Sarilas' O-fficial Pre-Trip Report (a.k.a. Vacation, Take TWO!) - Jan. 30-Feb. 8, '09

[Sarilas]

So, I am barely awake as I sit here in front of the computer with my morning cup of coffee just scrolling through all my subscriptions. Then, I click on your PTR and BAM, there is the most delicious looking cake EVER!!! I am wide awake now! I'll take a piece of that for breakfast, please, Lara!

The Cheshire Cat and friends are GREAT! I think I have told you before that Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite Disney movies! Do you know there is a new picture book of Alice out right now that uses the concept art by Mary Blair as the illustrations? I just ordered it from amazon last night.

I make a double batch of the cake and either freeze one or make cupcakes; I made cupcakes this time 'round since Kyle had to take snacks to school today for his art/drama group (he's in drama club... I don't know WHERE he gets his propensity for THAT). Everyone got to try one and they are YUMMY.

Uh Lara, my birthday was on the 4th, and since I didn't get any birthday cake of any kind from anywhere, could you make me one of those and ship it to my house??????? Please, pretty please????????? OH, I have died and gone to food porn heaven!!!!! I will not be able to eat anymore because I know that that cake exists, and all other food pales in comparison!!!!!!

You may absolutely have a cake! You'll have to scrape it off the sides of the box when it arrives, but... dude it's cake!

Dude.

Now I want chocolate cake for breakfast.

It would help to soften the blow of sending my firstborn off to preschool.

Seriously, that cake looks awesome! WOW, Kyle is one lucky kid. You really go all out on birthdays, it makes them so special.

And I'm lovin' your new trip mascot! Just remember, "we're all mad here!"

Awe, TK... you SO have my sympathies! You know I had to go through this pre-school empty nest thing twice, because my kids are so far apart. I got both Ky and Tanya off and started, then got remarried and started all OVER again, so now I have to think about sending Stasia and Lexi off! KILL ME NOW.

I think both MegansMom and I need a cake since our Birthdays were so recent.

I am not a huge cake person and your cake is making my mouth water. I want to come live with you!!

I love your Alice plushies. I have a new found appreciation for Alice in Wonderland since I watched it recently. There was the cutest little girl dressed as Alice at MNSSHP on Friday. So cute. It made me want to dress like Alice too.

You know, I'm not a cake person either. Nope. But a little slice with some ice cold milk just makes a birthday a BIRTHDAY! You both need cakes all to yourselves!

And I love when little girls dress as Alice! I wish I had a blonde girl I could dress up- I wonder if Stasia would keep a wig on?

I'm not telling my BF.
He'll leave me.
For YOU.

Won't my husband be SURPRISED!

I have a cousin turning 11 on Thursday. Poor thing. Her 4th birthday celebration ended up being a rather quiet and somber one and she couldn't understand why at the time. All she kept saying was, "Why did something so bad happen on my birthday?"

Kyle turned 6 in 2001. I will never forget it. My Sainted Mother lived two blocks away and came over to help get him ready for his first day of Kindergarten, make pancakes, etc. We turned on the TV JUST as the second plane hit. He was so confused, but as he's grown and come to understand it, it truly has marked him as a person.

Hon, sometimes I think you're the little voice in my head, manifested in the flesh.

I ALWAYS listen to the voices in my head.

 

[Sarilas]

Okay, here are the details for Kyle's birthday cake!

Chocolate Cake (known in this house as the chocolate pudding cake)

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa (Hershey's)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 package instant chocolate pudding mix
2 cups sour cream
4 eggs
1 cup water
3/4 cup vegetable oil
Andes mint candies, unwrapped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour your desired pan(s) (bundt, cake pan, baking sheet, cupcakes, etc.).

Mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, salt and pudding mix with a whisk until well blended. Pour in sour cream, eggs, water and oil and mix with an electric mixer on low speed until blended. Scrape bowl, and beat 4 minutes on medium speed. Pour batter into prepared pan. (I used a bundt pan, but you could use two 10" pans, one 9x13" pan, etc.)

Press the mint candies into the batter (I use a skewer) about halfway through the batter. How many you use is up to you...

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (Your baking time may vary - just keep an eye on it after 30 minutes.)

Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a serving plate. Frost with Chocolate Buttercream (recipe follows) and chopped Andes mint candies...



Chocolate Buttercream

1 stick butter
1/2 cup cocoa
4 cups confectioner’s sugar
scant 1/4 cup milk

Beat butter on high for about 30 seconds until soft. Add cocoa and 1 cup of sugar and beat on low until incorporated. Add half of the milk and the remainder of sugar and beat until incorporated.

Continue to add milk until you get to the consistency you want.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I have printed off this recipe! Connor's b-day is the 19th -- I am thinking of trying your cake for it!

Thanks!

 

[MRYPPNS]

Thank god I didn't see that cake until after lunch. It's cold and rainy here today.....I think I need to atleast bake brownies....then eat the whole pan.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Thank god I didn't see that cake until after lunch. It's cold and rainy here today.....I think I need to atleast bake brownies....then eat the whole pan.

I have cookie dough that I mixed up last night waiting to be baked when I get home.

It so won't be that chocolate cake though!

 

[Sarilas]

I have printed off this recipe! Connor's b-day is the 19th -- I am thinking of trying your cake for it!

Thanks!

I'm glad you like the look of it! If you want a SERIOUS shortcut, eliminate all the ingredients before the pudding mix, and substitute with a CAKE MIX.

Thank god I didn't see that cake until after lunch. It's cold and rainy here today.....I think I need to atleast bake brownies....then eat the whole pan.

I do love a good brownie... Mmmm...

I have cookie dough that I mixed up last night waiting to be baked when I get home.

It so won't be that chocolate cake though!

I would SO rather have a hot cookie and a cold glass of milk!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'm glad you like the look of it! If you want a SERIOUS shortcut, eliminate all the ingredients before the pudding mix, and substitute with a CAKE MIX.

I would SO rather have a hot cookie and a cold glass of milk!

Oh, I will do it from scratch -- I enjoy that kind of thing.

Sounds like we should have a trade -- a slice of cake for three warm cookies?

 

[Sarilas]

Oh, I will do it from scratch -- I enjoy that kind of thing.

Sounds like we should have a trade -- a slice of cake for three warm cookies?

DONE! And I love the 'scratch' cooking too. And the kids get such a kick out of it!

 

[Charleston Princess]

DONE! And I love the 'scratch' cooking too. And the kids get such a kick out of it!

So do mine -- Chelsea loves helping out in the kitchen, and Connor will if I let him lick spoons afterwards.

 

[Sarilas]

So do mine -- Chelsea loves helping out in the kitchen, and Connor will if I let him lick spoons afterwards.

I took pics of Stasia and Lexi licking the spoon after pouring out the batter of that cake... they're on my cell phone but I'll see if I can't get them posted tomorrow! Nothing cuter than kids covered in chocolate!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I took pics of Stasia and Lexi licking the spoon after pouring out the batter of that cake... they're on my cell phone but I'll see if I can't get them posted tomorrow! Nothing cuter than kids covered in chocolate!

Yes, I want to see your adorable kids eating chocolate!!!

 

[trixiequilts]

124 days till our trip! (Why does that sound DEPRESSING?! Too far away!)

Counting the weeks has made it better for me. I'm going to keep doing that until I'm in double digits and then start counting days. BTW- 19 weeks for me, less for you! Doesn't that sound better?

 

[MegansMom]

Just want to send Kyle a Happy Birthday greeting from one September baby to another!!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Happy Birthday, Kyle!!! Enjoy that yummy cake today!

 

[Sarilas]

Yes, I want to see your adorable kids eating chocolate!!!

They're stripped down to avoid chocolatey clothes, but here are the little munchkins 'helping' with Kyle's cake:

Stasia

Lexi

Notice the small tear in her left eye - I'd stopped giving her the cake batter and she FREAKED

Counting the weeks has made it better for me. I'm going to keep doing that until I'm in double digits and then start counting days. BTW- 19 weeks for me, less for you! Doesn't that sound better?

Oh I love the idea of counting weeks... that does sound SO much better!

Just want to send Kyle a Happy Birthday greeting from one September baby to another!!!!

He's home today and he says THANK YOU!

Happy Birthday, Kyle!!! Enjoy that yummy cake today!

Enjoy it he did - cake for breakfast makes everything better!

For those not on the LapuLapuette thread, Kyle is home with me today instead of being at school. He has a history of problems with some specific bullies, and I almost homeschooled him this year because of it but the district appointed a new principal and some new policies so we decided to give it another try. It's been okay until now... Yesterday he was in his classroom (between classes, the teacher was at the door directing traffic) and one these bullies came into his class (where they don't belong), shoved Kyle into a desk and started pushing him around. One got him from the front, and Kyle pushed him off just as the other one came from behind and hit Ky in the back of the head and knocked him to his knees. The teacher came in at that moment and wrote them ALL up. Kyle was written up for 'defensive pushing', and they were all sent to the VP's office. They all got equal punishment, even though Kyle was just defending himself from the two kids. They spent yesterday in the VP's office (which is an old classroom, very large) stacking books. These two kids were cursing Kyle under their breath the whole time, with things I would NEVER type in mixed company much less want my kid to hear himself called. And they're supposed to be in ISS (in school suspension) together the next two days.

I called the principal about it last night and she said she'd have to get the story from the teacher and the VP, but I told her I was NOT sending my son to ISS on his birthday for pushing a kid off of him as he was being attacked.

The gist of the story is, if we don't get to the root of this today, I'm going to pull Kyle out and homeschool him as originally planned. He doesn't even care about drama or track at this point- he doesn't ever want to step foot in that school again (not that I blame him). We'll see how it goes.

On top of all that, my father had to be admitted to the VA hospital here today for a scheduled procedure - he's having a 'heart cath' done to check the strength of his heart; he's supposed to have a dialysis stent placed on (I think) the 24th of this month but they need to be sure his heart can stand the anesthesia.

I really cannot WAIT for our vacation!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

First things first - Happy Birthday Kyle!

Second things second:

Yesterday he was in his classroom (between classes, the teacher was at the door directing traffic) and one these bullies came into his class (where they don't belong), shoved Kyle into a desk and started pushing him around. One got him from the front, and Kyle pushed him off just as the other one came from behind and hit Ky in the back of the head and knocked him to his knees. The teacher came in at that moment and wrote them ALL up. Kyle was written up for 'defensive pushing', and they were all sent to the VP's office. They all got equal punishment, even though Kyle was just defending himself from the two kids. They spent yesterday in the VP's office (which is an old classroom, very large) stacking books. These two kids were cursing Kyle under their breath the whole time, with things I would NEVER type in mixed company much less want my kid to hear himself called. And they're supposed to be in ISS (in school suspension) together the next two days.

I called the principal about it last night and she said she'd have to get the story from the teacher and the VP, but I told her I was NOT sending my son to ISS on his birthday for pushing a kid off of him as he was being attacked.

UGH! Bullies really get my blood boiling. Personally I don't think your son should've received the same punishment but I guess, in the teacher's defense, if he/she didn't see the whole interchange, he/she would only think it fair to punish them all equally.

I feel bad your poor boy continues to have to go through this. It's so funny, until I joined the DIS, I didn't think homeschooling was as popular as it was (I'm from the NE so I don't know if it's less common in our region or if I'm just clueless). But I did find out recently that our downstairs neighbor homeschools her husband's children from his first marriage. I find the whole concept fascinating.

I wish you luck in finding the resolution and am crossing my fingers for the best for Kyle. (Whose name I'm partial to, because it's my brother's name. Is he a Kyle Thomas?)

On top of all that, my father had to be admitted to the VA hospital here today for a scheduled procedure - he's having a 'heart cath' done to check the strength of his heart; he's supposed to have a dialysis stent placed on (I think) the 24th of this month but they need to be sure his heart can stand the anesthesia.

You're papa's in my thoughts too!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Lara, adorable pics of the girls! Cracks me up that Lexi freaked about having the cake batter taken away -- smart girl!

Poor Kyle! That is one of my biggest complaints about school systems -- this whole punishing someone who was defending themselves. Grrrr!

How did the bullies get past the teacher if she was in her doorway? The teacher should have spotted them! Double grrrr!

I hope everything goes okay with your dad's procedure!

 

[Sarilas]

First things first - Happy Birthday Kyle!

Second things second:

UGH! Bullies really get my blood boiling. Personally I don't think your son should've received the same punishment but I guess, in the teacher's defense, if he/she didn't see the whole interchange, he/she would only think it fair to punish them all equally.

I feel bad your poor boy continues to have to go through this. It's so funny, until I joined the DIS, I didn't think homeschooling was as popular as it was (I'm from the NE so I don't know if it's less common in our region or if I'm just clueless). But I did find out recently that our downstairs neighbor homeschools her husband's children from his first marriage. I find the whole concept fascinating.

I wish you luck in finding the resolution and am crossing my fingers for the best for Kyle. (Whose name I'm partial to, because it's my brother's name. Is he a Kyle Thomas?)

You're papa's in my thoughts too!

Yeah, I'm trying give the teacher the benefit of the doubt but these kids have a history of bullying Kyle, and another kid in the class stood up for Kyle and he still received equal punishment. I'm having a hard time with that one...

It's not Kyle Thomas, but that's a beautiful sounding name! ...and thank you.

Lara, adorable pics of the girls! Cracks me up that Lexi freaked about having the cake batter taken away -- smart girl!

Poor Kyle! That is one of my biggest complaints about school systems -- this whole punishing someone who was defending themselves. Grrrr!

How did the bullies get past the teacher if she was in her doorway? The teacher should have spotted them! Double grrrr!

I hope everything goes okay with your dad's procedure!

Lexi is such a drama queen!

The teachers have their hands tied a lot of the time, and I know that, but this VP KNOWS the background with all these kids, and he read the report saying Kyle was the victim... I'm annoyed not just for Kyle but for all the kids who get bullied and are punished because of it. It leaves a very bad mark on their psyche that I'm trying desperately to counteract!

And thank you!

 

[BellaSoleil]

Just wanted to say HELLO! Your kids are adorable and you are very pretty.

Maybe we will run into eachother on our January trip.

 

[trixiequilts]

I am so mad (about Kyle's situation) that I don't even know what to write right now. Did you hear from the school yet? Please let us know when you do.