Hi all, just wanted to share.
Background story - My best friend and I became Grandmas for the first time a year ago (hers) and then 5 months later (mine). Both girls.
We also had taken the Wilton decorating class together in 1980.
Over the years she made a few cakes but her hands cant handle it. She had gone through numerous tests for stuff like carpal tunnel and MS (doctors couldnt find anything yea right). So most of the time, when there is a function, I will make the cake.
Her husband (his parents and my husbands parents were best friends in high school) was a volunteer on the local fire department for 25 years and became the fire chief at the airport where he has worked for the last 29 years. So fire fighting is a recurring theme.
Anyway, a few weeks ago, when the birthday party was being talked about, she said, Id like to make her birthday cake. Her kids said, Oh, we thought Aunt Annette would make the cake kinda disappointed sounding, and she said Bite me. 
Then they said, Well, you can decorate it but, could she make the cake?
She says I make the same cake she does, its a box mix from the store and we modify it the same! They say, Well hers is just different. Fine. She and I decided on a fire truck but in girl colors.
So I baked the cake in a long loaf pan, made half white and half chocolate (but of course I couldnt find a chocolate cake mix that I was sure I had, and had to really modify a white cake mix to make it chocolate). I also shopped for accessories, like candies and Ding Dongs, for her in order to make it easier for her to decorate, printed a template for the ladders and cut boards for the cake to sit on. I also tried scoring tinfoil to cover the one board under the cake to look a diamond plate bumper. When my daughter saw me doing this she said Um, are you going to leave anything for her to do? I said, Yes, itll be hard, but I am going to let her do the decorating.
Saturday afternoon she comes over, and with a little guidance and showing her the viva paper towel technique, she decorated her granddaughters 1-year birthday cake! I did pipe the parts for the ladders (Im not too proud of those, I should have used a coupler and tip instead of snipping the end of the bag, but it still works) and the windows from white candy melts. But she did it! 
She had some shopping to do after she left, so she asked if I could bring it with me when I came over the next day. Me, Sure, no problem Her, Oh and you can fix it up a little too if you want. I said, I think it looks cute just the way it is, Im not going to touch it! 
Thanks for letting me share! And thanks to all the CCers who have made firetrucks for all the ideas!!
Frosting is pale pink and the midsection area is lilac. Headlights and taillights are cut gumdrops. Emergency lights are raspberry gummies and Mike & Ikes. The waterhose is made from bubble gum tape. Tires are Ding Dongs.
Thanks, I was pretty pleased she could do it.
She loses strength in her hands very quickly, so it's hard for her to pipe decorations for very long.
Re-reading this story, it makes us sound really old. 
We actually are middle aged!! (Although she is older than I 
)
THank you so much for sharing your story and the pictures. First, the cake is awesome!!!! I love it!! Second, your friendship and teamwork are inspiring and I love to hear things like this!! I am so happy you were able to share in such a special occasion together!
Thanks again!
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