Every year in school, she would make a cake for us each to take into our classrooms for holidays (christmas, easter)
It always meant a lot to me, and even now if I run into acquaintances from elementary school, it is one of their favorite memories (that when my dad brought our dogs in and hooked them up to a sled and pulled everyone around the soccer field!)
I started baking when I was young; I would decorate cakes to the best of my ability (which usually meant that icing would be slathered on REALLY thick, and I would attempt at piping a border on the cake itself) I made a few cakes for friends (bridal shower and bachelor party)
But when my son was born, I really got into it.
It started with his christening cake - I loved the one my mom made for my brother and I when we were baptized, so I wanted to make the same one
I planned his birthday cake MONTHS before his birthday. I wanted it to be perfect - so much so that I actually threw out the first cake (it wasn't what I had in mind - but there was also somerthing wrong with the icing - really grainy and gross). But, when I made the new one, I was really pleased with it - we always called him our little monkey, so it only seemed fitting that he have a monkey cake
Next came J's 30th birthday cake
I made a bachelorette cake (my cousin was "hosting" and asked for it)
Julien's 2nd (fire truck) and 3rd (train and school bus - yes, there were 2)birthday cakes are here
There have been other cakes as well - a giraffe for one of my girlfriends; a wine bottle for my FIL, some bunny rabbits at easter etc.
I am now in the process of planning Julien's 4th birthday cake (he waants a pirate ship - and I may also do a treasure chest to go with it) and Kyle's 1st birthday cake (I call him my little bug, so I am thinking a ladybug pan)
