The Darth Vader Cake - A Labor of Love

For Ben's birthday cake last year, I made a Spiderman cake. (you can see that here) It was so simple, even though it looks like it was hard. Ben loved it but almost immediately following his 3-year-old birthday party he was already planning his next party and his cake has always been his number one plan...a Darth Vader cake.

I have been dreading this cake because I knew what I wanted to do and I knew it would be hard but I just had to give it a try. Troy was actually a big help with this cake. He had the brilliant idea to use rice crispy treats to mold the face with a mask we have. The face and front of the head are all rice crispy treats but the back of the head is cake.

I frosted the helmet with a thick layer of chocolate frosting and then put it in the freezer over night.

The morning of Ben's party, I made some marshmallow fondant (you can see the recipe by checking out Ben's cake last year using the link in the first paragraph of this post). I added black food coloring to the fondant during the kneading process. I had to make a double batch of the fondant so that it would be big enough to place over the head. Once I had it all rolled out into a circle, both Troy and I together lifted the fondant over the chocolate frosted cake and then smoothed the fondant over the mold.

Troy added the details by using more fondant and some black decorating gel. I wouldn't enter it in any contests as I can see the need for so many improvements but I think we did a pretty good job for our little party!

Here is a cross section of the cake and rice crispy treats once the cake had been cut.

I couldn't have made this cake without Troy's help this year. THANK YOU TROY! We were both working together because we love our boy Ben. He's worth every bit of effort that was needed to create this cake.  I wonder what will be in store for next year...

Jedi Training Camp

So, I've established several times that my boys (Troy and Ben) love Star Wars. (I love it too but not as much as they do) When Ben was asked what kind of a birthday party he wanted he repeatedly replied, "Darth Vader".

Well, Benjamin Thomas Love, you asked for it...

Ben and his fellow Padowan learners (dressed as any character able to defeat Darth Vader because I know not everyone has Star Wars costumes) were instructed in combat techniques by none other than Jedi Master Trainer Daddy

Little did the young Padowans know that evil lurked just around the corner for just as their training concluded they were forced to put their new skills to the test. Da da dum.

The evil Darth Vader had discovered the strength of our trainees and tried to use his wicked force to stop their tremendous progress. But the force was strong with our young Jedi's as displayed by Princess Lea (a.k.a Lizzy Love).

Darth Vader was no match to her Jedi skills.

Soon, after each Padowan had proven their great powers, Darth Vader was forced to flee our training camp.

Until next time Darth Vader!

In celebration of the our defeat of Darth Vader, a special cake was presented to the young Jedi's.

Our Birthday Padowan was granted the honor of blowing the candles out and everyone enjoyed the taste of victory!!

May the force always be with you all!

Okay, what really happened...I was thinking out loud the other day about how fun it would be to have someone show up to Ben's party dressed as Darth Vader and challenge all of the kids with their light sabers. Troy heard my ramblings and put a plan in motion. Somewhere he found an affordable costume and asked my sister's husband Sam to dress up and surprise the little padowans. Sam was all to eager to fulfill a childhood dream. I found out about this the night before the party, but Ben and Lizzy had no idea.

When Sam cam whisking out in his vader robes the kids mouths dropped open. Some were very eager to fight the big bad guy. Only two boys just wanted to watch. Guess who was one of the boys...Yes...Ben! He just stood at the back door and watched through the window - wearing his Darth Vader costume!

He still had so much fun and wants to do it again for his next birthday - like tomorrow.

The party was so fun and after everyone left, we breathed a sigh of relief.

Ben's Birthday Celebrations Begin

Ben's birthday was on Tuesday, February 22nd. True to our usual form, however, we began the celebrations days before. Grandma Love came down from Utah to visit for Ben's birthday just as she had for Lizzy's. Ben and Lizzy were both overjoyed to see her arrive at the Yuma Airport (sorry, forgot the camera!) Their joy just continued until the moment she left. She is such a trooper to put up with their oodles and oodles of love. They simply smother her!

Grandma Love figured out pretty quickly when she was here for Lizzy's birthday, that Ben LOVES Star Wars. She let Ben open his present as soon as she arrived and it was a Star Wars toy! Both Ben and daddy had a blast playing with the toy together.

Ben attempted to have a sleep-over with Grandma but he just loves his own bed in his own room so the "sleeping" didn't happen until he was put in his room. He was just too excited!

Ben's birthday was on a Tuesday this year. Monday was President's Day which meant kids were home from school. So, with Grandma Love leaving early Tuesday morning and Monday being a holiday, we celebrated his birthday on Monday. He woke up to birthday pancakes.

And then we told him to close his eyes while we brought his birthday present to him...

A New Bike!! He was on it immediately, riding all over the house. (Ben is thankful for no carpeting. In door bike riding is so much easier that way.) He is a bike riding machine! In fact, later that day, he almost fell asleep while riding around the house because he just wouldn't get off the bike. :)

Grandma Love took the kids for a bike ride to Lizzy's school while I finished the final prep for Ben's big birthday party that afternoon.

Troy Troy the Birthday Boy

We're deep into birthday season here at the Love Shack. Lizzy was in January and Troy and Ben are both this month. Troy and I have never minded celebrating our birthdays but it has never really been that big of a deal. HOWEVER, Ben and Lizzy have been just as excited for daddy's birthday as they have been for their own so I knew that I couldn't let them down. Lizzy has been whispering ideas into my ears for Troy's birthday for weeks..

So...

Valentine's morning, Troy was up at 5am exercising. He is working so hard and it is paying off! Lizzy leaped out of bed as soon as she could get her sleepy eyes to stay open. She ran into the kitchen and sweetly yelled, "Happy Birthday Daddy!" Ben was soon to follow. Both kids were very generous with their hugs and kisses for Daddy that morning.

We had a fun breakfast of "Dr. Seuss eggs" (I still need to get to that post) and then we were off for the day.

Troy took me out for a romantic Valentine's Day lunch. (Silly picture but remember, I'm working at swallowing my pride so that I will put more pictures of myself on the blog. Why am I not smiling?)

I picked Ben up from preschool after our lunch. He begged and begged to go to Daddy's work to wish him happy birthday. Troy had a free hour so Ben and I went for a visit.

After picking Lizzy up from school, we immediately drove over to Troy's work again so that we could secretly "heart attack" his car before he finished work. The kids were filled with giggles and excitement!

I gave Lizzy a marker and told her to write Daddy some notes. She went to work, never once letting me dictate anything or help her spell.

"You are my dad"

"You are my wish" - "You are cool"

"Without you my heart will be broken"

 

 "My life is happy" - "You make my heart glow"

(Do you think the Candy Hearts people would hire a 6-year-old?)

 BUT THEN GUESS WHO FINISHED WORK AN HOUR EARLY?!  I couldn't believe it! Every day I wish my husband would surprise us and come home early but this day, this day! I NEEDED him to stay at work like usual! We were all surprised and had a good laugh.

I wish you could hear Lizzy giggling with shock and surprise and excitement in this picture. She does that so well!

 Later that evening he opened a few presents.

 Both kids kept saying they wanted to get him t-shirts. So, I took them to Old Navy and let them choose. As soon as Lizzy saw this root beer shirt she picked it out. Her comment was, "Oh mommy, this can be a birthday thank you gift for all of the yummy root beer he always makes for us." (he does make the world's BEST root beer!)

And, of course, as soon as Ben saw this Star Wars shirt, his decision was made. My boys are Star Wars geeks for sure and I love it because I've sort of become one myself! :)

Her Third Six-Year-Old Day

Saturday, January 22nd dawned bright and early when Ben, an already early riser, woke up extra early - like 5:30 AM!!! He immediately searched the house for Grandma Love and was overjoyed to find Grandma and Lizzy sleeping on the floor because this meant - what else? - jumping on top of them!! I found the two kids snuggled up to Grandma while she read them books before we got started for the day.

After a breakfast of Dr. Seuss eggs (a post for another day), we got busy! "Why?" You ask. Well, a long time ago before I had children and I knew I was going to be the perfect parent (wink, wink, ha, ha!), I had decided we would do friend birthday parties every other year. Some wise mothers I know had this rule in their home and I wanted to be just like them so I made that rule as well. It is a great rule and I followed it for a couple of years but my sweet, loving, friendly, outgoing daughter LOVES parties. She wants one for every holiday. She comes up with her own games and decorations and pretty much plans the whole party. I almost always tell her "no" but for her birthday, I caved and said, "yes".

So we sat down one day to make out her guest list. I'm not exaggerating when I say that when I wrote down the 40th - Yes, you read 40th - name, I said, "Wait a sec, sweetie. We can't have this many kids here." Her reply? "But mom, these are all my friends and I love them and I want them to come have fun and besides, it is MY party."

Long story short, I negotiated, she negotiated, the list was cut down to 26! Two primary classes (she has good friends in her class and the class above her because her birthday is in Jan and so she is in between the two classes.) her cousins, of course, and a few friends from school.

The theme she chose was Strawberry Shortcake. We planned some fun games and activities to go with the theme. On Saturday morning, I put Grandma Love and Lizzy in charge of decorations. Grandma was so good to let Lizzy be in control of this and not try to take over.

(Yes, that is Lizzy wearing her Christmas shirt. She still loves it and insists on wearing it!)

I made her a Strawberry Shortcake themed birthday cake.

 We divided the party guests up into three groups and all groups rotated through three different stations - The Strawberry Patch, Strawberry Story Time and Fruit Basket Games. Troy was in charge of the Fruit Basket balloon games. (Fruit basket, like limes, lemons, blueberries etc. all round fruits that could easily be represented by balloons.) He came up with such fun games the kids were hysterical with laughter at times.

 For one of the games, each team chose a representative who put on some of Troy's pajamas and then each team had to stuff as many balloons as possible into the pajamas in a certain amount of time. Here are some of the winners.

 In the Strawberry Patch my dear friends Edna and Ikko helped the little gardeners decorate pots and then plant a strawberry plant to take home. I HOPE these plants grow and produce at least one strawberry per plant. That would just be so fun! THANKS Edna and Ikko! I owe you big time!

Grandma Love was in charge of the Strawberry Story Time. She is so great with kids and held their attention with her great story telling abilities and the fun Strawberry Shortcake card games she had them play together.

 We sang "Happy Birthday" and watched Lizzy blow the candles out on her cake. Then we got to the part that was stressing me out. I was just having a hard time with the thought of Lizzy opening up so many presents. I almost put on her invitations, "No presents please" but that's no fun. I know, I know. It is something I have to work on inside of myself so I won't say any more.

Look at all of those kids! All 26 guest showed up so we had a house full! They all ate cake and drank strawberry punch while Lizzy opened up her presents. Every gift was wonderful and we are so thankful for everyone's generosity.

The party was only an hour and a half and boy was I glad I hadn't made it two whole hours. The parents showed up just in time, everyone left happy with their potted strawberry plants and balloons and I let out a huge sigh of relief.  We made it! I couldn't have done it without so much help from the moms who stayed for the party, Troy, Grandma Love and anyone else who made this day possible - oh like Heavenly Father, yup! :)

The important part is that Lizzy had a wonderful time and strengthened her friendships and other good stuff. 

I think I have discussed on this blog that I'm learning to "Never Say Never", so I won't say that I won't be doing this next year. I have no idea what to expect. For now, we are done and happy and I LOVE my 6-year-old and I will love and adore her for another 300 and something days until I love my 7-year-old!