The Big 3!!!!

Yesterday was Francesca's birthday. I can't believe she is three years old already! She had no idea what a birthday was about, but she clearly loved all the attention. She received her very first birthday card from Grandpa and Mema.

Catherine did great with NOT being the center of attention.

Though everyone once in a while, she did have to jump in front of the camera to take back center stage.

She got a balloon from Theresa.....

and a delicious dinner.....thank you Theresa.

I am kind of famous (at least in my own mind) for my creative birthday cakes, however, I was really tempted to just buy a cake for Francesca. After all, what kind of creative cake could I make for a three year old whose hobby is eating....wait a minute.......

An idea began to build......

“It requires a certain kind of mind to see beauty in a hamburger bun.”
Ray Kroc, creator of the McDonald's franchise

Well, I must have that certain kind of mind.....ta-da, the hamburger cake, for the girl who loves food! The "meat" was made with a brownie and the buns were yellow cake.

I am kind of neurotic about using red food dyes and I didn't want to use a lot of icing, so the "cheese slices" were made out of cantaloupe....carefully cut by Carol.

The pickles were Kiwi slices.

The mustard was icing; we had to have some icing! Notice the crazy, hyper kids in the background.

We thought we could use green icing to make lettuce, but it just didn't look right. Hmmmm.....what do to with all the extra icing?

We just couldn't let perfectly good icing go to waste!

Carol, really, really liked the icing!

Victoria, meanwhile, was trying to open up her own bottle of cavity causing goo. Yummy!

What to do about this darn lid?

When all else fails, scream!!!

The girls decided to get all dressed up.

We really know how to party around here!

Francesca loved getting her "own" baby doll, one that will not be snatched away by a nameless pixie.

Only a month to Anastasia's birthday! That's one of the great things about having a big family, we have lots of opportunities to have cake!


Happy Birthday sweet Francesca!!! We are so glad that you are home with us!