ICE CREAM CAKE

It's so easy, you'll want to make it for dessert tonight. :) It's from the Kraft magazine that comes each month, Food and Family mag.

1/2 C. fudge ice cream topping, warmed. (I've also used caramel, and they are both fine.)

1 tub (8 oz.) Whip topping, thawed, divided.

1 pkg. (4 serving size) Chocolate flavor instant pudding and pie filling.

8 oreo cookies, chopped into chunks.

12 vanilla ice cream sandwiches.

Pour fudge topping into medium bowl. Stir in 1 C of whip topping. Whisk until well blended. Add in dry pudding mix and stir until well blended. If it's too thick, you can add milk, but I always add a little extra whip cream.

Add chopped oreos to pudding mixture.

Arrange 4 of the ice cream sandwiches laying side by side on either foil or plastic wrap. (You'll want a piece about 2 feet long. Spread half of the mixture over the top of the four sandwiches. Layer the next 4 sandwiches over the pudding & cookie mixture and then spread the other half of the pudding mix over those sandwiches. Then top with the last 4 sandwiches. All together, 3 layers of sandwiches and 2 layers of pudding/cookie mix. Lastly, you frost the whole cake with whip cream, it doesn't have to look perfect, because you will fold up the foil or plastic wrap over it lightly and freeze. It says that this cake makes 12 servings and I'd say that's about right. We cut thin slices for us and we cut the slices in half for our kids, and it's plenty for them and it serves even more.

I used foil once and it tore a little when I pulled it off the cake and left a little foil on the cake that I had to pull off and so I decided to try plastic wrap and I don't have that problem now.

Kai's Five!

"The best bow and arrow EVER!"

Playing with his buddy at "Bouncin' Off the Walls!"

Kai helped make his ice cream cake. He even placed the candles where he wanted them.

The highlight of his day...a new bow and arrow! He watched Kevin cut the PVC piping and he helped spray paint it 'Buckeye' colors, but didn't know what it was. Kai wanted a new bow and arrow set since his other one pooped out. Kevin decided to make him a tough one and he LOVES it. Kai likes to pretend to be Eragon. Kevin made some notches in several wooden dowels for the arrows.

Happy 5 year old!

"Yeah! I shot it over the fence!" This bow and arrow has a lot more power to it than his other one, so we get to see a lot of this face!

*Before bedtime, we all told Kai why we were glad that he was a part of our family along with our birthday wishes for him. This little guy adds so much fun to our family. He seems to have fun doing almost anything, whether he's in the bathroom or playing with friends or siblings. He loves to pretend and learn and be helpful to Mom and Dad. He's quick to compliment and he's just happy to be Kai. We all love Kai!

One Hot Mamma!!

Today we had a killer time celebrating the day of Mothers! We pretty much used a typical approach for an atypical Mom. Breakfast in bed, gifts, kisses, and stuff. One thing is for sure here in P-A-T-A-S-K-A-L-A we love mom! A few quotes from the day.

Kevin: "I'm glad I'm the one who saw her in those purple spandex! (1995 not 1985) It was like a bug being sucked into a bug zapper! For me it's still electrifying with random zaps and explosions."

Brayden 9 yrs: "She's pretty, um she helps me, um um well, um oh I, she's the best!"

Saydria 7 yrs: "I love my mom b'cause she takes care of me and she's sooooo pretty!! And I respect her today b'cause it's mother's day."

Kai 4 yrs: "Because she's so good to me, she makes me good breakfast all the time and she's so beautiful."

Cole 2 yrs: "I don't know, NO!! hair, NO!! NO!! Hey, stop it Brayden" We're sure he loves her too and thinks she's pretty.

Hiking and baseball

At Hocking Hills with our friends Derrick and Brandy and their kids. We had early church and they invited us to hike and BBQ afterwards, it was a beautiful day for it!

Kai with his t-ball team. He's on the front row far right looking right at me and smiling huge.

We all know he's just in it for the hot dog and soda at the end of each game. :)

"That was sweeeet!"

I was looking for a DVD with Kai and Cole this morning and when I found it, Kai said, "Impressive, Mom!"

We were at the park a couple days ago and Cole was acting like he was going to catch Kai near the bottom. He stretched his arms out over the side of the slide like he was ready to receive a baby, and said, "Alright, I'm ready Kai!" Kai zooms down the old school metal slide and his shoulder snags one of Cole's locked arms and sends him flying backwards. At the end of Kai's slide, he pushes himself off and does a flip/sideways roll into the tall grass at the bottom. Both of them hop up and simultaneously shout, "That was sweeeeet!" I wish I had a video of it!