Happy Birthday, Hubby!

Pin It Now! December 2nd is one of my favorite days of the year - my Hubby's birthday!  This year is extra special, because it's the first time we are celebrating his birthday as a married couple.  :}

In January 1998, a dorky, not-quite-16-year-old girl walked into her first day of AP Bio/Chem, expecting to be bored to tears within minutes.  What she didn't know was that the beginning of the rest of her life was waiting for her on the other side of that generic blue door. 

In the second row sat a hunky, football-playing Senior.  Number 62, the offensive tackle with a rather tight end, to be exact.

Swoon.

Thinking I was ever so smooth, I signed his yearbook at the end of the semester with what I'm sure was a terribly corny note ("never change" - classic!), along with my phone number.  Yeah right, like hunky football players call nerdy underclassmen.

He called.  And the rest is beautiful history.


1998

I cannot imagine my life without him.  He is my everything.  He is in every thought I have, ever step I take. Go ahead, roll your eyes at my sappy sentiment...  It's all true.  After nearly 14 years of knowing each other and nearly 9 years together, I still get butterflies when I know he's almost home.  I still doodle his name with a bunch of hearts when I'm on the phone.  And if it was socially acceptable for a grown woman to have her man's football number airbrushed on her nails, I'd do it.  Again.

My Hubby is quite the golfer - we even got married on a golf course - so this year's birthday cake had to be golf-y.  Mr. Golfer Cake Topper is a tad on the pale side, but after the addition of a sharpee goatee he was much more cake-worthy.  The cake you will remember from before.  Instead of chocolate buttercream, I made a cookies & cream buttercream filling and iced the rest of the cake with colored vanilla buttercream.

Happy Birthday Mr. M.! I love you more than you can imagine!  <3  <3

Cookies & Cream Buttercream
6 chocolate sandwich cookies
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla
powdered sugar

Process cookies in a food processor until coarsely/finely chopped (you want a few pea-sized chunks).  Set aside.  In a stand mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy.  Add vanilla and mix.  Carefully mix in sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until desired consistency is reached.  Finally, mix in cookies.

Vanilla Buttercream
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
powdered sugar

In a stand mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy.  Add vanilla and mix.  Carefully mix in sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until desired consistency is reached.  Add water or milk, 1 tsp at a time, if it gets too thick.  To achieve the grass look, I used Wilton's icing tip #233.

 

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Pin It Now! Today is a very, very special day!  It is my hero's birthday.  On November 9, 19**, Steven Albert Chaparro was born.  Thirty years later, a spoiled brat named Nicholle came along and has idolized him ever since. 

How does one put into words the love they have for their parents?  It's impossible.  Being Daddy's Little Girl encompasses so much more than can be expressed in a card, a letter or even a novel.  There simply aren't the words to thank my Daddy for all the times he has rescued me - whether it was saving me from the bullies at school, jump starting my car in the pouring rain when I left my lights on all day, talking me down from countless panic attacks, and a plethora of other sticky situations I've gotten myself into - my Daddy was the one I turned to.  When I was 18 months old and had surgery, the only thing I wanted when I woke up was to be in the safe, strong arms of my Daddy.  I was a nervous wreck the day of my wedding, but the moment my Daddy took my hand and got ready to walk me down the aisle, all that nervous energy was calmed. 

Being a parent to me wasn't/isn't always easy.  I was definitely a royal pain the butt (and still can be.  But now it's my hubby's problem ;)  )  Despite all of the annoying, hurtful, stupid, thoughtless things I could come up with, my parents loved me anyway.  Despite my tantrum throwing over ridiculous things (what do you mean I don't need a cash register?!  Every 8-year-old needs a cash register!), my Daddy sent me flowers at school for no reason when I was in third grade.  He also sent me a huge bouquet of the most beautiful baby pink roses you've ever seen on the first day of my new job.  He drove all the way across town just to bring me my bike when I spent the night at my girl friend's house.  He took time out of work to bring a special lunch to me and all my classmates when a mean girl stomped on my lunch.  He held my hand and walked me into school every morning when I was afraid the other kids would eat me alive.  He took me to Graumann's Chinese Theatre to see Marilyn Monroe's handprints and bought me a collection of her movies because he knew I loved her.  He taught me how to drive stick-shift and change a flat so that I'd be prepared.  He was the strong one and comforted me when I cried my eyes out at his cancer diagnosis.  These are only a fraction of the many, many reasons why my Daddy is, and always will be, my Hero.

When does a girl need her Daddy?  Always.

And I am proud to say that I will be Daddy's Little Girl forever and ever.

Happy Birthday to my Hero!!

Twilight Convention (yes, I know) and Kailee's First Birthday

Pin It Now! The Twilight Convention

I know what you're thinking - "Twilight Convention???  REALLY???"  and yes, I admit, I am one of those Twilight people.  I am the TwiHard that I used to roll my eyes at.  My co-worker tried and tried to get me to read the books and I finally caved.  I literally told her, "Give me the book.  If I hate the first chapter, I'm not going any further." 

I was hooked after the first page.

If you have not read the books, I highly recommend them.  They aren't the gore-filled vampire story that I expected.  It's a love story with just the right amount of action and suspense.

Anyway - so this Saturday we trekked down to L.A. to the Hyatt Regency for the Breaking Dawn Convention.  My co-worker has a connection, and we were given free VIP passes - how could we say no to that?! 

The convention was packed, of course.  Everyone went absolutely berserk when RPatz, KStew and Taylor Lautner went out on stage.  Not gonna lie, I screamed like a little girl, too.  Here are some pics - enjoy!

The Cullen Family

L-R: Jackson Rathbone (Jasper), Ashley Greene (Alice), Elizabeth Reaser (Esme), Peter Faccinelli (Carlisle)

L-R: Bill Condon, Director of Breaking Dawn, Kristen Stewart (Bella), Robert Pattinson (Edward), Taylor Lautner (Jacob)

Jacob's motorcycle from New Moon and Eclipse

Bella's beloved ol' Chevy

Kailee's First Birthday

On November 6, 2010, my bestie Tara gave birth to her sweet little girl, Kailee.  Yesterday was Kailee's first birthday, complete with a very pink party!  All of the munchkins had a great time and there were surprisingly few meltdowns considering we partied well past nap time.  And at the end of the day, a beautiful rainbow appeared just for the birthday girl.

Happy First Birthday, Kailee!

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!

Impromptu concert

K & Uncle Robert

Birthday hug from Mommy!

K's beautiful rainbow