Braedon's 5th Birthday Party!

Sunday we celebrated Braedon's 5th birthday.
In our house for the 1st,5th,10th,13th & 16th i go all out!
I consider them the BIG birthdays.

Originally we were going to do a beach party theme but we changed it to a camping theme.
It was the perfect theme for him since he loves to go camping.
I researched the computer for a couple weeks before his party looking for ideas on cakes & decorations.

With checking out many different cake ideas I came up w/this one.
The grass is coconut that I colored green w/food coloring.
Braedon had said he wanted a river so I made one.
The rocks are just marshmallows I painted w/brown food coloring.
The tent is made of poptarts which I frosted.
The trees are just these little plastic covers I had on hand covered in frosting.
And obviously you can tell the fire & marshmallow sticks were made out of pretzels & frosting.
I was up till 2 in the morning w/this cake, about 3 1/2 hrs. to make, but it was totally worth it to see the look on his face when he got up in the morning & saw his cake!!

And I have to say I was pretty proud of myself!

Here is the banner I ordered along w/his pinata which was a tent.

The food table!


Here's Rye crying for me to pick him up over my HUGE belly!

After we ate we opened presents.

He was so funny, he did this w/everything he got.
And he whipped through opening them in about 5 minutes he was so excited.

Here he was thanking everyone for all his gifts.

Cake time!

Pinata time!
Look at his face! LOL

Our new fire pit we bought so they could all make smore's.

W/his cousins Alora & Gabriel.

After everyone left he got into his new jammies & played w/his new remote control car.

He was a happy camper that's for sure!
He received lots of new toys, a ton of new clothes & a couple gift cards!

I'm so glad he had a good time!


Allison

Applesauce Time!

Do you like homemade applesauce?

I LOVE it!
It's sooo much better than the jarred stuff!
My oldest loves it too, the other 3 won't eat it.
Lauren & I think they are weird, how can you not like applesauce?
I mean they eat apples, but hate applesauce.
Oh well, more for Lauren & I!

There's nothing complicated or different about mine, just easy & quick!
But sooo good!

First you need lots of apples.
I used a whole bag.
Don't ask me how many I used because I don't remember how many.
Feel free to use as many as you like.
Just remember even though it may look like alot in the pan it's not really because they break down pretty quick.

Here they are all cut up in the pan, filled to the brim.
I used 3 different kinds, Mac's, Golden Delicious & Paula Red's.
Again you can use whatever kind or kinds you like best.

Add a little water to the pan, not alot.
Medium heat, stirring every few minutes.
I add cinnamon as they start cooking, some people add it to it afterwards, but I like the smell of the cinnamon as they are cooking.

Here's what it will look like.
Now take it off the stove & I taste test to make sure I think it has enough cinnamon.
We like ours pretty cinnamony so I added a little more.
Now this is when you can add some sugar if you want.
I normally don't because the apples are sweet enough, but I did add some to this batch because it was a little tart.
Again, it's up to you as to how much.
And here's the finished product!
Omg, it was really good!
Lauren & I ate some w/our dinner Sat. night.

I also went on to All Recipes.com that night & looked up some apple recipes.
I found a bunch of different things to use the apples in!
I found:
Butternut Apple Harvest Soup-I will so be trying this one for Thanksgiving(maybe sooner though ;))!
Apple Brownies-um yeah this one sounds so yummy!
Taffy Apple Salad-I might try this one this weekend for Braedon's birthday party, if I do don't worry I will post the recipe!
Apple Cole Slaw-I love cole slaw so I can't wait to try it!
&
Pumpkin Cake w/Apple Top-This one sounds absolutely delicious!!

What kind of things do you use apples for?

Have to go get the kiddos from school now, hope you all have a great rest of a day!!


Allison

Apple Picking Time!!

I took the kids apple picking today, along w/my mom & sister & her family.
It was a great day for it!
Not too hot or too cold!
Here are some pics from our day.

My mom w/all the kiddos....

Rylan loving the apples!

Braedon so proud of all the apples he picked!

Think we picked enough apples?
Yeah, $40 bucks later....
Oh well, as long as my kids had fun, which they did!

Now I gotta figure out what to do w/all these apples!
Need to start cooking & baking some stuff.....


Hope you all have a great rest of the weekend!


Allison

Braedon Turns 5!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY BRAEDON!

Braedon Patrick Melle
b. 9/12/06
@ 7:44 p.m.
7 lbs. even

My first born son, you will always have a special place in my heart!
Still a mommy's boy.
Love's to cuddle.
Always has a smile!

Loves going to Grandma's camper in the summer.
He used to be afraid of the pool, but this year he totally did a 360 & decided he loved it!

Loves to dance & sing.
He took pre-ballet/tumble class last year & loved it!
So, this year he is doing tumble again but is also going to try tap.

Loves the park, would live across the street at our park if I let him!



Is absolutely a little computer genius, well I think so anyway!
His sister's started teaching him how to use the computer @ about 2 1/2 & has been hooked since.
Now he is starting to try & teach Rylan how to use it!


And here he is this morning opening a couple things we got him to hold him over because were not having his party until the 25th.
A new bike helmet w/matching bell.

Which of course he loved because it was Toy Story.

And a Bed Bugs game.

He was so happy to be 5 today!
It is bittersweet for me....

He brought a big ole M&M brownie cake to school w/him today,
he couldn't wait to get there to share it w/all his new friends!

Tonight after we got home from all our dance classes & ate dinner,
I put 5 candles in a piece of brownie & we sang Happy Birthday.

All in all he had a good day!

Now on to planning his big partay!


Allison

Braedon's 1st Day of All Day Pre-School!

Well, today was the day I sent my little man off to his first day of all day pre-school.
He was so excited when he got up this morning!
Me....not so much.
I mean, I was because I know it's what he wanted & I know he will have a blast.
But he's growing up so fast....

Back pack & lunch all packed & ready to go.

In his new outfit!

Can we go yet mom??

Of course Rylan again wanting to get in on the picture taking.

And LuLu too.....

Braedon was just like, "come on lets go"!
When we got there, he gave his father & brother a kiss goodbye, Rye started to cry :( & I brought him up to the door, gave him a kiss & he took off yelling "bye mom"!
Now I can't wait to pick him up & see how his day went!!


Allison