We threw Jes a little baby shower before they went out of town. We did it in Bucca Di Beppo in the Pope room, as everything must be properly officiated.

I made a diaper cake for her- which is adorable, if I do say so myself. And I do.

This side is Jensen's contribution.

Once Jes arrived Jensen started in on asking for the cake.

Duke!

Kookie was very surprised and very happy about our little get together.

Crisis averted...

Duke puke in the mouth. One of Becky's favorite things...

My boys love their aunts.

And butter... that is a whole individually wrapped pat...

So, I personally think that I am a genius, (don't tell me that you've seen it done before, I don't want to hear it). The diaper cake was decorated with flowers- as you saw- and each of the flowers was a headband. So cute!

Trying on the headbands. Looks good to me... though I don't think Jaimie agrees.

Jensen asked Jes' friend Heather what "that" was. Hilarious. She sputtered for a while before I said that it was an angel. Later he told me that it was in fact a peepee. Stinker.

Jensen's new silly face. Kind of freaky when caught on film...

Jensen got to help Kookie open presents... he is going to be a bit put out when Duke and Jes's little one are big enough to be competition to the only grandchild...

Hiding the Toblerone from little eyes.

RUFFLES from Jensen

And rumba tights from me!

Emily acted as the coat rack

Again, Jence had to help with everything. At least he wasn't upset that the presents weren't for him...

Fiiiinally he got the cake.

Happy now for a moment.

Duke laughing at Gramps.

Deep thoughts.

And finally, the Pope blessed the cake, so we are all good.

Okay, I'll just preface this with the fact that it's a kind of a lame post, but I've been feeling the stress of getting "something" up for Al.

SO. Becky's Jaimie is a genius in the kitchen (elsewhere as well, but in the kitchen is where I reap the benefits...). The other day she made us Melt sandwiches. (Melt is a Cleveland gem where everything they make is served on a grilled cheese. Aaaamazing!) The amount of prep work is psychotic. (I'll show you...)

So this was our afternoon bringing Melt to Mom's kitchen.

First you need to buy about 5 grocery bags of ingredients.

Fry maple bacon (the house still smells of it...)

Chop cabbage.

Prepare cabbage in some complex way that I have yet to pay enough attention to replicate.

Not pictured, the caramelized port onions...

Cut cut cut...
Cook perogies

The master herself (she even had a white towel hanging out of her back pocket...)

Flimsy waiting for the joy to begin with D.

Wacko Becky. You'll see- she has a severe condition where a single camera can whip her into a frenzy...

Jes, with the slightest bit of belly bulging.

Tony researching something.

Uh-huh...

This is where the post gets a bit sad... I finally got Jaimie to let me help. I was to cook some eggs over medium. (Al is amazing at that, by the way)

Unfortunately I am not. Amazing. At that. That hardened mess in the bottom left was my two eggs. I was fired. (And those are jalepeno poppers.)

Cabbage on the perogies. Sounds crazy. Tastes fabulous. Really. Everyone feel free to come visit and give them a try! (And we love you Jaimie!!)

We went to go see Flimsy (Liz- who by the way apparently doesn't like going by Liz- she says it sounds like a little girl to her- she goes by Lizzie instead...head scratcher...) in her last Rockette performance. (She was also cheering- she is in the back there.)

Jensen is doing his classic "show the camera what's in my hand" move.

Duke looking like he belongs where the wild things are. He sleeps really well in this kind of environment...

Here is Liz (I'm saying it anyway- I'm allowed. I'm the big sister) being introduced as the Rockette Captain. She's so cute...

I watched this whole dance and only realized they were wearing sneakers when I was picking a picture to post...

Aaaaand here we have Jensen cleaning up a mess he made involving a bag full of crayons and a staple remover...