Monster Truck Cake

Yesterday was my sons birthday, and he is currently obsessed with cars and trucks.  If he is watching his favorite movie "Cars" and you try to stop it, you better watch out.  Due to this current enthusiasm, we decided that he needed a Truck Cake but not just any truck. A Monster Truck Cake.  Making my children a cake is one the top things I enjoy doing for their birthdays.  This was my first attempt using Homemade Marshmallow Fondant and it turned out fairly well.  I learned a lot about 3D Cake making.  Any questions in regards to making this cake please feel free to ask.

"Run. Run. As fast as you can. You can't catch me. I'm the Gingerbread Man"

So my daughter started school a few almost a month ago and during the first week the teachers had an activity that they use to help familiarize the children with the school and the places that they will visit throughout the year.  This particular activity involved the story book character "The Gingerbread Boy". According to the teacher the Gingerbread Boy left clues around the school starting in the classroom which should lead his capture.  Apparently the Gingerbread Boy called out over the classroom intercom "Run. Run. As fast as you can. You can not catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Boy. I am. I am."  The kids followed his clues to the Library, Gym, Etc. around the school then back to the room.  But the could not catch the Gingerbread Boy.

Since that day, my daughter has developed a fear of Gingerbread Men or "Boys".  In her mind the Gingerbread Boy is real.  So I try to explain to her that it is just a story and he is only a storybook character. And that there is nothing to be afraid of.  The answer I get is, "but dad he is real.  At school he left us clues around the school and there were only crumbs left on the pan, we couldn't find him anywhere." She is frightened that he will get get out of the school and for whatever reason he is going to come into her bedroom.  Now I know this is a fear of hers and she gets really upset about it at certain times, specifically bedtime, but I can not help but giggle about it.

I am trying my best to find a way to help her get over her fear.  I talk to her about it and try to find out exactly what scares her about the Gingerbread Boy.  Explain to her that he is not real and just a storybook character.  "We eat gingerbread men and that they are delicious", I try to explain.  Today I spoke with her teacher to find out a little more about the activity and exactly what might of frightened her.  Of course her teacher is try not to laugh as I am informing her of my situation.  I am doing this while all the time trying to keep a straight face.  After I finished my story and she explained the activity, she tells me that she will send the book home with her so that we can read it at home. I hope that this help her overcome this fear of Gingerbread Men.

First Week with Baby C

The past week as not only been very busy but also very stressful.  I have not only be completely exhausted but also did something to my back the other day, which does not help when having to care for two little ones under that age of 2.

Chey is a beautiful little girl but she is also very demanding.  Compared to my other children she is in constant need of someone holding, carrying, or playing with her.  I don't know how people can get anything done around the house while having to hold or carry a child.  My children have never been this way, they have always been very independent, and to have a baby who is clingy is something out of the ordinary for me.  When you do not pick her up she tends to be very whiny and follows while crying and whining.  This tends to get very annoying but I have to remind myself that she is in a new environment with new people and that through time she will learn that someone does not always have to be by her side.  I try to provider her with the appropriate attention she needs, but also trying to give her space so she can play and grow on her own to break this behavior.

Not only is this hard on her, I also see changes in my son.  He has become very possesive of his toys, specifically his cars.  And it is almost like Chey knows this because she always tries to take his cars when he is playing with them.  I have been working hard at helping them both learn to share and I know this will take some time for both of them. 

Everyone is finally starting to get better from the cold that had everyone in the house under the weather.  This I hope will start to help us get a more routine schedule that works for everyone, as with the kids all sick no one was really having good sleeps, which makes for long and more often cranky days.  Overall I think the transition is going  well but again it has only been a week and through time things will slowly fall into place.  I just have to keep my patience in check and keep telling myself that everything will get better in time.