Now We Are 11....

Now we are 11...

Your numbers are like twins..

standing tall and confident side by side..

Just like you..

My beautiful Gemini...

Your shoulders are widening..

Your legs are lengthening..

You are only a mere 3.5 inches shorter than I..

I can't nuzzle your head under my chin...

and soon..

very very soon...

we will be looking into each other's eyes..

Oh those eyes...

still full of wonder, curiosity, joy and most importantly..

LOVE.

But..

Things are changing..

changing so incredibly fast..

 You see things clearer through these new eyes..

You are peeking through the curtain.

You're learning how the world REALLY works..

I watch as it takes a bit of a toll on your soul my sweet anxious one..

But 

I am still there...

holding your hand and

we shall brave it together..

So I guess...

This is why 11

is absolute heaven...

Happy Happy Birthday my sweet man-child Monster..

So let's dive into some of that double layered chocolate cake.

Happy Weekend!!

 Image by White Loft Studio, Bake by Mayflour via Style me Pretty

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

It's Official...

I'm DONE..

Done with Mother Nature and her Polar Vortex..

Done with freezing temperatures..

Done with snow, hail and sleet..

Done with watching the Tall One have a heart attack over the many oil deliveries..

Done with white tipped fingers and toes...

DONE. DONE. DONE. 

Luckily..

This weekend we will be keeping warm and toasty..

There will be a cake with many, many, many, many, very, very, very tall candles flickering to keep us warm..

 I dare say..

I am a bit envious for what the Monster and I have in store for the Tall One..

Even though he may not want to eat a slice of cake as he has become quite the born again health guru..

That just means there is more for the Monster and I...

Be Safe, Make a Wish and Have a Great Weekend!!

Tuesday Typeface....Foiled....

Letter Balloons at ACI Party

Soo many wonderful birthdays this week...

But today is certainly golden for you Auntie Egg!!

3 is the magic number..

Image by  Chocolate Creative Design

How could it have snuck by me?

Such a momentous occasion...

3 wonderful years...

I thank each and every one of you

for joining me on such a fabulous adventure!!

So many more magical things to come..

Perhaps a little giveaway?

So grab a piece of chocolate cake, throw some glitter over your shoulder and help me blow out the candles!

3 is most definitely a Magical number!

Now We Are 10.....

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

Now we are 10...

You have hit double digits.. You are a decade...

Your bones are stretching and lengthening at an enormous rate..

You take up the entire couch but still find room to snuggle me in...

You had two of the most wonderful teachers this year who have stood up for you, had your back and cheered you all the way.
It is not Elementary my dear...you have graduated to the Middle...

MY foot fits into YOUR shoe...

You still have the MOST beautiful pitch in baseball but it is your swing that is a marvel to watch.

At too young of an age,

you have been learning one of life's hardest lessons..

Loss..

Your best friend and brother

and

your second family who just so happens to be moving clear across the country by the end of this month.

BUT

You are handling it with grace, dignity, courage

and understanding that this is what life is about..

that they will forever be with you and have made YOU the beautiful person that you now are...

You. inspire. me.

You still hold my hand,  wave to me from the bus (when no one else is looking), kiss me every morning and night and a few in between..

So I guess..

This is why 10

is certainly an age that I will want to do over and over again..

Happy Happy Birthday my sweet growing Monster..

You with the deep dark soulful eyes...

your ever growing mop top..

your mischievous smile...

YOU have made ME a better person..

You are my sun, moon and stars wrapped up into one package..

I love you little Monster..

Now let's get those sleeping bags unrolled..

we have a camping party on a magical island to attend to..
a night under the stars with your closest of pals...

and perhaps there will be a few gooey s'mores with your name on it..

A Cupcake a Day Keeps the Blues Away....

A cupcake a day for EVERY day of the Month???

Are you kidding me?

This is definitely not going to help swimsuit season...

BUT

I do have a HUGE soft spot for them...

The Monster dances when he sees them

 and

it they just so happened to be the Tall One and I's wedding cake...

Wouldn't it be AMAZING to offer 31 flavors at a birthday party or a wedding?

But..

If you had to choose just one...

What would it be?

Cupcake a Day for Every Day of the Month

created by

 Ming Makes Cupcakes

13

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

You guessed it..

I am now the proud parent of a teenager...

The fact that he is technically 91 makes it a little Benjamin Buttonish..

So...

without being too creepy..

I have decided that he is MY teenager...

And what a perfect one he is..

He doesn't talk back...

He still loves to snuggle...

He never gets embarrassed by his parents..

He is always happy to see us..

He never asks to take the car...

He never complains about our cooking..

He loves to go on family outings

He never breaks his curfew..

 

Now..

 if my other two boys will be just like him..

Then the teen years will be an absolute breeze!

So tonight..

The Tall One has cooked an amazing steak dinner for us..

Luckily, all my boys are serious carnivores..

 so this dinner will be gobbled up in no time..

Mr. H has asked for a new collar this year..

It is one of his favorite gifts to receive..

Who knew that the puppy who once bucked liked a bronco when we tried to put it on him...

 would now...as a older gentleman, carry it around his mouth begging to have it put back on..

Finding collars for boys that are part American Staffordshire and part Wesson is quite tricky..

So..

Mr. H decided to put together a few of his new favorite collars for all of you...

I can only imagine that he has already been hitting up the Easter Bunny to bring a few more... 

1. Kiss My Mutt "Nautical" & "Sea Anchor" at Pet Smart

2. Waterproof Collar at L.L. Bean

3. Mimi Green "Louie" & "Apple" Collars

4. Funky Mutts "Edie Liberty", "Primrose" & "Saffron Cord"

5. Handmade Green "Grey Stripe","Green Brush Strokes" & "Chevron"

6.Kiss My Mutt "Cape Cod" & "Barcelona Mar" at Pet Smart

7. Lands End Canvas Collar

8. Mendota Braided Personalized Collar at Dogids

Happy Birthday Mr. H!!

We love you so...

We are forever grateful each year that we have you in our lives!!

YOU will make 13 a lucky number!!

Tuesday Typeface...One to Grow on...

 

Candle Alphabet by Jessamine Jones 

This one's for all those March Birthdays...

There just so happens to be 3 VERY special ones this week!

Happy Birthday!!!

And one to grow on....

 Image via Lawrence Schiller

When one hits a certain age..

birthdays take on a whole new meaning..

No more pin the tail on the donkey, goodie bags, party hats

and the occasional pony..

For me...

 the best kind of birthday has these key ingredients...

Wearing a fabulously sparkly necklace and some orange toes...

 Getting a surprise visit from a dear dear friend

(especially if they battled an overrun cesspool and took 3 ferries to get to you)

(LOVE you Egg!)

 Having the Tall-One boil up some delicious lobsters...

 Creating a feast for the senses all by candlelight while sipping Proseco out of delicate Anthropologie glasses

Hoards of chocolate cake all the while being sing-sung by the Monster & 3 Cousins via phone!

Finally... 

a new sparkly clutch

and

about a zillion of the most wonderful birthday wishes via Facebook, Text and Email!

I am certainly one LUCKY lady!!

all images via chocolate creative design