I promise, I still bake.

I'm just super lame and don't blog apparently (or maybe that makes me super awesome?). Either way, here's a quick synopsis of what the cyber world missed out on in 2011.

This (not so) little beauty is a fond memory. So simple, so delicious. Vanilla cake with buttercream, strawberries and royal icing flowers.

 

This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home. This little piggy had roast beef and this little piggy had none. And this little piggy went WEE WEE WEE all the way to my tummy! I don't remember what the cake was, but I do remember that the petting zoo company that had come for this party were jaw-dropped over this cake. Buttercream icing, marshmallow feet, snout and ears, Laffy Taffy tail and chocolate frosting with oreo crumbs for the mud. 

Ok, so I usually frown on the use of non edible materials in my baked good, but I remember the  birthday cake that I got a new Barbie out of as a child, so I knew my daughters would feel the same. These cakes were for a Monster Ball(et) themed birthday for my 3 and 5 year old daughters. We had to combine Lady Gaga and ballet, sooooo....yea. And yes, those are marshmallow pasties you see on the left. 

Not the fanciest cake, but it did the trick! My son was born in 2010, five minutes after the Bears kicked a field goal to beat the Packers and yes, we had the game on in the delivery room. It was amazing. So for his first birthday, we hosted the rematch at our house. The Bears didn't fair out well this time, but my son did, getting his first cake and a face full of chocolate. 

For those of you who don't know, this is Shawn the Sheep. I love this little Wallace and Grommit style cartoon, but haven't seen him on TV lately, so maybe it was a small following. But a darling little 2 year old was a fan as well, so I got to make this funny guy. Made out of my favorite zucchini cake recipe and cream cheese frosting, it's possible he tasted even better than he looked!

I hadn't made a train in a while, so when my friend needed one for her 2 year old at the last minute, I was more than happy to oblige! I've become a bit of an expert on making these things....

MONSTER TRUCK RALLY!!! Seriously, this cake went to a party where they had mini monster trucks for the kids to ride in. It was awesome. And, I was informed that the 4 and 5 year old attending were super excited with their blue poop (sorry, TMI, but come on, that's funny!).

And that wraps up 2011! I've had some awesome cakes to make already in 2012, but I will give those individual posts. I promise! :)

I'm jumping on this Thomas bandwagon.

No, I will not be running to the store and stocking up on overpriced trains.  I have been blessed with 2 daughters (so far) and while we should buy stock in princesses and glitter, there is not a train in sight at our house.

But, it has been brought to my attention that there is a whole legion of parents who are willing encourage the obsession of their Thomas-crazed kids.  So I would be crazy to not pimp out these trains made of sugary goodness.  Now if I were really smart, I would take a cue from the manufacturer and not only make one size cake, but several different sizes, like cupcakes!  So not only would the kids want a big cake, but individual cupcakes as well!  Hee hee hee!

The latest obsessor, er I mean little boy, has a deep love for Gordon.  His mom tells me that he has taken up being called Gordon at home!  I think his birth name is darling and completely acceptable, however, he thinks he's more of a Gordon.  So, Gordon it is:

Now before all of you Thomas enthusiasts start yelling at me for the incorrect number (and yes, I was already corrected by Gus' mom) the number 3 is not a typo!  Gordon is in fact number 4, but being that this was for a 3rd birthday, I thought having a 4 on the cake would be misleading, and 'Gordon's' mom agreed - so please calm down!

Based on my knowledge of preschoolers (it's vast!) I have a feeling I'll be making a lot of trains...

Murdoch the Train

What you've never heard of him? Couldn't be because most kids are so obsessed with Thomas the Train that they often over look his fleet of steamy friends. But not the 3 year old that this cake was for, Gus.

Now Gus doesn't just like trains, he lurrrrrves trains! You should see the collection of trains he has, it is crazy! His parents literally keep a spread sheet to keep track of what they have already, what they need, and what they have waiting in the wings. When my daughter comes over to play, the first thing he asks is if she brought him a train present. This kid likes trains so much that his dad made him a train for Halloween (and not that generic crap you buy at the store - oh no - he had a full on train built around him) and mom actually dressed up like railroad crossings. Now that's commitment! But I digress...

While Gus tolerates Thomas, his real love is for all of Thomas' friends. Almost as though Thomas is his competition for said train friends, or *gasp* he believes himself to be Thomas! Either way, I knew that just showing up with a Thomas cake was not going to cut it. His current obsession has been with Murdoch (which he got for potty-training, pun intended!), so Murdoch it was.

And his face was priceless when he saw this big train, covered in frosting, just for him. The wonderment in his eyes, of how he could play with and eat this train all at the same time. Happy Birthday to a very special little guy!