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The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

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Daddy’s Birthday Celebration

May 22, 2015 by Bethany Sy

On Tuesday, we celebrated Nick’s 33rd Birthday. What an old man! He really robbed the cradle with me… until I turn 33 myself in July. But let’s not dwell on that fact. Weren’t we such babes back in the day?

Nick and Beth {Sawdust and Embryos}

The girls are a little confused about Birthdays. Every single day they ask if it’s their Birthday. So I wasn’t sure how it was going to go with us celebrating Daddy.

I made a special point to really include them and let them help make decisions about how to make their Daddy feel special.

And that’s where the ‘Rainbow Sparkle’ cake came in.

Tye Dye Rainbow Starburst Cake {Sawdust and Embryos}

I’ve made a rainbow cake before, but I used some weird recipe that called for Sprite. The colors were more vibrant that time (namely the red), but the cake was SO GROSS. I decided taste matters too. So I just used a cake mix and food coloring this time.

Starburst Tye Dye Rainbow Cake {Sawdust and Embryos}

With some supervision, the girls made this cake pretty much by themselves. I should have taken a picture of them stirring all the different colored bowls of batter. SO cute.

Since posting this on Instagram and Facebook, a ton of you have requested a tutorial. I didn’t really take pics of the process, so I’ll have to make another one sometime soon and show you how (DARN!). It’s really very easy. Anyone have suggestions on making the red REDDER?

While the cake was in the oven, the girls wanted to make their Daddy ‘heart Birthday cards’. I cut some cardstock in the shape of a heart, and let them paint away.

Making Birthday Cards for Daddy {Sawdust and Embryos}

It’s very cute to listen to them chat while they’re creating together.

*GASP* Della your painting is looking so beeeautiful!

Thank you Paisley! And I like the colors you picked. You’re a very good artist!

HILARIOUS! It’s obvious they really listen to the words I use. I need to be more intentional about complementing them more. And making sure they know I delight in them. It’s so easy to just get caught up in the everyday… and the baby sister.

may15 051

Anywho.. we chopped up those two round cakes to make an airplane shape. Nick’s current hobby is RC airplanes… so we thought this would be fun! I found the idea here.

Simple Airplane-shaped Cake {Sawdust and Embryos}I used to be a cake decorator at a bakery, and it took everything in me not to make this cake PERFECT. But it’s not about me. And I think the girls did a pretty smash-up job.

Airplane-shaped Birthday Cake {Sawdust and Embryos}

Don’t mind the toothpick candles. SOMEBODY forgot to buy candles. But we’re pretty innovative around here.

The girls each picked out a balloon for Daddy from the Dollar Tree, and we tied the string around each of their gifts to him (they wrapped their heart cards). Everything was set up, and the girls patiently waited by the window for daddy to come home from work.

may15 042

When Daddy pulled in the driveway, the girls screamed the highest-pitch screams I’ve ever heard come out of their mouths. They made him close his eyes as he walked in the door, and brought him over to his special table.

may15 048

It’s so fun watching the girls get excited about making someone else feel special. I’m proud of them, because I know that’s a hard concept for them at age 3. I’m so glad I allowed myself to let them really take ownership of Daddy’s birthday and really dive in with their ideas and creativity. I know he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way!

Sawdust-Embryos_thumb5

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About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

« Fabric Painted Onesies {Big Summer BLOWOUT!}
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Comments

  1. 21

    Hannah Reid says

    May 26, 2015 at 8:28 am

    This is adorable! Thanks for sharing this snapshot of your lives!

    Reply
  2. 22

    Nicole Goodwin says

    May 24, 2015 at 6:26 pm

    I know a way to make the red redder! Use gel food coloring instead of the drops. It makes darker colors. I can check if I have that color but I don’t think I do. You can get them at Walmart in the cake decorating/wedding section 🙂

    Reply
    • 23

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      May 25, 2015 at 6:51 am

      That’s actually exactly what I used. I love the gel food colors (I have Wilton) but just not impressed with the red. One of my other readers recommended a certain brand (AmeriColor) and I just ordered it from Amazon. Can’t wait to give it a try!

      Reply
  3. 24

    Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

    May 23, 2015 at 8:44 am

    Sarah I used Wilton. Where can I buy AmeriColor?

    Reply
    • 25

      Sarah says

      May 23, 2015 at 9:09 pm

      Amazon! I have never seen it locally at the craft stores.

      Reply
  4. 26

    Heidi says

    May 23, 2015 at 5:44 am

    This is so sweet that it brought tears to my eyes. You are doing a great job with your girls! My own daughters are growing up so fast and it made me long for the days when they were this small. Next month my oldest graduates from high school and my twins graduate from 8th grade. Lots of sappiness happening over here! I love reading about your family…

    Reply
    • 27

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      May 23, 2015 at 8:36 am

      Time flies doesn’t it?! I’m trying to soak up their little-ness. Even on the frustrating days. Because I know there will come a time where I miss these days.

      Reply
  5. 28

    Suzanne says

    May 22, 2015 at 9:01 pm

    Check out the info on red velvet cakes (the chemical reaction between the cocoa, baking soda, and buttermilk gives it a reddish brown colour without having to use 1/2 bottle of red dye. And they say that powdered coloring works better. What a nice family surprise from the girls.

    Reply
    • 29

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      May 23, 2015 at 8:43 am

      Oooo good thought!! I’m going to look into that!

      Reply
  6. 30

    Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

    May 22, 2015 at 4:18 pm

    Thank you Kara! 😉

    Reply
  7. 31

    Sarah says

    May 22, 2015 at 9:37 pm

    What kind of food coloring did you use? I have a pack of AmeriColor gel paste food colors that I would recommend. You need way less than regular food coloring or Wilton ones to get vibrant colors! But I think it’s still tricky to get really bright red or navy blue. Love that cake!

    Reply
  8. 32

    jaye says

    May 22, 2015 at 11:49 am

    Look at them painting! My son goes wild with paint and it gets EVERYWHERE! Now we paint in garage, on a huge table cloth with a circle drawn on it that he is not allowed to leave while the paint is out. I love the cake.

    Reply
    • 33

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      May 22, 2015 at 4:18 pm

      That’s fun too though! Every kid has a different ‘technique’. And it sounds like you’ve got a great method for containing it! I think the girls have seen me carefully/meticulously painting so much that they’re very thoughtful and purposeful about their paintings for such a young age. They would paint every day if I would let them!

      Reply
  9. 34

    Meagan Blan says

    May 22, 2015 at 9:01 am

    I love that Paisley calls her Della too! What other nicknames do they have for each other? We call Macy ‘Sissy’ and Peyton is ‘Peytie’ a lot. We also call her Tater or Tater Butt. LOL. I also regularly call each other them by their middle names Elizabeth and Aubrey.

    Reply
    • 35

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      May 22, 2015 at 4:14 pm

      Awww love their nicknames! We have lots of nicknames around here. Paisley gets called Pais, Petunia, PJ, Sis, etc. Adelyn get’s called Della, Dell, Dello Jello, Doodle, Sis, etc. Cypress gets called Cypie Jean or Goober. 🙂

      Reply
  10. 36

    Robyn Swensen says

    May 22, 2015 at 8:40 am

    What a sweet birthday surprise! Happy birthday Nick! My twin girls are about the same age as yours, so I love hearing how they talk to each other!

    Reply
    • 37

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      May 22, 2015 at 4:18 pm

      Awwww yay! What are your twins’ names?

      Reply
      • 38

        Robyn Swensen says

        May 25, 2015 at 8:47 am

        Amelia and Lily. I have an older singleton named Ellen also. 3 girls is so fun!

        Reply
        • 39

          Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

          May 30, 2015 at 7:19 am

          Awww wo cute! I love those names!

          Reply
  11. 40

    Ali says

    May 22, 2015 at 8:27 am

    The post below is mine, who knew I had two log in accts, not me! 🙂 I so enjoy reading about your days. 🙂

    Reply
  12. 41

    Ali says

    May 22, 2015 at 8:22 am

    They are absolutely the cutest things, all three girls. I love the cake, it was adorable. I only wish I was 33 again. 🙂

    Reply
  13. 42

    Kara C says

    May 22, 2015 at 1:40 pm

    It’s so sweet to see little ones excited! The cake turned out awesome!

    Reply

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We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!
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