All right - I'm definitely no Martha Stewart, but given this is my first attempt at cake decorating, I'm happy that it even LOOKS like a truck.

By Trina~moderator on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 06:54 am:

Woo Hoo! ^5 to Jack! OMG, is he 3 already?!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jack!!!

By Trisa on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 08:26 am:

Wow you did a great job!! Congrats on the potty thing!!

By Feona on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 08:56 am:

That truck is amazing. Happy Birthday!

By Karen~moderator on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 09:05 am:

Happy Birthday to Jack! Hey, I'd be happy if *I* could make a cake like that. A baker, I am NOT! LOL at crossing the threshold to manhood! Isn't is SO much a man-thing to clog the toilet?!? But, as my kids would say, mad props to Jack for the potty training!

By Amy~moderator on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 11:34 am:

Yay Jack! Great Job!!!!!!!!!

The truck looks wonderful, you're a pro!

By Mommyathome on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 12:25 pm:

The cake looks great! And, the potty thing is great too!!

By Eve on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 02:18 pm:

Happy Birthday, Jack! Great job with the potty too! That cake is so cute!!

By Bellajoe on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 02:21 pm:

That's a great cake! I wish i could make something like that!

Aren't you glad you didn't find that size poo in the diaper! EEWW! ^ five little Jack! Good job on the potty training! and Happy Birthday!

By Sunny on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 02:22 pm:

Happy Birthday, Jack!

Good job Mom on the cake, it looks great! And good job Jack!

By Dawnk777 on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 02:45 pm:

You did a great job on the cake! Congratulations to your son for turning 3 and going potty on the toilet.

Yeah, I think it's a guy thing. My husband can tell stories about that topic. LOL!

By Laurazee on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 07:57 pm:

Thanks. Is it just me, or does anyone else have a slight phobia about unclogging toilets? I have a huge fear when the water starts rising...and rising...and rising to the rim, EEK! It's tough not to panic. Ugh. Turned off the water, drained it and let dh deal with it when he got home.

Kinda funny - I *was* slightly worried about passing my clogged-toilet phobia onto Jack: "Hang on sweetie! GREAT JOB! Here are some Smarties and Mommy is just going to get the plunger...."

God forbid I pass on any fears regarding the toilet now that I've got him to this point. DH, of course, was beaming with pride.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 12:53 am:

I hate clogged-up toilets and don't like to see the water rising, either!

By Insaneusmcwife on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 09:45 am:

You did a really good job on the cake. Was that a pan or did you just cut it out?

By Laurazee on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 07:12 pm:

I just cut it out - drew a rectangle, drew a truck inside, cut the parts that weren't the truck and used them for the "dirt" (chocolate cake). It's supposed to be a CAT 785 mining truck. I work for a CAT dealer, so I had lots of pictures of them. Next year I'll try a D10N tractor - but I'll try doing it up as a 3D tractor. I think I can build it up with slabs, but we'll see!

Tips, tips, tips, anyone???? Could use some advice on the right consistency of icing, how to know how much icing you'll need, flavorings and colorings, things that can be used to decorate in lieu of icing?

By Insaneusmcwife on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 10:48 am:

I posted the icing recipe and a few tips in the recipe section I'll try to post a the chart that shows what each tip does as soon as I find it....I had it before the move...its got to be here somewhere!