Jaxon's 4th Birthday

We woke up to clouds <gasp> and cooler temps (64) on party day. It threw us for a loop since we haven't seen anything but sun here. I was immediately working on a backup plan.

Jaxon, on the other hand, was just delighted to open up his Buzz umbrella and play in the rain. I told him that this was a lucky day because he got rain on his birthday.

At 10am we ran down to Lake Wildwood to reserve our party spot. The clouds were on the move and the sun was trying to pop out. Things were looking up and I was starting to relax a little.

Back home, packing up the cupcakes. I will forever try to convince my boys to always have cupcakes for their birthday parties. They are fuss free and turn out looking great - like you put a bunch of time and effort into them. My secret is the battery operated Super Shooter, that I inherited from my mom. It's truly a busy mom's best friend on special occasions. 

And I just so happened to have these cake boxes for easy hauling. Threw them in a cooler with an ice pack and the frosting stayed perfect!

Party setup.

Guests begin to arrive......and PRESENTS!!!

Friends at the beach. (notice the party pooper on the far left) 

These are our "Lake Day" friends that we hang out with every Wednesday and I decided we have so much fun on Lake Days that we would just have a glorified Lake Day Birthday Party with party food and cupcake and presents and balloons and....sun. The sun popped out by noon and it was a perfect weather day. 

Sand castles, holes filled with water, mud....this is every boy's perfect birthday locale.

You know that cupcake tower I purchased 5 years ago? I've used this thing more times that I can count. Great investment, and it makes it into a "cake." LOVE this.

Digging into presents (finally, after only being asked if it was 'time' for about 2 hours)

The BUZZ BLASTER! 

Entertainment (and photography) committee! My friend Amanda gave Jaxon these really cool balloons that you blow up and let go and they fly all over and make noise. It was a very fun and highly entertaining addition to the party! Thanks Amanad :)

Sucker party favors. 

I mentioned my friend Amanda took pictures at the party. 

These are just a few of them and they turned out so good!

Big Brother

Beach time

With Chopper Buzz

Getting ready to blow

Pure happiness

Taste Testers

Bathing Beauties

Little Swimmer

Besties

Adult entertainment

Our little four-some

Easiest party - EVER! Cleanup was a breeze. Everyone had a great time. 

But, I'm glad we're done with the birthday's for the next 10 months! Is that bad to say?

FRUITY

Have I just come right out yet and said "I LOVE LIVING IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA?"

If it was any secret before, it's not now. 

Besides the beauty, the sunshine, great weather, fun recreational opportunities and the people, there's the abundance of produce grown right here and sold at local stands or farmer's markets. I absolutely love farmer's markets and so do the boys. 

No jam this time around. I'm freezing these beauties for smoothies. 

The process is simple:

De-stem and slice then rinse. You can freeze whole but for smoothies it's better if they are halved.

Let dry on a towel

Place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Pop in the freezer overnight uncovered. 

Freezing them this way prevents them from clumping together in the bag. 

Bag in a Ziploc freezer bag and enjoy!

I also bought a half flat of peaches (for $10) crazy, right? I was handed a $5 voucher at the market to use at any booth so I used it on the peaches. These are by far the best peaches I've bought yet. They are DELICIOUS!

I froze half of them and got in big trouble for doing so because Kaleb has been eating about 2 of them a day and he told me they were the most amazing peaches ever. ;) 

Proof is in the peach!

There's a few more steps when it comes to freezing peaches.

To remove skins give the peaches a hot water bath for 45 seconds. 

Remove and put into a bowl of cold ice water.

Over the sink, peel skins off. They should literally just peel right off, like so....

Once all the peaches are peeled they're ready to slice.

Remove the pit 

To prevent browning, use fruit-fresh and toss in a bowl. I do not add any extra sugar.

Them drain them in a colander and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.

Freeze uncovered over night and then bag. 

Into the deepfreeze. 

Next to be added:1

Frozen corn, peppers, onions and zucchini- all farm fresh!

Fair Time Photos

Our Lake Day group moved the fun to the Nevada County Fair to take part in the carnival as a group. In matching t-shirts so we can keep track of everyone better.

Mr. Cool

Friends on the watercraft ride.

Loosing their bellies on the frog drop

KT and Jax 

We returned the next evening with our friend Meribeth and watched the rodeo.

Below: Meribeth and Kaleb

The rodeo arena

Me and Jax posing

The wild things

Having a snack and laughing with Daddy

Rodeo clown with his pet pony that rode out in the car with him