Can you guys believe that our Madster is turning 2? I know people say this all of the time, but time sure is flying by. She is turning into quite a little “thang.”
Due to Mama’s surgery coming up on Monday, we are having Maddie’s birthday celebrations a little early this year, and today was party #1 at storytime. I didn’t want to have all of her friends over to the house because it is too cold for them to be outside for very long and our house is just too small for 15 kids and their mothers to be wandering around. The library was the perfect place for a little party. Plus, I didn’t have to do any cleaning, just a little baking!
Everyone was there this morning, which doesn’t usually happen. Normally only about half of the storytime group shows up on Thursdays, and I was really happy that everyone was there. Maddie was happy, too. She likes being the center of attention. Here is Maddie when we sang “Happy Birthday.”
Happy Birthday to You!
We did a little craft with everyone. I didn’t want to make a trip to the store, so when I found this on Pinterest and saw that I had all the things to make them, I was pretty happy. Here’s the link to the original source: http://howtodosomething.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-to-make-snowflake-ornaments-with.html
And here’s a pic of one Charlie and I made yesterday to take as an example:
Snowflake
Everyone had a great time, and it was pretty easy and not too messy!
Friends at the library
Then we had cupcakes, strawberries, and goldfish. Our strawberry cupcakes with strawberry cream cheese icing were a huge hit!
Strawberry cupcakes with strawberry cream cheese icing.
Every year around this time, my stepdad makes a trip to Florida and comes back with tons of fresh fruit and veggies, so we always have wonderful ripe strawberries in the middle of winter. Everyone is always like, “Where did you find these strawberries?” Maddie is one lucky girl because she gets strawberry cupcakes every year for her birthday!
It is a recipe from my favorite, most-used cookbook, “The Cake Mix Doctor” by Anne Byrn. If you do not have this cookbook, you must get it today. It is wonderful. But don’t tell anyone that I have it or that you have it. It’s a secret. Here’s the recipe:
1 package plain white cake mix
3 oz strawberry gelatin
1 cup mashed fresh strawberries with juice
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup whole milk
4 large eggs
1 cup frozen unsweetened grated coconut, thawed
1/2 cup chopped pecans
*Since this was being eaten by a lot of children, I left out the coconut and pecans.* Mix together the first 6 ingredients with an electric mixer on low for 1 min. Scrape sides of bowl, then mix on medium for 2 more minutes. Fold in coconut and pecans. Pour into cupcake liners and bake at 350 for about 20 mins.
Frost with Strawberry Cream Cheese Icing: 1 package cream cheese at room temp, 1 stick butter at room temp, 3 1/2 cups confectioners suger, and 1/2 cup mashed strawberries (drain well). Mix together. You can also mix in 1/2 cup frozen unsweetened grated coconut and 1/2 cup chopped pecans, but I didn’t for this party.
This was a great beginning to Maddie’s 2nd Birthday!
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Mommy in Bonlee 
Wow, Madster has a lot of friends. I don’t even have that many friends. that sounded like a wonderful birthday party! But be honest, we all know you moved her parties up a week because of the superbowl.
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Hahaha. Well, that was probably why her daddy was so quick to agree to have her parties early!
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You’re such a good Mama!
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You are, too, Jill! It’s fun when they get a little bigger and you can do stuff like this with them, but there’s nothing like a snuggly little baby, either.
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