Z-Monkey's Birthday Cake

Yep, don't say you weren't warned. Little Z is seven! I'm not going to go all cliche on you guys and say how I can't believe its been seven years since my little baby boy started charming the world. Nope, even though its true. You guys all know it anyways. Z Monkey is my right-hand man, my cutey, my Little Man, my Perfect Oldest, and an all around tough skinned, soft hearted, Mama's Boy. 

And I love him.

 But you guys knew that already. I bet you are just waiting around to see what the cake looks like. But you are just going to have to suffer through my proclamation of love to my Boy who Loves to Please. My Boy who....

Oh dear, I am getting lost in cliches here... 

 So for this year's cake, I asked Z-Monkey what type of cake he wants, as I do every year. And to this he answered:

 "I want a surprise." 

Hmmmm....adds an aura of mystery to the Journey of Finding the Perfect Cake. So I tried thinking of all the "things" he's into right now. 

The first things that came to my mind were:

 A. Playmobil. ( Not a chance. Lego is as far as I will go.) 

B. Perplexus ( This came to my mind for a second. Actually a split second. The thought rested in my mind for a half a second, until my Common Sense said NO WAY and kicked it out.)

C. The Magic Treehouse Books. (Hmmmm, this might work.)

Now, for anyone who is not familiar with The Magic Treehouse Books, you probably do not have kids in grades 1-3. These books are written by Mary Pope Osborne, and they have my kids spellbound. Anyone who can have 2 monkeys sitting for 2 hours straight, listening to books on CD gets an award. Mary Pope Osborne packs all sorts of random useful information into her books, while the kids don't even realize that they are actually learning! D-Monkey knows who Leonardo Da Vinci is, where he lived, and what paintings he painted. Z-Monkey can tell you where Thomas Alva Edison lived (Menlo Park, NJ) and what he is famous for. (Bet you didn't even know his middle name!) But besides for that, the books are always on the edge exciting, with original story lines. Really, truly amazing books. And another thing I love about her books are the adorable main characters- Jack and Annie. It is so unusual to find books or tapes nowadays (yes, I know I sound old school. And I'm not even thirty yet!) that mimic good manners but Jack and Annie are so cute, and polite to each other, I can't help but smile. 

So back to the cake- 

I was really excited to do a cake on the theme of  The Magic Treehouse. I was not disappointed. I think as my kids get older, and the themes of their cakes get more mature, the cakes get more fun to make. I know I say this with every cake, but this cake was really fun to make! And of course Z-Monkey loved it. 

Now let's let the pictures do the talking:

See Jack and Annie peeking out?

The rope ladder rungs are fondant, threaded through twine.

I think I fell in love with my leaf cutter about 20 times while making the cake. Don't tell Big D.

Actually Big D. Don't worry. 

I said I was going to dedicate part of this post to you. 

So here it goes:

Big D, in my mind, this is you:

My Knight in Shining Armor who arrives on his White Horse 

to save his Damsel In Distress (that's me) from drowning in dishes.

And for that I am truly thankful and forever indebted. 

Amen.

And bringing this back around full circle. Happy Birthday Z-Monkey. We love you!