I'm behind...but...

We all have those weeks.  This past week was a busy one for me, and I wasn't as attentive with my blog as I would have liked to be.  Appointments here, appointments there, CT Scan here, poke and prod there, driving kids places.  A day in the life of Mom!   BUT...the best part of the week was Ethan's 14th birthday.   C'mon, who could resist this face? 

OK, so it was taken in August of '10.  This was the day he got his cell phone.  I caved.  With after school sports, getting stuck places, it was his time.  He received a 'no nonsense' phone, but at least we remained connected.  Their Dad and I didn't cave on things early.  He didn't get into video games, nor were they allowed in the house until only a few years ago.  Now he has an iPod.  We are in the technological age officially.

He loves music.  He is a writer.  (Majors in creative writing where he goes to school)  His mind is always moving.  He loves to cook.  He loves to hang with Mom. He loves to play soccer, skateboard, tennis, and bowl.  He gets good grades and is liked by most.  He is sensitive, caring, loving, and kind.  On the day he came to be, I felt like I had known him my entire life.  "Here we go, ", I said to the little face trying to open his eyes to look around and check out the person with whom he shared a body with.   He was a great baby, a great toddler and is an amazing teenager.  My baby. 

He has evolved to loving meat. And his palate is becoming adventurous.  A new phenomenon, actually, but I will not argue it.  Last night we went to a place called "Sticky Lips" for dinner.  New to all of us that sat around the table.  One was missed, though.  His sister couldn't be with us because she could not get time away from work.  (The ONLY reason for this, is that she is leaving on a school trip to Europe soon and will be gone for awhile.)  She is spending Sunday with him solo.  Just the two of them, so she can treat him to some fun. I like that they can do that together.

The memorabilia in this place was so much fun.  Cards on the ceiling, old 50's posters of gas stations, BBQ joints, Route 66 signs.  You get the picture.  The food was awesome.  BBQ at it's best.  Your clothing smelled like smoke as you departed the restaurant, but you didn't care because despite wiping you hands on a wet nap, your hands still smelled of something resembling what you had just consumed.  I'm sure there are better places just as yummy, but this was his night.  And we celebrated.  I even made the cake from scratch.  (My pictures didn't come out , darn it.) Vanilla cake, custard filling, whipped cream frosting.  Delicious.  Filling.  Probably gave everyone a sugar high for the rest of the weekend.

So, today is part two.  Bowling party and then a few boys sleeping over.  Ethan makes good choices in friends.  They are his brothers.  They laugh, play games, watch silly movies and probably tell tales of who knows what when I'm not around. 

I love the person he is and the young man he is becoming.

I love the voice changing.  I embrace everything he is.  He makes my memories shine.

Even when he was Spiderman in Pre-Kindergarten and it was pajama day. 



Happy Birthday, my 14 year old. 

I love you.

Mom.

So, the cake I made was from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.  It's probably on your shelf.  Custard is standard and whipped cream...you can do it.  That was his cake. 

As for a BBQ marinade, here is one that was a success in our house recently:

We put it on chicken. 

Marinade 1 for Chicken

1/2 cup of ketchup

1/4 c. balsamic vinegar

2 Tbs. brown sugar

Minced garlic to your liking  (I used a couple of cloves)

4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Dashes of Red Hot or Tabasco.  Whatever your preference and heat level

2 tsp Dijon mustard (I added more, because I wanted more)

2 tsp paprika

2 tsp chili powder

(I also added some honey mustard for a tad more sweetness)

*Play with it, add more vinegar for more tartness or more ketchup for sweetness)

Marinate for at least an hour before cooking.  Longer is better.  Grill or bake and baste. 

Enjoy!

Enjoy your children too.  My daughter's birthday is next.  I can't wait to share it with you.

Kathy