It's official, Ben is three years old! This year I made him a lightning McQueen cake. This is the first character cake I've ever made. For his first birthday he had a monkey cake thanks to Grammie. Last year we ordered him Nemo cake from the local grocery store. So this year Mommy made his cake, even though Daddy was the one who picked out the cake pan months ago.

So we'll begin with how it looked coming out of the pan.


Very detailed. My mistake was I went ahead and did a crumb coating but oh well.


I told Nick to make the frosting since his is better than what I've made. Ben decided to help.


I really look like I know what I'm doing, right?


Starting to come together. I've decided that the auto flash isn't always a good thing, it kept reflecting off the foil.

My little helper.


Fair warning: Ayla unplugged the computer so I'm starting over at the auto save point.
Lightning's starting to come together better. Downside the numbers kind of blurred into the flame but again first time I've done a cake like this.


Here it is! I was happy with how it turned out. I have some things that will be changing if I ever do another cake like this, like I will have multiple tips of certain ones, but over all I feel good about it.


You didn't think I'd have so many pictures without one of Ayla right? She is going to be well acquainted with birthday cake for her first birthday.


His presents. We got him a game for the Wii that has Elmo and a controller that is the perfect size for his little hand.


Eating poor Lightning.

Here is a video of Ben blowing out his candles.