First Day Of School Cakes {Tradition}

When we were stationed in VA I had the pleasure of meeting and becoming close friends with Sharon of Mama's A Mess. On the first day of school she would make her eldest daughter a cake with the current school grade decorated on it. Watching year after year the progression and changes in her daughter was beautiful. I then decided when the girls started Kindergarten I wanted to bring that first day of school tradition into our home.

So every year since Kindergarten I make a cake, decorate it and then when the girls get home we snap a picture. It has only been a few years since starting the tradition but the girls remember it and plan what flavor of cake and frosting they want well before school starts.

This year with the big moved a week before school started I decided to make it easier on myself and to make mini cupcakes in the shape of this years school grade. Plus I really didn't want and my waistline doesn't need two full double layer cakes in my fridge. 

So far I have seen the most change in C but she is the oldest and has had two more years of cakes then M. It is just such a fun tradition and I look forward to it each year just as much as the girls do.

Hindenburg Disaster, Avon by the Sea and Apple Picking?

Visiting the Hindenburg crash site

What does the Hindenburg, the beach and apple picking have in common? It is how we spent our weekend! If you follow me on Instagram then you already knew the answer and if you don't...well why not?? My mom flew in from California on Thursday evening for a two week visit. It is perfect timing because we are trying to explore this new place we live in so she gets to come along for the ride.

Memorial plaque

Hindenburg Hanger

Hubby, mom and I went to visit the Hindenburg site at Lakehurst on Friday while the kids were in school. There was a nice memorial on the ground, nothing fancy. It was pretty cool being on the site and seeing the gigantic hanger where the Hindenburg as created and housed.

1936

 Hindenburg Disaster 1937

Saturday was hot and humid so we made a run down to Avon by the Sea. It was our first time there and it is a beautiful beach and boardwalk. We didn't spend a lot of time because quickly we noticed a huge storm coming over the beach. 

Thanks to all the rain on Saturday the temperature was much cooler for Sunday. So we headed out to the local orchard to pick peaches and apples. It has been a few years since we picked our own fruits and it is always a fun family day. The peaches were the size of soft balls and the Honeycrisp apples are divine! The family has requested I make the take and carry apple pies I blogged about HERE back in 2011.

So far it looks like New Jersey is going to be a fun duty station for us. Lots of things to do, very close to the ocean and the local produce is everywhere. 

Congratulations MGySgt Now It is Time To PCS - USMC - E9

Once again our family has had many changes happen over the past few months. The biggest of the year is that hubby pinned on Master Gunnery Sergeant earlier this month! I am so proud of him. Almost 24 years in the United States Marine Corps what a wonderful way for him to end his career. The man is old school Marine Corps. Works hard, always watches out for the welfare of his Marines and will do anything to help them succeed in their own careers.

His Unit held a great ceremony for him on drill weekend and his LtCol flew in from CA so he could be the one to pin him.

LtCol did some research and found that 0.4% of Marines actually make it to the rank of E9 and even fewer actually go the route of MGySgt. Wow!

The girls did a great job video recording the whole ceremony....

Hubby giving one of his "unique" motivation speeches..."as your carrier progress through this Wyoming Valley of the shadow of the death, have no fear, for you occupy this valley and the shadow is yours. OORAH"

Two weeks after this day the true chaos started. The packers came to our house, the movers followed behind and we PCS'd from our home of three years in PA to a new home and duty station in NJ!! That's right we are already gone. We are on day 3 in our new home and it is starting to settle down. I still have a lot to organize and the girls start their new school next week. This will be our final adventure as hubby is at the top of his career. Two short years and we will be moving once again but it will be to our forever home. Can't wait!

Hello Kitty Ice Cream Social Birthday Party

This past Saturday was my C's 8th birthday party! I can not believe how fast 8 years have just flown by and even more I can not believe she is almost as tall as me already..lol. Normally I take a few months to plan and purchase items for the girls parties but this year I had only two weeks..eek! C could not decide on a theme for this year, she kept going back to the Candy Shoppe theme we did last year.

Finally she decided on a birthday smashup..Hello Kitty and Ice cream, sounds like a good mix to me! With only two weeks to plan this party, my first stop was of course Pinterest for ideas!

Sugar cones stuffed with cotton candy and formed into an ice cream top. Wrapped in cone shaped bags.

I saw a Pin about ice cream cone cupcakes which were adorable but with my time, I needed something similar. So I took the cone idea and instead of baking cupcakes in them, I stuffed glazed cake doughnut holes inside. I then piped vanilla frosting to look like a soft serve and topped with sprinkles. They were a hit!!!

From Etsy I ordered these adorable Ice Cream Party Printables from Little Apples Design. They were the perfect match in color and style for our theme.

Party setup. This is why the girls have been wanting the birthday parties at home, because we have access to the best bouncy ever!

C sun bathing, waiting for her guests.

Surprise, here comes M!

C got many presents from her wonderful friends but the one I loved the most was from my girlfriend Mandy of Little Lady Accessories. She knows how much I adore her handmade items so she made C this stunning infinity scarf and matching headband.

Apparently with all the kids running around, bouncing, swinging, screaming and high on sugar someone called the popo. Just kidding! My girlfriends husband is a State Trooper and my girls adore him. He couldn't make the party because he was on duty but being the sweetheart he is, he stopped by to say hello and wish C a happy birthday..awww.

It was a fabulous party! C had a great time and her friends had a blast as well. Could not ask for a better day then this!

Family Fun - Knoebels

Last weekend was opening weekend for Knoebels and we just had to go. Knoebels is a fabulous family amusement park with one of the oldest wooden roller coasters still in use. It is free to park and free admission. You pay for the rides you want by buying a book of tickets or getting an all day pass hand stamp. I really like how they do that so if you have little ones who only like a few rides, your not paying out the wallet for an all day passes.

They absolutely have everything for every age.  Shows, live music, rides and a water park. Here are some of our family favorites...

 High up in the ferris wheel 

 What little girl doesn't love the carousel?

Train ride, with a real working steam engine train!

Family day is not complete with out a soft serve twist! Oh and p.s., the food at Knoebels is amazing! Better than you would expect for an amusement park.

The ski lift..going up...

View of the park from the ski lift

War games

We have only been to Knoebels a few times since we moved here but it has quickly become one of our favorite family get away places. From our town it is almost a two hour drive and so worth it! Knoebels is a great family friendly place to spend the day or even camp for the weekend.