Cake Creations

Next week marks our little man's third birthday!  I can hardly believe that three years ago at this time I was well into my first week past my due date, wearing the same yoga pants day in and day out, eating an egg sandwich at The Tuckerbox each and every morning, while drumming my fingers on the table, waiting for this boy to grace the world with his presence. In the blink of an eye, three years have passed, and I now spend my days with a running, hockey playing, guitar strumming, cookie baking, exuberant, expressive and all around incredible little boy with a penchant for waffles and Jimmy Buffett, who has made our lives infinitely better each day that he has been here.

We're opting out of a big birthday party this year for a variety of reasons, but plan to have a fun day with some exciting outings, a special guest star (yay Nana!) and, of course, cake.  Since the rest of his birthday is going to be so low maintenance, and since the little guy shares his father's and my intense sweet tooth, I figure I'm going to go all out on the cake, and really try to blow his mind with a unique creation.  Like most guys his age, little J is pretty obsessed with trucks, and thanks to the internets, there is no end to the instructional videos and blogs one can find in regards to creating truck cakes.  You heard me, truck cakes.  I'm either brilliant or have completely lost my mind with what I am about to attempt (more than likely, a little of both).

Behold, my top frontrunners for The Third Birthday Cake Extravaganza:

1) The Bulldozer Cake

Pros: I will "have to" buy a bag of M&Ms, using only four in the decorative process, leaving the rest of the bag to be used at my discretion, and the boys will "have to" go to Dunkin' Donuts for the tires, which is one of their favorite Saturday morning outings anyway.  Also, bulldozers are his top favorite truck, if you must know.
Cons: No real desire to buy "Fruit Loops Cereal Straws".  Slightly intimidating instruction list.

2) The Excavator Cake

Pros: I'm sorry, but that cake is pretty badass. The candy ingredient list is intriguing, and the donut shop run is still necessary.
Cons: Twinkies frighten me very much.

3) The Fire Truck Cake

Pros: This is far and away the simplest recipe, with an idiot-proof step-by-step courtesy of Betty Crocker.  Oreos are necessary, and this can only be a good thing.  Love the black licorice fire hose.
Cons: Snore? Relatively speaking, of course.

They all pose a challenge of their own, and any one of these cakes will surely make the little guy's day, so just for fun, I decided to include my first ever SMJ poll, and ask you to vote for which cake I should make with this handy little widget:

Which truck cake should I make

Mostly, I'm just super proud of myself for figuring out the HTML on the widget without so much as knocking on the husband's office door, and wanted to share my joy.  Also, if you are having a slow, rainy Thursday afternoon like we are, what could be more exciting than voting for a random three year old's birthday cake?  Get into it people.  You have until Sunday to vote, at which time the donut run must commence.  

Thanks in advance for your help!