We're Baaaaaaacccccccckkkkkkkkk!!!

Hello Florida!  Boy are we happy to be home even though Tropical Storm Fay is making her way through now.  We had a good time and enjoyed the time with the family, but man oh man I am a Florida girl!  Little Lion was such a good boy even with the little sleep he got!  He was loving all the attention he got from everyone and of course we were on the go all day long which equals FUN FUN FUN for him ;)  I should warn you that this will be long ;)  

We flew into Milwaukee to meet my parents and nieces who drove from Florida (crazy people).  We stayed with my Aunt and Uncle.  Our first day in Milwaukee, we had intended to go to the zoo, but the weather was dreary and COLD!  70 degrees!!!!  So we headed to the Jelly Belly Factory Tour.  It sounded like it would be a fun couple of hours of taking a cute train around the factory to see what happens, where fun sanitary bakers hats, and get samples of delicious jelly belly jelly beans!  Well when we got there, the train was broke.  So that means it was a walking tour of the *factory*  or as I would say warehouse of packaged beans.  Then we went to the store and got yummy samples of very cherry, buttered popcorn beans as well as yucky ones like vomit, moldy cheese, and boogers.  We purchased a couple bags of belly flops which are the beans that aren't quite perfect, but still taste great.  

After the tour we went to the Kenosha Public Museum.  It was a quaint museum located right on Lake Michigan with a super view.  There was a skeleton of a wooly mammoth and many other creatures that were found in Wisconsin.  It also had a kids hands on area.  
On Thursday, it was my niece A's 11th Birthday.  We went to Stonefire Pizza Co. to celebrate.  It is a fancy shmancy Chuck E Cheese!  It is a buffet with games for the kids/adults.  They have rock climbing, bumper cars, a hugh ball pit, and tons of arcade games.  The food was very very good with pizza, salad, pasta, chinese, Edy's ice cream, and Icees.  My nieces C (pictured above with Pop Pop) and A did the rock climbing wall and games.  Little Lion played in the kiddie area climb zone and splash zone.   I wish there was one of these here in O-town!

We were heading out to Marinette on Friday, but C, A, Little Lion, and I decided to hit the zoo with my cousin's wife J and her 2 boys B and C.  It was a gorgeous day and the zoo had live music throughout the park.  

Little Lion had 2 favorite parts.  One was the Wisconsin farm area.  There was cows that were being milked, a goat petting area, a play area of how a dairy works, and a playground.  When we got to the petting zoo.  Little Lion was not happy to be there, but then he realized the goats weren't going to bite him, he wanted to get down.  He got down and the goats were bigger than him, and Little Lion freaked out again.  I luckily got this picture before the freak out.  He also got a kick out of the train ride around the zoo.  


We headed up to Marinette and dropped my nieces off at their mom's house.  We met up with my Grandpa for a Friday Fishfry....a Wisconsin MUST!  Saturday, we went to the nursing home with my Grandpa to see my Grandma who has alzheimer's.  Neither of them have ever met Little Lion and I felt it was important for them and him to meet each other.  Grandma was thinner than I last remember her, but in good spirits and singing :)  We took a 4 generation picture.  That evening we went to eat on the bay and met up with my Dad's brother and wife.  We went to their house after for cake since it was both my uncle's and dad's birthday on Sunday (no they are not twins...8 years apart!!!).  They had a dog named Peppy who really really wanted to play with Little Lion, but Little Lion was scared of him.  However 30 mins later, Little Lion decided he wanted to play with Peppy.  Poor Peppy was being chased all over the house.  ;)  

Sunday we spent hanging out with my Dad's sister (who's an avid reader of my blog).  She sweetly brought Little Lion a Cars coloring book which he proceeded to scribble on all the pages happily;)  And then we went to dinner with family friends and my nieces.  

Monday we drove up to Milwaukee.  Little Lion slept for 2 hours in the car.  He was soooooo tired he fell asleep eating Teddy Grahams.  Notice his hand is still in the bag :)All in all it was a good trip.  I was reminded though of what a small town Marinette is.  Let me give you a little comparison sheet :)

A Tap Beer in Orlando......$3.50       Marinette......$1.50!!!!!!!

A Coke in Orlando......$2.25 Marinette......$1.00!!!!!!

A lunch for 4 in Orlando......$40 plus tip Marinette......$26 including tip!!!!!!

Pay with credit card at the pump in Orlando Pay INSIDE the gas station after pumping!!!!

Speed limit in Orlando......35-45 mph Marinette......25mph!!!!

Average winter temperature in Orlando......72* Marinette......19 degrees!!!!!

Population of Orlando......200,000 Marinette......12,000!!!!

To each their own, but I LOVE Orlando and the convenience of everything plus the weather!!!!

Blogging Hiatus

Hey all.  I'm officially on my way to Wisconsin today with Little Lion.  We'll be out for the week.  I'll post a trip review with pictures when we return.  Wish me luck wrangling Little Lion alone on the airplane.  Enjoy your week!

WHEW....I Survived!!!!

I'M THIRTY!!!  AHHHH  I made it and enjoyed it more than I thought I would :)  

I had a fabulous birthday party last night!  I couldn't have asked for a better time with such great, fun friends!!  I thank them all for being there with me to celebrate!   It means the world to know what true friends you have!  

The Wantilan Luau served delicious food.  The hula dancing was entertaining and fire eater was brave :)  I of course got called up onto the stage to dance with the hula "boy."  He was a cutie!!

I even got a yummy cake....not quite as fancy as my icake....but still delicious!!  And my friends adored me with creative Hawaiian themed gifts.  Thanks!!!!

After dinner, we posed for a few pictures and said goodbye to my pregnant girlfriends....yes half of them are pregnant....I'm NOT drinking their virgin mai tais!!!

Then the after party started at Citywalk.  Notice the Budda Belly beer holder from Mr. E.  His big belly kept my beers cold all night long.  We hit almost all the bars and even stayed out until it wasn't my birthday anymore.  

My party was exactly how I wanted it to be!  I thoroughly enjoyed myself and hope everyone else did too!  Thank you again to all my wonderful friends who celebrated with me!!!!  And I really want to tell Mr. E that he is the BEST husband ever for giving me a spectacular birthday!!!!!  

My last post...Oh Deer

This is my last blog as a twenty-something.  Wahhhhhh  So I'll leave these years with a stupid people story....

Mr. E and I were driving down 436.  We got to a stop light.  The truck in front of us had a plastic deer on the hitch...kinda fun.  I looked up and saw the rear window had a sticker of a deer....ok I got it a proud deer hunter.  

Then I look through the window and see deer antlers on the dashboard.  Yes a full 8 point set of antlers (my Wisconsin heritage shining through).  It was placed in the middle of the dashboard closest to the driver side.  Now who in their right mind would put a pointy object on their dashboard where if they got into an accident it would impale them?????????  Even with just getting rear ended, the driver could get seriously hurt.  There has got to be a better way to display your kill.  If he asked me to ride with him, I'd say.... be a dear and put the deer away before poking me with 8 holes :)  OK lame joke, but at least I don't drive with deer antlers on my dashboard. 

Good Bye 29................

ICAKE 3.6

Today is Mr. E's birthday.  Since we are budgeting...ok spending more money on my birthday instead....such a great husband ;)  I had the brain idea that I will overcompensate by making a fancy cake for him.  I thought I did a great job on Little Lion's first bday cake, so hey I could do it again.  Right?!  Well Mr. E is a computer guy and LOVES Mac Computers.  We have 2 in our house as well as ipods, shuffles, appletv, and various other stuff.  So I thought hmmm I'll make the Apple logo.  I went on a search for info on how to make it without screwing up horribly.  So here are my step by step pictures.  

First I found the apple logo and printed it in the biggest size I could.  

Next I baked the *BOX* cake in a sheet pan following the directions ;)  I let it cool 5 mins and then flipped it onto a cake plate.   I cut out the logo and placed it on top of the cake. 

After letting the cake cool in the fridge for 30 mins.  I took a serrated knife and followed the pattern outline and removed the excess cake.

I then did the "crumb layer" of frosting which is where you put a thin layer of frosting on to catch the crumbs.  This way your final frosting will be pretty without red spots ;)
I put the cake back in the fridge for 45 mins for a final cool down and let this frosting set.  I took it out and thickly frosted it and cleaned up the excess crumbs on the plate.  
And of course, you need to decorate it a bit.  Mr. E is 36 today hence the 3.6.  I think I'm pretty creative :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. E!!!  I LOVE YOU BUNCHES!!!!!

My *SO-CALLED* Friends

I've been getting various emails from my *so-called* friends today.  They've all been wishing me a "happy last week in my 20's" and "you've only got 4 more days to go"!  HMPF!!  Do I need to be reminded????  I don't think so!!!  However, that also means 4 days until my PAR-TAY!!!  We'll be celebrating at Royal Pacific's Wantilan Luau.  I figure they can't come to Hawaii, I'll bring a little Hawaii to my party.  I'm ready to get my *30* hula on and drink lots of mei teis!!!

But first things first, Mr. E's birthday is tomorrow.  This means I need to make a cake and wrap presents for him.  No big party this year since I'm celebrating the *BIG* birthday..blah :)  I'm hoping to make a fancy cake....red velvet which cream cheese frosting...which he didn't really want, he wanted German chocolate...... but I needed white frosting to decorate the way I want.  Hopefully it'll turn out well and I'll post pictures.  

He's a Dancing King!!

I know you think I'm crazy, but Mr. E, Little Lion and I went back to Target last night.  WOW I couldn't believe how much stuff was gone since the morning!!!  I did see a lady with a rolling cart filled to the rim with toys.  She had soooo much stuff she had to pull her car up to the door of target.  And yes I did buy more...not too much.  An electric remote control car that Mr. E said Leo would LOVE....ie HIM :)  I also got a train table for $20.  Anyway I digress.  

While I was scanning the toys again.  Mr. E was occupying Little Lion.  Little Lion found a lion toy that made music when you pressed the buttons.  Here is what Little Lion proceeds to do.

How cute is he!?!?!?!?!?  Don't you want to dance with him????