My Aunts 85th Surprise Birthday!

We made it, we made the trip to New Jersey from North Carolina via a car with two kids in tow!  What a looonng drive it seemed, but we all surived the trek up and back.  

So why did we go?  Well...

My aunt turned 85 years old this year and her children threw her a surprise party.  Her actual birthday was a few weeks back, but to help throw her off, they decided to host a "graduation party" for their youngest daughter and surprise their mother instead!  

This is my aunt with her two sons, Gary and Mickey.

What a blast we had!  It was so much fun, hanging out in the pool, getting to see all my cousins and introducing our two kids to all their family!  We drove up to the Jersey Shore and enjoyed wonderful weather and enjoyed some fabulous food!  

In honor of my aunt I made these delicious cookies for her.  Now nothing can compare to her amazing birthday cake that was made by Buddy Valestro and his team at Carlos' bakery in Hoboken, NJ.  Buddy and his family have made a name for themeselves on their hit TV show, Cake Boss on TLC.  I remember being able to walk right into the bakery and get a cup of coffee and some Italian pastries, now you have to wait online for almost 2-3 hours!  Thankfully I didn't wait online for this cake, they actually delivered it to the party!!  No, Buddy didn't deliver it, but my cousin, (my aunts son) knows Maurro, Buddy's brother in law and one of their delivery boys did.  

What's on top of the cake is an artichoke, my aunt is know for making great stuffed artichokes, so they made one out of modeling chocolate.  I should have taken a better picture up close, but it was neat to see!  And of course DELICIOUS!  Her favorite cake is a cream puff cake, basically a very large Napoleon pastry with a TON of cream, cream puffs and a white sugar glaze on top.  Just enough sweetness to put you in a sugar coma for sure, but oh so good.  I had to go back for seconds!  

My amazing aunt listening to Happy Birthday!

Aunt Angie and all her great great nieces and nephews!

Aunt Angie and my two kiddos!  Happy Birthday!