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Saturday, September 1, 2007
Is That my Hubcap?
Naturally my husband and I bought the ugly, smelly van.
After fourteen gallons of Febreeze, it was only mildly stinky and it's held up fairly well for the past four years. Until recently. My hubby replaced the alternator. Who knew? You can't actually start your vehicle without one of these.
We just had the transmission done. Again, this is an important part of a working vehicle. I knew mine was broken when I could no longer go in reverse or drive forward at speeds higher than 15 mph and since I always drive more than fifty, er um, fifteen miles per hour, this really needed to be fixed.
A couple weeks ago I stopped at a red light (because my 3 year old shouted from the backseat, "Stop, Mom! The light is blue!") and I saw out of the corner of my eye, a hubcap go rolling by. MY hubcap go rolling by.
It wasn't bad enough that the air conditioning didn't work, but now the family truckster is overheating. I need to pour a gallon or two of antifreeze in every day. Apparently, antifreeze is necessary for optimum vehicle operation. Again, who knew?
Because my car has been overheating, I borrowed my parents' car to take my son to the doctor a couple weeks ago. I nearly gave myself whiplash driving their car! Every time I just touched the brakes, the car stopped. Quickly. I didn't realize, until I'd driven my parents' car, just how bad my brakes had gotten. Looking back, I should've had a clue as to the deterioration of my brakes when I started having to drag my feet on the street Fred Flintstone style in order to stop, but it just didn't hit me until I borrowed their car.
My husband, car person that he is, can fix the antifreeze leak thankfully. He said something about blah blah blah leaking. Blah blah blah replacement part blah blah blah gasket. Take apart the blah blah blah engine blah blah blah two days.
Oh no! Know what I just realized? Looking at all that "blah blah" text written out like that, I've come to the realization that I listen like my husband does! Oh no! My husband's selective hearing has been making me angry for the past fifteen years and now I'm seeing that I do it too! Oh, this is bad! I can't be mad at him for not listening to me if he finds out that I tuned out his car repair speech! Shhhhhh! Don't tell him! He can't know! Really!
Anyway, I think it's time for a new vehicle. :::sigh:::
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank you for the suggestion of eliminating dairy to alleviate chronic ear infections. I've actually heard this from other people before, however, most of my kids don't get ear infections. They just have really large tonsils and adenoids which make swallowing and breathing difficult, and throat infections frequent. The big tonsils and adenoids also cause sleep apnea and prevent their eustachian tubes from draining well. Although their ears don't get infected, they're perpetually filled with fluid which has created temporary hearing loss in several of my kids. This is the eighth surgery like this between my children. Thank you so much for your well wishes. I'm sure all will go well. :)
Actually, your prayers and/or well wishes would be appreciated for Conway Beckemeier who just underwent surgery to repair the congenital defect in his heart, Julian Avery who has been battling a cancerous brain tumor, and Adam Sadda who has severe combined immunodeficiency and needs a bone marrow transplant. I have links on the right side of my blog with their stories. I believe you need to sign in to access Julian's carepages. There was another person who wrote me about their son who had a double lung transplant and I can't for the life of me, find that email anywhere. I'm so sorry I lost your email. I'm horribly unorganized and simply have too much mail to sort through. If you read this post, please send me another email, so I can add a link for your son.
Enjoy your weekend!
97 comments:
- melissious said...
Started reading your blog a few days ago and love it!! I have 4 boys, ages 4, 2, 2 & 16 months. All 4 of mine are like your baby, throwing all the toys all over the house! I went back and read most of your blog entries. I love to see how many readers you have!
We drive a Sequoia. A car like that might fit your whole brood... and guzzle their entire college fund! :)
- September 1, 2007 at 11:53 PM
- AprilMay said...
Your van sounds just like mine, only mine is 12 years old and we have bets among ourselves as to which part is going to break next. My 12 year old just won $5.00 because now the passenger side window won't go down. Anyway, I'm pretty sure it's going to fall into pieces right in the middle of the road someday, but we can't afford a car payment, so I will continue to drive it until it does!
- September 1, 2007 at 11:58 PM
- bigwhitehat said...
When you ask us how much and how long, we don't exactly know. After all we are husbands not autoparts salesmen. So we try to give you as much information as we can.
Unfortunately you probably interpreted that as blahblah bu blah blah blah.
- September 2, 2007 at 12:27 AM
- Jennifer said...
My brother just sent me your post for pokemon cards on ebay and I have to say I have not laughed so hard all by myself in a long time! I have 5 kids, the oldest turned 6 last week, I feel your shopping pain. Your blog looks so funny. I look forward to reading it regularly. Thanks so much for the laugh, I needed it.
- September 2, 2007 at 12:42 AM
I look forward to each and every post on your blog. I am relieved to know I am not crazy and that humor is truely essential to living well.
I am the product of a large (seven kids), homeschooled (ie. isolated), dirt poor (qualified for the school lunch program even though we were homeschooled), and was born deaf. And I am FINE!! (relatively, anyway) I have a great husband, a three year old son, complete hearing, and am full time student at the university.
I love your writing and how much it reminds me of living at home in all the wonderful, loud, loving chaos. Although I only have one son, I have my crazy mommy moments and enjoy reading yours.
Keep it up! You are an inspiration to many!
- September 2, 2007 at 12:43 AM
- The Tomlin Family said...
You are my hero!!!! I read your blog and LOL all every post! You describe my life minus 2 kids and a DH. My husband died in a crash on 4/6/07 and I am raising 4 kids alone. I think my kids have done everything your kids have, honestly. When I saw Baby in the toilet, I thought, yeah, that is my life!!!!
We too have been through many car transformations. My DH too always fixed our cars so I HAD to buy a new car after he died b/c our other car had over 100,000 miles on it and there is no way I can fix that stuff on my own!!
I just want to take a minute to THANK YOU for the inspiration to go on every day. You make me laugh and remind me to make everyone else laugh along with you with your various tales of motherhood. THANK YOU DAWN!!!!!!!!! YOU ROCK!!!!!!
- September 2, 2007 at 12:56 AM
- birthblessed said...
I have 7. I should really be more creative than this. But, I'm not so much.
- September 2, 2007 at 12:59 AM
- All moments remembered said...
WOW makes you feel thankful for your life and health!! Prayers to all of those families!!!
- September 2, 2007 at 1:15 AM
- Andrea said...
I purposely leave two hubcaps off my car (one each side). Makes it easier to spot from a distance in the parking lot. Shiny wheel, black whole - yep that's my car.
Car mechanics don't get it though - they keep listing it as a defect on my car services and offer to fit new ones :)
- September 2, 2007 at 2:18 AM
Yikes! Good Luck getting the car in working order long enough to find a new family vehicle (which is just horror inducing itself).
- September 2, 2007 at 2:23 AM
- C~ said...
No, no, no...we are exempt from any talk about cars, computers or sports. I swear to you my husband starts talking about what we need to do NEXT for the network [geek, much?] and the teachers' voice from the Peanuts specials comes out of his mouth.
"Wahwah wahwahwah wah router, wahwahwah wireless wahwahwah, wahwah hard drive wahwahwahwah, motherboard wahwahwahwah."
All you have to do if he catches you is yell "OLLY OLLY OXEN FREE!" and touch your forehead to the refrigerator door. COMPLETELY exempt. I swear.
- September 2, 2007 at 3:01 AM
OMG! This is my life. And you put down in words. You are so darn funny! Erma Bombeck is laughing in heaven, with tears running down her cheeks. She is saying, "Someone took it and ran with it. My legacy continues." Best of luck to you and your family. :)
- September 2, 2007 at 3:29 AM
- Victor said...
My dads alternator is broke too!
:( so we have been driving the bmw everywhere. I get ear infections too and its bothering me. I dont eat meat so giving up dairy would be hard.
♥Vivacious Victor
- September 2, 2007 at 4:11 AM
Zero comments! Wow, it pays to rise early. Don't think I could make it through the day without reading your blog. Thanks for the laughs, and you're right, I'll pray for those you mentioned and all the children who suffer.
- September 2, 2007 at 4:12 AM
Sorry to hear abt the Car Dawn !! I hope you can get a good deal on a nice smelling Bus soon :)
Better yet I hope some one gives you guys one !! Maybe some rich lady or man will read your story and Donate to help you and your beautiful family. I know If I had the money and Was nearer I would LOVE to give you a helping hand !!
I have to say that "Good food ad" Seems to be a constant down load and Never finishes so I Can stay on your page for long.. I guess its new ? I havnt noticed the constant action on the bar telling me its still loading.
Debbie xxx
- September 2, 2007 at 5:20 AM
- Kim said...
I totally understand...I drive a 1995 suburban with 248,000 miles on it. No that is not a typo and yes all those zeros are suppossed to be there. I just cleaned it out yesterday and found half my kitchen under the boys seats. Yuck! One of my twins also had partial hearing loss because his hole from his tubes never closed. he had to have it patched when he had his tonsils and adnoids done. He could never hear very well due to all the fluid and then woth the hole it was worse. Now that it's all finally fixed the Dr. says he has "forgotten" how to hear. Likely story. I think it's just male selective hearing. :)
- September 2, 2007 at 6:07 AM
- phishez_rule said...
Hey, at least you try to listen. You seem to have gotten a few words in there, and I'm sure they were important. I am not a car person. So my brain saw it as a word, and just went ahead and replaced it with 'blah' instead.
- September 2, 2007 at 6:38 AM
- Merci said...
I'm enjoying your blog! I hope the surgery goes well and is as uneventful as a surgery can be. :) We too had 2 sets of tubes by 18 months with my oldest but it was when the dr removed his HUGE adenoids that the ear infections went away. Sometimes, it's just too much of a good thing and must go - like tonsils and adenoids.
- September 2, 2007 at 7:18 AM
- Felicia said...
UGH! The vehicle! If I could get away with it I would go to the horse and buggy! I would rather feed and care for my horses than deal with vehicle repairs. But most people frown on hitching posts and the piles of . . . um . . . leftovers left behind.
The only way we have been able to deal with the vehicle repairs is owning one truck and having it paid for. Since we don't have monthly payments we can afford to fix it from time to time.
Love reading your stuff!
- September 2, 2007 at 8:26 AM
Of our 9 kiddos, 4 (it seems maybe a 5th) have had this same problem. We've had 8 surgeries related to it. One of my daughter's adenoids actually grew back ,LARGER than before and had to be removed again. Her speech had started to sound swallowed which clued me into the problem. Be watchful of their teeth. 2 of my kids had to have A LOT of dental repair because of what the acids from the yucky tonsils did to their teeth. Good luck!
Check out our website for more motherly advice and family fun; web.mac.com/nav8ryf
- September 2, 2007 at 8:29 AM
- Candace Salima (LDS Nora Roberts) said...
Car troubles - they are the bane of my existence. The Galant needs a new air conditioner and struts. Currently my husband is sweating away as he drives to work. (He works with juvenile delinquents (24 hr/7 day a week job.))
The truck needs a new left side mirror, clutch and something called a solenoid. Oh yeah, the lights have gone out on the dash too. That can't be good, right?
Your blogs really bring a smile to my face.
Sorry about the condition of your children's tonsils and adenoids. I hope the surgeries have worked well for each of them.
And my prayers will go to all the people you mentioned. Thanks for bringing them up.
- September 2, 2007 at 8:44 AM
- AshPash said...
Dawn: How I have enjoyed popping in to read your blog over the last week or so - ya know, ever since I read your hysterical Ebay posting. Anyhoo, loving reading about your parenting adventures. Keep up the good work.
- September 2, 2007 at 8:45 AM
- mrscyborat said...
Don't you just love unsolicited advice, especially from 40,000 of your closest friends? :-)
I continue to smile every time I read your blog. Have a smile on me today!
- September 2, 2007 at 8:55 AM
- Candace Salima (LDS Nora Roberts) said...
By the way, i forgot to tell you. Head on over to my blogspot and scroll down the right hand column all the way. There's something nice waiting for you there.
- September 2, 2007 at 9:10 AM
- Cheryl said...
I know that you're terribly busy, but I just wanted to say how much I look forward to your updated blog everyday!!! I have a 7 month old daughter and although I don't have 6 kids, she brightens my day!!! Congratulations on the success of your blog, I came across it after your ebay ad. I have since read every post and LOVE IT! I hope you have a fabulous day!!
Toronto, ON, Canada
- September 2, 2007 at 9:14 AM
- Rebecca said...
Oh car fun. My parents have had the issue of keeping a reliable car that can hold all the kids. For a few years they had a big ol' suburban. Dad loved it, step mom did not - at all. The ac didn't work, no matter what repairs they made. Finally they got rid of it and thought a mini van would do since they were just sure they were done having kids and all. Surprise! Another baby came along and they are back to driving two cars around. Hope your repairs go smoothly. I think my hubby's okay with me tuning out his car talk so long as I'm okay with him tuning out my scrap talk.
- September 2, 2007 at 9:16 AM
- The Montee's said...
My friend's 4-year old child just had her adenoid/tonsils removed. Watch out! She got more active once they took them out!
- September 2, 2007 at 9:30 AM
- super des said...
Sometimes (for some reason) it is hard to let go of an old car that doesn't work. It's just so damned USEFUL! In theory.
Good luck with a new car hunt.
- September 2, 2007 at 9:42 AM
I love reading your blog every day! It reminds me of my own childhood (I was #6 of 8 kids). I showed my mom your pokemon story and she really loved it. She said the only thing missing was coming home with children running wild everywhere, your arms full of groceries and your husband sitting on the couch asking "What took you so long?"
- September 2, 2007 at 9:45 AM
- Moon said...
good luck car shopping and with your little ones surgery.
My youngest had cloged tear ducts and had to have them probed. the worst part tho I would say was him waking up after all the drugs he screamed and hit me repeditly because he didn't know who I was.
I love reading your blog! you give me and a lot of other moms the streangth to carry on even after we say things like "No you can not sit on your brothers head." or the ever popular "No you can not fly off the couch."
- September 2, 2007 at 9:52 AM
- Cat said...
I feel your pain about the car. I've been driving a 12 year old car approximately 90 miles a day for my job and slowly it has been falling apart. This time, though, the Fates have made the decision for me: my husband (in his car) and I (in my car) got into an accident together. Most likely my insurance company will consider my car totaled so I'll finally be able to get a newer car.
- September 2, 2007 at 9:54 AM
WOW I think that I am first!!! Shocking! Anyway I love reading your blog.
I have two boys ages 9 and 2.5 and my youngest is CRAZY he to likes to jump out of the cart as I am picking up something that he threw out. He tries to FLY off everything because he is SoopieMan (Superman). I just heard CRASH, BOOM, INSERT CRYING HERE, yet again he was trying to fly off the bed.
I can not believe the people that have responded to your Pokemon list it is crazy so many people relate to everything that you say (or write in your case). As for shopping at my house I do it when my husband is off so i get some free time and the shopping done in peace.
Anyway you have enough to read so I will catch you later. How in the world do you read all these!!
- September 2, 2007 at 10:12 AM
- DMI Wench said...
Haha, selective hearing ... my hubby and I do that all the time. We've been married for nine years (known each other for about 11), and we've only recently started getting the hang of *not* doing that. It's tough sometimes, especially when he's talking about an area in which I have zero skill. I try hard to pay attention, but I know my eyes glaze over once in a while. His do too, I'm sure, when I start talking about the things in my life he's not much involved in. Fair's fair, I guess - equal opporunity glazing :P
Like many others, I found your blog when someone sent me a link to your auction. I'm currently in the hospital recovering from chemotherapy for leukemia (I'm in remission, yay!). Normally, I'm a pretty positive person (my mother-in-law calls me her "freakin' ray of sunshine"), but feeling this puny can send one's mind in negative directions, and I end up moping about spats with friends, being stuck in the hospital too long, how much it's all costing, etc. This is not good when one is trying to get well. Your wonderful writing and boundless humor give me the healing gift of laughter every day, which is simply priceless. The more you can laugh at life, and make us laugh along with you, the better it will get (for all of us:) Keep up the good work and stay positive - I'll try to do the same :)
- September 2, 2007 at 10:18 AM
- Wolfie said...
I've been reading your blog since the whole Ebay listing. As a former Chicagoan - now living in predominantly Mormon Utah, with two small and rambucious boys, I have my own challenges. I like your writing. It's nice to know others struggle just as much as I do!
- September 2, 2007 at 10:19 AM
- -lowbrow said...
omg I also remember the day I realized I toned out the bf. It was a proud dirty little secret for me too! so funny. If we can only learn to do it as often as men we will be good.
Good luck with the car. My past cars were named the death trap, the hoopdee, the little green breakdown machine... so needless to say I feel your pain. Hang in there.
- September 2, 2007 at 10:24 AM
- Christy said...
Fairly new reader here...but I like you have selective hearing when it comes to automotive repair. shhh! I won't tell if you won't. My van has actually been sitting in the parking spot since June. We are stationed in Germany and my husband IS ordering the part this week!!! Of course it'll probably take a month for it to arrive and then a few days to a week for our friend to get the van actually fixed, since the whole front end has to come out! YIKES!
Going to read the links you shared.
God Bless
- September 2, 2007 at 10:31 AM
- LeLu said...
I'm still trying to convince myself I can fit 4 kids into my Intrepid. I'd kill for a minivan.
Or something with A/C. Anything.
- September 2, 2007 at 10:47 AM
I'm here because my daughter sent me a link to your eBay posting. Thanks for the best laugh in a long time.
As the mother of 7 grown children (yes, they do eventually grow up and leave home) I can identify with most of your postings.
So nice of you to include a prayer list. I have prayed for them and will continue to do so, but also for your child who needs the operation.
You have a gift for seeing that even though your life may be stressful, there are many others who have much more serious problems.
You also have a gift for enjoying the journey. The only thing more wonderful than children is grandchildren. Their parents handle the hard things and you get all the hugs and kisses and fun parts.
Blessings on your head as you do the most important job in the world--raising children!
- September 2, 2007 at 10:48 AM
- Bubba's Sis said...
My son had to have his adenoids removed when he was 3, too - he snored like a banshee! Seriously, it was like grown-man snores coming out of this precious little 3-year-old guy. Adenoids out - no more snoring!
We had the same problem with ear infections, too - with both my daughter and my son. They outgrew it.
I just found your blog and I'm loving it! Keep those posts coming!
- September 2, 2007 at 11:00 AM
I thought you would get a kick out of this.
Mommy merit badges!
- September 2, 2007 at 11:07 AM
- Jill said...
Bleh, I hate car woes. Our last car was a rusty old half-functioning hunk-o-junk that my MIL gave us for free. We managed to get about a year's worth of driving out of it before it died forever. Now we have no car, and I realize that even though our old car was a total POS, it was better than nothing. :(
I hope your vehicle gets fixed in a timely fashion! Being without transportation sucks!
- September 2, 2007 at 11:35 AM
- Sean said...
Oh my...I think you need a vacation...If I ever win the lottery I'm sending you away for a month.
- September 2, 2007 at 11:43 AM
- LuAnn said...
You tell such classic stories! I love to read everything you write. Have you heard of the web series "In the Motherhood". You could write every episode! I was not a blogger until I started to read your blog. You have inspired me. Life with children is so... um, exciting? Never a dull moment! Thanks for making me laugh at those "exciting" events of motherhood!
- September 2, 2007 at 11:48 AM
I so know what you mean about selective hearing! Even though he's looking right at me, my husband hears NOTHING about what I need him to do for the day, but hears every syllable of what I'm muttering under my breath as I'm walking away.
To be fair, though, my eyes glaze and I, too, have gone off to some distant land in my mind when he talks about the car or tools...
I love your kids' names! Great creativity. For reasons unknown to me, my parents didn't give us middle names. I think my mother said once, "You'll never use it." Well, my first name is Sandy and my maiden name is one of those that always has to be spelled and pronounced. So when I got married, I took my husband's last name, which is Anderson.
Yes, of course, Sandy Anderson is a name that a middle name would never be useful for! Just at the quilt store I used to go to there were 4 Sandy Anderson's! I solved the problem by using my maiden name for my middle name. Now I have a middle initial and I write out my full name, complete with the initial, every chance I get.
I'm keeping Conway, Julian and Adam, and all those children in the world who can use some extra love, in my thoughts and prayers.
And make sure you keep writing, Dawn! Sometimes we don't choose a career; a career chooses us... even while we're doing something else.
- September 2, 2007 at 11:57 AM
- Corey said...
I think you should contact a couple car companies and get them to donate a van or something to you in exchange for a little advertising on your page. With the number of hits you get from each of your blogs they just might go for it. Plus show them all the interviews that you do and then you can mention them on any future interviews.
- September 2, 2007 at 12:28 PM
- Tammy said...
Thanks for my daily giggle. Hey, list your clunker on Ebay and I bet you could at least get enough to buy a new one. Ü
I will add those you listed to my prayers. Your little one too!
- September 2, 2007 at 12:36 PM
- Stacey said...
That's a bummer about your van issues. We have owned a van for about a year and a half. Before that we had "special" cars. On my last car I had a dark green door and the rest of my car was plum. The door worked temporarily and then I had to get out the passenger side. The window didn't work so I got to open my door to use the drive through. The worst part?? NO RADIO!! EEK! ;) Before that I drove a 1978 dodge aspen that my parents bought me while I was in high school. In the winter my car would die every time I stopped,no matter how long I warmed it up. I had to put the car in neutral when I stopped and say a prayer that it wouldn't die again.
My hubby had a 280 Z for a short time until a fire started under the hood. Good times.
Good luck with your vehicle search.
- September 2, 2007 at 12:40 PM
- Toni said...
I've been following your blog ever since there was a link to your ebay auction on Fark.com and I have been beyond vastly amused, and as a fellow writer i can't help but say things to myself like, i love her she's an amazing writer that $%#(@ (censored for the chidren). Of course, i kid, about the censored word anyway.
you have made me more tolerant of giant gaggles of children with their mothers in stores. In fact, i started laughing the other day at goodwill because i thought for a second it was actually you! same sense of humor when speaking to the children and the clerk. I think i found your doppleganger.
anyway, i am pleased to read your blog. you crack me up. take care, dawn!
- September 2, 2007 at 12:42 PM
- Dorothy said...
I bought my 15 pasenger 2006 Victory red chevy van from a dealer on Ebay in Texas. I love it. The gas mileage stinks, but other than that? Evryone fits in 1 car, with room between them so they don't fight.
My job makes the payments on my van and my 2006 Camry I use for commuting. Hubby still drives the 1993 Chevy Caprice Station wagon we bought used in 1997.
- September 2, 2007 at 12:43 PM
Cars can just be the worst source of frustration! We recently bought a used van and now that the 30 day warranty is up, we discovered (I think ON day 31) exactly WHY it was traded in by the previous owner - about $1000+ in repairs are needed for OUR new baby! Fortunately it can limp along into next year's inspection - it was the dealer who passed the inspection of course!
Wasn't there a story circulating a few years ago, I believe it was even covered by The Today Show, about a young woman (late teens, early twenties) who needed money, so she set up a donation page on her website and people actually gave her a lot of money? I don't think she even had a sob story to go with it - she just liked to spend! But I think of all of the people who could really use the money, like due to medical reason that has truly wiped them out, or something like that. At the moment we feel we're bleeding money a little. My one year old finally got tubes in his ears 6 weeks ago and the bills are trickling in, in addition to all of the car repairs. Miraculously we seem to be able to keep our heads above water enough after every paycheck (well, the Christmas fund hasn't seen a penny since....? (coal for the kids?)...and our property tax savings fund is a bit dry at the moment...so that's where the money is coming from!) Back to my one year old - he has had fluid in his ears since he was 9 months old and he didn't begin to have any dairy until he was about 1. I did ask the pediatrician about dairy linked to ear infections and she was adamant that there was no connection. One doctor's opinion.
My prayers and thoughts are with the Beckemeier family, the Avery family, and the Sadda family during their difficult times.
~Molly in NH
- September 2, 2007 at 1:01 PM
- A Chameleon is as a Chameleon does said...
Well, I feel your pain on the car thing. See- cars usually don't like me much. From the very first car-that stalled on me like 5 times on a 4 hour trip but didn't happen til the last 15 minutes of the trip. Then there was the little red LOUD car that my dad apparently thought was a good investment and then blamed for the thing not being a good investment. Then there was the brand new car I decided I needed to have. After 3 weeks exactly the entire electrical system shorted out due to some defect (no kidding) and there was this dinging noise at first and the locks kept locking and unlocking (totally possessed). Then this car had the knack of being in accidents. An ex friend backed into someone pulling out of my driveway, my mom brushed the back of another car, I scraped the front side a bit on something, a short bus hit it and tore off the front end of it, a car in the mall parking lot swiped the front of it, it hydroplaned in a rainstorm in the middle of the highway at night and finally 3 days later something gave (the blah blah blah) and the car went out of control and up a small hill and flipped over (needless to say it was totalled). So then I got my guts back and got another car. This time (after I got over some fear) I went for the one that was only a couple years old. It's been okay, I guess. Except that the tires keep going weirdo on me, the horn just decied to stop working, the light on the clock works when it wants to and it has this unalienable tendency to soak the driver's side back seat when it rains or I go through the car wash which then causes a month or more of it smelling like mildew.
So that's my story and I'm sticking to it...
Sorry that was so long. As if you have time these days to read so much. It takes me forever just to read all your comments....
- September 2, 2007 at 1:05 PM
- Jody said...
Cars have a way of telling you that it's time to part ways...like when it costs MONEY every MONTH to fix a this or that. I have finally made the decision to sell my car, that I ADORE, after 9 years of ownership. I just can't keep feeding it all my money. Good luck with the surgery! Best thing I ever did was go against the doctor and insist that he take out my son's tonsils (he was 4) after 5 strep throats in less than one year. Lo and behold....he NEVER had another strep throat (and he is now 28). After 9 strep throats we had my daughter's tonsils/adenoids removed (she was 14)...again...no more issues with ears/throat!
- September 2, 2007 at 1:06 PM
I just wanted to comment first. to tell you I enjoy reading your blog.
I understand your car woes.. we've done a transmission. total air conditioning and some other various ouch. car repairs recently.
- September 2, 2007 at 1:07 PM
I found you because of the ebay email going 'round, of course :) Anyway, you're a great read and my family will absolutely pray for the people you listed. Have a great day! Thanks for the chuckles :)
- September 2, 2007 at 1:10 PM
- Thehotrod5 said...
OK I find this hysterical...my husband owns his own auto shop (more like hot rods and custom upholstery) and I am continually reffering to things on cars like the "trans-modu-fub-lab-u-lator." Well at least it sounds technical....
- September 2, 2007 at 1:16 PM
- Julie said...
Girlfriend, milk your newfound celebrity for all it's worth - maybe there is a local car dealer who would LOVE to provide a van for you and your family. You could offer a recommendation on your blog as payment (hey, with all of the hits you get every day, chances are good that it could boost business)!
It's so awesome that you have asked people to pray for others who are less fortunate than you, and the fact that you provided links, too? You are so thoughtful of others.
- September 2, 2007 at 1:16 PM
- dorothy said...
Antifreeze leaking is either a hose, the water pump, the radiator or the big seal between the top and bottom parts of the engine. I can't remember what the seal is called. :)
- September 2, 2007 at 1:22 PM
- Laurie Gagne said...
Who knew!!! Did you know that you have to change your oil when the thing reaches a certain mileage or that if it ticks, you probably haven't checked or added some oil in a while. These are things that I blah blah blah to my husband and what do I know. Wait till I tell him we need to fix the muffler.
- September 2, 2007 at 1:39 PM
- happycheeksdiapers said...
Is it sad when I tell you that I look forward to your blog updates? Does that mean I don't have a life??..lol.. Or is it that after 9 years of being a parent I've finally realized that I'm not the only one with THAT life??..lol..
Being the Mom of 4 boys I could totally relate to your stint at the store, which brought about the auction on ebay. I actually had one of the lovely ladies at the local grocery store I frequent (quite often might I add since we're always out of milk or bread...) mention to me that she didn't recognize me at my last visit because only 1 of my 4 kids was with me. Ha! What does THAT tell ya?
Sorry to hear about your van. With the press you've been getting recently, I wonder if we should forward this blog entry to your local dealer and see if they'll spring a car for you (what's your favorite make and model??..lol).. Great publicity for them, kwim?
Anywho, I'm now going to take a shower (what's that??) since my 2 year old has finally given in and is taking nap. Otherwise he would be in the bathroom two seconds after I turn the water on, climb into the tub while my head is being pounded with water (he's sneaky like that, almost like he knows I can't see or hear him), and smile at me, all wet shirt and droopy cloth diaper... *sigh*
Have a wonderful Labor Day :D
- September 2, 2007 at 1:40 PM
- taximom2 said...
Dear Dawn-
God Bless you for asking others to pray for other children. So many times we put our own families first, and forget how incredibly blessed we are with children who are healthy. Somehow those tubes in the ears are nothing compared to what others are facing. My own children went thru the tubes too, but Thank God we haven't faced life threatening illness.
I will pray for your family during surgery time. I will also pray that God finds you decent transportation!
Thanks again for mentioning those other children who need are prayers now.
Beth- Mississippi MOM-
- September 2, 2007 at 1:47 PM
- Suzanne said...
You are a funny one. I often say, you just have to laugh so you wont' cry! I feel your pain. Truely, some of our vehichles over the years required the addition of plywood on the floor so that if we drove through some puddles we were soaked from the knees down. Right now the worst thing about the van, other than the occasional refusal to start is that the previous owner hit a deer and we never replaced the hood. The benefit, people seem to move out of my way.
- September 2, 2007 at 1:48 PM
- Elizabeth F. said...
Your Fred Flinstone brake comment made me laugh! Just recently I had some work done on my car and sson after I left my brakes were not working properly. I called and went back the next day. The guy said my brakes were not working at all, it was all my legs making the car stop!! They had bumped the brake line and it had come off, so there's was no air pressure. LOL!
- September 2, 2007 at 1:58 PM
- Matchbox Mom said...
Wow!!! I just laughed so hard!!! I don't know why that hit me so hard today, maybe because I just sat through church and it was kinda boring. Oh well, it was funny anyhow.
My 5 year old just had that same surgery. She had her adenoids removed as well. She keeps getting ear infections and has fluid just like your little ones. Everything will be okay, i'm sure you know that! If I lived near you, I would definately give you a ride, or let you borrow my car. I feel like I know you that well! Once again, thanks for sharing your life with us.
- September 2, 2007 at 2:03 PM
- Kate said...
Your car is only MOSTLY dead? I am sure if you search in the couch cushions of you enough for a miracle!! Have fun storming the castle.
- September 2, 2007 at 2:03 PM
HI, Yes, I am another avid reader and fan of your blog! : ) I know everyone says you remind them of Erma Bombeck, but I think your witty tongue in cheek style reminds me of Dave Barry's.
All in all, whomever you remind us of, we love you and your work.
Thanks for enouraging us, brightening our days and helping us to enjoy our kids more!
I wish you all the best.
God Bless you and yours,
- September 2, 2007 at 2:31 PM
- Gwen said...
I know what you mean about your van,,I was trying to leave the dentist office last week and when I got in my van it wouldn't start. I ended up being late to my class!
- September 2, 2007 at 2:37 PM
- Andi said...
I have tears streaming down my face from laughing!! Your blog is always the highlight of my day!
- September 2, 2007 at 2:46 PM
Good luck to your son (or was it daughter) with his tonsil + surgery.
Healing blessings to those you listed for prayers.
Success on finding a affordable car that actually works and runs on love alone.
Keep your chin up and smile .... even when you have no reason to.
- September 2, 2007 at 3:05 PM
- Danna said...
Dawn, I just love that you are using your suddenly popular forum here to call out for others in need. More power to ya girl! Many prayers headed their way.
- September 2, 2007 at 3:12 PM
Hey, you could always auction off one of the kids to purchase a new vehicle! Look what a measley sewing pattern brought in for you! $$$$ Possibly the person who bought the sewing pattern would want a "real, live mannequinn" who will also burp, spit, stinker, etc. Just a thought - you do so well with your hysterical auctions! Hang in there, mama!
- September 2, 2007 at 3:23 PM
- The other me said...
It's almost as if we could be twins, I have six kids ( 22, 20, 18, 7, 6 and 4, so help me Lord) and a crap mobile that smells of wet dog and other unidentified awfulness. My car is 17 years old, I pray for it's wellness because if it dies, we are so stuffed! May yours get well soon and be fixable by your husband, how lucky to have a man who can fix it for you, mine stares at me and nods when I tell him what noise my car is making and I know I am on my own. Love your blog although it is so close to how my life is I sometimes get a cold sweat reading it!
- September 2, 2007 at 3:42 PM
- JenLo said...
I feel your pain. My very young Dodge Caravan kicked the bucket after a long and brave battle with everything.
- September 2, 2007 at 3:52 PM
Hi Dawn,
yes, I'm another one from the E-bay auction.
Having crashed my mother's car last week, on my first drive on my own since I got my license, I feel for your own car woes.
Has anyone mentioned paid blogging as a way to earn money?
I'm not really sure of how it works,
but this girl does:
She has other posts on the subject, so if I didn't pass the right one (it's 11.40 PM, so it could be) make sure to check the others.
Wish you the best
- September 2, 2007 at 4:41 PM
Aloha from sunny Hawaii. What an entertaining exhausting life you must lead. You will most likely be getting dozens of people in the next few days... Saw your ebay comments on a friends link and i'll be following your exploits with interest and well wishes. You have a lovely family!
Mahalo for the peek into your life.
- September 2, 2007 at 4:54 PM
Love your blog.
Have to comment about the dairy, just have to...when reading your last post I also noticed the yogurt thing and mentioned it to my husband...
Anyway, not that this will necessarily be enough to fix your kid's problem at this point, but cutting out the dairy will improve all of these issues, especially the drainage. Dairy is not great for any kid with phlegm retention of production.
"Got Milk?" Advertising campaign.
Calcium? Important nutrient.
Thanks for all the laughs. You keep me humble when I am in tears over my ONE baby driving me nuts.
- September 2, 2007 at 5:52 PM
- Bob said...
To me, the best part of this whole wonderful post is your last paragraph. I am going to read it to my wife. Yippee!
- September 2, 2007 at 5:59 PM
Your car story reminds me of when I was growing up in a family of five and a new car to us was always a very used car that would last a year. The year always seem to end on the way to or from our family vacation. One year the car was so bad that my parents decided to drive home at night so as to avoid traffic (8 hours from Northern Wisconsin to Chicago) and after we got off the interstate and had to make stops, my dad would slow the car down and he and my mom would both put a foot out the door to help drag that ton of steel to a stop. Looking back I cannot even believe we ever made it to adulthood. They did their best with a lot of improvising.
- September 2, 2007 at 6:10 PM
- Jenn said...
Mom of six here and I agree on the dairy. Some kids are just born with the gene that says "large tonsils". We've had tonsils removed in two and my oldest has had four sets of tubes. We're waiting for him to "grow into his ears"!!! And we're watching the next two to see when the "right" time is to take theirs. My husband had his out two years ago (the giver of the gene) - that was not pretty! And you're right in the big scheme of things - it's minor stuff.
As for the car...I swore I never would, but I'm driving a 15 passenger van. It's big, the kids have room (and room for friends when I'm feeling really crazy), and people get out of my way! It's built to be rough with. Sure, I miss the heated seats, and more than just two cup holders, but I can haul groceries, stroller, kids, lawn chairs.......
- September 2, 2007 at 7:24 PM
- Zoanna said...
My 5-year-old MISSES our old stinky van, gives us sad puppy dog eyes and plays travel agent for guilt trips that we donated that Thing That Went Bump in the Night and Day. I guess he has the gift of mercy, feels for the hurting, even if its guts are made of steel.
Anyway, ditto on the yogurt observation. Chronic fluid in the ears from chronic yogurt inhalation was my second son's problem for five years. Then my hubby made the connection. We cut him off yogurt cold turkey (that combo sounds terrible side-by-side but you know what I mean). No more problems.
- September 2, 2007 at 7:43 PM
- Queen of Dysfunction said...
I have no useful advice regarding adenoids or double lung transplants. I just want to wish you good luck with the car venture.
- September 2, 2007 at 9:14 PM
Hi, Dawn,
Just wanted you to know that YOU do not have selective hearing - I am SURE you heard him you just don't have enough space left to understand and remember all that he said. Please tell me this is true or my own Dear Husband will never believe ME! *lol*
Thanks for the great laughs. Sent your ebay post to many friends and rellies and we all absolutely related. :-)
- September 2, 2007 at 9:55 PM
- Krystina said...
I just love your blog. My family has 7 kids, I'm one of them. 4 girls and 3 boys. I'm sure your shopping trip was much like ours. they had to be family trips cause they took all day, and two FULL grocery carts. Since 4 of us kids have moved out (me included) I'm sure my parents lives have gotten a lot less hectic. I think Baby is adorable, I *love* the chocolate picture. I'll be checking in frequently for updates.
- September 2, 2007 at 9:57 PM
- Merri said...
I feel your pain, Dawn, on the car issue. My 18yo mini-van hit 180,000 miles today. We had the transmission rebuilt this past June, sent it back last week because it wasn't working right. The "guys" (dh's term) at the shop said it was a leak and they'd take care of it. Got it back on Wednesday, and it's shifting even worse than *before* we returned it. Makes you wonder what *kind* of leak they meant, doesn't it?
There went $1300 that I'm not sure we're ever going to benefit from. Add to that the $800 we paid our auto mechanic of 30 years (who really, *really* needs to retire but dh swears we can *trust* him!) to rebuild and recharge our AC system, which *didn't* hold up this summer in the 100+ degree days, and you can tell that I'm ready to chunk this sucker and find something new.
Only problem is this?
Where do we get the $$$$?
Words of wisdom from a mom of 6 to a mom of 5?
(I heard that snicker!)
- September 2, 2007 at 10:00 PM
- Crazymamaof6 said...
hahaha, love that you have done the tubes surgery tons of times too. i have 6 kids. done tubes or some variation 9 times, multiple times per kid, plus adenoids and tonsils 2 times, and just tubes and adenoids 2x.
so glad i am not the only mom out here that has done it so much and doesn't worry about it in the least. i am always giving my friends pep talks about it and how it is no big deal! it is just life in my family! sorry to hear about your van! that rots! and i always hate feeling trapped at home since no one has a car big enough to borrow to go anywhere with everyone! you should upgrade to a club wagon! i love my 15 passenger van, the space to separate every one! is heavenly and you can even get up and walk around in the event somebody needs help in the back or has puked. which of course happens more often than i'd like.
- September 2, 2007 at 11:31 PM
- River said...
When I was married to my first husband we never had a car for very long. Did they fall apart? No. He reneged on the payments and the car(s) was/were repossessed. We managed with public transport and home deliveries for the grocery shopping.
- September 3, 2007 at 1:39 AM
- Rachel said...
When I was a kid I had my tonsils out and my adenoids drained. Just a normal part of growing up. Everyone in my family snores like you wouldn't believe.
Isn't it nice to know that you not only buy recycled but you also use it up completely!??! ;-)
Go you! And good luck on the car stuff.
- September 3, 2007 at 2:09 AM
- Nicholas J. Tapas, MD said...
On behalf of pediatricians everywhere, thank you for keeping it fun and thank you for sticking to the science behind those ear infections!
- September 3, 2007 at 11:43 AM
- Annalea said...
Actually, enlarged tonsils/adenoids and fluid in the ears are signs of allergies . . . and dairy allergies are a big culprit in those types of cases.
We've only had one ear infection with our four kids, and that was when the first was a baby and we hadn't 86'ed the dairy yet. Well, non-cultured dairy. We still use butter, and simple cultured things (raw milk yogurt & cheese, and occasional cottage cheese).
I don't know if this will actually mean anything or not, but it might be worth a shot getting rid of dairy in the 3-yo's diet for a couple weeks. It's sure a lot cheaper than surgery . . . and with a new van on the horizon . . .
Best of luck, whatever you choose!
- September 3, 2007 at 3:54 PM
- jenroberts said...
I've been reading your blog for a couple weeks, and I can't get over the parallels to my own family (despite only having 3 kids at the moment!). It seems that many feel this way as well, but I had to share my van story after reading yours. Ours is about 11 years old, and we've had it for about 8 1/2. We've redone the transmission, and many other things I can't remember (thank goodness for husbands!), but it's paid off, so we've been putting up with quirky little things for a while, even though we keep saying we really need to get a new one since this one is breaking piece by piece. The latest problems were the back door not opening, the driver's side window keep sticking in the all-the-way down position, and more bothersome in late summer, the rear air conditioning vents no longer work. But still, yesterday morning I was thinking that we could probably keep it going for a few more years. Until I was going down the road with the kids at about 45 MPH and the entire passenger side wheel came off!!!! It kept going, but we did not! Like one of your comments said earlier, we always said it was going to fall apart piece by piece. I guess we were right! So we're in the market for a new vehicle too...
- September 3, 2007 at 8:15 PM
- Dawn said...
So funny. I sold Tupperware for 10 years, and now sell Avon. My kids are 16,14,12 and 10, so we are past the young age, but I did do a post not to long ago about the "accidents" in the family. I have visited your blog before, but quite a while ago. I started blogging in June. I hope I can keep it up through the school year. Keep up the good work with your posts.
- September 4, 2007 at 12:44 AM
Ok, for what it's worth, I sent your link to Oprah's website as a suggestion for a future show. I got the obligatory form reply but, you never know...
p.s. Bless you for letting us know about the sick children who need our prayers. Sheila
- September 4, 2007 at 11:25 AM
- March Hare said...
My own DD#2 had sleep apnea as well. Taking out her tonsils and adenoids allowed her to get a full night of sleep (she'd fall asleep while getting dressed for school in the mornings). Improved her attitude and her grades.
My biggest regret is that it took us so long to figure out what the problem was!
- September 5, 2007 at 1:05 PM
Be careful of what you discuss in the car! Ours always seems to hear we have an extra dollar and then it demands to have it spent on it. Whats more when we come home it brags to the car next to it and next thing we know it is demanding its time in the shop as well. And you thought they couldnt hear...
- September 7, 2007 at 12:24 AM
Love your blog, I have seven bro's and sis's so understand your chaos.Somehow in the course of 1 year I went from being a cool dad (kinda of a Einstein/Brad Pitt/Tiger Woods mix) to a Forrest Gump. I have not changed, my son just graduated from middle school to High school freshman and poof! I'm a doofus. Anyway I drive a 20 year old car with 255,000 miles , I work at a cement plant so the car is covered inside and out with gray dust and makes some very loud strange noises. My son is so embarrassed of my car that he makes me drop him off a block from school so nobody sees him in the car. Last week after a very trying morning of him fighting with his sister and his mom I passed the normal "hidden" drop off point and drove right up to the front door of the school and proceeded to help him out of the car (he was hiding on the floorboard)and kissed him on the cheek. I proceeded to get back in the car, lay on horn , rev up the engine and drove off in a cloud of blue smoke. His friends were cheering as I left ! He walks to school now.
- September 7, 2007 at 6:25 AM
- Kate said...
I'll be another person to affirm the dairy theory- I had chronic sinus infections and problems with my tonsils. I stopped eating dairy (except for yogurt)when i was 16 and they completey vanished over a few months. I'm 27 now, and have had only 2 sinus infections since then. Even now, when I eat a grilled cheese or have too much food made with dairy, my ears start itching and i get stuffy. Good luck!
- September 7, 2007 at 10:46 AM
Dawn: As many, if not most of your readers, I first started reading your blog after being alerted to the ebay listing for the Pokemon cards. Your writing style immediatley reminded me of Erma Bombeck (am I dating myself?!?), and I saw in one of your links that your writing has been compared to hers by others as well. As a medical transcriptionist by trade, I also very much appreciate your skills as a writer. Today I started perusing some of the links on your blog to children and families in need of prayer, and the link to Shriner's Hospitals. My daughter, at age 19, was a patient at our local Shriner's Hospital, while in the process of eventually being diagnosed with a somewhat rare neuromuscular autoimmune disease, polymyositis, which is a distant cousin to muscular dystrophy. She is now 26 and is holding her own, so to speak. She's married, and is still able to work full time. She lives life to the fullest each and every day, because the day where she may be confined to a wheelchair is in the not-too-distant future.
I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your links to the pages of such facilities that provide such amazing care to the families that need them.
God bless you, and keep up the amazing work!
- September 7, 2007 at 2:27 PM
- Jenn said...
I JUST found your blog tonight. As I was reading, I read this about the ear thing....
My 4 year old has an ENT appt on Wed about this. His adanoids are huge and the doc thinks it s causing him to not sleep or breathe well. I am kind of nervous, thinking that he will need surgery.
- September 8, 2007 at 10:44 PM


text:
Suspect apparently turned himself in to Kern County Sheriff
A warrant suspect from Ohio apparently turned himself in yesterday to the Kern County Sheriff's Office.
Paul Wayne White, 24, was wanted in Perry County, Ohio, for violating his probation for a 2008 conviction for aggravated vehicular homicide stemming from a crash in 2007.
Perry County Sheriff's investigators asked the Kern County Sheriff's to be on the lookout for White after receiving information he may be in the Taft area, where he has friends and family.
Senior Deputy Josh Nance said Wednesday morning that White had apparently turned himself in.
The Kern County Sheriff's jail website show White was booked into the central receiving facility in Bakersfield yesterday at 2:29 p.m. and is being held without bail on an out-of-state felony warrant.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Yesterday, while enjoying the Oval Lawn, I spotted two couples, together, with two dogs, cute little ones that they were obviously trying to hide from too much public view, as they were all sitting on the lawn. At the same time a couple of male student studs were throwing a football around in the southern portion of the lawn, as if they owned the place. I was thinking that, here we go again, Public Safety after a week of effort is going to drop the ball (no pun intended) and slack off, when, after a while, PS did show up and deal with both situations in a professional manner. Of course, since boys will be boys, as soon as PS was not around, the studs were back throwing their football around, joined by two other studs throwing their own football around. (These guys had also been warned previously.) My impression is that PS took care of this new situation later, but I wasn't present.
I did a rough count of the sunbathers on Saturday, which was a partially cloudy day, and came up with about 100. This means that for events that take place on the Oval Lawn, you can subtract about that amount as people who would, if they're sunbathing, already be there.
Oh, and it was nice to see our new general manager, Sean Sullivan, taking a tour of the Oval Lawn on Thursday.
Seems like there WILL be an oven at Oval Cafe. Oval Study is due next to be "refreshed."
The grapevine states that the Community Center will get shorter hours and that staff has been or will be cut back. Yeah, since there's no profit in it, understandable.
Meanwhile, a blog reader sends in this photo, of what I assume are dry walls: a quick alternative to lath and plaster walls. Up they go, an extra room added, more student bodies per apartment and more rent paid! That's the way it's done!


text:
Sunday, November 4, 2007
It's Not a Party 'til Someone Gets Hurt
Anyway, the party was fine until Savannah fell off the bunk bed. She was sitting on the top bunk, leaning back against the guard rail when the wood snapped and she fell backwards off the top bunk and landed flat on her back on top of the broken wood. It knocked the wind out of her. For the next hour she cried that her chest hurt and she couldn't take normal breaths. I really thought she was just bruised, but how do you know that nothing more serious is wrong? I had my mom, mil, aunt, grandma, and everyone telling me to take her to the ER, so I took her in and they did x-rays and an EKG to make sure her heart wasn't bruised. Everything looked fine. There were no broken bones. She's just bruised and really sore.
Honestly, if I'd had to guess which of my kids would go flying off a bunk bed, I would've put money on Clay. Oh well. It's not a party until some furniture gets broken and someone winds up in the ER, right?
My almost teenage son refused to tell me what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday, so I made him this one...
Yes, it's a bacon cake. Not terribly creative, but the kid likes bacon. What can I say?
This was his cake last year. The most warped version of the Simpsons ever!
Check out the Tuffet, Clinique's personalized bottle of Happy perfume, Pipsqueak shoes, Colour me Family personalized labels, Sugar Britches diapers, and Lillian Grace tutus at Mamaslike!
93 comments:
- Kristin said...
I"m not even going to get my hopes up that I'm first. But all I have to say is wow, you are so creative. If I make my kids a birthday it's a plain cake with the candy lettering for Happy B'day on it. So usually it's a trip to our supermarket bakery. Those are fantastic!
- November 4, 2007 at 11:35 PM
- MissMel said...
I want a bacon birthday!!!!!
Yes, I am a complete stranger, but wanted to tell you thanks for your blog. I love reading your blog because it is like reading my life -- except I have a total of 68 profile views in one year and you have 68,000. Therein lies the difference.
Thanks for helping Mom's like me get through the day with some belly laughs between laundry loads.
- November 4, 2007 at 11:48 PM
- HILLARY said...
Maybe next year he'll tell you what he wants. I love it! Have you seen the Kitty Litter cake? Totally gross but sooo good. I'll send you a picture if you want!
- November 4, 2007 at 11:54 PM
You don't seriously make those cakes do you!!!!????!!! And homemade Halloween costumes? Ugh!! Seriously - good for you!
Oh, and here's something for your blog... The only reason I'm up is b/c my dog-gone smoke detector battery wore out - yes, at quarter to 1 in the morning. You know how they'll just chirp, chirp, chirp along the whole night unless you get up and rip them out of the ceiling or find a working battery to feed them! And of course it goes off right smack in between the times I'm up feeding my baby. Oh, and my toddler was up tonight as well already. Ah, fun...
- November 4, 2007 at 11:54 PM
- Dawn said...
LOL - yes I seriously make those cakes. You should see some of the wedding cakes I've done. :)
Yes, I've seen the kitty litter cakes! I made one for my daughter's class Halloween party last year. They're a little too real looking for me! :O
I'm sorry you're up with the smoke alarm, but I think it's funny that they tell us to change the batteries when we change the clocks and your battery died the day the clocks are changed!
- November 5, 2007 at 12:04 AM
- Rick said...
And I thought the concept of carrot cake was bad. (Vegetables don't belong in cake.)
Puts new meaning to bringing home the bacon.
- November 5, 2007 at 12:08 AM
I see you have crossed the 1.5 million "hit" mark. Congratulations and here's to the next 500,000 towards 2 million.
- November 5, 2007 at 12:20 AM
- Momma Mary said...
Link to Original Simpsons
If you will notice, you didn't do a bad job on the Simpsons Cake, you did an AWESOME job! You just got closer to the "original" Simpsons! :)
- November 5, 2007 at 12:35 AM
- roseys madhouse said...
Wow you said you werent creative........I dont think so????
I could never create anything like those cakes. For birthdays in our house we have icecream cakes lol.
- November 5, 2007 at 12:36 AM
Wow! What awesome cakes! I love the Simpsons one... brilliant! You have to show us your wedding cakes... I'd love to see them. You're obviously very talented.
- November 5, 2007 at 12:53 AM
- Becky said...
Your cakes ROCK, Dawn!! You're pretty handy in the cake decorating department! Show pictures of some of the wedding cakes, too...we wanna see!
Sorry to hear about your daughter getting hurt like that. Hope she's feeling better soon. And birthday blessings to Austin!
- November 5, 2007 at 1:11 AM
- Cerys, UK said...
Thank you for posting the Simpson's cake, I now know what I'm doing for my soon to be 9 year old's birthday cake.
- November 5, 2007 at 3:11 AM
Yesterday must have been a day for accidents....my nephew jumped off the playground equipment and we thought he broke his wrist....after a visit to the ER and XRays...no broken bones.....
Hope Savannah feels better today...that can be quite scary not being able to catch your breath.
I think your cakes look terrific...I just wonder how you find the time to do all this!
- November 5, 2007 at 5:42 AM
- Thehotrod5 said...
I am so sorry about the ER visit...ug....Glas she is ok though besides just being a little banged up.
Your cakes, by the way look awesome! My kids look forward everyyear to going to pick theirs out at walmart...they know their mom is about as creative as a roll of toilet paper. Where did you learn to bake like that? My mom was certainly not a baker (or a cook...but I can now hold my own in that department lol) but I have always wanted to learn.
- November 5, 2007 at 6:01 AM
- suburbancorrespondent said...
Ha! Always assume the kid is fine if they're still talking, right? I can't imagine why we haven't had that accident here yet. Good thing the splintered guard rail broke her fall. Ahem.
Love the cake. I'm still running around trying to find some toy plastic cars to put on my oldest's cake (he turns 16 this week) - because those will be the only cars he gets from us.
- November 5, 2007 at 6:25 AM
- girlymom said...
I give cake makers alot of R-E-S-P-E-C-T!!! You are a truly talently person. I don't know how you find the time, it must be a mom of lots of children thing, my mother in law has seven children and makes all the bday cakes around here. It was a fun party when we had a Carebear cake that was chocolate with orange frosting- everyone's teeth were pretty scary, we had fun with it! Happy Birthday to your teen!!
- November 5, 2007 at 6:46 AM
- Julie said...
My 10 year old would LOVE LOVE LOVE a bacon cake! She seriously would eat a whole pound of bacon if I'd let her...
I recently became mom to a teenager, too, so I feel your pain! LOL (Anyone who wants to read about it, click my name...) Thanks for the laughs!! Glad to know your daughter will be okay!
- November 5, 2007 at 6:49 AM
- Sleeping Mommy said...
I should get that bacon cake recipe so I can make it for my husband. He loves him some bacon.
And as far as the party, in my experience all the best parties involved a trip to the ER for someone so you must throw a hell of a party!
- November 5, 2007 at 6:55 AM
- Melissa Garrett said...
Ouch ~ falling off the bunkbed! Glad there are no serious injuries.
The Simpsons cake is absolutely fantastic, but never in my life have I seen a bacon-themed cake. Truly original ;-)
- November 5, 2007 at 7:16 AM
- The Beehive said...
That bacon cake is so funny! I have a vegephobe, so it would be ideal for him lol! The very same vegephobe also manages birthday specialities and two years ago managed to land up in the ER after impaling his head on a nail jumping on the bed!! I love parties me!!!!!! (NOT!)
- November 5, 2007 at 7:21 AM
- Lucille said...
Wow woman - you continue to amaze me! YOU MADE those cakes? And I thought you said you had no Martha Stewart in you? I was proud of myself for unpacking a suitcase on the same day we got back from a trip! Geesh!
Glad your daughter is OK. They really are tougher then we are, aren't they? Can you IMAGINE if you fell from that height?
Happy Monday!
- November 5, 2007 at 7:24 AM
- Tamara said...
So I have enjoyed your blog immensely! I used to nanny for a family of 8 and I can totally related to much of what you say - especially the "hovering" from a few posts ago. The bacon cake is great. I'm in awe of the bacon cake! That's awesome.
- November 5, 2007 at 7:28 AM
- Brenda said...
I a friend whose son talks about bacon all of the time. It is weird but kids are weird. I need to send her the address to your blog so she can see that cake! I'm glad your daughter is ok. The Simpson cake is cute. I buy cakes. NOT creative.
- November 5, 2007 at 7:33 AM
Can you please share how you made the "bacon"? What is it made out of? My fiance loves bacon, seriously to the point of a joke, and I think this would be hilarious.
I love your blog. I sent it to my dad to see if it reminded him of when us kids were growin up (he has 5). Thanks for sharing!
- November 5, 2007 at 7:44 AM
I love your blog! I read it everyday.
How did you make the bacon look like real bacon?
My son also likes bacon, he likes it so much that when he came home from school, my father-in-law was here and ask him "how was school today"? My son says "good"
"I like bacon" needless to say my father-in-law was speechless!
Thanks for the laughs you give me daily!
- November 5, 2007 at 8:25 AM
- A Whole Lot of Nothing said...
I'm hiring you to bake my cakes from now on. I want a fried egg cake.
- November 5, 2007 at 8:28 AM
- Jen said...
A bacon cake!?! Now I really have seen everything!
- November 5, 2007 at 8:31 AM
- Stella said...
mmmmm bacon!
I am totally doing a breakfast themed party for my kids this year! No more Elmo...can't stand how the red icing stains my hands!
- November 5, 2007 at 8:50 AM
- Faith said...
My husband would love a bacon cake! Personally, I think that it was rather creative; I know I wouldn't have thought to make it!
- November 5, 2007 at 8:55 AM
- Melissa said...
I want to know how the heck you made that bacon! That is the coolest cake. The Simpson's cake looks good, too. Where in the world do you find time?
I hope Savannah is feeling better today. Do you feel like you'll ever get through a party without having to head to the ER?
- November 5, 2007 at 8:58 AM
- lisanne said...
I have *never* seen a bacon cake before! That's hilarious! I love me some bacon, too! :D Happy birthday to him! I can't get over that Simpsons cake. INCREDIBLE!!! I sure hope that your daughter feels better soon. I remember falling off my bathroom sink when I was a kid (I was climbing up to see in the mirror). Fell straight on my back and got the wind knocked out of me. Thought that I was dying, hehe :)
- November 5, 2007 at 9:05 AM
- Michelle said...
A bacon cake?! That is neat. I want one! Can you be my mom? LOL
- November 5, 2007 at 9:15 AM
- Liza's Eyeview said...
Oh my gosh Dawn, those cakes are great! love it!
- November 5, 2007 at 9:17 AM
- Cyndy said...
Well, my son is just a year behind yours...I made him a mars (as in the planet) cake and forgot to take a picture. ;< Oh, well. I will be reading faithfully to see how the thirteenth year goes...it will give me an idea of what to expect!
- November 5, 2007 at 9:41 AM
I don't do fondant, but I do make fun, home made cakes. I've made a "choo choo", a caterpillar, a helicopter, a space ship, a robot and the Earth. My favorite was the request for the space ship. Stumped as to how to make it, I finally had him (3yo) draw one. What he made looked more like a flying saucer, so I baked in a Bundt pan, put a paper bowl on top of the hole, frosted it all white, then added M&M's in a circle around the bowl. Easy and cute! For a robot I just pulled out every baking pan I have and told him to make them into a robot on the floor. I made cakes in all of them and then reassembled his pattern. Maybe he's really just more creative than me!
- November 5, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Okay, I'm impressed. How can I bake such a cake?
Since I'm not really talented I would just take bacon, a lot of meat and a littlebit white paint to rebuild your cake...
- November 5, 2007 at 10:31 AM
I'd never heard of a Kitty Litter cake before so I checked it out on the net. That is so GROSS! I told my husband about it though and he thought it was pretty funny. I'll have to remember it for next Halloween! Love your cakes. I like to decorate my own, but they never look that good.
Deb in OPKS
- November 5, 2007 at 10:43 AM
I agree with everyone! Darling cakes! And I think you need to share with us how you made the "bacon". That is hysterical!
- November 5, 2007 at 10:49 AM
- Jen said...
I'll take 14 of those bacon cakes please. That is so cute! And now I crave bacon. Damn pregnancy cravings.
- November 5, 2007 at 10:49 AM
- Heidi said...
Those are fantastic cakes! I had no idea it was possible to make "bacon" and people. I'm so impressed!
- November 5, 2007 at 11:20 AM
My oldest son fell off the top bunk on St. Patricks day about 4 years ago. We were right in the middle of remodeling our home and all three of my kids were in one room.( yes, it was crowded.) I came running into the room, after beening woken from a deep sleep, to seeing blood all over his face, arms, and hands. The other two kids were only 3 and 4 and completely freaked out and crying. My bleeding son was like -"cool, I'm okay, I'm okay". I took him into the bathroom and started cleaning up the blood - starting at his hands, arms, chin... looked into his mouth and saw one front tooth sideways and the other M.I.A. I got completely dizzy and told my Husband to take over. I walked down the hall, my knees locked up and all I remember was seeing both my husband and son staring at me with the funniest schocked expressions on their faces as I passed out while stumbling back pass the bathroom. My Son was fine other than loosing his two front teeth prematurely. When it comes to my kids, my husband has to handle the major bleeding accidents. They all tease me and love to hear the story of when mommy passed out when Big Brother fell out of bed and how funny it would have been if I too, had knocked out my teeth! Thank God I didn't and that neither of our children were seriously injured. Love your blog.
- November 5, 2007 at 12:05 PM
- Sarah R said...
Wow - the cakes are impressive. I wish I were that talented!
- November 5, 2007 at 12:12 PM
- Loth said...
Love the bacon cake! I sometimes find it is better not to ask what cake they want. When my son was 7 he was into Egyptology and decided he wanted a Tutenkhamun cake. Took us 3 days.
- November 5, 2007 at 12:31 PM
WOW.. I never put 2 and 2 toegether! My Austin turns 13 in a couple weeks! Not looking forward to those "teen years"!
Great cakes!
- November 5, 2007 at 12:34 PM
I have 5 kids (4 boys and a girl). Whenever someone asks me how the family is, my usual reply is "Well, we haven't been to the emergency room in 4 weeks, so we're doing OK!"
- November 5, 2007 at 12:38 PM
wow!! you have ALOT of creativity. (sp?) They both look great. (I noticed you even put Homer's Duff Beer can!
- November 5, 2007 at 12:44 PM
- Lizzy in the Burbs said...
Hi Dawn,
Great work on the cakes! (Is the bacon made from "fruit by the foot"?) Also, glad your daughter is alright, must have been pretty scary!
I have a shoe update for you!! Look at the sales add from Dick's Sporting Goods from yesterday's paper. They have "winter" Crocks!! It says they have synthetic fur lining that is removable and washable, too cool!
- November 5, 2007 at 12:51 PM
- My Semblance of Sanity said...
WOW Dawn, you could go to work for The ACE OF CAKES...he would LOVE you!!!
:)He's from the food network!
Hope Savannah is feeling better today - what a scare! I would have freaked!!
We had our first broke bone and our first SEVERE food allergy...that was enough stress to last me until their weddings!!!
- November 5, 2007 at 12:57 PM
- courtcourt said...
LOVE the bacon cake! How original!
- November 5, 2007 at 1:10 PM
- SierraValleyMom said...
Great cakes!!! Thanks for your blog and information on blogging. I just found your blog a couple of days ago and I love reading all of your posts! Thanks for being an inspiration to write. I know that most people will not have an experience like you have, but just writing for the sake of writing is good, too. I have started a blog (never thought I would before I saw yours!) and I will see where it leads. I have been thinking about writing for a while, but had no idea where to begin. And with a two year old and an almost one year old, I really don't think I can't really rent a cabin in the woods and bring a typewriter and write the next great American novel! Even without the babies, that seems pretty unlikely! So blogging seems like a good place to start. Thanks again for what you are doing! I am know you are an encouragement and inspiration to countless women (and probably men too!)
- November 5, 2007 at 1:10 PM
- sara said...
I came across a link to your Pokemon cards listing and linked to it on my blog too... just like it's linked on the friend of a friend of friend of mine's where I saw it originally... who knew something like that could end up making you famous!
Love the cakes -- I always go all out on my kids' cakes too!
- November 5, 2007 at 1:18 PM
- Liz said...
First off, happy birthday to Austin! Hope his first year as a teenager is wonderful for him!
Your story about what happened to Savannah is just proof positive for me that bunk beds and birthday parties mix about as well as brake fluid and bleach! (FYI...don't try that for real folks, okay?!?) Two years ago Trey was rocking on the top bunk of his bed and the whole thing COLLAPSED!! This is a metal bunk frame we're talking here! I was never so thankful my little guys weren't in bed...and that none of the other kids were in the bottom bunk, either! Luckily no one was hurt!
Your cakes look awesome! I can bake, but I really have nothing to offer in the artistic department. That's where my sister comes in ;o)
Have a great one!!
- November 5, 2007 at 1:30 PM
- Stacie said...
Oh my goodness...I hope that your daughter is feeling better. I can't imagine how sore she is today!
A bacon cake? that is GREAT, I hope he loved it. :) Happy birthday to Austin, 13, wow.
- November 5, 2007 at 1:59 PM
- Daina said...
I LOVE the bacon cake!!!!But I'm a huge fan of bacon:)I second (or third) the idea of putting up pictures of your wedding cakes! I make my son's b-day cakes, but they're lucky to get something resembling balloons on them:(
- November 5, 2007 at 2:00 PM
- Lizzy in the Burbs said...
OOPS! About the shoes, I meant to say "crocs", not crocks - like having my feet warm and cozy, but wearing crockpots for shoes would be a bit extreme. :0 doh!
- November 5, 2007 at 2:23 PM
Our family motto is "It isn't a vacation without a trip to the emergency room". My "baby" is now 21 years old...but some things never change.
- November 5, 2007 at 2:30 PM
- Rachel said...
I'm impressed. My 4 year old actually thought that I knew how to make a pirate ship cake when his birthday rolled around. I convinced him that a store bought cake would be much prettier.
I grew up with 3 brothers and no celebration was complete without a trip to the emergency room. My parents started rotating hospitals because they were so embarrassed and how often they ended up there. Now I'm going to have three boys and I'm dreading the ER trips as they get older.
- November 5, 2007 at 2:47 PM
- Angie said...
Just a quick comment to say that bacon cake has got to be the most hilarious and most creative thing I have ever, ever seen, in all my nearly 30 years.
I hope Savannah is feeling better! That must have been so scary for her, and you.
- November 5, 2007 at 3:00 PM
LOVE LOVE LOVE the bacon cake!!! The Simpsons cake is really cool!
My Mom also used to make the most fantastic cakes. She would make them for us and all of my cousins, that added up to about 18 a year. The most memorable was when I was 4, and she made the cutest little school house cake. I loved it, but apparently it was a major pain to make, and then when she cut it at my party, it fell apart. She vowed NEVER to make another school house cake. She would get mad at us every time we mentioned it. When my son (the first grandchild) turned 3, my brother got him to ask Grandma for a school house cake, and of course, she made it for him. It fell apart as she was making it, and so he ended up with a train cake. (six small cakes made in loaf pans, arranged in a circle attatched with licorice, and decorated with candy to look like a train. Way cute!)
I also rember being at my cousin's birthday parties, (when we were kids;-) and inventing games that included flipping off the top of the bunk beds. We would also go in a room, turn off the lights, crawl around in the dark, and head butt each other, and we would slide backwards down the carpeted stairs, so we all had rug burns on our tummies. Really, I'm surprised that any of us survived these family gatherings.
Glad to hear your daughter is O.K.
I'm anxious to see how this whole teenager thing works for you. Our oldest just turned 12, so we have another year.
Love you blog, it gives me some much needed laughter in my day!!
- November 5, 2007 at 3:28 PM
- Kandy Seaton Smith said...
Your cakes are amazing! I'm laughing so hard at the bacon cake...my 13 year old son loves bacon too...hmmm. Did you use fruit by the foot or fruit rollups or something?
- November 5, 2007 at 3:49 PM
- Matchbox Mom said...
Good luck with the teenager!
Oh so sorry to hear about your little lady falling off of the bunkbed. Poor kid!
I hope the rest of the day was good! You're right...it's not a party til someone gets hurt!
- November 5, 2007 at 4:33 PM
- Jenn said...
my web has a few pictures of the one I jsut did. http://dragonfly.kenaiwriter.net/
I enjoy doing cakes as well. yours is wonderful. both of them. I am so impressed how easy is fondu to use? one thing I haven't ventured into yet.
- November 5, 2007 at 4:55 PM
You are super creative. My mom was super creative too. One day I hope to be like her when it comes to my son and his siblings (whenever I have them:) b-days.
- November 5, 2007 at 5:58 PM
You are super creative. My mom was a super creative woman too who made sure that our b-days were special like this too. I only remember Strawberry Shortcake though. I hope that one day when my son and his siblings (whenever I have more) have b-days that they are just as special too. I typed a comment earlier but forgot to put my name so I had to retype and I elaborated on it:)
- November 5, 2007 at 6:00 PM
- Kimmykay said...
I LOVE your cakes. my oldest is turning 13 in February and he would love both of those cakes. LOL. Thanks for the smiles.
- November 5, 2007 at 6:15 PM
- Kelli said...
Talk about technology challenged, it took me 10 minutes to figure out how to post a comment! Dawn, I am a faithful reader of your Blog and truly enjoy reading about your parenting challenges and successes. I have to say you inspore me to try to not take this motherhood thing so seriously all the time. Sometiems you just have to find the humor in cleaning up puke or you will go crazy! The reason I am writing today is because I am the mother of two premature babies. My frist child was born at 24 weeks weighing just one pound and 8 oucnes. He is now 7 years old and doing very well. My daughter was born at 34 weeks with a blood disorder. My husband and I credit the March of Dimes for the lives of both of our children and are now active volunteers for the organizaiton. I wanted you to know that November is Prematurity Awareness month. Currently one out of every eight babies born in the US is born too soon, too small. Many have to fight to survive and many go on to lead lives full of challenges. The March of Dimes is at the forefront of the fight against premature birth. I was hoping you might share with your readers that November is Prematurity Awareness Month and direct them to the March of Dimes Website for more inforamtion www.marchofdimes.com. The March of Dimes offers an online support group for all parents who have experienced prematurity or a baby born with birth defects. I wrote a story about my experience with premature birth that I would be honored to share with you if you would be interested in receiving it. I am truly blessed to have both of my children -- they are nothing less than miracles (as are all babies). Part of my thanksgiving for my children is educating others about prematurity and helping those that are now experiencing the tragedy of a baby born too soon. Thanks Dawn for helping me find the humor and beauty in my job as a mom. You came along at just the right time! Best wishes, Kelli
- November 5, 2007 at 7:39 PM
- Patty said...
Love the cakes! Happy birthday to your oldest! Welcome to the club, you know the one titled "Moms of teenagers." It only gets more stressful from here. ;)
- November 5, 2007 at 7:53 PM
You = completely talented. Who would ever come up with the idea of a bacon cake? Just think of what he will say when he is older... "yeah, my mom made me a bacon cake for my birthday one year..."
- November 5, 2007 at 7:58 PM
Hi Dawn!
I really enjoy your blog! I'm a Mom of 5 and I can SO relate!
Just wanted to say hi since my oldest is turning 13 this week also! Her B-day is tomorrow, so I'm off to the store to buy the cake ingredients and the snack to take to school (ice cream bars!)
Happy 13th, Austin!
- November 5, 2007 at 8:26 PM
- onthegomom said...
I am simply amazed by your 'bacon' cake. That is utterly the most creative cake I have seen. My daughter LOVES LOVES LOVES bacon, she could probably eat a pound herself (and she is almost 10 and skinny as a rail). I will have to show her the cake and she if she wants a 'bacon' birthday :)
Glad to hear your daughter is okay. We always call it a successfull party if no one ends up in ER, in our family.
- November 5, 2007 at 8:43 PM
- Lisa said...
Welcome to the Parents Of Teens club. I've been a member for a whole week and a half now. I'm a little nervous about the new stage in our lives. But, I am going to remain confident that my son will not be like every other teenage boy in America. lol
Still enjoying your blog!
- November 5, 2007 at 9:01 PM
- Rainne said...
How did you make the bacon? My best friend LOVES bacon more than anything in the world, and I would love to make her this cake for her next birthday.
Wenatchee, WA
- November 5, 2007 at 9:31 PM
- Sassy said...
When my son had his 15th birthday party in August, I thought it was a really great idea to go to the dollar store to get him, his 5 friends, and his girlfriend ninja sets, which consisted of fake nunchucks, swords, and throwing stars. Within 15 minutes of the kids arriving, one of them had broken his toe. He had to have his toenail removed. How gross is that???!!! I felt really bad, but it seemed like a good idea at the time!
- November 5, 2007 at 10:19 PM
- Manic Mom said...
OK! I am freaking out at how awesome those cakes are!! They are amazing! And a bacon cake--who woulda thunk it? My Tukey LOVES bacon too.
And simpsons... What'd it taste like? Duff beer and donuts... D'oh!!!
I still can't believe you are mom-to-six, a writer, blogger, wife, and incredible baker too!
So many talents!
I'm waiting for you to sneak on by, or any of your readers, so you can play Minute With Manic!!!
- November 5, 2007 at 10:29 PM
- Brooke said...
Can you make me a donut cake???
- November 5, 2007 at 10:51 PM
- nutralady2001 said...
This is a comment to a comment.....Melissa of the cricket chirping smoke alarm battery
Years ago I turned the house upsidedown trying to find this noise....I emptied drawers convinced there was a cricket in one of them , it didn't matter what room I was in, it was there ( and we had a big house) I tapped pipes, listened up the chimney I was at the point of ringing the plumber/the electrician/anyone who'd rid me of the noise I was even willing to drag in strangers off the street (almost) I'm lying there at 2.00am "chirp" chirp" suddenly had a flash of brilliance ( I do get them from time to time) I got up got the ladder ( old house/ high ceilings you even needed a ladder to change the light bulbs) climbed up and ripped the little stinker out of the casing
Oh did I mention the house was also populated by one husband and 3 children (OK 2 of them were fairly young I'll let them off) and they didn't have a clue either?
I'm glad Savannah is OK and I gotta ask....that isn't really bacon is it? Knew I shouldn't have asked :))
- November 6, 2007 at 12:21 AM
Hi Dawn! This is my first comment, but I have been a long time "lurker". I found your blog by way of your Pokemon auction which had me in tears (and I don't even have kids yet!) and I look forward to reading your daily posts. Glad to hear Savannah is ok....that story reminded me of something that happened a LONG time ago that I thought you might get a kick out of (and keep in the back of your mind in case your kids argue about who gets the top and/or bottom bunk). I am the oldest of 3 kids....when the youngest came along my sister and I were forced to share a room with a bunk bed. Because we always argued about who got the top and/or bottom, the solution was that we would switch periodically (don't remember if it was every week, other week, month or what). Needless to say, one morning when my alarm clock went off to wake me for school, I rolled over to hit the snooze button but hit the floor (and the dresser) on my way down....obviously forgetting that we had "switched" the night before! Imagine being in high school and later going to the nurses office complaining of a headache because you fell out of your bunk bed!! ha Anyway, keep up the good work - you are loved by your loyal readers! Can't wait for your book!
- November 6, 2007 at 1:12 AM
you're a pastry chef and artist too??
This way more than I can handle. I'll be sending you my "Domestic Goddess" tiara.
Wear it proudly, you deserve it.
- November 6, 2007 at 5:53 AM
I sure wish I had time to do a personal cake. That bacon cake is awesome! With 12 of our 16 kids living at home, I am doing well to get the cupcakes made for the school, so we opt to get them an ice cream cake, and I don't feel so bad, because they love those! More about our family at:
- November 6, 2007 at 8:27 AM
- Kathy said...
How do you do it? Six kids and you have time to make cakes?! Wow, my kids get cakes from Wal-mart. If I'm lucky and remember to order in advance, they might get a homemade one from a friend who makes cakes! Great job, especially the Simpsons cake. Happy birthday to Austin and I'm sorry to hear Savannah got hurt!
- November 6, 2007 at 8:34 AM
I cringed when I read your story about the bunk bed drop off. When I was 10ish, my three other younger brothers and I decided we had enough of our older brothers' bullying, so we took his bed apart. Mechanical geniuses that we were we unscrewed every screw on that bed and carefully put it back together so that when he sat on it, it was crash on top of him. And yes we did have parents living in the same home.
Unfortunetly, my brother did not sit on the bed, but my dad did and it crashed on him.
- November 6, 2007 at 9:14 AM
- Lindsy said...
I thought it was a creative cake! Seriously, how many kids can say they've had a BACON cake??
It was my oldest son't birthday 2 weeks ago and he had a "burger and fries" cake....aka yellow cake buns, brownie "burger" and sugar cookie "fries"....everyone at his party was wondering why the candle was in the hamburgers...ha ha ha ha...fooled them!
- November 6, 2007 at 9:28 AM
- Me, Michele Ruth, and I !! said...
Okay, the bacon cake is brilliant! I love it! My daughter is a bacon-freak but I don't think I could ever make a bacon cake. She does however have bacon adhesive bandages for her cuts (there's a wacky store in Seattle that sells all kinds of stuff like that). My kids are lucky if I make them cupcakes with lopsided, lumpy frosting. Cake-decorating is not one of my skills. Great job, Dawn!
- November 6, 2007 at 10:33 AM
- Rachel said...
You totally jinxed me! My youngest fell off the top bunk last night and busted his nose all to heck! Another late night in the ER for this mommy...
- November 6, 2007 at 11:00 AM
I love the Bacon Cake.
Are you familiar with Comedian Jim Gaffigan, he does a lot of stuff about his love of bacon. Here's his Cafepress store, funny bacon stuff. http://www.cafepress.com/jimgaffigan/2746089
- November 6, 2007 at 11:01 AM
- HeyItsBeej said...
Courtney turned 14 last week - on Halloween. I feel (have felt) your impending teenagehood pain! :::insert music of doom and peril:::
- November 6, 2007 at 11:22 AM
i just thought i would point out that your simpsons characters remind me of the wallace and gromit characters! awesome job, you are soooo creative!!! :o)
- November 6, 2007 at 3:38 PM
- annieck said...
Love the bacon cake! I think that is super creative!!!
I'm enjoying your life. Thanks for sharing!
- November 6, 2007 at 3:50 PM
- JO said...
A bacon cake - very creative. The best I've ever done is a Bunny Cake when my son's birthday fell on easter. You win.
I love your blog. I have 5 kids too and live among totaly chaos - teens and triplets - and coincidentially, I happened to mention bacon in my blog today (newbie here). Bacon has absolutely no redeeming value - LOL.
Keep up the good work.
- November 6, 2007 at 3:56 PM
- Nicki said...
Those cakes are very creative! Much better than I would even attempt! I'm glad your little girl is okay. That's really scary.
- November 6, 2007 at 5:40 PM
- Shelley said...
The cakes are great! Just think, you could even combine those two, and Homer says "Mmmmm...bacon!"
- November 6, 2007 at 8:40 PM
- The Birthday Party Lady said...
Bacon cake! I love it!!!
- November 6, 2007 at 10:32 PM
- Just Jaime said...
The cake is perfect! Thank you so much, you've inspired me to make a bacon cake for my husband's birthday. Too funny!
- November 7, 2007 at 11:35 AM