5/30/07

Ice Cream Trough for Lotsa Kids! (and Happy Birthday to my Boys!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my wonderful little men! My two sons are turning 15 and 13 this week.
There are so many gifts I want to give my boys, such as courage and confidence, and for them to understand their uniqueness. If I could, I’d wrap these up with a huge ribbon on top. I hope that they would know that with teenage challenges come lessons that they will learn for life. And that from those lessons comes wisdom.

As my sons open their gifts, I am reminded of the gifts that were handed to me 15 and 13 years ago when they were born. They are beautiful gifts, and I will not take them for granted.

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We decided that since life is busy with school and soccer, we wouldn’t have birthday parties this year, though we celebrated as a family.

But last year we had a blast! I kept the theme going throughout the year for my 3 kids’ birthdays and made “Ice-Cream Troughs” for each of their parties. It’s a brilliant idea, easy, and a big hit with a large group of kids. It’s also a great dessert that you can make up in advance and put in the freezer!

Here’s what you do:
Buy a garden trough or something large that you can layer the cake, ice cream, bananas, etc. in. I used a plastic planter box (usually used in window boxes), 24 inches long.
Bake a cake or brownies in advance and buy:
½ gallon ice cream
Spray whipped cream
Syrups
Bananas
Cherries
Any other topping (candy bars, etc.)

This is how you put it together:
· Put ice cubes on the bottom
· Place plastic wrap on top of the ice cubes
· Cut your cake into cubes, or layer it on top of the plastic wrap
· Scoop or slice the ice cream on top of the cake
· Place plastic wrap over the whole trough and FREEZE until you are ready to use.

Right before serving, pull out of the freezer and fill the rest of the container with whipped cream, sliced bananas on the side, cherries on top, or any other toppings.

You can serve it two ways: place it on a big table with a bunch of spoons and let the kids go to town, OR scoop out into individual dishes. We’ve done it both ways.

Put the candles on top and start SINGING to your kids! Hold them close, shut your eyes and make your wish (or prayer!) because before you know it, next year will be here and you’ll be celebrating once again!

(Thank you, Auntie Ellen, for this wonderful idea a few years back!)

25 comments:

Katybug said...

Ooooh, Sandy (And Auntie Ellen!), this is a FABULOUS idea! I can just imagine a bunch of 8-year-old girls having fun with this. Just might have to use this for my daughter's birthday in August. Thanks for the idea!

Katy :-)

Julie said...

Love this idea, Sandy. What a blast!

Happy Birthday to your boys!

Jill said...

What a great idea. You always have wonderful pictures to accompany your writing, too. Makes me feel like I'm part of the fun!

La Tea Dah said...

What a sweet idea! Thanks for sharing it!

LaTeaDah

Christine said...

You're so right, I LOVE this idea!! I'm salivating myself just looking at it!

An Ordinary Mom said...

Happy Birthday to your boys!

An ice cream trough for birthday celebrations - now that is an ingenious idea! I need to remember this one.

Tammy said...

A very Happy Birthday to your two boys!

I have never heard of this trough idea...wow! I'm going to have to keep this in mind! A kid's dream come true! :D

Barb said...

Wish my kids were younger, tho I'm thinkin' any age could appreciate somethin' like this! Hmmm....

LA said...

I've never seen anything like it and I LOVE it! My daughter's bday is coming up - the big #5 - and I know the kids would love it.

Woohoo! LA

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

OK, Sandy, I can't believe how cute this is and how ... HIGHLY adequate you are ... I have written nearly a whole post about you, crying out for entertaining (cooking) help from you, with a song from Yentl in the end to show my desperation ... please come see me!

Elizabeth said...

Alright, ice cream troughs have to find their way into the Leone family. How cool is that?!?!? Our kids and their pals would go ga-ga.

Nadine said...

Happy Birthday to your boys. I love how you would want to wrap up courage and confidence for them.

I love the the ice cream trough idea. I bet it would work for "big kids" too.

Anonymous said...

What a FAB idea!!!

Donnetta said...

What a very fun idea! This one I am definitely tucking into the back of my mind for use at a later date! I can only imagine how much kics love this one!!!

Happy Birthday to your growing boys!!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hi, Sandy! Happy Birthday to your boys & what a great cake idea. It sounds yummy! Hope you have a great weekend. You do always have great ideas for celebrating life.

Rhoda
Southern Hospitality

Mrs. Preschool said...

I have 2 boys also. You described the gifts you want to give them so beautifully. It just struck me that as a mom, those are the gifts that are so precious and last a lifetime.

Rachelle said...

LOVE the ice cream trough idea! I'll definitely keep that in mind for upcoming parties.

Laura said...

Wow, I would NEVER have thought of something like this, that is just awesome!

Thanks for sharing!
Laura

Christine said...

I love it! So fun and festive and I bet the kids go crazy! I think I will make a mini-one for my two boys. So great...

Anonymous said...

I love this idea. I'm sure it will be used at our house for a couple of guys that Lovvvvvve to eat!
Great pictures!
Happy birthday to your boys!

Anonymous said...

I never would have thought of that. Great idea (and another great one to feature it in the sidebar)! :-)

Autismland Penny said...

This is so awesome! I am always looking for new birthday ideas that I can adapt to my son's gfcf diet! This is so simple! I will have a very happy group of 11 yr olds at our next birthday! You rock!

jenny said...

wow thats a big banna split did the kids eat it all up too? i hpoe so and well its a verry cool idea for ice cream party.

Jami said...

What a great idea! My kids are still little enough that they want "theme" parties, and this would work well with a Cowboy/girl theme!

Darlene - Our Creative Life said...

Cute, cute, cute idea!!!