Happy {belated} Birthday Tia Kissie!

We were a little late (read a month) in celebrating Tia Kissie's (Aaron's sister Cris) birthday.  So we decided to have her out for dinner, with some of her favorite things.  Small and sweet!

Andres helped me whip up the cupcakes.  He's been cooking with me since he was two, and I'm so impressed with how savvy he is in the kitchen.  He knows all my kitchen mantras (like "pour slow and low so it won't splash/spill" or "make sure you're first safe, then clean before you cook").  On his very own (with me reading the directions off the box) he:

1.  Used the kitchen shears to open the Funfetti cake mix and pour it in the mixer.

2.  Measured and poured in the oil and water.

3.  Cracked the eggs careful of any shells, and added them to the mix.

4.  Freaked out Mom by pretending to slurp the sprinkles out of the container.  "Haha Mom, you should see your face!"  

5.  Locked the bowl in place and first with slowest level 1 until the powder was well moistened, he eventually adjusted the speed faster to mix it all up very well.

I was sort of surprised that he could do most of it without me.  Although I was proud of him, it made me realize that he's growing up and discovering his own way.  He kept saying "I know, Mom," or "I got it."  He's such a little man, so capable and bright.  

When we were all done pouring them into the muffin pan, his dark eyes shot up to mine, and a sly grin spilled over his face.  "Can I go play now?" There's my sweet little boy.

As the cupcakes cooled, we hung some decorations.  A little bling in those tissue paper pom poms, and her favorite color periwinkle crepe paper.

Frosted the cupcakes with Cotton Candy flavored buttercream (also periwinkle).  

Mixed up these fun little Cake Batter martinis for the big kids (the little kids were overjoyed to have Ginger Ale, as soda is a rarity around these parts.)

She was so surprised that we went "all out" for her birthday, but really it was a joy to celebrate her.  She's a wonderful sister and friend, and the boys adore their super fun and uber cool "Tia" (auntie in Spanish).

Growing up, Aaron was always close with his oldest sister, Cris.  When he and I lived in Seattle in the 90s, she became one of my closest friends, too.  We're blessed to have her in our lives again down here.

We had a vegetarian gyoza (thank you Trader Joe's) dinner with jasmine rice.  Simple, but a favorite meal in our house.

Raph's birthday was the weekend before so when he saw the cake with candles on it, he knew just what to do.  

Cris collects la Virgen images, and her home is very tastefully decorated in Mexican folk art and decor.  We gave her a pillow and a little purse from an artist on Etsy.  She loved it!

We partied hung out late into the night after the boys went to sleep, never bothering to turn on lights on, mixing Cake Batter martinis until the cake flavored vodka vanished.  Mexican music and candles, and us three remembering our times together over the past 14 years.   Cris is a precious and beautiful part of our lives.