Birthday Camping

I had a sort of big birthday last week. To celebrate, I wanted to invent a time machine. But that didn't work out. The next thing on my list was CAMPING! I know, I know. I don't seem like someone who enjoys camping. Or living outdoors for months at a time. Or sleeping on the ground. But I really do.

Rob obliged and took me to the Chiricahua mountains for a lovely weekend. We brought along our new favorite toy, "The Mansion". The mansion is the largest tent ever. We luv it. We have both spent a lot of time camping and backpacking in teeny tiny tents, and we have a great time, but now that I've hit the big 3-0, we felt it was time for...a different kind of camping.
Mansion camping. This sucker is sooooo big you could easily fit four people inside along with their stuff. We figured we should just admit to ourselves that we mostly car camp, and we should embrace it. Chairs, tableclothes, cards, frisbees, giant coolers, and The Mansion.
We grilled out a birthday dinner of spicy chicken tacos.
And I played in the creek some.
When we got home, Rob baked(!) this gorgeous birthday cake. This is his first cake ever. Isn't it perfect? It tasted every bit as good as it looks.

Turn around, bright eyes

It's a total eclipse of the moon!
Look at what an incredible photographer I am. Here is a National Geographic-worthy shot of tonight's eclipse. I know, I know. I'll make prints available later.
R. and I went outside in time to see the last half of the moon disappear. We performed special dances in the front yard and sang the "Moon!" cheer to make sure that it would come back. That's right, you have us to thank for the return of the moon. Next time you're at the beach watching the tide, be sure to remember what we did for you.


Also, remember how this is the year of cake? Here's February's cake. I made this for the lovely Katrina for her birthday. It is a version of my mom's favorite cake ever. It's chocolate on the inside with 1/2 buttercream and 1/2 cream cheese icing on the outside. The red drizzles are white chocolate dyed red. Happy Birthday, Katrina. Welcome to Tucson