Not a Crafty Mom

So I've realized that I'm not a crafty mom.  I don't craft things for myself.  I mean, I wish I did.  I tried learning how to sew in high school, but as my mother could tell you I just didn't have the patience for it.  I wouldn't mind learning how to stamp or scrapbook, but I don't have the space for all the materials.  I think photography is neat but I don't have the money or time to learn.

And since I'm not crafty myself, I usually don't do crafts with my kids.  We do have paint and glue and scissors, but they're not used all that often.  I know I should be better and perhaps a book of "kid crafts" would inspire me.

But then I realized that although I don't create things with paper or fabric, I do like to create things with food.  I love to cook.  And I've always loved baking.  And if I'm going to take the time to make something, I want it to be useful.  Like something we can eat.  So the crafts in our house happen in our kitchen.  Today's craft?  Graham crackers.  And Brooks loved helping!!

They were delicious!  Perhaps I'm just a little bit crafty after all.

Carter turns One!

I have so much to write about Carter's birthday, and obviously not much time to write it (hence this being a week and a half late).  So I'll break it up into a few posts.

Carter's birthday landed on a Monday this year, which also happened to be Labor Day.  So we figured since it was a holiday and most people had it off anyway, we'd just throw his party on Monday.  Which was great in that we had all weekend to prepare for his party.  But not so great in that we spent all weekend preparing for his party.  And the more kids we have and the more parties we host, I find myself having this internal struggle.  Do I go all out and throw this huge birthday bash because that is what you're "supposed" to do and inside that's what I really want to do?  Because although it creates memories and leads to great pictures, it's a  whole lotta work.  Or do I keep it simple and do something small?  It's less work, but a first birthday is kind of a big deal and I don't want to him to feel (down the road) like we just skimmed past it.  So I think we met kind of in the middle.  It was by no means a party that would find it's way onto Pinterest, but I think we did a good job making the day special.

We sort of did a "Car" theme for Carter's party.  I say "sort of" because we just did a few car themed things, but really didn't go all out.  The invitations were shaped like little cars and for the party I made ants on a log "cars" with toothpicks and grapes for wheels.  They were cute.  But I didn't make a "car" cake. I just wasn't feelin' it.  But the car thing fit because Carter LOVES anything with wheels.  More than any other toy, a car will keep him entertained.  He drives the car, spins the wheels.  So fun!  Plus it's fits his name too.  CARter.  Car.  Get it?  (I'm sure you already caught that, but I figured I'd point it out anyway.)  Guess we named him appropriately :)

We had many wonderful friends and family here for Carter's party.  Of course Uncle JD and Auntie Pammie stayed, but Chris's parents also drove in for the party.  A 10 hour drive from Montana for a one year old party shows a lotta love for our special little guy.

I ... er, Carter opened presents.  He received lots of new "wheeled" things to play with.  Oh, what fun!

We all had lunch and then came the much anticipated eating of the cake!!

What is this??

First taste

This is pretty good.

Face first!

Messy cake face :)

Yes, I do indeed like this cake!

The cake was immediately followed by a bath and a new change of clothes.  Then after the sugar spike,came the sugar crash and a nap.  A much needed nap.  (For the record, there was actually very little sugar in the cake, but there was plenty in the frosting.  He ate mostly frosting).

After cake, our friends left, Carter napped, I cleaned the house and everyone just hung out.  I think I even took a nap. For dinner I declared that we were going out to eat.  After preparing food for 20 people at lunch time, I decided I was taking the night off.  After much debate and discussion about where & what to eat, we decided to grab some Pizza Hut and head to the park.

The boys had so much fun playing with Grandma and Papa!

And just like that our boy is one.  (sigh)  We made it.  And I'm really excited for the upcoming year.  I really am.  He's already changing so much and I LOVE seeing him grow and learn new things.  We are so blessed to have Carter in our family!!

Saturday Adventures: The Apple Orchard

I have so many blog posts swirling around in my head right now and I need to write about Carter's birthday still, but I wanted to post this before I totally forgot about it.

Saturday morning we all headed down to Country Apple Orchard just south of Sioux Falls.  It's our fifth year going, so I guess it's kind of a tradition.  The apples are terribly overpriced, but we try to tell ourselves that we're paying for the experience, not the fruit.  Then it seems worth it.  We met our friends Eric and Katie and their two kids, Jake and Celia there.  The weather was 65 degrees and sunny - perfect!  Here's a few pictures from the day!

This year Brooks rode the "train" aka wheeled rain barrels pulled by Santa on a riding lawn mower.  Yep, Santa.  He loved it!  Not the Santa part (he doesn't even know who that is) ... the train part.

This has to be the BEST picture of the day.  Brooks asked for some of Jake's ice cream and like any good friend would, he shared :)  It was so cute!  Oh, and the fact that Jake is dressed in a flannel shirt, bibs and a conductor hat?  Hilarious!  It's like country mouse and city mouse!

After the ice cream was finished, we rode the wagon out to the orchard and picked some apples.

"Look how tall I am.  I can reach the apples!"

"Mama!  Look at my apple!"

We stopped for a little snack break.  We had to sample the "fruit" of our labor :)

This kid may only have eight teeth, but he wasn't about to be outdone by the big kids.  And wouldn't you know, he actually got a few bites off that apple.

Tonight I made my first apple pie of the season.  I. love. apple. pie.  Love love love apple pie!  And really all things apple.  I'm so excited for fall baking!