So, this is what we do for birthdays around our home. It’s a tradition. We make, bake, design and decorate our own birthday cake. To each his own. That way you’re not disappointed. There’s no need to feel bad that someone forgot your birthday. You know it’s your birthday, so get to work and design the cake.
When the kids were little, I, of course helped out and supervised, but the cakes were all hands-on projects for each child. Well, to tell you the truth, I still do a lot of the set-up, but I have lots of helpers that volunteer and join in the fun.
The first year my new daughter-in-law was with us, she was so sweet — but it was a little hard for her with her science-exactness mind to relinquish control and let my 15 year-old son wield the knife.
My oldest son, now 28, jumped in this year and went for a Halloween theme. His wife took on the job of supervision, and I just got to enjoy. Well, she did chip in, as he was wearing down. She contributed a lot. I watched the whole thing go up. (and then down)
Chocolate cake, red velvet cake, lots of fondant and food coloring, butter-cream cheese frosting and it’s all edible — well except for the witches broom. This was a first with the fondant.
I must confess, with five kids, there were a few years when I was exhausted, out-of-time and tuckered-out. I have purchased a few cakes. But it was always kind of disappointing and I was sorry I had not planned better.
Here’s a better year:
Another confession — one year my daughter-in-law indulged my son and prepared a cake for his birthday, without any of his help:
My mom says that I used to sing “Happy Birthday Cake to me…..” when I was a little little kid. Yea, I knew then the best part.
