We sang our long rendition of a birthday medley to Romney, and then stuffed ourselves with birthday cake and ice cream. As tradition has it in our family, we then went around the table and told what we love about the birthday boy. Such sweet expressions of love and gratitude always makes a birthday extra special!
Romney is especially loved by all. He is a true peacemaker in our household. And a leader to look up to (even by his parents). He is a loving, caring person who puts others ahead of himself. And we all feel so blessed to have him as a part of our family. He truly makes us all better people.
And I, personally, feel that I must have done something pretty spectacular in the pre-mortal realm to have deserved the privilege of having such a noble and great soul for a son. He truly is great. I often ask myself how the Lord expects me to mother a boy who is so much better than I am. Maybe he was sent to teach me, not I to teach him. Either way, we're glad we have each other, and I'm so very grateful for the honor of calling him my son.
Thanks for being so wonderful, Romney. I love you!
My, we've had lots of birthdays! One a week lately, to be exact. Lots of cake and ice cream and celebrating the wonderful people who live here in our house.
Speaking of cake...have you noticed the same classic cake making it's way into all the birthday photos? Yep...this year, everyone wanted chocolate cake with buttercream icing. I usually mix it up, and make pumpkin or carrot cake for at least one of these fall birthdays, but this time, chocolate it was...all the way around. So, there hasn't been a day during the past three weeks that yummy leftover cake (which tastes even better chilled) hasn't been staring out at me from the bottom shelf in the fridge...dangerous, indeed. And the seasonal peppermint ice cream (only bought sparingly because I don't like the ingredients) made a perfect partner to the chocolaty goodness...double trouble.
**In case you're interested, here's the 411 on our traditional birthday cake:
I found the cake recipe several years ago on the back of the Hershey's Cocoa box! (you can find it here.) It's plain and simple and turns out moist and fudgy every time. I use unbleached flour and organic sugar, and make sure I have the best of the other ingredients on hand. I bake it in two 8 " round pans for a double-layer cake (I've also doubled the recipe for a larger crowd, and made it triple-layer).
I frost the cake with Wilton's buttercream icing recipe. I use Tillamook or organic butter for the amount called for in the recipe, and usually substitute it for the shortening as well. If I do use shortening, I use the Spectrum Organic variety. I like to use organic powdered sugar and soymilk too. We sometimes color it with a slight hint of food coloring, but usually love the creamy, buttery white look with the dark cake...beautiful and delicious!
We really do think it's the perfect birthday cake recipe.
