dear mother nature

dear mother nature,

thank you for gently easing us into what turned out to be the first snowfall of the year. 

this morning you dimmed the lights with a white, low, cloud cover.....

then you blew a brisk, cold wind to let us know that something was going to happen......

you sprinkled us with a light rain.....

and next, teased us with sleet.....

and finally in the late afternoon, snow flurries appeared.  just enough to dust the ground yet not too much that we would have to change our plans for the evening..... 

with thanks,

me

ben, sab, caleb, josh.....contemplating...

powdered nose

patty cake....

i am going to a baby shower for my friend cambria tonight.  she is an absolutely adorable mother of two, with a cute sense of humor so i thought that i would make her a.........

patty cake!

she doesn't know if baby number 3 is going to be a boy or a girl, so i am going to decorate it with a neutral color like.....

tangerine!!!

if you'd ever like to make one for a fun friend......

just follow these directions......

note:

(i've never been able to make one of these look classy, so

go for the next best thing......gaudy!!)  :)

first, choose your color scheme......then, gather together all of your materials:

cardboard cake round

ribbon for trim

wooden dowel

cellophane gift bag

2 rubber bands

1 package of diapers: i used newborn but any size will work

assorted small baby gifts 

roll up the first diaper. then roll the second diaper around the first.  continue layering the diapers around each other.  when the roll gets too cumbersome, put a rubber band around the outside of the roll to hold the shape together and continue layering the diapers inside the rubber band.  

make sure to leave 7 or 8 diapers for the second tier.   make the second tier following the same procedure and securing with a rubber band.

place the second tier centered on top of the bottom tier.
secure the two tiers together by pushing the wooden dowel down the center of both tiers.

decorate your "cake" with ribbon trim.
(the ribbon will cover the rubber bands) 

continue decorating the "cake"   with the little baby gifts: pacifiers, baby hair brush & comb, teethers, bibs, stuffed toys etc.

finish the patty cake by placing it into the cellophane gift bag. tie another ribbon to secure the bag closed and add a gift card.

there you go!
they are easy, fun, creative and show your friend how happy you are about their new baby!!


congratulations cambria.  i hope all goes well and quickly!