Birthday Extravaganza: Monkey Mishap

As the final details for Peyton's Princess Monkey themed birthday party were coming together, I sent Martin and my folks off to the bakery to pick up the cake. I think out of everything I planned for the party, I was most excited about the cake. I worked with a designer to create a pink and green polka dot cake with a crowned monkey sitting on top. So fun, right?

When they arrived home, Martin and my dad looked worried. Apparently the drive was bumpy, and my dad was forced to lay down in the back of our SUV to hold the cake upright. The cake looked great from a distance, but up close, I could see the right side of the base was crumbling under the weight of the monkey. I crossed my fingers that the bakery made it sturdy enough - and figured now that it was home and on a table, it would be fine.

I was wrong. As if in slow motion, the monkey tipped off her perch and fell face first onto the cake table. Guests would be arriving in about an hour. I was going back and forth between panic and anger. I was especially pissed because I specifically asked the bakery if they recommended delivering the cake. I said I would be happy to pay the fee. But the lady reassured me that the cake would be fine and easy to transport home. Clearly, the bakery lady was out to ruin Peyton's party. I digress.

With the help of my parents, I was able to re-attach the monkey to the cake and secure the dowel rod through the styrofoam base to add extra support. We triaged the legs and arms of the monkey as best we could, and smoothed the frosting.

We tiptoed around the kitchen until the party started. Thankfully, the cake made it through the party without any more disasters, and in the end, it tasted great.