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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Ladybug's Picnic




This past summer my oldest son turned four. Four! I can't believe it! I remember when he was born that kindergarten seemed worlds away. And now it will be here in a year's time. Birthdays always seem to remind me of how quickly time passes by and how important it is to cherish each moment. I forget this too often. I love how we make a big deal of each birthday at our house. Lots of friends, family, food and of course a special cake chosen by the birthday boy. O loves to think about what kind of birthday cake he'll have all year. He's already got his fifth birthday cake picked out!

So this year, O's cake of choice was a ladybug. He loves all things ladybug so this was a natural choice. He originally wanted another ball, but after I told him I could make him a ladybug...well...there was nothing to top that! He was excited. The crazy thing is, this cake just about didn't happen. I got really sick the week before his birthday and was confined to my bed the day I was to begin decorating his cake. Thankfully my sister was willing and able to come over the day before the party so I could quickly make this cake happen. I'm not sure I could have pulled it off without her help.

The cake design is pretty simple with the base being an 8 inch double layer cake and the ladybug body being half a ball pan. I covered the base with leaves for the ladybug to sit on and made her some fondant feet. To make the ladybug head, I mixed together some extra cake and buttercream to make a cake ball. I chilled the ball so it would be easier to cover with fondant. I love how it turned out. So cute!

O had also wanted a butterfly somewhere on the cake, but I didn't have a butterfly cutter, and my molding skills do not apparently extend to "butterfly" so in the end, just the caterpillar made it on the board. Oh well. Can't do it all! I have to constantly remind myself of that. O loved the cake, and had a blast at his party. I'm so thankful for all the friends and family we have who lavish love on our kids not only on their birthdays, but all year round. We are blessed!