I guess this makes me a soccer mom

Trouble

Seb's school went on a field trip to the park today.

Here's Seb, with his arms around Sadie "with the white hair".  Her mom was a chaperone, and sent me this pictorial dispatch.

They look very serious here.  My son -- taking his classwork seriously, already!

Happy Birthday Sebastian!

Friday, Seb came home from school with a fever (yes, before cupcakes).  102.  We decided to wait to make the call about whether or not to have his party (scheduled for Sunday afternoon).  Although it was down in the morning, his fever at 5pm Saturday was 103.  Ok, that's definitive.  What a bummer!

We made the best of it.  Downgraded to a Family Party.  And what a party!  Kind of.  I had a big "dog party!" a la Go Dog Go planned.  It was still a dog party.  I think it entirely escaped Sebastian.  He just saw balloons, cake, candles, presents...

Oh yes, did I mention cake?

It was kind of awesome, if I do say so myself.

 

Of course, Sebastian and Cyrus only had eyes for the racecars w the doggy  drivers. 

  

 

I, with the invaluable assistance of Sue the Sous-Chef, also made go-dog-go themed snacks:  dog shaped peanut butter sandwiches, a whole racetrack full of "car" shaped snacks (cheese/tomato roadsters, salami/mozzarella roadsters, carrot/string bean roadsters, apple/grape roadsters, and best of all, pizza with sausage dog roadsters).  And stoplight crackers (w/peppers and hummos). 

     

My goal was that Seb not even realize his party had been cancelled, and I think I succeeded:  he had an awesome day, especially since neighborhood friends still braved the germs and dropped by and brought him gifts.

  

  

Family, friends, balloons, presents, cake?  Seb has no idea his party was meant to be anything different.  Perfect. 

cupcake two: "cars with eyes"

Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater were requested. 





This didn't look that hard.  I did a few test runs with different "windshield" materials before going with wafer cookies.  White chocolate, which was recommended by a different website, was ridiculously finicky. 







Then a day or two ago, Seb announced that he wanted Mater cupcakes.  Well, with a little chocolate frosting, it's the same basic thing?  And I found a use for all that white chocolate, too. 

cupcake one: Thomas the Tank Engine

The advantage of Sebastian being in two different preschools is that I get to make two different batches of cupcakes.  Normally I'm averse to the Disney/Pixar/commercial consumption characters.  But Seb loves them, and it's his darn birthday.  So. 
I'm making the kid happy.   Here are the cupcakes he'll take to sunset park children's school:   Thomas!  

I know, I know, it looks impressive.  But it really wasn't that hard.  I started with Oreos (well, the Paul Newman's kind).  Piped thomas faces on with (shhh:  store bought) icing.  I got candy "eyes" from the cake supply place, (they also have them at Party City).  That made life much easier too.  Also that I did this part several days ahead, to avoid last minute stress.

I

Obligatory cupcake batter shot.  Seb requested "chocolate/vanilla twist". Your wish is my command, young despot.  I marbled.  Here's the vanilla.

Then blue frosting, put the cookie on top. 

Then add licorice cut in half for smokestack, red licorice as the bumper thingy, and done.