Our wonderful twins 5th birthday... and cake hints

And I had no idea how hard this would be on Mummy... 5 is a big number - no longer can I pretend they are in the toddler years (OK they really haven't been toddling for well quite a time now).  Now they are full blown boys & 5 is the age where we get serious about school work. ( I'm not beginning them officially in Kindergarten until next year, however I have intensified their preschool program with phonics as well as number & letter formation activities).   So although I dreaded my 'babies' turning 5, there was no stopping the clock & it finally came around.

Sporting the ears from Aunty EJ

Both boys were very serious as they pored over the birthday cake book the week before the big day. In fact I needed their final decisions for town day 5 days before the big event.  This caused no problem for Jud who quickly decided on a tiger cake & didn't change his mind, but the ship that Eli chose was changed last minute to a house (I think it had more to do with the decorations on top as he kept referring to it as his "lolly cake").  Thankfully I had adequate decorations on hand to  achieve the desired result. 

Zai made this boat for the boys himself -Ellie helped to paint it

We were blessed to have the house full of visitors for their birthday.  Dave's parents & Grandmother were so excited to be able to combine their visit with our double birthday celebrations.  The day began rather early for us as Zai woke the boys us at the brink of dawn (we had told him he must wait until there was light in the sky).  We made them wait until 7am before waking the grandparents, so they did well to contain their excitement until then (although there was rather boisterous wrestling going on from the four males of the family). The "official" part of the day began with our traditional birthday hunt - much to the amusement of Dave's grandmother who hadn't seen this done before.  The boys were blessed with excessive amounts of presents- as our children always are. They have enjoyed playing with the new toys - while I've been so thankful for the new clothes they received.

 Jud's tiger cake

In the afternoon we took dinner down to our friends house (as their children & grandchildren were visiting there & my boys love to play with their grandson).  We enjoyed lasange (which was the boys combined request for tea).  We then celebrated with birthday cake & ice cream.  I always think that with a normal birthday you have too much cake, so it was wonderful having 18 people there to help consume the excessive amounts of cake due to the double birthday blessing.

Eli's house/lolly cake

I know some people give their twins the same cake and I can completely understand why, however I've always tried to celebrate them as individuals especially at special times like birthdays - while encouraging them with just how special it is that they get to share a birthday & how wonderful it is to have a best friend provided by God.  Last year the boys wanted the same type of cake so I made two  cars - just using different colours.  This year they wanted very different cakes.  I think as identical twins they are often grouped together - they look the same & have the same abilities,friends & general interests.  I guess that's why I try to keep some things special for just themselves.  I do however love dressing them similarly - although that is happening less & less the older they get.  

HINTS:  *  I have found that with making two cakes I need to be more organised - two days before the birthday I make the cakes & then freeze them.  

* I've found frozen cake is much easier to ice as there are less crumb problems.  

* I always use the icing recipes found in the books although I use my own cake recipes - this is because I've had too many flops with making my own icing recipe up.  

* It's always wonderful to have the cakes done the day before so you can enjoy the birthday that much more. * They keep well in the fridge!  :)

A wonderful day, a happy double birthday

Happy Birthday our precious Eli & Jud