Savannah's 11th Birthday

It's birthday time again!!

This time for my sweetie-pie Savannah.

And since it is the year of family outings, she had the daunting task of choosing where to spend her birthday. After weeks of deliberating...she finally decided that she wanted to take a special trip up to Palm Beach and visit Rapids Water Park. We were all really excited to go...

...but then, disaster struck...

Brigham, who was playing his first year of tackle football, was injured in practice and got a broken wrist. And we couldn't afford the extra money to get a swim cast.

And so, Savannah...always the caring and sensitive child...decided to switch birthday locations. She didn't want to spend her birthday with Brigham sitting on a lounge chair while the rest of us splashed and played and slid all day at a water park.

So instead, she choose to visit Color Me Mine...the local "paint-your-own-pottery" studio.

At first, the boys groaned and moaned. But after we arrived, and they saw all the cool stuff to paint...many of it designed specifically with boys in mind...they changed their tune.

Even I got into the act.

We were there a couple hours...painting and decorating...and then we had to leave our pieces behind to get fired.

We had a late dinner at Jasons restaurant (Savannahs choice)...and headed home.

A couple weeks later, I went to pick up the pieces. It's amazing to see how different they are AFTER they come out of the kiln...

Nicolette BEFORE...

Nicolette AFTER...

A beautiful mug to hold treasurers in!! I love how Nicolette swirls paints and colors to make her own designs...

Brigham BEFORE...

Brigham AFTER...

Brigham loved this fighter jet piggy bank. Now he can keep all the spare change he finds around the house SAFE!!

Savannah wanted her's to be very special...so she made a mermaid, and chose her colors so the mermaid would LOOK like her...trying to match paint with the color of her hair and eyes and her skin tone.

Savannah BEFORE...

Savannah AFTER...

I'd say she did a very good job with the matching, wouldn't you? It looks very much like my sweetie Savannah!!

Joseph BEFORE...

Joseph AFTER...

A gargoyle friend to guard Josephs desk of junk treasures. He did a really cool job on the wings...you can't see them properly in this shot...but he faded a dark blue into a purple...and it came out looking really cool.

Kaitlyn BEFORE...

Kaitlyn AFTER...

Kaitlyn's, of course, is beautiful. She'll use it as an incense holder in her room...and it's something else to add to her portfolio as she applies to Art School this fall...

And Me BEFORE...

And me AFTER...

I had a darling little ice cream cone I painted several years ago with my Girl Scouts...so I thought the sundae fit. And it's a piggy bank, too...lol. I couldn't help it...I just thought it was adorable.

We had a great time...and the kids really liked having a lasting memento of the day.

Jut one more birthday left this year...Nicolette's. I wonder what family adventure she'll take us on for HER special day?

Iron Chef Pembroke Pines: September 2011 - Peanut Butter!!

 I am really super-duper behind on my posts...partly because I'm trying to figure out how to take photos from my camera and upload them into my photo files without them becoming teeney-tiny little thumbnails.

So far, I've been unsuccessful.

But until then, I will try and keep current with what is happening NOW!! And one of the things that just happened was the start of another season of Iron Chef Pembroke Pines!!

The secret ingredient was peanut butter. I hosted...which means there was a low turn-out ("Are you un-poopular? Do you pop out at parties?"...Name that redheaded comedic genius)...but we had a fabulous time and got to enjoy some wonderful food.

And best of all...I had a marvelous excuse to make my yummy Peanut Butter Stuffed Hot Fudge Cupcakes.

Sinfully divine...and worth each and every 632 calories per cupcake.

I first made these babies for my birthday...

They were a HUGE hit. Especially with me. So it was a total no-brainer to make them again. They're even fun to make...there are several steps...but my favorite is when I get to actually "stuff" the cupcakes with the luscious peanut butter buttercream frosting...

It might have something to do with the slightly messy nature of it...because if it gets all over my hands...that means that later, I get to lick them clean :)

I know...I'm naughty, huh?

Angel also brought a dessert...some rich and decadent Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars.

Sherie AND Heather both channeled Asian cusine and brought noodle dishes. They were both very different...Heathers was more peanut-y...and had fresh veggies on top. I seem to have misplaced the recipe though...as soon as I find it, I will post.

And Sheries had this fantastic spicy element to it, thanks to the addition of chile oil. I absolutely loved it...

It was called Udon Peanut Butter Noodles. I highly recommend it.

So we sat around and chatted and ate...laughed and joked...and had a marvelous time. I always really look forward to Iron Chef...besides great food, it's just some much-needed girl time with friends.

Until next month...