With two adult birth kids, four adopted foster kids, and countless other foster children that have walked through our revolving door, we had been the ultimate blended family, perhaps mixed more vigorously than we would have desired, but blended none the less.
After almost a decade of fostering children, we have taken some traditions from our foster children and made them our own. Some of our family’s traditions have been repeated years after the children we held for short periods of time were returned to their own families.
One tradition we “inherited” was the snowflake cake. A little boy we were fostering told us that his mother would make a snowflake cake every time it snowed. I explained to him that when it snowed I almost always felt like baking and I would see what I could do for him.
I was able to find a Wilton cake pan in the shape of a snowflake, I made a great chocolate cake batter (from scratch!) that had been from my grandmother’s recipe collection.
I had planned that I was going to use a stencil and powdered sugar to place additional snowflakes on top of the cake and this cake was going to be amazing.
And to make things even better we had snow on the very day that I was planning to make a snowflake cake. Yup, our city’s first measurable snow and I was making a snowflake cake. This is the kind of stuff that makes Lifetime movies worth watching.
Everything was going perfect. I sprinkled powdered sugar on my cake stand and prepared to remove the cake from its pan. Except the cake had other plans. It wouldn’t move. Seriously, the cake would not cheerfully vacate the pan and my attempts at eviction weren’t going very well. I couldn’t offer much assistance because you know how those Wilton cake pans work, they are all curvy and shapely just like they are supposed to be so it looks like a snowflake.
I was devastated, school would be done soon. Snow was falling. And accumulating. And I was failing just as rapidly.
Think. Think. THINK.
I spooned a bunch of powdered sugar on the now massacred snowflake cake and decided to announce that this was more like snowflakes on the mountain tops. I actually amazed myself with the creativity level on that one.
When the kids got home from school, the little boy asked if he could start his snowflake cake. And now was time for me to unveil my masterpiece. I said of course, and he made backtracks right out the front door. What the heck? He brought in a handful of snow and asked for a spoon. This adorable little boy’s birth mother let him eat snow with a spoon and they called it a snowflake cake.
All that time and energy (and brain power) spent on trying to recreate his tradition and I was nowhere near close.
Several months later, this sweet child was successfully reunited with his birth mother and I had the opportunity to bump into them in a local grocery store. In these situations you never really know if you should make eye contact or not, but she flagged me down. She said her little boy had told her that I had a recipe for a snowflake cake that could get made in the oven and would I be willing to share that recipe with her.
Our tradition became theirs. His family now chops up their chocolate cake and they have a powdered sugar blizzard the first snowfall of the season.
Their tradition became ours as I encourage my children to eat one spoonful of clean snow after the first measurable snowfall each season.
Untraditional traditions, unplanned and unpredictable.
supermommy
November 15, 2008 at 8:18 am (15 years ago)What a beautiful story! One tradition that I have with my girls is that we make a gingerbread house the weekend after Thanksgiving. This year my youngest will be able to really participate.
iheartbowheads.blogspot.com
November 15, 2008 at 8:44 am (15 years ago)oh that was a great story – gave me chills
I will be back later to link a story – there is a very wild soccer game going on in the hall that I am about to have to go participate in so I have to get off my computer
🙂
H
Jennifer
November 15, 2008 at 8:45 am (15 years ago)What a great story Carrie! I love both of those traditions!!
this is it
November 15, 2008 at 8:50 am (15 years ago)I love that you foster children. I have several friends who do. We do not have room…. I have 24 daycare clients and four kids of my own. I really admire what you do.
Rhonda
November 15, 2008 at 9:34 am (15 years ago)I think I’m going to write a story, but don’t add me to your potential winners! I would hate it if people think we are in cahoots, even if they do know that I’m your favorite Canadian…. lol
Mrs. S
November 15, 2008 at 10:20 am (15 years ago)You know, Carrie, I can’t think of one holiday tradition. Sure, we get together for holidays but that’s about it. No Bible reading, no gingerbread houses….I’m going to have to think of one to start.
Dawn@Embracing the Ordinary Life
November 15, 2008 at 10:26 am (15 years ago)I love that..I love that what you thought was a flop, turned into something cherished by that little boy…Oh I hope my kids grow up embracing some of my little ideas.
Jennifer
November 15, 2008 at 11:25 am (15 years ago)What an awesome story! It makes me really wish I lived where it snows. 🙂
Rhonda
November 15, 2008 at 11:30 am (15 years ago)Oh, and by the way…. I eat snow, by the cupful, ALL THE TIME! My kids also do it. It staves off the munchies, and helps with the water intake. It’s all good. Right? lol
JWilson
November 15, 2008 at 11:38 am (15 years ago)That is so sweet and so cute!
Therese
November 15, 2008 at 12:04 pm (15 years ago)We always went to the grandparents houses for Christmas time, so we celebrated Christmas early at home before we traveled. One year, I hadn’t had a chance to wrap the presents, so we started the “fish pond” tradition. We set up a chair with a sheet over it for a backdrop, and one by one presents were lifted over the top in a basket to a waiting child. They each took turns at the “fish pond” pulling out their presents. Even though they are much older now, some years they still ask to open their presents this way. It’s fun and we save lots of wrapping paper and time!
Mom to 3 Monkeys
November 15, 2008 at 12:17 pm (15 years ago)I LOVE traditions but especially the special ones we create along the way. I love your post. Its so heartwarming!
Jo-Jo
November 15, 2008 at 1:52 pm (15 years ago)Oh I think I may do this! Yeah!
Susie
November 15, 2008 at 2:03 pm (15 years ago)That’s a beautiful story:-)
Ronda's Rants
November 15, 2008 at 6:24 pm (15 years ago)Such a sweet story!
Maren
November 15, 2008 at 7:01 pm (15 years ago)One tradition we have is to decorate our house, then drive around to see the neighbors decorations. We end up at home with Mint Chocolate hot cocoa and candy canes.
Miz Dinah
November 15, 2008 at 11:31 pm (15 years ago)Ah Carrie, you’re so sweet.
ugagirl30
November 16, 2008 at 4:32 am (15 years ago)Hallmark moment indeed!! Thanks for the cry at 5:30 in the morning!! Geez!
On another note, I had some Moose Munch yesterday. And my first thought upon trying it was, “I’ve got to tell Carrie about this.” Yum! My birthday girl yesterday demolished it, so I did not get to finish it.
Veggie Mom
November 16, 2008 at 8:25 am (15 years ago)LOVE this tradition…and the story, too! Don’t forget…we’ve got a Pop’rs Thanksgiving Extravaganza going on! Please come on by!
Danyelle Ferguson
November 16, 2008 at 8:40 am (15 years ago)I love how you incorporate the kids traditions into your home. What a wonderful way for them to feel a little bit of familiarity during an uncertain time.
cc
November 16, 2008 at 10:13 am (15 years ago)awesome story! I love it! hmmmm… gives me ideas! I will have to look for a snowflake pan! Those shape things are pretty cool too! i will have to write a story and link it back!
Melissa B.
November 16, 2008 at 3:11 pm (15 years ago)CC: I’ve got a great holiday tradition for ya. Is it OK to post it tomorrow? LOVE this Snowflake Cake Story. Really goes to show that it’s the thought that counts! In the meantime, please don’t forget my Silly Sunday Sweepstakes…We could use a little bit of your Caption Love!
Hippie Family...
November 16, 2008 at 7:06 pm (15 years ago)That is an awesome tradition. I am going to have to read them all, we are starting all new Xmas traditions here this year!!!
Danielle
November 16, 2008 at 7:33 pm (15 years ago)This has me in tears! What a wonderful story Carrie! Thanks!!
christie
November 16, 2008 at 9:07 pm (15 years ago)What a sweet tradition! I love how you made the snowflake cake and ended up with a spoonful of snow.
I’ll totally link up to this post…as soon as I choose which tradition to write about.
🙂
Adrian
November 16, 2008 at 11:33 pm (15 years ago)Here is our favorite holiday tradition. My kids love for us to hide one of their presents and then they get to search for it. I have two special ornaments I have made for our two sons that hang on our tree. They are needlepointed and shaped like tiny mailboxes. I put a note in each mailbox that leads them to the first clue and then I put a string of clues written on Post-It Notes all around the house.
Naturally, I take great delight in spacing the clues as far apart and sending them to as many funny places as possible! It’s hilarious to see the kids running back and forth all around the house, bumping into each other in their excitement. Best of all, it allows me to take large gifts like bikes or snowboards that would be too difficult to wrap and hide them in a closet or storage area where they aren’t likely to be found. Even our 19 year old son still loves his present hunt!
Megan
November 17, 2008 at 2:59 pm (15 years ago)What a great story!!!
I’ve posted the link to my traditions story. =)
Therese
November 18, 2008 at 3:03 pm (15 years ago)We go see a movie on Christmas day.