Cake -- part 2 and another party

Well, we survived another birthday party! I think I've mentioned before that since both my sister's & I live in close proximity, along with a married with children niece, we have LOTS of birthdays to celebrate! It's often hard to find a date that works for (give up on ALL) settle on the majority of us. That's the reason these birthdays get stretched out, and kind of run into each other! (As you can see by my list up above, I have a nephew with a birthday tomorrow...) We had settled on Sun. eve supper (tomorrow) but then our workers announced they will have Sun. Gosple meetings, starting tomorrow eve. Scratch that plan. Re-schedule for tonight.
We had a great time. Luanne & I did a taco salad supper, easy to make a huge batch of. and not much work. Add watermellon & grapes, along with cake & ice cream, a warm late summer evening with our family & friends, what more could you want?
Oh, so you really just wanted to see pictures of the cake eh?

Well, for my first attempt I think it turned out pretty well. Made some mistakes, nothing serious, learned some things, TO do, and NOT to do, far from "perfect" but the girls liked it and it tasted good, so that's all that really mattered, right? That I got lots of compliments was a bonus, although maybe everyone was just being nice!
It really was fun, I think I'm hooked. Can't wait to do the next one!! Oh yes, I also canned 3 batches of grape jelly today, and although I ended up leaving for the party with a few dirty dishes & the remains of the gum-paste misc. on my counter, I managed to keep my kitchen reasonably clean during the process. YEA!! Now that really is an accomplishment :*) Unfortunately my hands didn't fare so well, they are several shades & blotchy with red frosting dye!

Here's a couple more of the "twins" birthday party pictures. Yes, they both got "chucks" for their birthday!