don't understand it, but I guess I don't have to. It's a constant game of trying to find the latest and greatest. Thanks to Grandma's super lucky find, she scored with ALL the new shapes (stay tuned for more to come at a later date).
And could someone explain to me why is it so bad to leave a child's toy with a $4.94price tag? After several months of out of stock shelves and only a few of the same ole' balls at any one given time, they have JACKED the price up to $7.98!!! Well it was nice while it lasted.

more Star Wars...

2009-05-07T17:04:00.000-07:00

Today was fun, Grant is at the age where he doesn't like me taking pictures of him. On the other hand, I found he really likes me to take pics of his toys!!! These were today's favorites!

Star Wars

2009-05-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

I'm not quite sure when this obsession first began. This is Halloween from 2008 and is still going strong.He had a chance to fight Darth Vader in Disney in March (and won) then came home to have a Star Wars birthday party in April. Pics to come soon!

A Boy

2009-05-05T18:50:00.000-07:00

This is about a boy who I love to be around!!! Not just because I'm his Mom, but because of the life he lives, the toys he loves and the little brother he adores! I never want Grant to feel slighted, left out or put to the side because his little brother Drake needs so much extra time and attention from both myself and my husband. Even though Grant has never shown any jealousy or bitterness about Drake, I as mom, want to share his life too. One day he'll either love me or hate me for posting this stuff. All I see is an everyday American boy. I hope you enjoy his journey of his favorite things as much as I enjoy him.