The Birthday Cake That Almost Wasn't & Party Pics

Audrey's birthday is especially sentimental to me seeing how on several occasions we thought we might lose her. With that being said, I try to do everything within my power to make her birthday very special. This year that meant making a big fancy 6 layer rainbow cake I saw on Mck Mama's blog here. I have developed a love for baking and really appreciate a challenge. I imagined how impressed everyone would be with me if I pulled off this cake. I would be like Martha Stewart. I started making the cake on Friday and everything was going smoothly until it was time to frost and layer it. I followed the instructions to the letter, but somehow this still happened
The cake was breaking, toppling, falling apart! I said a few bad words that I later regretted as I held back tears. I had literally spent the better part of my day baking 6 layers of multi-colored cake. Steven could not help but laugh . . . hard. In fact, he was the one who took the above picture and this one
I was trying to maintain my composure as I salvaged the two layers of cake that did not topple. I then made a trip to the store to buy more cake mix because a rainbow cake is not the same with the green and yellow layers missing. Steven also cut the top off of each layer of cake making them very level. That seemed to do the trick, because my second attempt at layering the cake was a success!

Please note that while I like to bake cakes I am HORRIBLE at frosting and decorating them. Exhibit A:

But the inside was pretty

After all of that Audrey took a couple bites of it and said "I don't like this cake" and walked away from it. I don't think she cared for the cream cheese frosting. I learned a valuable lesson. One shouldn't try so hard to impress a 4-year-old. She would have been thrilled with cupcakes. Oh well, at least it made a for a funny story and a fond memory.

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Now for some party pictures. On the day of her actual birthday we celebrated with family. Opening presents was the best part and boy did she receive a lot! She is one lucky little girl. :)

Aunt Gracie and Madeleine
The cake was so tall that she had to stand up on the chair in order to blow out the candles