How Not To Make A Birthday Cake

For years, Al had cringed on every child's birthday when I mention the cake. Growing up my grandma made the most wonderfully decorated cakes. Whatever we said we wanted that year she could make. I think my favorites were the boombox and the barbie cake (I must have had 4 or 5 of those). She set a high bar. In my mind, a birthday is not complete without an awesome homemade cake. Cake decorating is not one of my natural talents or one that I am interested in other than 5 times a year, the night before each child's birthday. Hence, the night before the birthday usually lead to lots of tears and yelling. In an effort to keep emotions in check during the past year, I have tried to find something easy that I find as an acceptable alternative to an ornate cake. The dump truck cake for the boys as been a great find!

The girls have been a little more difficult. But the day before Aly's birthday, I found a cupcake tower that I thought would be perfect. How long can it take to make cupcakes, frost them with different colors, and then throw them in a pile? FOREVER!

Issue #1: After emptying the contents of the cake mix, I realized that it was cornstarch and not cake mix. Thanks Caleb for messing up the food storage!

Issue #2: I only had 1 egg instead of 2. How important can the eggs be anyway?

Issue #3: The only cupcake wrappers I had were Christmasy. I voted for naked cupcakes instead.

Issue #4: Do you know how long it takes to make each shade the perfect color and how many bowls? Thanks Al for doing all the dishes!

Luckily, Aly's cake turned out much cuter than it should have. Thank goodness for miracles.