A bit of cake
Hello, Fellow SITStas! Looking for the Spring Fling giveaway? Read on…
Normally, Ben hates his birthday.
You see, while I prance around in a tiara for a month and demand people celebrate my birthday for two weeks straight, Ben won’t even let me decorate. He twitches at the mention of a party, snarls at a single birthday balloon and pouts at the idea of any recognition at all.
Though he’s never turned away a cake or a steak dinner. Or any dinner, as a matter of fact.
Wednesday night, Ben’s parents drove down from Shreveport to spend several days visiting us and celebrating Ben’s 25th birthday. When I got home after work, Ben and his dad announced they were going to Lowes to buy paint and the local grocery store for steaks to grill.
So I did what any respectable wife would do.
I pranced around in my new apron and broke out the brownie mix to whip up birthday brownies.
Ben’s mom (Mama K) was sweet enough to have a local seamstress in Shreveport make this apron for me. Isn’t it darling? It made me want to quit my job, don heels and pearls and spend my days baking.
My dad’s blood pressure just rose to unhealthy levels. Joking, Daddy, joking.
While I twirled around the house, Mama K resumed her post as Queen of Chihuahuas. There was a boundary dispute between Queen Bitty and Ace, the King of Shreveport Chihuahuas, as to who Mama K’s lap belonged to.
I think you know who won.
After a tasty dinner, Ben and his dad wasted no time painting. By the next day at 3 p.m., the whole kitchen and living room was painted.
And it was beautiful!
Where there was once white, boring, plain walls–we now have color!
White boring insane asylum walls, be gone!
That night, we went out to the County Line with my Mom and sister for Ben’s birthday dinner.
And then we came back for my favorite part: dessert. Mom had baked Ben a cake and Danielle had made him low-fat brownies. Everyone loves brownies. Especially since I spent so much time twirling in my apron I screwed mine up.
I think it’s karma telling me not to quit my day job.
Friday and Saturday, Mama K and I shopped while Ben and Frank played golf and scurried around town.
Several new friends made their way into the Pond.
Who knows where you’ll see them next? They might even pop up with the Rubber Chicken and Seymore the Snowman…
Thanks so much, Mama K and Frank for all the fabulous dinners, colorful house and wonderful time.
Even the Queen had a good time.
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! Tomorrow we have a new edition of Penelope’s Pie Shop and Thursday, a new recipe. Friday we have a new Twirl and this weekend, the Rubber Chicken returns!
And the SITS giveaway will be revealed on Friday! To enter, leave a comment from now until then on what your favorite children’s book is!
March 10th, 2009 at 4:20 am
Your family room and kitchen look great and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the apron. The June Cleaver apron is in vogue now and maybe we should all quit our jobs, don aprons, pearls and heels and serve milk from stemed glasses.
Looks like ya’ll had a fine celebration!
March 10th, 2009 at 4:54 am
Oh, I have lots of favorite childrens books. I think I will say The Giving Tree. Looks like you all had such a fun time!
March 10th, 2009 at 5:01 am
I love the color!!!!
Your apron is fantastic–I would be tempted to wear heels and bake as well
March 10th, 2009 at 5:08 am
The colors you’ve chosen are nice. Oh, but your apron is lovely. I want one. Mine is a plain jane 8.99 one from target.
Glad to hear Ben had wonderful birthday.
~ingrid
March 10th, 2009 at 5:16 am
You have such wonderful in-laws! My favorite children’s book is Moo Ba La La La.
March 10th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Lovin the paint color! I am an apron girl too! My favorite children’s book is “The Kissing Hand”:)
March 10th, 2009 at 5:47 am
I’ll bet your chi-who0a-who0a loves the new paint color!!
That is such a cute apron!!
March 10th, 2009 at 5:54 am
Did I confuse you withe “regular Job” thing?
I am student teaching…will be eligible to have my own classroom this fall!!! YEAH…in fact, I’ll be done with student teaching at the end of this month.
My regular job is Inventory Manager for a glass window/door manufacturing company…its as boring as it sounds…but it pays bills and gives me benefits!
Happy Tuesday
March 10th, 2009 at 6:18 am
Sounds like an amazing time! and those chi chi’s are so freaking cute! dang it!
March 10th, 2009 at 6:21 am
My favorite childhood book was “The Egypt Game” by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. Also, I like your apron!
March 10th, 2009 at 7:06 am
The new color is gorgeous! I need to drag myself to Lowe’s and find some prettiness for my house. It sounds like you had a fantastic visit and I am very pleased to see that Bitty retained her Queen of All Chihuahua status!
March 10th, 2009 at 7:11 am
I LOVE (sing-songy voice) your apron!!!! I also love the color choice. The kids playroom is that color. Very cheerful!
March 10th, 2009 at 7:19 am
what a pretty apron! i don’t think i’ve ever owned an apron, probably because i can’t find one worth wearing!
March 10th, 2009 at 7:38 am
What a great birthday! Love the yellow walls.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:45 am
Duckie – your paint looks amazing! How fun!!! What a fun birthday. I love your apron!
XOXOXO
Jen
March 10th, 2009 at 7:46 am
What a great birthday! Your room looks so warm and cheerful — paint is amazing. If you decided to don pearls and heels and do some baking any time soon, please be sure to take some pictures for us!
March 10th, 2009 at 7:50 am
I love the spiffy new sunshiny paint job! I would love nothing more than to bake in heels and pearls all day!!!! Cute apron!
March 10th, 2009 at 8:09 am
I love your new apron and yellow walls. It’s the same yellow I have in my family room. I am glad your man had such a great birthday.
March 10th, 2009 at 8:24 am
The apron is adorable but not as cute as the puppies!!! My favorite childrens book is “The Five Chinese Brothers.” (An old one like me!)
March 10th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Hard to decide on a favorite children’s book, as there are so many great choices! I will go with- Love you Forever by Robert Munsch. It’s such a beautiful story and I always end up crying at the unending love the mom has for her son.
March 10th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Both of you look so happy, does your dad always look that serious? Hush hush, please don’t tell him! I always love family gathering, not just for the food, and the teasing each other (happen a lot in my family), but also the feeling of closeness.
Cheers,
elra
March 10th, 2009 at 8:40 am
so nice of your dad to come over and help your hubs out!
March 10th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Oh Queen Bitty, rule of the pond! Was there any doubt that she would win the rights to Mama K’s lap? (I think not!) Ooo and what bright and cheery walls, they look fab! My favorite children’s book is The Empty Pot, it’s so marvelous! And I also really like Couduroy.
March 10th, 2009 at 10:01 am
I love your new apron! It makes me want to twirl in my kitchen too! I have a couple cute ones from Anthroplogie, but don’t wear them nearly enough. I think I may have to break them out the next time I’m get down and domestic!
March 10th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Love the new wall color, it looks great. Also you look great in your new apron!
March 10th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Well, it may have been Ben’s birthday, but clearly Mama K knew it was your celebration on his behalf. Your apron is cute; how sweet of Mama K to bring it for you. Happy Birthday again, Ben!
As a kid, I loved the Nancy Drew books. For my kids, my favorites were Where the Wild Things are and How Fletcher was Hatched.
March 10th, 2009 at 10:38 am
AHHHHhhhhhhhhh…you look so cute in that apron…Have a fun SITS day!
sandy toe
March 10th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Ooo, Super Sassy apron! I love it!!
Shelley
March 10th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Thanks for stopping by my site via the SITS Spring Fling – glad I got to visit yours – sounds like your husband had a celebration anyway!
March 10th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Fave. Children’s book – Hooray for Fish! By Lucy Cousins! We never get tired of it!
March 10th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Favorite children’s book: Anything by Astrid Lindgren.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
My fave children’s book is Tiki Tikki Tembo. It was a fav when I was a kid, and it’s still a fav as a mom.
Life is Sweet
March 10th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
My favorite is Little Mommy (a Little Golden book)
But, the kids, their favorite, hands down, Goodnight Moon. I think I have read that at least 14,000 times since adopting my first son….
March 10th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
i love your apron! i need one of those!
i always loved the giving tree. thought it was a great book.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
First, LOVE the apron!
Second, LOVE the birds!!
Lastly, to enter your giveaway, my favorite all time childs book is #2 I love you forever and #1 The giving tree.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Cute blog, apron, dogs, picture of dad scowling, and hubs! Happy Bday Hubs!!!!!
I loved the Barbapapas. I now, I am going back, you probably don’t even know who they are. My grandmother kept a lot of my books and I now read them to my two girls. Weirdest but most glorious feeling ever to be able to do this.
bbl
March 10th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
my favorite children’s book was {and still is} the runaway bunny.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Cute Apron!
My favorite children’s book is The Worry Stone By Marianna Dengler. The most beautiful watercolor illustrations and a wonderful story.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
We LOVE rainbow Fish and If you give a mouse a cookie
March 10th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I love your apron, the dog and as a child, Stuart Little.
Come by my giveaway.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Oh, the places you will go by Dr. Suess
March 10th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Oscar Otter
March 10th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
my fave children’s book: wacky wednesday! by theo le seig (Dr Suess!)
March 10th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Harold and the PurpleCrayon
March 10th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Love the apron! The brownies and cake look too yummy! My favorite childrens book is Angelina Ballerina.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
My favorite child’s book is Green Eggs and Ham:-)
March 10th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
My favorite children’s book is Monster at the end of this book (Grover)
March 10th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Ben’s birthday was a success…and the new wall color is lovely. And I can see the rubber chicken is going to love his new friends…and the queen is still ruling the castle…all is well in duckland.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
My new favorite Is Otto Grows Down by Michael Sussman!
March 10th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
So much fun!! I love visits that are fun and productive (shopping & painting).
I bet his allergies will get much better (if not totally go away) if you get rid of the carpet. Carpet is #2 cause of allergies and asthma triggers… #1 is cockroach poo #3 is mold (I’m just full of information today!).
We did laminate in the pix. You lay it then tap it with some sort of tool. Quite a bit of work is involved to get it right.
Cleaning – You have to sweep every couple of days… you really will notice how much “yuck” gets stuck in the carpet.
March 10th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I love The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,
March 10th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I love the wall colour – so pretty. And that apron is gorgeous! Almost worth ruining brownies for.
My fav kids’ book is: The Day I swapped my Dad for two golfish by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean.
March 10th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Thanks for stopping by today. You dog looks a lot like ours. His name is sparkles. We also have a bulldog named Alice.
March 10th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Are you in Louisiana? I’m from BR, but now live in NC.
March 10th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I love how cheerful your blog always is! You have a beautiful smile and such a warm personality. I so wish we could meet in person! I hope to visit family is San Antonio this year. Hopefully, we’ll be able to meet then. Would love to see a beautiful ending to the rubber chicken and fuzzy Duck.
March 10th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I love “Bridge to Teribithia”…read it with my youngest daughter. Happy Spring Fling…would love to win!
March 10th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
They painted all of that in one day?! That’s awesome! You want me to pick one children’s book?! Srsly? Let’s go with “Clever Beatrice”-my daughter and I loved reading that one ad nauseum!
March 10th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Miranda you certainly have been busy while i had my work week of exhaustion, I love the new gift and it looks like Ben had a wonderful birthday and you got a present too, a new color for your livingroom! I love it ,it looks very good! A childrens book huh? Well I can’t remember what I read as a small child, but as I got older I enjoyed the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Books.
March 10th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
I love your apron and you new yellow walls! Beautious!
March 10th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Love the apron! and the pic of dad….reminds me of the look on my dad’s face when he found out O was in culinary school and not law school. haha
March 10th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
It is so fulfilling to repaint a room. I have blah white walls in my bathroom and office and I can’t wait to transform them.
March 10th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Pretty color!! Gorgeous apron. Fav childrens book.. Goodnight Moon..
March 10th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Pretty color!! Gorgeous apron. Fav childrens book.. Goodnight Moon..
March 10th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
congrats on the new wall color! and, again, happy birthday, ben
ps – i LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE that apron!!!
March 10th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
OMG woman, where did you find that apron cuz I am sooooo in love with it!!! and I am so in love with the wall color! It looks GREAT! Have a great evening!
~Abigail
March 10th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I am loving that apron, too cute!
My favorite book growing up was Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. Whew, what a heavy title!
March 10th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
I’m intrigued!
My favorite childrens book is James and the Giant Peach.
March 10th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
What a perfect day you had! Love the walls, love the chickies, love the ‘rents!
March 10th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I can’t decide which I like best. The cute apron or the tiara wearing puppy!
March 10th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I love your apron! It’s one of the best I’ve seen. Your walls do look beautiful. Doesn’t it perk you up when ya do some decoratin’ to the house? Any time I change somethin’ I get in the mood to do more. That usually lasts about 2 days! BUT at least I get a little done in those two days. LOL
March 10th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
You look adorable in that cute apron!
March 10th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Hey girl swinging in to say HI! Love the site and your freshly painted walls!
March 10th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
the very hungry catepillar
March 10th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Happy Birthday to Ben and welcome to your new creatures in the pond!
March 10th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
My favorite will always be winnie the pooh!
March 10th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I loved One Fish, Blue Fish or whatever it’s called. You know, the Dr. Seuss book.
March 10th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
dr seuss – mr brown can moo
March 10th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
What a sweet apron! I love it. Your walls look great too! It always perks me up to have newly painted walls.
Fave book as a child? So many, but one that stands out is “In the Night Kitchen,” Maurice Sendak.
March 10th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
I know I’ve already commented but I wanted to let you know I decided to have a giveaway too. Hop over and enter! It’s open until 2:00 p.m. (CST) tomorrow!
March 10th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Happy Birthday, Ben! It must have been such a joyful and busy day for both of you!
March 10th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Ok, your apron is SO CUTE!!! Where did you get it?
I have a couple of favorites, but if I had to pick just one it would be the Little House on the Prairie series. Although, I guess that’s more than “one”, and it’s probably not considered a small child’s book, but it was my favorite!
March 11th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Love the new walls and the apron is very, very cute!
March 11th, 2009 at 12:57 am
Oh Duckie, you look just precious in that apron! I think you should wear it to work!!! I Love the colour of your living room and kitchen. That is EXACTLY the colour I want to paint my kitchen. I think it will look fab with blue accents. Yellow and blue go so well together! Looks like you all managed to celebrate Ben’s birthday in a fun way, even if he’s not the party type of guy! I just adore you, but then you probably already know that. As far as my favourite children’s book when I was growing up . . . it was Mary Poppins, totally and as far as my favourite children’s book today, well LFB absolutely and without doubt!!! (Fingers crossed it will become everyone else’s fav too!!) XXOO
March 11th, 2009 at 2:56 am
Cute post! I love the dog w/ the tiara! And the new members of the pond!
My favorite children’s book is “Are You My Mother?”
March 11th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Sounds like a wonderful visit! So … what does Queen Bitty think of the new paint color? Did she give prior approval to such a change?
March 11th, 2009 at 8:24 am
PS: Meant to say … love the apron!
March 11th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
pat the bunny
March 11th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Aprons are fabulous! I always think about surprising the hubs by cooking dinner in just an apron, pearls, and sky high heels…
March 11th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
You’re so funny — it looks like you’ve been having a great time. You look adorable in your apron!
March 11th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
haha I love the apron. Happy Birthday Ben! I hope he is recovering from the strep!! Wonderful cake and love the new wall color.
March 11th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I love that apron! Can she have some made for all of us?
March 11th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
It’s no wonder you spent so muc time twirling around in your apron! It’s adorable. And between the baking and the writing? I think you’ll quit your day job in no time at all.
March 12th, 2009 at 6:15 am
It was Bens BD and you got the new apron? And color? I love this story! To funny you messed up the brownies. Quit twirling and get those heels and pearls on!!!
March 12th, 2009 at 6:49 am
I’m glad I”m not the only birthday diva. I always demand lots of attention on my birthday.
Seeing as I turn 40 next year though, I may revise this schedule.
March 12th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Hey! I can leave comments again! Yay!
Kyle and I are the same way with our birthdays. I consider the basically the last half of May and the fisrt half of June to be my birthday, and want parties and cakes and presents and attention. Kyle barely wants to go out to dinner on his birthday, though his mom and I always make a fuss over it.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Pretty pretty paint! You know I love warm color and this is awesome.
Your Dad always cracks me up in his photos. I know he’s a sweetheart.
LOVE the new chickies. Can we hear some stories about them please…
March 13th, 2009 at 8:05 am
That apron is darling! I’m so glad they made a comeback because I can’t cook without getting a little something on me.
I like those sparkly little chicks too!
March 13th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
My visitors never paint my house, can we trade relatives.
I love new apron too.
March 14th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
That’s a good point, I have to admit my relatives never bring me new aprons or yummy pies. I guess I’m stuck with the ones I’ve got.
Some gals have all the luck.
March 16th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Your apron is super cute! At least your hubby will not refuse a meal! That way you always have SOMETHING you can do to celebrate his birthday!