I was supposed to make a cake for the fair tomorrow. I was making a Mardi Gras cake. I had the beads and mask already made out of gumpaste. Then, last night:

1)My two year old broke the mask. I had just enough gumpaste to make another, but it still isn't dry and I need to paint it with luster dusts. Lesson learned: Make more than one of the things that are critical for the cake.

2) Just after I had finished baking the cakes last night, our power went out, and stayed out until this morning. My husband was supposed to be taking the cakes out of the pans for me, but when the lights went out, he forgot one. One of my cakes stuck and crumbled. No oven available to bake another. No way to make buttercream or fondant for today.

Today: the power comes back on, but I would have to spend all day baking another cake, making the icing and fondant, and just hope that the mask dries in time for me to paint it. Add two children under six to this mix, a husband who is itching to work on his projects for a change, and a cakemaker who isn't feeling so well.

Decision time: Do I spend the day being frantic and trying to get the kids to leave me alone or do I throw in the towel and pay attention to my kids, give the kitchen a thorough cleaning after yesterday's cake, let my husband work on the basement remodel and rest so I get well?

I opted to not make the cake. I feel sad, but it's not like I HAD to do it. Next year, I will be more prepared and hopefully the power won't go out.

Murphy's Law hit you pretty hard! Sorry for all the mini-disasters.

Like Kenny Rogers sings.. " You got to know when to hold em and know when to fold em" I think you made the best decision. Knock em dead next year!!!!

Awwww..... I think you made the right decision..I am sure it was a tough one...
I am sure lesson learned and next year you will knock there socks off
Nicole

Your kids are ALWAYS more important than cake. I know how it feels though as a mom when you really need some Mommy time to do what you want to do. Somehow the whole world seems so pressing and you just don't get to enjoy it like you deserve. Sorry that happened to you, but the decision you made proves you are a great mommy and decorator.
Go enjoy some precious time with the kids, and do something fun. You'll forget about the disappointment when you hear your kids laughing with you!

Gosh, I am so sorry that everything went wrong. But I am sure that you and your family had a great time together. These times pass so fast, you have to be with the kids when you can. Maybe all of these things happened for a reason? But I know how hard it is to work at something and only have it fall apart on you. But kiss the kidd who broke the mask-because his/her own mask will be changing soon. Hug the hubby who forgot the cake, because maybe he wanted you to forget the cake and remember him. Then give them all a big hug and kiss for being the center of your life and supportting you through it all. God works in mysterious ways and the cake met it's match!! Take care. I know that you will do great next year.
Tanya

that is a shame that you didnt get to do it. but like you said theres always next year and im sure that something else will come along

Oh gosh, that is rotten luck, when things go wrong, they go wrong! Good attitude though, yes there is always next year and sometimes it just isn't worth the aggravation!
Hugs SQuirrelly

I'm so sorry to hear about your cake...but trust me I know what you are saying! I have a boy who is almost 3 and one who is 1 1/2 and they are FAST with those hands, and man can they go! It makes doing ANYTHING hard for me right now!!

So don't feel bad, boy did you have a run of bad luck, as if KIDS aren't enough..you got it all

I must learn about the luster dusts...so now I'll go look this up

The kids are only young once, once they grown and are gone...that's it. They should ALWAYS be your priority.

You can always make the same design for someone at another time. Don't throw out that mask!..lol

Or...if you weren't feeling so lousy..you could've downsized the design.

You can see my wedding cake final...I only had 60 minutes to put it together...so I had to simplify the design....I had made a sugar vase to hold the top flowers to give my little cake some height....didn't have time to finish it...sooooo

I put it on top of a linen napkin covered number 10 can and it held it's own..lol

I think you made the right call. Spending another entire day would have worn you out and made your kids nuts. My 2yo just spent most of last Friday in the kitchen helping mommy or in front of the TV. She was such a little angel, but if had not been for $$, I never would have done it. I was so happy to spend Saturday with her, and I'm sure your kids felt the same.

I didn't even have the put-upon DH, though I have before. I just can't bring myself to spend 2 whole days away from them. Take care of yourself.

Ali

I'm sorry this happened to you, but I am glad you made the choice you did. What might seem bad, turned out to be for your good.

Thanks all!! We did have a very nice relaxing day, instead of mommy being a basket case. Then, later in the week, we went to the fair and I checked out the winning cakes. They were nice, but mine would have been nicer. Next year, I will kick their butts! Thanks for all of the nice words, they really helped.