Not so little anymore.

There is a first time for everything.  

This is not a complete collection of proof, I'm missing a few pictures, but every year when it comes time to celebrate these two, I have made TWO cakes.  I've felt that since there will be countless things they end up having to share in this life, a birthday cake should not be one of them if I can help it.  

But this was the year I decided that it might be okay to do just one.  I picked a theme they both liked and was super excited to try out a special cake pan I've had for years.  

But oh my goodness, in comparison with other years, I did NOT save any time by only making one.  This shnazzy cake pan of mine had a from scratch recipe on the back of the box.  Wanting this to be a success, I decided to make the recipe that came with the pan.  

Heavens to betsy it took me FOREVER.  It took me 4 hours to "cream" and "separate yolks" and "beat until they peak" and "fold in" said peaks and "divide" and get two shakes of brown and spoon evenly into the strip divider.  And that's not including clean up from all that riff raff.  It's taken me 4 hours to ice cakes before, but it usually only take me 4 min to make the actual cake.  This from scratch business is for the birds!  

I was super happy with the end result.  But if I ever get an itch to make a checkerboard cake again, I'm using a box mix!

As fun as cakes are, it can't distract from the fact that I can no longer categorize myself as a "young mother" anymore.  Whew.  That's kinda hard to wrap my head around.  But my own self issues aside, these two are now young women.  I often refer to the phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child."  My heart is full of gratitude for the village I have to help me raise these two.  Everyone was so excited for them and made them feel so special.  And they have already had the opportunity to grow outside their comfort zone and do some really fun things.