CAT Truck Birthday Cake

Micah Turned 27 today!!! We never make a huge deal out of birthday's...just kinda do as we feel when they come up. Last year Micah was wanting a cake and I just didn't feel like making one. I still bought the mix so he could make it himself, however this was not what he wanted to hear. For our wedding I was wanting to surprise him and get him a grooms cake that was made into a Cat Truck. Of course i could not find anyone who would make it for me. So that fell through. So this year I felt ambitious.

I started out thinking i would just make a cake....Then I decided I had the day off so I was going to make a CAT cake. I hope to perfect this design as it would make a wonderful cake for some little boys birthday when kids come along (someday). Here is my low budget version:

Ingredients Needed for the Cake:

-2 boxes of cake mix (of your choice)

-3 eggs (per box of cake mix)

-1/2 cup vegetable oil (per box of cake mix)

-1 1/3 cup water (per box of cake mix)

Ingredients Needed for the Frosting: (Buttercream Frosting)

- 1/2 cup butter

- 1/2 cup vegetable shortening

- 3 cups confectioner's sugar

- 1 tsp Vanilla extract

- 1 Tbs milk

Directions:

Combine vegetable shortening and butter. Add vanilla and mix thoroughly. Slowly add confectioners sugar. Once mixed fully add milk and continue mixing. Use food coloring to obtain desired colors.

(creates a light airy frosting)
Choose baking pans according to the size of cake desired. For a cake about 1' x 1' x 1' use a 9x13 pan and an 8x8 pan. Wheels can be made with cupcakes or anything of your choice.

For the body of the truck use the 9x13 sheet and cut off about 2 inches from one end (this will be used for the hub of the truck) Cake can be layered for height of truck or a box wrapped in foil can be used as base under cake. * Next time i will use a small sheet of wood (plywood) wrapped in foil. Prop it up with small wooden blocks placed behind wheels. This will allow truck to be raised off the ground for a more realistic look.

The 8x8 sheet will be used for the bed of the truck. Cut out enough cake to form the bed as shown. Cake mix Box can be use to tip the bed of the truck. Smash one end of the box for the tilt effect.

Use 4 cupcakes as wheels. Attach to body of truck with toothpicks.

The section of cake cut off of the 9x13 sheet can be cut to desired size for the hub of the truck. Attach with toothpicks.
Begin Frosting....(take tires off for frosting time)

Detail truck as desired. I used brown frosting to highlight HUB and TIRES. Chocolate Chips for lettering and grill. White frosting was used for windows.

Use the cake cut out of the bed of the truck as dirt. Crumble cake pieces and place around truck. Oreo's were the crumbled and placed in the bed of the truck as more dirt.

With more time and more money these hints would improve quality of cake:

*More cake mix used and layered with frosting so entire cake is edible.

*Cake Frosting tools used rather than a spatula.

*Black frosting to detail Truck

Happy Birthday Micah :o) Love you

It's Official...

Micah and I are now the proud leasers of a beautiful 2 bedroom apartment in San Diego California!!!

It's going to be quite difficult to get me to leave this place....View from the Coronado Bridge

After some vigorous apartment searching, nearly leading Micah to insanity, the job is complete. He looked at apartments downtown but i eliminated them immediately due to fear of driving everyday. There were also a few other apartments that he eliminated before including me in the decision making. But finally, there were three. One was a nice area with a gated community and fabulous amenities, but the employee's were a bit much, and the community was very 'apartmenty'. There was another complex that had incredibly amenities and resort style pools, but it seemed almost like a college campus because of the high activity. Then there was the third that was actually the first complex Micah saw. His friend Cole lives there currently so Micah stayed with him for the evening. It is basically a village with everything you could imagine right in the community center. Dayna became our best friend as she showed us about 8 different apartments before we made up our minds and signed out lives away.

The Promenade Rio Vista is our new home as of May 2nd. Perfect....
*Two Bedroom
*Two Bathroom
*1084 sq. ft.
*extended patio for our grilling and entertaining pleasure
*Movie Theater
*2 pools
*gated underground parking
*2 workout facilities
*2 club houses
*business center (computers)
*conference room (if we feel important enough to use it)
*retail shops
*restaurants
*Sauna
*dentist
*Chiropractor
*Wine tasting restaurant
*Spa
*Curves
*Trolly Station
and much much more

The Second bedroom is happy to house anyone who wants to come visit us for perfect weather!!! We are close to just about everything. Beaches in all directions, fabulous food, SeaWorld, LegoLand, DisneyLand, Down Town, and palm trees for all! L.A., Mexico, and Las Vegas are just a short drive away so that increases the options.

The floor plan of our new apartment...

The Village we live in :o)

My favorite part....the soaking tub :o)

More Parent Training

I got to experience a little more British culture this weekend. The Battle Proms...this is an event that takes place every year and is a celebration for the British. there are reenactments of jousting and battles. They hold competitions between the 'French' and 'British'. there are also Men and women dressed up in battle attire or in upper class costumes walking around the grounds. it is fun to see all of the outfits and people. I felt as if i was in another world.

We attended with the rest of the ISE families and had a camp site where we feasted and hung out together to enjoy the concerts. Cathy was unable to attend due to having the Flu, but Kevin and I managed without her (but she was greatly missed). However, this carefree time came to a sudden halt when i noticed the disappearance of Sophie. With about 25 kids running around in our group it seemed as if none of them would run off, but she decided that she could manage on her own. I along with some other families set out on a frantic search amongst the thousands of people within the crowd. After speaking with security guards we were able to locate her in the information tent. She had gone off to throw away her garbage (there was a rubbish bin on our campsite) and could not find her way back. but she was given toys and balloons so she could have cared less that i was about to have a heart attack at the young age of 21. Needless to say, after she was back i did not let her leave my side.

The rest of the evening was spent mingling and enjoying time with the new family i have found away from home, and loving every second of it. With British accents all around, I could not be happier.

Battle Proms at the Burghley House

The Burghley House....it is the mansion that Lord Burghley built a LOOOOOONG time ago. Oh to have that much money (more pictures to follow)

A shot of all the people, the stage, and the Burghley house in the distance

Sophie trying to look all innocent (this was the picture we showed to security while we were searching for her.

The British Flag....quite beautiful if you ask me

The plane that did about 20 minutes worth of fly-bys it was spectacular

The girls petting the horse with the Red Coats....How awesome

Brittney and Emily petting the horse....

The 20 cannon salute was red. how incredibly beautiful

another

Emily acting shocked that the sky is red

My Sophie after she stopped crying from the cannons

Sophie playing with her toy that she received from security after they found her when she got lost. Oh i will never be a parent


FIREWORKS....No they do not celebrate Independence Day here, but They still know how to set off fireworks and I got my fix...


This week we had quite the schedule. Brittney and Sophie have only one week left of school, so all the fun events begin now. Friday was Sports Day. This is an event that occurs at all of the grade schools here in Peterborough. The students practice during their P.E. time each day. Then the parents are invited to watch the children compete. It was entertaining, and Brittney proved to be quite the athlete...she ran three races and placed first in two and second in her third. We were all so proud. She also attended a Disco. This is like a school dance that is also popular here in the UK. She got to get a stylish new outfit and stay out late dancing with her friends...it made me realize just how quickly she is growing up.
My Brittney and her fun filled events...

Brittney in her sack race at school (she placed second)

look at her go!!!(in the pink)

Brittney Running...She got 1st in this race as well as the Jump rope race! What a star

Brittney all ready to go to her first Disco....she was being a bit sassy in this picture, but she still looked cute


My Beautiful Flowers From Micah Lee

Uhhh So i may be in a different country, but it doesn't stop Micah from sending me flowers. how sweet :o)

Definitely smell amazing and are absolutely beautiful.