Happy Birthday Heather

We headed to Heather's campground to celebrate Heather's birthday.  Her husband is apparently not good at planning birthday parties, or even getting her a cake at home apparently, so she did the planning and there ended up being three cakes and cupcakes for her.  I made an Angel food cake and served it on our grandma's cake plate.  

My parents were there, as was her dad and step mom and her step brothers and their families.  

We had the Angel food cake first with my sparkler candles.  Grandma and Grandpa loved Angel food cake and there was usually one at their house, on her cake plate with the metal cover.  Heather usually makes one when her dad is home but said for some reason this year she did not.  I am glad I made it then. 

Little Lucy is not so little anymore but she is still a sweet puppy girl!  

Connor, Baylor and Brigid had a good time playing together and call came around when cake was being served.  

Well, Baylor really just wanted to toast the marshmallows.  Which he is pretty good at now.  

Cake number two.  I had picked up some decorations and party whistles at the Dollar Store on the way up so it would be much more festive!  John may not be good at parties but I am!  

And the third cake was an ice cream cake.  Who does not love ice cream cake?  

Charlie wanted to make sure his mommy got her birthday lovins this year.  

He learned that move from Murphy.  

I love bringing Baylor here, he gets to play with the kids and we don't have to be helicoptering them the whole time.  This time there was a lot of family there to help with them, take them to the park and ride bikes.

Somehow I just helped with the cake.  

A Busy Day, to Say the Least. But We Made the Most of It!

Today was a busy day to say the least!!!  I had arranged with the swimming school to have Baylor attend the early class at 9:45 to 10:30 so we could still make it to Dallastown for the Aunt's Meeting.  While we were late, we still were there for plenty of time.  Baylor got to play with Eli and the boys had a good time together as usual.  They have a very long rope swing at their house and Baylor was not afraid of it this year.  

Eli had the play house cleaned up for his little cousins and Baylor and him had fun on it as well.  I had a good time talking and eating with the family!!!  

We left around the usual time but had to go straight home and get ready for a wedding.  Megan and Jamie thankfully had planned their wedding for 4 PM so we were able to do everything we had planned for the day and not miss anything.  We had to go a bit early because I had the wedding cake and needed it brought inside before everything started.  Megan was talking to me about the wedding planning last month, the week after my parents anniverary.  Since we did not get a bonus this year, they had to cut back on extras for the wedding.  A wedding cake was one of the extras.  I showed her a photo of the cake I had just made and said I could make it for her as her wedding gift.  She loved it and was fine with it being my gift to her.   

I could not get any photos of the ceremony from where we were sitting so I stole some from FB.  Shhhhh.

Addyson made a lovely flower girl.

She had bought cup cakes from Sams and that was all they were planning on serving.  This was my first tiered cake and it turned out pretty nice I thought.  She said she received a lot of compliments on it as well.  We did not stay for the cake cutting as it was getting late (long day remember) but apparently she smashed the cake in his face and he then did the same.  

The kids were given sparkling apple juice for the toast and Baylor thought that was super cool.  

We did a few clinks together.  

And Liz offered to get a photo of us together.  A toast to the bride and groom!  

Tamela and family were at our table and the kids really wanted to dance.  After the Bride and Father dance we went up there. Baylor acted all shy but he really wanted to dance with Madison.  

And he got in a few moves with the bride as well.  

He was very fascinated during a line dance and when the song was over did one of his own.  I don't know how to slow down the play back because it is really cute!  

Getting his grove on with Madison.

The club was on the river and right across the river was the steel mill that I could see out my third floor window in my old house in Steelton.  I always wondered what it looked like back there and what was on the other side!   

Easter Day, or Second Easter

Meme and Pap showed up later in the evening on Saturday and gave Baylor their Easter gifts.  One item was a giant chocolate Easter Bunny.  

And the rest of the basket was army toys. 

He was most interested in the bunny of course.  Please stand back Mommy, Meme has this.  

I guess he is an ears guy.  

Or just the face in general  

Gloria took a few photos of me in my usual place in the kitchen.  I am not used to seeing me in my natural environment, I am usually behind the camera!  

We had ham, roast pork stuffed with pork wrapped in pork, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, red beet eggs, deviled eggs (from the eggs we colored yesterday) relish tray, veggie tray, green bean casserole, sparkus, and Stove Top stuffing.  There was plenty of food for us and for the grandparents to take home leftovers.  Jason was not able to make it as his car would not start that morning.  He ended up going out with his Dad and his wife for dinner.  Dave, Laura and Adam went to her family for dinner so it was a bit of a small family party but just as nice.  

 

Jamie had sent me a photo of my beautiful niece Presley and Mom and I sent her a photo of us saying Hi!  

The daffodils were just breaking open this morning and it is a sure sign Spring is coming and bringing warmer weather and sunny days.  This February was the coldest February on record here is PA and warm sunshine is a welcome change.    

The Easter Buddy hid the eggs again while we were inside finishing up dinner.  And unknown to Baylor the bunny snuck in the house while he was hunting eggs to hide a few other items inside.  

At six, he is a pro at egg hunting the larger eggs and still needs some encouragement on finding the smaller ones.  

Unless they are in a big piles out in the open of course.  

But the couple in the cider block were a bit of a challenge for him.  Luckily I was there to assist. 

It is not often I remember to take a photo of everyone, almost everyone, but we did today.  

After coming inside it was time to open all the eggs.  There were new DVDs in a big pink egg.  

A coveted Lego set in the green egg. 

Transformer mini figures in a yellow egg, Lego mini figs in another egg. 

And of course a couple dozen candy filled plastic eggs.  

Buddy and Pap had some nice grandpa conversations on the steps.  Baylor opening eggs was not really of much interest to them.  

While he was opening his eggs, he found four with notes in them giving him clues to where other items had been found.  He was able to read most of the words and we helped him with the works he could not work out.  He was told something was in the bathtub and found his Easter Basket, loaded with more goodies. He loved the hunt and the Easter Bunny will have to remember that for next year.  

One note said to find something where he keeps his hats and gloves.  He dug down to find a Lego WiiU game.  His found Batman III game hiding in his underwear drawer.  He was so excited that the bunny must have come inside and hid things while he was hunting eggs.  Smart bunny I would say.  

Grandma and Buddy had a nice basket of goodies and I think he had a good time. I know I did.  

I know how much Meme likes photos so I try to get some for her when I think it is one she will like.  Gloria hates to smile.  

Most of the time she pulls faces and I print them and give them to Meme as well!!  

I think the Easter Bunny made one little boy pretty happy this year!