Just Too Darn Cute

Howdy Partner

Happy Birthday!

I am in utter disbelief that you are already three years old. Not so much because the time has gone by quickly, but because you are truly becoming a little person. You are trying to be independent in as many tasks as you can handle, it's just amazing.

Since you have been so heavily into Disney Cars in the last year, I decided that I wanted to try and make a Disney Cars cake for your birthday. We decided not to have a big joint party with Kellan this year, so I wanted to make it special for you anyway. I found a special cake pan by Wilton just for the occasion. Grand had already planned to have you at her house for the day, so it was set. I was going to make the cake on your birthday while you were at Grand's. I still had Quinn, but I figured he would be easily entertained. . .

So back to the task at hand. . .first object was to just bake the cake.

I started off with a problem because the cake didn't drop so easily out of the cake mold. A big chunk of it stuck to the pan, and you could barely see the guidelines to ice it, so I had to improvise. Not a good start for a novice cake decorator.

Icing progress. . .

After developing Carpel Tunnel Syndrome in my right hand, and mixing eighteen different colors of icing, we had the grand reveal. . .

I think you were pleased with the results. Although, your idea of eating a piece of cake is to eat off the icing, but we're getting there. It's two days later and there is still some left. I was/am pleased with the results! I think I would make a cake like this again, but I'm buying premade icing this time!

Anyway, Grand stayed for dinner, your request was spaghetti. I think you had a good time, and you got to have another party at school the next day. And another Cars cake! This time from Target :-)

Dad and I got you a big pack of cars from the Disney Cars Toon movie that you love. Grandma and Grandpa got you the Lightning McQueen ride-on car (6v), Papa and Gma got you a box of music instruments from Melissa & Doug, Grand got you a Twins sweatsuit, and the Burridges got you a stuffed Dora and Boots. You are so loved by so many!

Happy third birthday Maxwell!!

Love,

Mama

Gingerbread Men

We made gingerbread men today. Quite a test of patience for someone (YOU) who has NO IMPULSE CONTROL! Give you a taste of batter and you have to have 50. When I finally told you that if you took more tastes you wouldn't be able to help any more, you said "but that's what kids and mamas and dadas do!" with your inflection insinuating that it's "no big deal mama". You say some things sometimes. . .I just can't even believe that you are only three, well almost three. Speaking of, we're hearing a lot about what you want for your birthday. I think we started it by asking you what you wanted ("a Dinoco Chick Hicks"), and now it's snowballed into you looking for "special presents" around every corner. "Is that special present for my birthday?". 

You are my Max, and you are irresistible. :-)

Our First Thanksgiving

Okay, it's not our first Turkey Day entirely, but it is our first with little Quinner, now 8 months and change and our presumed final human addition to this Nelson/Spaulding Family (we'll see about that). I am so thankful this year. We are all healthy and happy, and just seem to have a good time together. Right now it's 10 degrees outside in Paynesville, MN. Gas is somewhere around $2.70/gallon. Another wonderful Turkey dinner. Yummy. I want another one. I'm thinking maybe for Christmas?

 

I'm laying here typing on your Dad's laptop in the guest bedroom of Grandma and Grandpa's house. Quinner is asleep in the pack 'n play. I'm actually streaming "The Princess and the Frog" while I type. I love that movie. Now whenever I watch it, I am reminded of frantically trying to finish a paper for my MSN on a Monday when Max is at school and Quinn is busying himself on the floor. I would usually play it in the background just for noise.

 

So, here is our holiday picture for the Christmas card this year. It wasn't initially going to be the "holiday" pic, but it just seemed to fit when we got down to making it. I love, love, love it.

 

Ahead we have some birthday planning for Max's 3rd birthday and of course CHRISTMAS! Very excited. I finally understand what my parents talked about when they said how fast Christmas would come. When I was young it couldn't come fast enough, now I turn my head and another year has gone by.

 

Okay, well this was a "test" to see if I could actually blog from my email account, so I'm crossing my fingers and gonna hit "send".

 

Love you guys :-)