Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God

I have to admit that I haven't done anything this week in regards to the 40 Days in the Word.  Time change has really played havoc with my sleeping patterns and this is the first of the two birthdays of crazy birthday month.  I have decided to dedicate this week's randomness to crazy birthday month.  

March used to be the unbirthday month in my family.  It was typically Easter month and nothing else.  When I got married, my husband's sister had a birthday in March, but we rarely saw her.  The only other holiday was my in laws anniversary on the 17th.  They have the best date, if they were Irish.  Still March was a slow month.  Then another of my sister in laws delivered twin boys on the 8th and 9th respectively.  They were born so close to midnight.  However, we rarely saw them as well.  

This all changed in 2007 with I had Thomas on the 27th.  We now had a birthday.  The year I had Thomas, Easter was a week after his birth.  I have pictures of him in his bouncy chair all stickered up by his sister as she decorated him like an Easter Egg.  He started sleeping with one eye open after that escapade.  I didn't blame him.  I relished having my children's birthdays so far apart (Nicole's birthday is in June).  I could plan them both with relish and ease.  

March 2008 just before Thomas' birthday I found out I was pregnant again.  My due date was November 2008.  This was not to be as I miscarried.  I was understandably upset.  Two months later, I found out I was pregnant again.  I was elated.  Then I counted.  March 2009 was my due date.  I would have two birthdays in one month.  As my due date got closer, I started planning Thomas' 3rd birthday party.  I knew if I didn't, the poor boy wouldn't get one.  Luckily I had great friends who helped me in the execution.  Thomas wasn't too happy there was a baby in the house, so having a day with his friends and cake was a great thing for him.  

Since Sam was born, I've only had one friend with a little one the same age.  As a result, Sam has only had family parties with our family and very close friends.  This year Sam is having his first official birthday party with his friends.  I am having a Milk and Cookies party and at the writing of this blog (Thursday night) I am very disorganized and stressing.  I know though that everything will go well that it doesn't matter to the kids that the table looks amazing or that I used my cricut to cut out his name (hoping to get to that tomorrow morning).  I will be spending my morning blowing up balloons, baking some sugar cookies for decorating, decorating the table and keeping the house tidy until the guests arrive.  After that it's a free for all.  

Then it's on to the execution of the next party in two weeks.  Thomas has requested a Hotel Transylvania PJ Party.  I will be making the invitations this weekend and then next week working on the giveaways.    

In all the birthday planning and executions I thought I would share a gift with you.  My cupcake and chocolate icing recipes.  I hope you enjoy them.

Pour cream into large mixing bowl. 

Mix the sugar and the cocoa together, then sift them into the cream a little at a time, beating with an electric beater.  Continue beating until the frosting stands up in stiff peaks and is thick enough to spread.  Ice cupcakes when cooled.

One month ago today I was floating around a pool.  I was in charge of a cabana for a short time.  I didn't have a care in the world.  Why because it was my birthday and we were on holiday without any of the kids.  I have to say so far my 38th birthday was my favourite.  No one screamed at me.  I didn't have to do any laundry or cook dinner (I made Leroy clean up from lunch without any guilt).  It was a great day.

Now you may wonder why I didn't change my age on my profile until now.  Not that I was trying to deceive you.  I just forgot.  It wasn't a top priority thing to do.  I actually don't have a problem turning 38.  I have more of a problem with getting grey than with getting older.  When I turned 30 I had a good cry, not because I had totally wasted my 20s.  I cried because Friends ended the week before.  What would I watch every Thursday night?  Thank you Grey's Anatomy for correcting this problem.

There is one thing I haven't gotten used to as I have gotten older.   When I was younger I was always the youngest person in the office or among my friends.  I now find myself becoming the oldest.  I actually got excited when I was the youngest person at a lunch put on my the senior ladies study at my church (I told them I was going to crash more of their luncheons if they made that good of food each time).  Not everyone I talk to gets my humourful references.  I referenced Fat Albert yesterday and only one of the girls got it.   I am one of the oldest moms in the hall when picking up the kids from school.  I used to think maybe I had my kids late in life (I was 29 when Nicole was born), but I've come to the conclusion that everyone else rushed having kids too early in theirs.  I will be in my mid 50s when Sam turns 20 and at the perfect age to enjoy traveling and keeping up with the grand kids.  I won't be in my 40s and be a grandmother (hopefully I didn't just tempt fate).  

The NCAA may have March Madness, but I always have March Birthday Madness.  Mid March is the Tormentinator's birthday and the end of March is the Middleman's birthday.  We had his friend birthday party last Friday at our local Children's Museum.  He enjoys it as there are so many different stations for him to do and discover.  He loves the camping area as he pretends he's roasting marshmallows over the fake little fire.

I made an ice cream cake for his birthday.  It consisted of almost of litre of whipped cream and ice cream sandwiches.  You start with a layer of ice cream sandwiches in a loaf pan (cut to fit) and then layer with whipped cream. Repeat.  I think though that next time I would use Cool Whip as it freezes smoother.  Although being able to put whipped cream in my coffee all weekend was very decadent.

The middle man received some very cool presents from his friends - Pig goes Pop, Pop goes Froggio, a Alphabet Floor Puzzle, Transformers and an Optimus Prime costume.  He loves his new Optimus Prime costume so much that he put it on Friday evening and ran around the house in it.  He went to bed in it and ......

So ends our March Madness.  Soon enough there will be the end of May birthday week and then the June family reunion/princess birthday month.  Time enough to work myself down from all the birthday cake this month.