Strawberry Cake- Ceci's First Birthday

Happy Birthday to Cecilia.
Happy Birthday to you!

This is a very special weekend.  It is Ceci's first birthday and Easter Sunday.

My daughter made a very special "First Birthday" cake.

The weekend was memorable and filled with celebration.

 Flowers from Daddy.

 Opening presents with my Dad.
This personalized quilt was made by Aunt Liz.

Mom is reading my birthday card to me.

 Her birthday party dress.

  Ready for the birthday party.
With a little girl in the house, everything is being "colored" pink!

 Ceci's  rocking pony.

 Mom made a strawberry birthday cake.

Recipe for Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake

1 (3-ounce) box strawberry-flavored instant gelatin 

1 (15-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed 
4 large eggs 
1/2 cup vegetable oil 
1/4 cup water 
Strawberry cream cheese frosting, recipe follows 
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting 
1/4 cup butter, softened 
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 
1 (10-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed 
1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract 
7 cups confectioners' sugar 
Freshly sliced strawberries, for garnish, optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans. 
In a large bowl, combine cake mix and gelatin. Add pureed strawberries, eggs, oil, and water; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour into prepared pans, and bake for 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. 
Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
For the frosting:
In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in 1/4 cup of the strawberry puree and the strawberry extract. (The rest of the puree is leftover but can be used in smoothies or on ice cream for a delicious treat.) Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating until smooth.
Spread frosting in between layers and on top and sides of cake. Garnish with sliced fresh strawberries, if desired.

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake

Rose Swirl Cake Frosting Tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybkvx90YNYs

Tips for successful frosting.

1. Use a good crusting buttercream recipe.  You will want to make sure the frosting is not too creamy though.

2. Make sure you have enough frosting! Those roses use a lot.

3. Put your cake in the fridge after you are done with decorating to help them set up and retain their shape.

 Ready for the party.

Mom and Ceci

Here is a "before" the birthday cake picture.

Hi, Grandpa Doug

Sharing birthday cake with Spencer.

This cake was delicious.

As you can see, it was moist and full of fresh strawberries for flavor and color!

You can't have too much strawberry.

Add some strawberry swirl ice cream.

Happy Birthday from Mom & Dad!

Grandma and the birthday girl.

The "after" is discovering how great birthday cake is, 

not only to eat, but to wear!

Ceci loves her brothers.  She is offering Graham a taste of her cake.

Happy Birthday from Dane!

Ceci with cousin Duncan.

Grandma Jeannine

Grandma with Dane 11, Graham 5, and Duncan 14.

We added Spencer 9, to the mix.

Happy Birthday to a sweet baby girl.

Origin of the name Cecilia:
Feminine form of Cecil, which is derived from Caecilius, an old Roman family name, which has its root in the Latin caecus (blind, dim-sighted). The name was borne by a 3rd-century Christian who founded a church in the Trastevere section of Rome. During the 6th century, a story of her life was written and she was henceforth venerated as a martyr.
She is regarded as the patron saint of musicians.
from http://www.babynamewizard.com/baby-name/girl/cecelia

The next day was
Easter Sunday

Duncan, Evie, Ceci, Graham, Denise, Spencer, Dane, Kevin
after church service.

Grandpa Doug joins the group.

Ceci found an Easter egg.

Spencer has quite a basket full.

Graham stopping for a treat.

Dane found some eggs in his tree house.

Sweet!

Hanging out with Spencer and Graham.

Four generations...

Ceci, 1st birthday

Ceci's Mom
Evie, at 1-1/2 yrs. old in Albuquerque, NM

Grandma Denise
This is a picture of me, sitting on my Aunt Raideen with Mom (Mary Ann) 
sitting beside us.  I was named after my aunt.  This is one of the few pictures
I have of myself as a baby.  It is well worn with time.  You have to consider that in the 1950's, there was maybe one camera  in each household.  And the film had to be processed through a photo lab. The film came in rolls.  There were no color pictures, of course. And this was probably taken at Christmas time because there had to be a special occasion for photos to be taken.  During these years, housewives wore dresses for holidays, but also for everyday.
I always thought my Mom and aunt were very beautiful.

Great Grandma, Mary Ann, who Ceci was named after.