Cookie Monster and Bounce Houses

*sigh*

I can breathe a sigh of relief...my computer is back. Who knew I'd be so lost without a piece of machinery? Thank goodness for my Iphone!

Ok, birthday pics as promised:

Riley eating her fruit

Evan enjoying some sippy
My Cookie Monster cake! Ok, so a little story. I made two practice cakes for this. After the first one, about a week ago, I was cleaning the "bomb went off in it" kitchen, when I proceeded to grind up my icing tips in the garbage disposal. One of those moments where I didn't say a word, just looked out the window and thought, "that figures". So, I went to this cake store down the street from my house (who knew?) and the nice woman helped me get new icing tips. I asked her about making black icing because my food color kit from the grocery store did not allow me to do so....she looked at me like I was as dumb as a box of rocks and handed me the (use big voice here) professional gel color in jet black. Again...who knew? Not me. So, my second practice cake the night before the party, my mom is helping me and she's mixing the icing to make black and she's gone through half the jar and says she only has dark gray. I say fine, let's just get the idea across and start icing away. Since this was a practice cake, I had no qualms about cleaning off the icing tip with my mouth...hee hee. My mom starts laughing hysterically because I now have black everywhere! On my lips, my tongue, my teeth....and the stuff WON'T COME OFF! It's like Sharpie pen coloring! My mom says, "everyone's going to be pissed if you serve their kids this cake!"

True. So I go to the grocery and buy the ready made icing with the tips included and use that in black...and it came off everything and everyone just fine. So, take my advice...never use the (insert big voice again) professional gel color in black.

Ok, here's my creation:

I have to give credit where credit is due. It was Jeff's idea to put the mini cookies around the edges of the cake. Great advice!

When we started singing Happy Birthday, Zach's eye lit up and he was pleased as punch to have all eyes on him and people serenading him and attention lauded on him. I'm in big trouble.

The cake was really good and the icing was even better! I'll include the recipe for the buttercream icing at the end of this post. I got it online.

Present time! He totally got the idea of opening presents this time around and loved opening the envelopes as well. Notice the "Lenz tongue".

The big wheel from Aunt Tracy and Uncle Scott was a big hit with the boys in the group.
Thanking Leilani for her gift.
A boy and his dog

Jumping time with Aidan and Leilani
At the end of the party, after all the guests left, a streaker decided to run through the bouncer. My mom says he kept looking down at the new sensation bouncing around in his lap, haha!

Ok, buttercream recipe:

1/2 cup non salted butter (room temp or zapped in microwave til slightly soft.

Beat the butter with a hand mixer until creamy.

Add (slowly) 2 cups powdered sugar.

Add 2 tsp vanilla. Mix.

Add 2 tbsp of milk, mix.
You can use this to frost immediately. I made it early and put it in the fridge...I had to zap it in the micro for a few seconds before I used it.