The Birthday Cake

The dialogue always begins mid-January about what sort of birthday cake Ben would like for his birthday. It usually takes a few tries before he picks one he likes... but this year was a little different...

Leah: Ben, what kids of birthday cake would you like for your birthday?
Ben: Chocolate cake, with stwawbewwy fwosting... as pink as my stwawbewwy yogrit!

We had a great time making the cake for his party! :)

A friend of mine always has an amazing chocolate cake for his and his daughter's birthday, so I called and got the recipe for frosting... butter, powdered sugar & strawberries... yummy!!!

The Birthday Boy!

---

Well, a few days before his birthday he was talking to my mom on the phone and she was asking him about what kind of cake he wanted once we got to Utah (we flew to Utah 2 days after Ben's birthday)...

Mom/Grandma: Ben, what kind of cake do you want for your birthday?
Ben: Chocolate cake with straw.... No, no, no... STWAWBERRY cake with CHOCOLATE frosting!!

So, here is the creation that awaited us when we arrived in Utah...

This is what happens when Culinary-School-Brother meets Army-Brother and they make a cake...

Strawberry Cake, Chocolate Dirt & Strawberry Blood.

Naomi: 21 Months!

Naomi Grace is 21 Months old!!


How can you not just want to eat her up? :)

Naomi is 21 months old and growing up so fast, I can't believe we are as close to 1 1/2 as we are to 2! She is becoming a little girl more and more each day. She loves people and music... and toys if the first two are not available. :)

She is finally talking a little more, her latest favorite phrase is "I DO!!"

Who wants to go see Uncle Ryan? I DO!
Who wants oatmeal for breakfast? I DO!
Who wants to go for a walk? I DO!
Who loves mama? I DO!
Who wants to get their diaper changed? Silence...

She has also added Bye-bye (but only when prompted), Bee (she loves our Bug Songs tape), and UTAH!! We practice that a lot in preparation for our trip. :)

Happy 4th Birthday Benjamin!!

Can he really be 4 already? Where had the time gone? He has gone from a tiny baby to a little man. We are so thankful for our happy, healthy little boy and the blessing he is to us! We are thankful for his inquisitive & imaginative mind, his sweet and generous heart and his goofy grin. We love you Benjamin Asher!

30 + 4 = PARTY!!

Well, my men are turning another year older. :) Andrew turned the bit 3-0 on the 24th and Ben was 4 on the 23rd!! So, in typical "Leah Fashion" we had a party. I can't can't seem to plan a party with less than 30 people... and I like it like that. :) I hope they do too...

Mingling Party Guests :)

The cakes... Chocolate with Strawberry Frosting for Ben and Kahlua Brownies for Andrew

The Birthday Boys & their Candles!

Ben playing his new game from Mom & Dad with Uncle Ryan & Auntie Mers

And Ben's amazing present from Grandma & Grandpa Z. :)

Siblings!

Cookie Monster

Naomi's world has just expanded... she now knows the joy of cookie-dunking. :)

Animals

On one exceptionally warm day in January we ventured out to the Biltmore Estate to enjoy the weather... the kids loved loved loved the petting zoo!

Chores!

Check out my awesome Chore Man! He has really gotten into cleaning lately and will beg me to do "chores" instead of playing. Who am I to complain? :)

Bumpersticker of the Day

WITCHES Parking Only
All Others Will Be TOAD

The Resident Ham

I call this one Evil Jammie-Clad Baby

CHEESE! (or as she says it... Cheesssssse!)

Anything You Can Do...

Naomi's Motto in Life:

Anything You Can Do...

I Can Do Better. :)

Whether it is climbing, running, talking, yelling, lifting, drawing... you name it, this little girl is going to keep up with her brother!!

2012

Well, I can't say I am quite ready for 2012, although, as always it just keeps on rolling. This year is going to be a big one in the Z house...

Andrew is turning THIRTY in January
Leah is celebrating her TEN YEAR graduation from college in May
Leah will be turning THIRTY in November
And finally WE will be celebrating TEN years of marriage in December

It's gonna be fun!

(And maybe a little sad as we usher out our youth...)

Ringing In the New Year...

This is the only picture I have from our New Year's Eve Party... but it represents the night well. Our dear friends Allan & Ann W. and their daughter Susannah came over for the evening, and we had a great time talking, eating and playing a 4-Hour Game of Settlers... we almost missed the countdown!! 2012 here we go!