pete turns 4!

this year pete's birthday was on 9/9/09. i guess that's the only time in his lifetime that will happen! there's a special name for that, but i don't remember what it is. we had a problem this year figuring out when to have his party. robin leaves for work around 7:30am, but karis is working 3-10 at b2b and since it was wednesday this year, jack and mike had to be at church at 6:30 for kids in praise (choir) and everyone had to be at church from 7-8:30 for awana. by the time we get home it's around 9 and we're worn out.

so we decided to get everyone up early and open presents, and then have cake later.

(the boys, including our friend ian donaldson, were playing star wars, and those white "capes" are actually pinafores from old anne of green gables costumes that olivia found in the dress up box and convinced them they were the perfect star wars outfits).

the only problem with that was my mom was here and we tried to make a 3-d panda cake from a wilton cake pan from 1976 that i found at a yard sale. it was missing the clips that hold the 2 sides together and paper clips weren't strong enough. duct tape fixes everything, right? well, read the fine print on the inside of the roll. it is not heat proof past 200* f.

good thing olivia wanted to see how the cake was shaping up, because the duct tape had melted and the cake batter was spilling out all over the bottom of the oven. it's a gas oven, so it wasn't as messy as an electric one. in fact, my mother (always thinking, that one) suggested we flip the batter that had fallen on the bottom and cook it like a pancake. olivia ate it and said it was good. when life hands you lemons....

it's all good when it's your birthday and you're turning 4 and your mother bought your presents on clearance in florida before you moved (the playmobil circus set). but she forgot to take pictures before you opened them.

even if all you get for cake is a bunch of generic looking cupcakes.

we love you, pete!