I have been known to go a little overboard when planning out snacks for the kids at Connor’s preschool. The little brooms made out of string cheese and pretzel sticks last Halloween may have been a little over the top. After all, preschoolers just want to eat these things, not admire them. Right?

Connor’s 5th birthday was on Saturday, and here’s what I sent for snack time on Monday:

I need a lighter chocolate icing so that the face stands out better. Not to mention better chocolate flaking skills. Still, these little cuties invaded the kitchen and caused a ruckus. Think flour everywhere. Connor helped assemble these, although he was across the counter making Ankylosaurus cupcakes (which bore a strange resemblance to hedgehogs which had had a really unfortunate encounter with a brick wall).

Connor has a little sign up in his room. It’s this amazingly happy clown cupcake with a caption that reads, “Life is better with a sugar buzz on.” Enough said.

Now I revert to my usual whole foods obsessive cooking self. At least until the joint birthday party for both sons, which is less than two weeks away. I still have 12 doll-sized chairs to make. And tea sandwiches for twelve. And scones. And cakes. I should not be planning events. That’s what generates these huge to do lists and starts off those dangerous thoughts like, “Wouldn’t chocolate ganache mice at each place setting be adorable?”

In honor of all you fabulous mamas out there, all our eco-friendly baby gifts are 20% off all weekend! Yippee!

My oldest son was born on Mother’s Day, actually, which means I must now go dig up the family birthday cake recipe and start baking–his birthday is tomorrow. My to-do list is about eighty items long, and most of those items have multiple exclamation points after them. Never a good sign…

Across the street from my house is a great city park with woods, hilly terrain, and some seriously huge rocks. I bring the kids out here for an explore as often as possible.

Over the weekend, I took my not-quite-2-year-old Finn in his stroller and climbed up the to the tower–a 2-story lookout over Lake Champlain that looks like a forlorn remnant of some lonely castle. While we were watching the turkey vultures catch the updrafts, three mountain bikers came along and then took off down one of the little trails that leads deeper into the park.

It has obviously been too long since I was child-free and found time to run on this path, because when Finn pointed after them and said “Bike! That way!” I thought, “Gee, how bad can it be?” and went off down the cute little path instead of the main path that I usually take when I’m wielding my trusty Mountain Buggy stroller. (The stroller comes out a lot–it’s the only way Finn will nap, alas.)

Down the winding path, around the bend, and into Extreme Strollering! The true sport of all hiking moms! Jagged rocks, clawing tree roots, intense slopes–this really did have it all. I have done crazier things with my stroller–the first set of tricycle tires was worn down to the wires–but this path definitely hit our top 10 list of wild stroller rides.

Finn started to complain about the time he was ready to tip out of the seat.

We brought Finn’s big brother Connor back with us the next day and did it all over again. Alex took the pictures.

Think we’re ready for the X Games? Though I think my real specialty is Toddler Lifting–Finn is well over 30 pounds and he’s not even two yet. It’s like having a personal trainer who only yells, “Up, down! Up, down!”

It’s May Day! And it’s raining, raining, raining, so I think the impromptu may pole for the kids is probably out. But–save 15% off all our luscious baby gift boxes all day long! Enjoy.