Let me (I mean them) eat cake

It was Urban's 5th birthday yesterday.  Which means, of course, we are staring down the barrel of a big party.  It takes the shape of a RockStar Party that will take place tomorrow afternoon.  I am going low key with this one, though, and the planning has been minimal – at least by my standards.  I decided not to even make the cake this year!  (It's the first year I haven't.)  And I feel kind of guilty about it, actually.

Urban's first birthday was themed Urban: Little Angle/Little Devil.  So I made an angle food cake and a devil's food cake.  Basic but delicious.  He, of course, chose the devil's food for his smash cake.  (Sorry, I can't find the pictures.  Bad mommy...)

Anyway, here is Urban's second cake from his "Halloween" themed birthday:

Yep, it's a zombie cake.  Two layers with gummy worms and oreo dirt.  The slanty #2 candle was the "tombstone".  Little did we know how much he would grow to love zombies. He is a vampire bat inthis picture, in case you're curious.

Urban's 3rd birthday was jungle themed.  He dressed as a tiger for this one.

And his cakes were an elephant with little tiger and monkey cupcakes:

For #4 we had a superhero theme.  The family dressed as the Fantastic Four (as seen in a previous post) so he had "burst" cakes.

Then Beringer had his first birthday, which we themed "Spaghetti" and I made this cake:

Yes, it is cake.  With chocolate cookie meatballs, frosting noodles and strawberry marinara.

I think I'm just caked out.  I don't know.  Maybe I just need a break. but this year I decided to go to Target Bakery and see what happens.  Obviously, I haven't tasted it yet, but it sure looks good!

At least it fits right in with the theme, and I won't have that stress starting at 5AM the day of the party baking and frosting a cake while trying to make all the other party food.

I love a party.  Seriously.  I live for entertaining.  But it's all about the moderation – that perfect balance of store bought and homemade.  I just couldn't do the cake this year.  Do you think Urban will even notice?

Now, how do I get past my other stressor?  All the random crap... I mean awesome presents...  that will be moving into my house tomorrow night!  Birthdays are a purger's nightmare.

to be continued...