Groundhog Factory

Who: My kids
What:  Celebrate Groundhog's day by sharing groundhog cupcakes with their classes
When:  Every February 2nd for the last 10 years
Why: Because it's a fun tradition and I'm crazy
Where:  My kitchen and dining room...YIKES! 

This year we made about 10 dozen cupcakes (that's about 2-1/2 dozen for each elementary  child and a dozen each for Spence and Cam).  Emma's were gluten free.  Adam's were egg/milk/nut  free and for the first time in years I got to make milky, peanutty, and eggy ones for Ellie, since there's not a single food allergy in her class.  By the way, my mom got me these cupcake holders for Christmas and I LOVE THEM!!!!



Cami shared her cupcakes with her homeschool Geometry class and Spencer brought his to seminary...

Don't be fooled by the mere quantity of cupcakes, it was by far my laziest year yet.  I totally skipped the ears, noses, and mouths on the groundhogs and just had their eyes peeking out of the ground.  They weren't quite as cute, but at 10:30 last night I really didn't care. 

Here's to an early spring!  (I hope.)


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Day 33--Worth the Trouble?

With a kitchen that looked like Emma's shirt here....
I wasn't sure the hours of trouble would be worth it.

But when I saw the looks of delight and surprise on their classmates faces...
I've decided that the groundhogs just might live to see another year.

Not me! I Would Never Make Groundhogs to Order.

Not me. I totally did NOT cringe in horror when Cami counted up that I would have to make EIGHT dozen Groundhog's Day cupcakes this year for the kids to take to their classes.
And I certainly did not even think of complaining when I was informed that I would have to make a separate batch of peanut free cupcakes for Emma's class. And then another separate batch of egg free, peanut free cupcakes for Adam's class. I was totally cool with it. I like culinary challenges.

You know I would never even think of getting grumpy at the kids for coating every surface of my kitchen in frosting. I rather like the "SCRMMPU" sound it makes when I walk across a sticky floor.

Certainly I did not end up with a sugar induced headache after breaking my fast with licks of icing. That's just gross. I would never do that.

Then when the kids excitedly started talking about next year's batch, I absolutely did not roll my eyes and shudder at the thought.

Not me. I love Groundhog's Day!

Day 32--Groundhog Factory

Our house has transformed into a veritable groundhog production line. We're all overdosed on sugar, our kitchen has frosting caked onto every surface, and we've still got cupcakes to frost. How do I get myself into these messes?

Just Popping Up to Say, "Hi!"

Only 16 more days to Groundhog's Day!

Can't you just feel the excitement in the air?

I can. My kids have already started talking about it incessantly, eagerly handing me shopping lists, and giving me head counts of their classmates.

Why do they care so much?

It's these cute little fellows that pop up in our house every February 2!

I started making them 7 years ago for Spencer's first grade class and the kids haven't let me miss a year since then. Every February 1st has found our house turned into an icing coated cupcake making factory. We set up an assembly line and watch our little army take shape one groundhog at a time!

Be sure to check our family recipe blog for the recipe and directions, so you can add a little pizazz (and sugar) to your Groundhog's Day too!