Cake you can't eat!

On Wednesday I helped Emily assemble a Diaper Cake for her sister Jenna's baby shower this weekend. I first was introduced to Diaper Cake (and no, you can't eat this kind if you are still pondering about how a cake can be made of diapers, it is more like a centerpiece or gift for a shower) was at my Albuquerque shower when I was pregnant with Emilio. It was a cake assembled with disposable diapers and decorated with ribbons, painted skewers as candles and little gifts dangling from the cake. My mom and I took off with the inspiration and have been designing Diaper cakes for friends and loved ones ever since. If you'd like to make one you'll need;

tin foil disposable pizza pan (makes a nice base)
one small package of size 1 diapers
ribbons (fabric or plastic)
wooden skewers
paints
glue gun with glue
string
scotch tape
a few gift items such as travel size shampoo, lotion, baby oil, powder, socks, wash clothes, rattles, pacifiers, bottle, etc.

Here are some pictures to show you the steps. If you have any questions, write me.

Supplies
Shaping the diapers agaist your body, then tie with a string. THis is the first layer so make it big enough to sit comfortably on the pizza tray.
First layer finished. Make subsequent layers the same way, but smaller as you go up. Adhere the layers to eachother with scotch tape bubbles.
Start to decorate the cake. Use a glue gun to adhere the ribbons around the cake layers. Only glue on the string so that the reciever can use the diapers on her baby. Decorate as you wish.

Voila! The Finished Cake. I've made many different varieties of cakes. Emily only decided to use two skewers on this cake, but you can use several and put them on different layers of the cake. She used the little washclothes to make bows around the top which turned out cute. You can also use flower or other embelishments to glue on the ribbons around the cake. Anyway, have fun with it.

Bouncy (x4) Fun (x5)

On Saturday morning we went to the Bouncy Place with the kids and John's parents who were in town visiting from Chicago. John and I had been with the kids once before and knew what to expect. Emilio was beside himself that he was getting to go a second time.He really does love the place. It basically is a warehouse set up with about 10 different bouncy inflatables. A couple are just simple bouncy houses, but most are like obstacle courses with huge ladders, walls, tubes, tunnels, etc to climb through and steep soft slides to go down. It is really fun and quite a workout too. Gabi also really enjoyed herself as she had four adults who did the hard work of carrying her up each ladder so she could enjoy all the slides!

Happy Anniversary!

I just wanted to wish my Mom and Dad a very Happy 32nd Anniversary today! We love you.

Updates

I haven't posted for a week, so I thought I should get back on here and let everyone know what we've been up to.

*John started at a new law firm today. He resigned from Perkins Coie a few weeks ago, and started at Darby & Darby (another Seattle law firm specializing in Patent law) today. They offered him a great package which includes payment for law school (which he will most likely be starting this Fall at Seattle University). John had yesterday off between jobs and he was able to watch Emilio's swim lessons and help me get lots of errands done with the kids (Costco, Borders, Joann Fabrics, etc).

Enjoying Hotdogs and Churros and lemonade at Costco.

*The kids and I headed down to Portland last Friday so that John could finish up some projects for Perkins before he left. I was able to spend time with my parents and brother Andrew, my friends Molly and Jenny, my Grandma, and our friend Laurie. We had a nice time and especially enjoyed the awesome weather on Saturday (78 degrees!).
Gabi with her Uncle Andrew

The kids with their sweet Great Grammy!


* Emilio and Gabi have been playing really creatively and nicely I may add lately. It has been cute to watch.

The Pied Piper and Pipette (don't ask me what the bibs are for?)

* Gabi has still been doing great at toilet training. She is now telling us when she needs to go and staying dry during naps and sometimes through the night! You go girl!

*John's parents are coming from Chicago this weekend to visit us. We are excited to see them since it has been a few months. We look forward to taking them to The Bouncy Place in Kent on Saturday for some jumping fun.

Princess on the Pot

When my mom was here a few weeks ago she started potty training Gabi alongside Emily (my sis in law) starting with Marco. I had put Gabi on the potty endless times before to no avail, she'd sit there just fine, but would never produce even a drop. My mom on the other hand seems to be able to work magic (she has had 30 years of experience potty training many other children, she's an in home daycare provider, not to mention a mother of three) because Gabi and Marco both were showing success right away (they gave them lots of salty foods, lots to drink....chocolate milk and juice which are major treats in our house, and put them right in big boy/girl underpants so they could feel unpleasant if they had an accident). Anyway, the following couple of days the kiddos just kept progressing and did an excellent job. I came home to my little girl well on her way to toilet training thanks to my mom and Emily.

Last week I just decided to keep with our regular schedule with an extra change of clothes, some lysol wipes, and a potty top in hand. Gabi did great. She even was able to hold off having an accident last Friday when we went to this bouncy place with all the inflatable toys that can shake the pee out of anyone. She promptly went pee right after our time there in the public toilet. I couldn't believe it.
I know she's pretty young, 23 months just yesterday, but this was also the time that Emilio was potty trained, so we thought we should just keep going forward with it.

Well, Saturday was another story. Gabi probably peed in her pants 15 times that day and did #2 as well. I was so discouraged, humbled, in over my head in laundry, and kind of miffed at her, I'll admit it. It felt like she was just trying to be defiant that day to me. I decided to stay home with her on Sunday and really give it another try before I gave up. I had to wake up and spend some good time in prayer, and use lots of creative ideas that my mom and I brainstormed about to feel like I could take on the potty training again. She did much better on Sunday, and has gotten back on track since then. She's even starting to tell me when she has to go now. I'm so proud of her and so thankful that we didn't give up altogether.


I'm a big girl now!

Cooper & Josia's Wedding Day- March 29th, 2008

Last Saturday was Cooper and Josia's special day. Sara (Cooper's sister) and I went to a hair salon on Daniel Island (beautiful place) first thing in the morning to get our up-dos. It was fun to be pampered! We headed to the church after that for pictures and to have lunch. The wedding ceremony went smoothly and Coop and Jos looked great on their special day. We then headed over to Hamlin Plantation for the reception. It was a spectacular place, but unfortunately the weather was colder and windier than it had been all week. Most people preferred to stay indoors even though the outside pool and patio area were breathtaking. Both Indian and Southern cuisine was served at the reception. I got my fill of delicious curry dishes, Naan bread, and Basmati rice, and also tried Shrimp and Grits for the first time, She-Crab Soup, and Red Rice which are typical SC foods. It was all delicious. We danced the night away and had a fun time. It was a nice finale to our trip to SC and we are so happy for the new couple!

Bridesmaid Luncheon/Rehearsal Dinner

Last Friday us girls went to get our manicures and pedicures done. Wow, its been a long time since I've been pampered like that and I relished in it. Since I've been home though I've noticed my French manicure is already looking tired from all the dish washing/hand washing I do, and I sliced one nail with a vegetable peeler. Darn, I guess it can't last forever. My French pedi on my toes is holding up pretty well though.

JoMary (Josie's sister who is 8 months pregnant) and I getting pedi's!

The bride to be getting pampered!

Cooper's sister Sara getting her nails done.

Josie, JoMary, Jolie

Anyway, after hitting the nail salon with all the girls we headed over to Cooper's (Josie's then fiance, now husband) aunts house in Mt. Pleasant, SC. It was a home straight out of a Southern Living magazine, it was really quite beautiful! We enjoyed Mimosas and Sweet Tea which the South is notorious for, Chicken salad on crossaints, frozen fruit salad, and a wonderful cake as well. The cake had ribbons underneith it and each bridesmaid got to pull a ribbon that had a charm attached to it. Each charm meant something different. We collected all the charms to make a bracelet for Josie to remember the day by. Josie also distributed her gifts to all of us which included brown beaded flip flops (for the Reception after the wedding), hand made beaded jewlery from Josie for the wedding day, a cross, and a decorative bindi for the rehearsal dinner. They were all such sweet gifts. Cooper's aunt also had little boxes for us filled with Benne Wafers (popular cookies in the South) and a little prayer on a scroll to read together for Cooper and Josie.

The location of our Bridesmaid Luncheon.
The Darling Charm Cake

Me, Josie, and Terri

Party Favors
Beautiful back porch
Swinging Jolie

Boardwalks over the swamps in the backyard
Party favors from Josie

Guests opening their gifts

Friday evening we had the Rehearsal/Dinner at Christ our King Catholic Church. Most of the bridesmaids were staying at a beach house with Josie and all came adorned in Indian sari's. They looked gorgeous! I missed out on that fun since JOhn and I were staying in another part of town, but I proudly wore the bindi between my eyes which was festive. The rehearsal dinner was a very nice sit down meal, and we had a good time getting to know Josie and Cooper's friends.

Me dressed up!

Terri and I, friends since the first grade (Josie met Terri through me)

Practice makes perfect

Excited for the big day tomorrow

Me and my honey!