Hank's Very Hungry Caterpillar 1st Birthday

I can't believe we've all survived the first year!  It's definitely something to celebrate.  There were times (early on) that I thought we'd never make it.  But mostly this first year has really flown by, especially after I returned to work (when he was 3.5 months old).  It's been a blur.  Hank's not sleeping through the night yet, that's the biggest thing we're looking forward to some day.  But he's a very competent crawler (and nearly walker), and is a very smart little guy.  He's picking up on the sign language we've been teaching him, but I can't wait until he's talking!

So, back to his birthday party....I decided on A Very Hungry Caterpillar theme mainly because it's just a really cute book.  Eric Carle's artwork is so amazing.  I couldn't resist buying Hank the Very Hungry Caterpillar bedding from Pottery Barn Kids a few months ago - it's just too dang cute.

Here's a picture of the invitation:

One of the most time consuming parts of the party-planning was making his cake.  I made a chocolate cake with vanilla bean buttercream.  I made the frosting a few days ahead of time, and was so glad I did, because it took me 2 hours!  But boy, was it worth it - yum!  Not too sweet.  Very rich. 

My sister, Emily, helped me decorate the cake.  I had taken the day before his party off work, but Julian ended up working a 15-hour day.  So I was lucky my sister could help me, because I wouldn't have been able to get it all done without her.  Julian had planned on making some cool fondant decorations, but since he wasn't able to Em just rolled it out and I put a bunch of polka dots around the cake (a nod to the book).

Hank after he ate some pink fondant that my sister gave him.

All decorated!

I bought this fondant decoration off Etsy.

I wanted to make a banner, because I'd made one for my sister, Anne's, baby shower and had fun with it.  I made this one below, and hung it across our front stoop.

I also wanted to do something with felt, because I never have.  So I made this tablecloth below with the felt Very Hungry Caterpillar.  I never did get a shot of the table with all the food, darn it. 

The party was a picnic theme.  The menu was: 4 different kinds of sandwiches from East Side Deli, homemade pesto pasta salad, a fresh fruit salad, chips, and pickles.  Plus my sister brought some brie, crackers, and olives. 

Julian's Mom, Edith, with Hank.

My good friend, Hayley, holding her daughter, Elsa, and me, holding my new nephew, Lucas.

Our little friend, Oliver.

Me and Hank blowing out the one candle.

My niece, Scarlett, who has to get (nearly) naked at every opportunity.

Cake-cutting time!

My brother, JK, "helping" Hank eat some birthday cake.  My niece, Skylar (JK's daughter), is on the right.

Hank got the idea, and does not need a fork.

Hank opening up some presents.

Our little friend, Adeline.

JK giving Hank a ride.

Hank got to try his first sucker.

Right before bed, playing with his balloons.

How to grill the perfect pizza

I know the end of summer is close, but there's still time to grill some pizza!  Not to mention that some people grill year-round.  We're fair-weather grillers because our grill isn't covered.  But I'm a huge fan of grilled pizza now that we've figured out how to do it.  It turns out so much crispier than in the oven, even with a pizza stone.  You have to try this - if you love pizza this will be your new favorite way to make it at home.

First, I recommend you make your own dough.  It's easy, and cheap.  The only downside is that you do have to allow about 2 hours to let it rise.  I use the recipe from Foodnetwork magazine, and yeast specifically for pizza (although I don't necessarily think the type of yeast matters).

Let the yeast active before you combine it with the rest of the ingredients.

Form the dough into a big ball, and knead away!  Lots o' kneading!

The recipe I use makes enough for 2 pizzas.  We freeze the second ball after it's done rising if we're not using it that night.  It works great, trust me.

Here's the dough after it's risen - ready to roll out and make some pizza!

Spread the dough out onto a cookie sheet - the size and shape works well with a grill.  The dough is nice and olive-oily, no extra spray needed.

Grill the dough by itself over medium heat until it's browned on the bottom and there's a little charring.

When the first side's done, flip it over.  This is easy to do because it's cooked on the one side.



Next, take the crust off the grill (still on cookie sheet) and top it.  The pizza above is a Marguerita (olive oil base, with salt & red pepper flakes), plus fresh basil, tomatoes and lots of cheese.  Then put it back on the grill, and cook until done - without the cookie sheet.   

The other pizza we made was roasted garlic, with blue cheese on the right half.  My favorite!!

Our friend, Matt, entertaining Hank (and my sister, Emily), while the pizza cooks.

A Day at the Clackamas County Fair

A couple of weeks ago we went to the Clackamas County Fair.  Julian, Hank, and I were joined by my niece (Scarlett), my brother (Christian) and my sister (Emily).  This was Hank's first time at the fair, and we had a lot of fun.  I can't wait until he's old enough to go on some rides.  But he still had fun helping us eat some trashy fair food, checking out the animals, and watching Scarlett ride some awesome rides.

Em, me, Hank, and Christian

Scarlett is enjoying some fair food.

Christian and Hank.

Hank's riding with (or, actually on) Scarlett.

Who can resist the piglets?

Auntie Em with Scarlett checking out the piggies.

Love this guy's haircut, it really accentuates his neck.

GOAT HUMPING!!  Our visit would not be complete without it.

Mama and baby pigging out.

We couldn't hold the baby goat, but at least we got to pet him!

Goat madness!

Hank's modeling an awesome coonskin hat.

Scarlett on the helicopter ride.

Hank's having run watching Scarlett.

Scarlett's an easyrider!

Having some fun in the jeep!

We're all ready to go here.....posing in front of the funhouse, which Scarlett got to go into for free!