I had told my almost 4 year old that I had a cake to make for her aunt for this sunday. I decided to make it yesterday as I have to work today and I didn't want to be rushing around making it before I had to go to work. Well, I got the majority of it done, but she of course was feeling abit left out and neglected (bad mom ) and I ended up finishing it up after she went to bed. I got mad at the cat for almost eating it and I was getting especially frustrated at my really first attempt at roses. They turned out ok but just ok...

So, how do you handle your kids and pets...(and maybe husbands too)?

you sell them on ebay! lol

I operate on very little sleep. Do my baking during the day and then decorate at night when everyone's sleeping.

If I'm at home, I decorate at night. No pets or anyone else allowed...

Hi,

I am a stay at home mother of a two year old. I've found that the only way I can do it is to do it in stages, because I never have a large chunk of time.

One day I bake the cakes, another day I will whip up the icing, another day I will color the icing, etc.

I like that idea! I have the same problem, my two year old always wants to eat the frosting.

If your daughter wants to feel included then give her some icing,and fondant or anything she can play with and feel important.

Do people actually buy the kids posted on ebay or do the desprate parents give people money to take them off their hands?

I have a 4 year old and he loves to watch me. He plays in the living room mostly anyway so he's around while I do the cakes, and if it's for home I try to find something he can help with.

I do it in steps too(but mostly because of a neck/back injury). My 4 yr daughter loves to cook and bake, so I actually let her help whenever I can. When I am making figurines out of fondant, I give her some to create things with. When I am baking, she helps dump stuff in the bowl, she will help hold the mixer. Then for decorating...my MIL is such a honey, she bought a smaller decorating bag. So I fill up her bag with extra frosting, give her waxed paper, and let her go to town! She loves it just as much as I do and is getting pretty darn good at making shells, lol=) Jen

I know how you feel. I spent most of yesterday making fondant roses for a cake. (my first fondant roses) They turned out good to. I had to go to the store for a few more things. ( DH took a shower while I was gone.) And in the 10mins I was gone my 4 and 9 yr old had devoured the roses. I was so mad. but what can you do!!! Needless to say I'll be making roses all day today. but at least I got practice right

Ahhh, Ebay...I never thought of that...Good idea!

ROFL Sassijen=) I know it isn't funny to have to do em all over again, but what a cute memory! Jen

Edited to add...did they get upset tummies??? That would be a whole lot of sweet stuff at once=(

RisqueBusiness that is too funny! I used to sell/buy stuff on ebay all the time (not so much anymore) but when I was my SIL kept on telling me I better be careful and not put my kids on ebay for someone to buy! LOL

As far as baking and decorating...I do it when I can (kids sleeping, playing with DH, etc.) but as of lately I haven't been able to do a thing which stinks because there is so much that I want to do!

I first put my Mastiff out of the kitchen and put up the gate....the kitchen then gets vacuumed and washed down to ensure there is no dog hair since he sheds like you would not believe.

Kiddos play in the kitchen with fondant scraps or playdoh or I wait until they are in bed for the night.

I usually prefer night decorating....dog is asleep and so are kiddos!

No they didn't get upset tummies they shared with the dog. And yes it will be a great memory. My 9 yr old told me today that maybe someday she can start decorating cakes too. I told her to watch for the little cake monsters (her 4 yr old sis, and the dog).

My son loves to play with fondant when I'm decorating my cakes. And there's TV!!! I love that option!! He also loves roses. But doesn't eat them anymore because he knows how much work it is to make them. I let him do one himself (he's almost 8 )
But the most of the decorating I do in the evening and early night.

I have two dogs who both get a big rawhide bone to chew on when I bake. It keeps them occupied for hours!!!

I don't do any big or elaborate cakes so my timetable may not apply to you, but: I usually bake in the mornings after DD (age 8 ) goes to school, then make & color my BC in the early afternoon when DS (4) goes to school, then I'll put everything together at night when the kids are in bed. Sometimes I will make & color the BC the night before, depending on how much I need & what else I'll need to do the next day. When the cakes are cooling and/or if they're too big to go in a plastic cake carrier, I put them on top of the fridge so the dogs can't reach them.

DD loves to help, so depending on what the cake is for I decorate in the afternoon & let her do some too. She also likes to practice on the practice sheets.

-Lisa