Happy Birthday Sebastian!!!

I'm a little late... but this past week was a whirlwind of prepartaions and fun! 

Believe it or not... Carlos Sebastian turned 1 on July 29th!!!  I still find it hard to believe that it has been a year since my baby was born!  I can vividly remember that day like it was yesterday... and it makes me a little sappy.  Yes I get the oooh my baby is getting big.... but I'm fighting it back!

So we threw a birthday bash a week ago, mostly because my sister was flying to Colombia this friday and wouldn't be here if we threw the party this past saturday.  But it was great!!!!

I was very excited to make his birthday cake... what with all my vast experience as a cake baker.  So I got the Wilton's Year Book to check out the cute cake ideas and see what I could come up with.  So I picked the most complicated cake I could possibly find and said "What the hell... I know I can do it!!"

Yes, its completely edible.... and I was determined to make it!

So I began, 3 days befor the birthday to create the circus creatures that would decorate the cake.

Here are the "heads" and the other pieces of fondant I would need to make the animals.

Oh, did I mention that I have NO EXPERIENCE WHAT SO EVER working with fondant???  Oh yes, my cake decorating experience is limited to buttercream frosting and roses.

GULP!!!

These are the brownie "bodies" 

Yes, I know I look awful... it was only like 98 degrees for four days straight!!!  Even the AC wasn't cooling the apartment down enough to make it comfortable.

Monkeys and Tigers

The completed product!!!

Isn't it cute?  Yes... I noticed AFTER that I left a HUGE gap in between the two circles on the front of the cake...and of course by this point they were pretty much stuck on the cake so I had to leave them.  Oh well... it is an ORIGINAL.

Then off to the party... and the big reveal!  I was sweating bullets, because I didn't want anyone to say that it looked crappy.  I knew it wasn't horrible, but I was stll worried that it wasn't good enough. 

So breath held, I brought the cake out....

AND

THEY ALL LOVED IT!!!!

The kids all ran over calling the animals they wanted....

The adults asked me what bakery I had bought it from and if it had cost a lot....

The birthday boy couldn't wait to grab the elephants!

I was ecstatic!  I really didn't expect anyone other than the kids to love it... but they did!

I made a butter cake with strawberry jam filling, buttercream frosting and fondant!

I loved the fact that when my cousin asked me what bakery I had gotten the cake from, my mom's friend quickly stated that "SHE MADE THIS HERSELF!!!"

I couldn't stop smiling!

Isn't he cute as a button???  My mother-in-law sent me this outfit and I think he looks like a little doll.

The birthday pavillion...

Sebastian enjoying his fondant elephant...

The birthday boy taking a wack at the pinata!

hee hee hee... He's sooo scrawny!  poor Tyler...

Sneaking a peek at the big gift bag...

He LOVED this dinosaur walker thingy...

Then a dip in the pool...

I love this pic of all my boys!

Surfing on dad's flip flops!

I don't have any more pics because I got lazy and then put the birthday boy to bed.

But all in all it was a fabulous party! 

AND I got a bunch of requests for birthday cakes! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEBAS!!!

:oP

The Party

Yesterday was the big day... and it went great! Of course it was a low key hit, but a hit none the less. I rushed home from work to take Isabel to dance class then rushed home to start baking my Red Velvet cake with home made frosting. (I've got time) So it dawns on me that although I am expecting hubby to be good and go to class tonight after work, it is his birthday and odds are that he's not going to go to class and he has already started celebrating... I'm not a gambling woman, but my money is on the later.

So I decide to call and make sure when he's coming home... good thing or I'd still be waiting for him to come home! So we decide that 9ish is a good time, as this is the time he normally would be home... so GREAT its almost 7pm at this point and I still have to go get Isabel at 8pm! But I've got time, I can do it. So I bake and I cook up some frosting, and I take off to go get Isabel, and its 8:30pm by the time I get home... CRAP that leaves me 30 minutes to cook up my shrimp scampi dish, and i have yet to de-tail my shrimp... and there's the phone. Its my hubby, can I come get him... he doesn't want to drive... DOUBLE CRAP!!! Ok, here's the deal, I'll get you at 9pm, gives us both another 30 minutes...

Well, let me tell you, I got my frosting made, my cake put together and frosted and in the fridge to set up. I got my shrimp detailed, cooked up and baking while I made up my spaghetti, all while I'm barking directions to my kids to get shoes on, get your coats, STOP FIGHTING!!! And with 2 minutes to spare I get my shrimp out and into my cooked pasta and warming while I'm getting ready to run out the door! Damn I'm good!


So we all get home and get the candles on the cake and "happy birthday to you honey!!"


My cake was a hit, everyone loved it.... and how could you not... I did make it from scratch. (shut up I know I'm bragging but I'm entitled) I mean just look at this beauty....

Ok, so the frosting is not the best, but it sure tasted great!!! and that smile says it all...

Then, onto the best part... well at least if you ask me... SHRIMP SCAMPI. And yes, its home made too... I was on a Martha Stewart type kick last night if you hadn't noticed.

Let me just tell you it tasted as good as it looks! IMO and again... I'm entitled.

All in all, it was nice, hubby was suprised, the kids had a blast and too much sugar at 9pm... We did not however all hide under the table as Tyler had wanted, just not a good idea. But we had a good time, the hubby was surprised and ate happily.

I can't wait to get home to eat some cake!!!! Then I'm gonna HAVE to go to the gym... I guess this is a good thing... right???

I'll just keep telling myself that for now... it sounds good.