This was Beatrix’s birthday cake, which violated every snobby and pretentious cell in my body. I made it myself.
When I asked her what kind of birthday cake she wanted, she answered with a list that made my eyes cross and my veins run dry: Dora, The Disney Princesses, everyone from Sesame Street, the cast of Yo Gabba Gabba. Plus?
It had to be chockit cake.
Yes, she is a very self-aware toddler who watches too much TV, but also has five older siblings to teach her about these creatures. And Cinderella is certainly a creature. She’s seen her personal dream team in books, on plastic cups, in the bedrooms and in the playroom. Flip over any Little Golden Book and you’ll see Mickey Mouse cavorting right next to the Poky Little Puppy, Tootle, a counting kitten, Ernie, and Bugs Bunny. Oh, to be the lawyer who worked out the licensing agreements for that art project…
When you are the youngest of six, there is no waiting period before being clobbered by Characters. At a week old, she had an armload of Thomas and Friends paraded in front of her face, with commentary and the complete history of the island of Sodor all narrated by Tommy. According to the boys, Gordon was her favorite. It was clear by the way she hiccuped as he passed. I never pegged her for a Gordonite, though. He is brusque and a bit crusty. She is more like sweet Percy.
Aidan’s room is still haunted by stray Princesses. Sleeping Beauty perches on top of her digital alarm clock. Beatrix noticed. She loved. She learned the word “Princess!” and now appreciates ball gowns more than Scarlett O’Hara.
Because I wanted to grant her wish, I found cake toppers for most of the characters. They cluttered the top of the chocolate cake just enough to hide my inept lettering. I couldn’t find Yo Gabba Gabba characters, so I settled for buying her the stuffed representations and gave them to her as a separate gift. Otherwise?
Everybody showed up to party on her cake. They didn’t necessarily match. The scale was all wrong. Dora towered above Big Bird, and the diminutive Princesses got a little lost.
But she loved it.
Lovely. 🙂
Rach’s last blog post..live-blogging event
Oh, I’ll bet she was one happy little girl when she saw that cake!
So fun!
Robin’s last blog post..first day of school
It is absolutely lovely for a sweet little girl! Sort of encompasses life, doesn’t it?
Joanne’s last blog post..Nights In Rodanthe
I love it! You’re such a good mommy!
Lisa’s last blog post..Please pray…
Oh, characters. Kind of makes you wonder when we grow the “subtlety” bone.
We did Lightning McQueen for Wecco’s 2nd bday, on cataract-inducing green grass, and a Dora cake for 4 yr. old Scooter. I think I made that one purple. Neon food colouring is like a condiment around here.
Angela’s last blog post..Scrapbooking – “Terrific Three” Page
I think it’s beautiful. Happy birthday, Bea!
Goslyn’s last blog post..Burned Out
Beauty is in the eye of the (birthday girl) beholder. Looking at it that way, that cake is better than anything I’ve seen on Ace of Cakes. Bravo Gretchen! You made your little girl happy at your expense.
Kelly @ Love Well’s last blog post..The Mommy’s New Clothes
“But she loved it”
And that’s all that counts. Good job mama!!
Valerie’s last blog post..He Knows How to Close A Deal
LOL!! Looks delicious.
Jenni’s last blog post..Don’t You Hate It When (spinal edition)
Ha. I soon lost all my snobby pretensions when I had actual children to deal with. That cake is gorgeous, and I’m glad she liked it–which is the point, after all.
edj’s last blog post..Shopping
I love it! When she listed all her favorites, you didn’t pick one, you went with them all and made a party on her cake 🙂 Adorable.
Ann’s last blog post..A Thousand Winters Melting
I’m impressed with how you met each one of her requests. The control freak in me could not do it. But I only have 3 kids. Maybe after the 4th, I’ll learn to let go. Or not.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Ami’s last blog post..“Are They Triplets?” Part II
But isn’t it fun to be buying princess toppers instead of Thomas or Hot Wheels or Spiderman or Star Wars or or or… LOL I should have had a cake like that for MY birthday!
I’m glad she was thrilled with it. 🙂
Gretchen (the other other one!)’s last blog post..Holiday Fun
Very fun! I know your girl was very pleased! I love making my kids birthday cakes, too!
Happy Mommy’s last blog post..Fro Me to You~ My pregnant friend
Happy Bday Bea.
Loved the cake. One to remember.
Great post.
JoAnn
Of course she did! It’s wonderful. I decided this past year to let all snobbery go by the wayside when it came to birthdays – Sam got his blue Thomas cake, just as he requested (on multiple occasions).
Beth – total mom haircut’s last blog post..First Day
Oh! And of course – Happy Birthday to Bea!
Beth – total mom haircut’s last blog post..First Day
Great cake, cute piggies, Happy B-day Beatrix!!!!
I just LOVE the cake! That has to be one of the cutest things. And the story to go with it!
Happy Birthday Beatrix! I hope she had a great day!
Love it.
For some reason that pic of Elmo is cracking me up.
What a great cake! Looks like a 9×13 party!
Heth’s last blog post..Caedmon
I just love this…I sometimes buy into the lie that I would be a better mom if this matched and that were coordinated and everything had neat corners and symmetrical lines–and then I back up, readjust my vision and see it through the eyes of the children I’m trying to be a better mom to….and the joy and beauty of Dora/Cookie Monster/Snow White ‘chockit’ cakes shine apart from the glossy pages of my decorating magazines.
It’s beautiful, beautiful, beautiful–what a memory for her. And what a great mom.
Blessings~
Octamom’s last blog post..JPEG of the Week
My husband is reading beside me, and he just said, very reasonably, that she’s never seen Dora and Big Bird together so as far as she knows, the scale is fine. And Dora SHOULD be gigantic, shouldn’t she?
Happy birthday, little girl.
Beck’s last blog post..Toast of the town
What a good mommy you are! Of course she loved it!
I love it! That’s got to be one of the best b-day cakes I’ve ever seen. Very cute! 🙂
Stacey’s last blog post..Bird
It’s a dream cake! Finn’s was a baseball.
nutmeg’s last blog post..my 15 pixels of fame. or so?
What a GREAT job you did on so many levels. Not just the beautiful cake but for being the mommy who could DO that. HER mommy who could make her wish come true.