Happy birthday, Superhero Drummer Boy!

Guess who turned 3 a few weeks ago?

And for the past 6 weeks or so he has insisted on being called "Michael Alexander Crane, Superhero Drummer Boy."  He is quick to correct me when I occasionally slip up and refer to him as "Superhero Drummer Boy, Michael Alexander Crane."  If you ask him if he is _______ (cute, silly, crazy, smart, anything), he will answer "No, I just a superhero drummer boy."

Michael has been excited for his birthday ever since his cousin Abby's birthday back in October.  At that point he was informed that it would be Liam's birthday next, then Daddy's, then Jesus' birthday, and THEN his birthday.  He was a good helper at Liam's birthday party, helping to blow out candles and open presents (although in a slightly more restrained fashion than his mama--there is, unfortunately, video footage of me at my sister's 2nd birthday party where I am being so helpful you can hear my mom from behind the camera asking my dad to get me out of Dene's face).  Then we had a long Advent talking about how we were getting ready for Jesus' birthday, with Michael nearly always adding "And then my birthday!"  And finally, finally it was Michael's birthday.

Three years old.  My goodness.  When did that happen?

This boy loves his puzzles, and he was thrilled to get several new ones for his birthday.  Mostly though I think he was just excited that it was finally his turn to actually have a birthday.  Cake and lots of attention didn't hurt either, naturally.

cousin friends :)

Playing off M's love of puzzles, I decided to do a puzzle-themed party.  And by "themed" I mean I drew a couple puzzle pieces on the cake.  And when I mentioned the theme to my mom she generously donated several small puzzles to be shared as party favors with the cousin friends.  So yeah, a themed party...

Maybe some day we'll dabble in the world of organized games at birthday parties.  Like, when he's 10 and asks for games at his party.  And Mama isn't 7 months pregnant.  Baking the cake and getting the house clean-ish was enough party effort for this year!

not quite Pinterest-worthy, but recognizably puzzle-themed, right? just say yes...

So, the cake... I decided right away to do my Aunt Lisa's chocolate cherry bars from our family cookbook.  That one is always a huge hit at any Rappana family gathering, and I figured it was pretty much a guaranteed success. My baking skills tend much more toward bread and occasionally scones and cookies, but regardless I've improved my baking (and learned a little bit about baking at altitude!) since the last cake I made when M was about 3 months old (never mind that we all got the stomach flu the next day... it really wasn't the cake, but neither Alex nor I ever intend to eat caramel cake ever again).

Well, the recipe is simple and foolproof.  That is, unless one is foolish enough to decide to not bother actually following it.  It calls for a box of devil's food cake mix, but I prefer to make things from scratch (to the point of pride--and not the good kind).  No big deal, right?  A little bit of extra work, but it would be even better if it were completely homemade.  Obviously.

Until the night before M's party, when it suddenly occurred to me that the recipe in the cookbook wasn't just adding a can of cherry pie filling to an intact chocolate cake recipe.  The box provides the dry ingredients, but the wet ingredients are modified to include the cherries.  And this didn't occur to me before because...?

There was still time to get a box, but of course I didn't.  I patched together a couple chocolate cake recipes, tried to modify the liquids they called for to more or less match what was in the cookbook, and added my cherries.  And then prayed and prayed as the cake (which ended up being a whole lot bigger than anything I'd seen from Lisa or Grandma) took almost twice as long to bake as it was supposed to.  At least it didn't fall (my first Mile High cake-baking attempt ended up bearing a closer resemblance to pie crusts than to cake).

All in all I was just glad that no one (other than Alex) had tasted Lisa's cake.  Or Grandma's (especially last summer's version made from a brownie mix instead of cake).  The texture was a little off, the edges were definitely dry, and the cherries were totally lost in the somehow massive cake.  But the frosting turned out just right!  Most importantly, Michael still liked it (in fact, I got way more compliments on the cake than I felt like I deserved).  In fact, my sister-in-law liked it so much that she recruited me to make it again for my niece's birthday party next weekend, in cupcake form.  I will most assuredly be purchasing a cake mix!

Where was I?  Oh right, birthday boy!

I love you, my Michael-Alexander-Crane-Superhero-Drummer-Boy!  You truly are my little superhero, with your sweet, cheerful disposition and your affectionate nature.  You are such an awesome big brother to Liam (even when it's hard to share), and you are a constant joy to Daddy and me (even in the challenges of potty training ubiquitous "why?"s).  Your love for reading and learning--and puzzles and trains and Legos--brings a smile to my face.  I am so excited for the future with you, and I truly enjoy so many things about the present, even when the days are long.  Daddy and I are so proud of you, Michael!  Happy birthday!

Oh no! I want my Christmas back!

That's what Michael kept saying as we were putting away all the Christmas decorations earlier this week, and I have to confess that I kind of agree with him.  I just wasn't ready for Christmas to be over this year.  I don't know what it was... I'm never ready for the Christmas break to be over, but most years I'm pretty much ready to put away the decorations and turn off the music once the inevitable reality of the post-holiday routine hits.  Not this year!

Michael even went so far as to try to pack himself away with the decorations...

Maybe it was because I had an unusually fruitful Advent... maybe it was because this was the first year we decorated our very own HOUSE... maybe it was because Michael was so into Advent and Christmas this year, especially with singing (but unfortunately all attempts to capture his renditions of "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells" on video failed).  Who knows?  All I know is that if Alex hadn't taken the initiative and started boxing everything up on Tuesday I probably would've left the decorations up until Lent.  Or longer, considering our due date is just one week after Ash Wednesday.

Yesterday I found the Baby Jesus from the boys' Little People nativity set under the ottoman in the living room.  I suppose it's possible that the whole situation was entirely innocent, but I think it's at least as likely--if not more so--that Michael hid little bits of Christmas all over the house in an attempt to keep us from packing them all away.  I can't say I blame him, but we might be making these little discoveries up until next Advent...

So our Christmas decorations are put away; the outside lights are still up but we're not turning them on any more (*tear*); and I'm (mostly) not singing Christmas carols for lullabies.  When Michael asks for "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" at nap time I just don't have the heart (or energy) to explain that I can't sing that because it's not Christmas any more.  And besides, we've spent the last year singing "Up on the Housetop" and "Old Toy Trains" almost every single naptime/bedtime because he got so attached to them last Christmas.  So a little variety is nothing about which to complain.

Christmas joy--at least we don't have to pack these up until next Advent!

I can't say I love him as much as on our wedding day...

How's that for an anniversary declaration?  "Hey babe!  Happy anniversary!  I can't believe it has been four years... I absolutely do not love you as much as I did on our wedding day."

Well, anyone who knows Alex and me can figure out where this is going.  No, I most certainly do not love my husband less than I did when we said "I do" four amazing years ago.  But I don't love him "just as much" as I did on that day, either.  In fact, I find the "I'm just as much in love with you as I was back then" sentiment (taken literally) to be a profoundly sad one.  If I haven't learned to grow in my love for my husband in these last four years, then I have seriously been slacking.  I mean, it would take a conscious effort to not love him more as I've gotten to know him even better and have seen what an amazing husband and father he is.  I loved him an awful lot when he proposed to me with candles and music and roses and champagne.  I love him so much more as he's daily dying to self to care for a feisty toddler, an energetic preschooler, and an overly emotional pregnant wife!  And I trust that by the grace of the sacrament of our marriage I will continue to love him more and better until, God willing, we are perfectly united in loving God in heaven.

maybe a little ways to go before perfect union...

It reminds me of what St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13: "But when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away... For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood" (vv. 10 and 12).  The more I understand, and the more fully I am understood, the more I love.  When I married Alex I certainly knew enough to know I loved him; every day I learn a little bit more and love a little bit more.  I knew he would be a great father from watching him interact with his niece; now I marvel over and over at what an incredible father he is every time I see him interact with our boys.  And so on and so forth :)

Happy anniversary my love--here's to many more years of learning to love!

Theme Thursday: Lights

One of my favorite things about Advent and Christmas is the lights.  Lying on the floor under the Christmas tree watching the lights and the shadows they cast, driving around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights, candles (okay, that's a year-round thing with me), etc.  In fact, tonight I really wanted to bundle us all up and hop in the van for a neighborhood Christmas lights tour.  I would have, too, if it were above zero.  Instead, I'm enjoying the virtual our over at Clan Donaldson tonight!

Alex got me this statue of the Holy Family for Christmas last year, and the infinity candle was a gift from my mother-in-law a couple years ago.  Obviously, great taste in gifts runs in that family (lucky me!).  Please ignore the fingerprints and dust on the glass--was not expecting the camera to pick that up.

So, that's it!  Happy Thursday of the first week of Advent, and head over to Clan Donaldson to look at the lights!

Quick, before it's too late...

Winter is rolling down from the mountains.  According to the local news, we hit a high of 54 (pretty typical for the gorgeous fall with which we've been spoiled) around 11:30, and the temperature has been plummeting ever since.  Depending on whom you ask, we're expecting anywhere from 3 to 24 inches of snow in the next 24 hours.  In addition to that, we're looking for highs (yes, highs) in the low teens through the weekend.  I'm chilled just thinking about it.

So, before winter descends in all its frigidness (frigidity?), here are some last glimpses of our glorious fall.

I don't think Michael is ever happier than when he is "helping" Daddy around the house or yard--be it mowing the lawn, hammering nails, raking leaves, grilling dinner, etc.