Shiver me timbers, it be cake!

A Pookie pirate birthday cake 1/10/08

I decided to only do half a cake for Pookie's birthday since it was just his siblings, Danny, and me. As you know, we only have friend parties on birthdays divisible by four-- 4, 8, 12, 16. I didn't see the need to make a full 9 x 13 cake (or two-layer round) for just the five of us that would be eating it. So, I made two 8" squares from a triple chocolate fudge cake mix (75 cents at the commissary) and froze one for Valentine's Day. I used half a package of cream cheese and whipped up some frosting that I flavored with almond extract instead of vanilla. And it was so yummy! The almond perfectly complimented the chocolate cake. With a teeny-tiny bit of creativity and chocolate coins and two pirate toys, I made this!

I know my sisters and my mother-in-law are expert cake decorators. But I'll be the first to admit it, I am not. Remember this cake? And this cake? This pirate cake was an improvement. It definitely impressed the birthday boy. And that's what counts.

Update: The idea to celebrate every four years came from Danny's family. That's how they celebrated growing up. And I think it's a fantastic idea because:

1. We're probably going to have 37 kids-- and that's a lot of birthdays. This gives us time to prepare for a special themed birthday party. And something for the kids to plan and look forward to in between.

2. We're still celebrating their other birthdays-- usually with family activities of the birthday child's choice.

3. Under the age of four, too many tantrums and melt-downs, and sometimes not potty-trained.

4. Age 8 is when they get baptized.

5. Age 12 is when the girls and boys leave the primary program and enter the Young Women/Young Men program at church. Worthy 12 year old boys also receive the priesthood at this age.

6. Age 16 they can drive, get a job, and also start to double date. I remember looking forward to this age very much.

One difference we make from the way Danny's family did this, is incorporating a rule my parents had for our birthdays. The birthday child can invite as many children to their friend party as the age they're turning, ie. 4 friends at 4 years, 8 friends at 8 years, 12 friends at 12 years, and 16 friends at 16 years.

Yes you can freeze cake Cristtin. I ate my wedding cake a year later and it was good. The frosting was a bit smooshed. I didn't frost the cake for Valentine's Day because it's going to be Death by Chocolate-- super easy, very rich, very yummy. Under my mother-in-law's wise instruction, I wrapped it in plastic wrap and put it in the freezer. A day later when it was frozen through, I wrapped aluminum foil over the plastic wrapped cake and labeled it.