Different School, Different Candidate August 29, 2008

Yesterday in class, Jack’s teacher took a poll – McCain or Obama. In our old town, the hands down winner was Obama and Jack would come home saying how great Obama was though he knew virtually nothing beyond his name and face. Jack informed me yesterday that almost the whole class rose their hand for McCain, but he still raised his hand for Obama. He said he was switching his candidate since most people want McCain. I told him that Obama was better because he was about helping more people and just because everyone else thinks someone else is better, doesn’t make it so. I said you don’t worry about what other kids think; you just do what you feel is right. He said he would stick with Obama.

I can’t believe I moved from a mixed race and socio-economic neighborhood into white suburbia and now send my kid to school with a bunch of little republicans. To boot, I drive an SUV.  Of course, there are advantages, but there was something about the white kid thinking it was absolutely normal that not EVERYONE looked and talked like him.

Cakes and Traditions August 20, 2008

While stumbling tonight, I found the Cake Wrecks blog which is awesome! They poke fun at cakes without the mean-spirit. I seriously hope that I don’t end up being poked by them!

Last year on the first day of school, I made Jack a first grade first day of school cake which I took a lot of pride in but that he thought was only moderately interesting despite the smile in this picture. I think I got the idea from Family Fun magazine, but I can’t remember.

With this in mind, this is the conversation Jack and I had before bed last night which concluded the second day of second grade.

J: You should make me a cake for the grade I am in school.

Mom: I made you a cake last year and you didn’t like it!

J: I mean that you should make a cake for whatever day it is that is the same day as my grade.

Mom: Ummm

J: Like on the second day of second grade I get a cake!

Mom: Can it be cupcakes or does it have to be a cake?

J: I don’t care.

Mom: Great idea! But tonight is the second day of second grade, so for this year, can I do it tomorrow?

J: Yes.

I made Julie Hasson’s Best Chocolate Cupcakes from 125 Best Cupcake Recipes with Jack’s favorite cream cheese frosting. (The buttermilk TRULY makes these killer cupcakes!) Next year, they will be in honor of our tradition, but this year they were in honor of Jack thinking enough about my wanting to give him a tradition that he thought of his own and shared it with me!

I still am here! August 18, 2008

August has been crazy around here, and I am officially exhausted. Even Drake is tired!

Today, was Jack’s first day of second school!!! How did that happen? Here he goes with his friend up the street. I can’t wait to hear about his day!

I am very pleased to report completion off two major sewing projects of late. The first was a shopping bag for my mother-in-law. It is her very belated Mother’s Day gift. She knew it was going to be late (not this late though) because of the move. It didn’t take me long to complete, especially since I made up the pattern again. I took ideas from two of my other bags and combined them. I also made sure to enclose all seams since it isn’t lined. I can’t remember where I saw another blogger do this, but it was a great idea for a clean finish.

It did turn out taller than I wanted, but it will still work. Because it is so tall, the top folds in, so I attached two buttons and a loop to pretty it up.

The second project was my friend’s surprise birthday party this past weekend. I made table runners from a fabric that I had that I knew she would like. As is always the case, the ironing it is what is important!!! You can see the table runner underneath the cakes in this picture. I made the cakes as well with two new recipes that worked very well.

The cake was Betty Crocker’s Chocolate Fudge Cake and the mock buttercream was made with marshmallow fluff and was found in Country Living Magazine. Note that there are only two cakes in the picture. The third cake bit the dust because someone let me carry it outside without supervision. I twisted, turned and finally fell into two chairs and landed on my back. I did NOT break the cake stand, and the cake landed perfectly on the ground after first bumping my breasts. A couple of advil and a drink and I made it fine. The next morning, I could barely move though. Thankfully, today I feel good which is very surprising.

We also spent time in August with family and friends in MN, then took the kids to Wisconsin Dells. They had a good time with all the go karts, roller coasters and water slides at Mt. Olympus. I have fond memories of cheap hotels, fresh cinnamon rolls and family style restaurants from my younger days of visiting the Dells. The downtown was almost exactly as I remember it. The waterpark area had changed quite a bit. The Trojan Horse was the favorite go-kart track.

Tinkering School…Aaron heard this Monday on All Things Considered on the drive home. It is GREAT!!! This guy started this summer camp for kids to tinker. If they want to learn how a dishwasher works, they take it take apart. If they want to build a boat, they make a real, floatable boat. Parents have to sign a waiver saying that if their kids are hurt or killed, they will not hold the camp liable. This audio is hilarious…listen for the girl hitting the tree (repeatedly) at the bottom of a saggy zipline a ten year constructed. Jack and Troy would totally love this camp!