April Birthdays and Cake!

My kitchen is going to be cake city over the next few days.  Just out of the oven is a marble cake for my friend Joanne's father, who's celebrating his 90th birthday this weekend with his family and friends.  Joanne provided a photo of her dad and his dog and had it duplicated in sugar.  It will be the central decoration on the top of the cake, with some embellishment and a message to complete this gift to her father.  What a milestone -  90 years! - so many of us never have the opportunity to share that special birthday with our parents.  I know my siblings and I didn't get to, so I very much appreciate the significance of this celebration. 

As that cake came out of the oven, in went two layers of the Hershey's chocolate cake recipe that will be my son Joe's birthday cake.  It's hard to believe that he's 36.  It seems like yesterday when he was born, on what was one of the happiest days of my then very young life.  I had just turned 22, and was more than ready to embrace motherhood and all that goes with it.  I just didn't know then the still-to-unfold "all that goes with it" and it's been an education for me and for all of my children along the way.  In many ways, we grew up together, and I only hope that my learning curve wasn't too much of an impediment to my kids realizing their own hopes and dreams.  The one thing I can guarantee to all my children is that I couldn't love them more, no matter what courses their lives take, or what happens along the way.  I think every mom, perhaps every parent, knows what I'm talking about.

After Joe's cake comes out of the oven, I'll clean up my kitchen and get ready for THE big cake of the weekend:  Henry's 4th birthday cake!  He wants a Star Wars cake, and I have exciting ideas for how that will come together.  He's having a kids party with his nursery school classmates this Saturday morning (just a small little shindig) and then Sunday evening the grandparents will have dinner together and celebrate.  His actual birthday is Monday.  Henry's had different ideas along the way about what he wanted for this birthday - months back it was a "Cars" cake, then a Dinosaur Train cake, and now he's firmly set on Star Wars (though he doesn't want to watch the movies, says they're too scary).  I'll bake Henry's cake tomorrow night and decorate it Saturday morning, just in time for his little friends to appear. 

April is an exceptionally busy birthday month in my family.  We just (last night) celebrated my sister Patsy's birthday with our usual sibling dinner at Red Lobster in Glens Falls. It was so much fun, and I loved every minute.  Earlier this month we celebrated my daughter Tricia's 30th birthday (she's named for her Aunt Patsy).  Today is my nephew Ben's birthday, tomorrow is Joe's, and Monday, Henry's.  My own grandfather, Valerian O'Farrell, was also born on this day, April 26, 1876.  He died long before his grandchildren were born, and I am sad that I never got to meet him.  Part of me feels as if I know him.  He was a very good writer (as was my Dad) and I like to think that my passion for writing is a direct connection to him. 

So, no more time for writing.  I have a kitchen to clean up so I can mess it up again!

Happy April birthday to all my family (and friends) who are celebrating this month.  I love you all!