Cake Decorating Part 1: the back story

Jenni and I started a tradition when Jackson turned 1.  We decided that we'd like to design and make his birthday cake from scratch.  It probably began out of a need to save $ (I don't quite remember) but now, even though we could afford to buy a cake from a bakery, we've really grown to love creating them.  We've done it for every one of Jack's 5 birthdays and for Jake's 2. 

Here's a sampling of the cakes:



An impromptu cake for Jake's ACTUAL birthday this past year, 2010.  The boys are Spongebob fanatics. 



Jack's cake for his 5th birthday.  He loves soccer and played in two leagues last summer. 



Jake's 2nd birthday cake - the official one.  Mickey's Not-So-Scary-Halloween Birthday Cake.  (the white circle the pumpkin is on is also cake)



Jack's 3rd birthday.  Jack's been a huge Transformers fan ever since he could pick up a toy, pretty much.  This is Optimus Prime. 

So I think we've improved since the beginning on the birthday cakes.  This Christmas, however, I stepped up my game: brought it to the next level.  Fondant.  (more to come...)