Party at the Park!!

The eve of Ty's 8th birthday we had a party at Murray Park with the Lewis Family! Ty loves celebrating his birthday and it was fun having a picnic dinner and watching the kids play at the park!

How can this big kid be 8?! He is growing right up I just can't believe it! What a kind, handsome, smart, and funny T-Y! I just love this birthday boy!

We had a delicious dinner! KFC, grandma's potato salad, watermelon, rolls! Couldn't ask for a better birthday dinner!

The boys just wanted to play in the sand all night! They dug a huge hole and tried digging to China! 

 Look at that little monkey-girl! She is amazing and strong!

 "Look at me mom! Take my picture!"

 "Cheese! Take my picture again!" What a cute kid! He cracks me up!

 

Ty loves his little 'Wing-Wing'!! (Lincoln) They liked going down the slide together!

 After playing at the park we headed back to Grandma Lewis's for cake, ice-cream, and presents!

The birthday boy blowing out his candles and making a wish!

This cake was absolutely delicious! It was a 3 layer red, white, and blue cake in the middle! I posted the recipe so I could make it again! Definitely a keeper and I will make it again!!

Surprise Inside Independence Cake:

1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant French vanilla pudding mix
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs (I just used egg whites)
red food coloring
blue food coloring
 
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
1/2 cup salted butter (at room temperature)
1/2 tablespoon clear imitation vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray 3 9-inch cake pans with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, instant pudding mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs together with an electric mixer to form a smooth batter. Divide the batter equally into 3 smaller bowls; tint one bowl to your desired shade of red, and one to your desired shade of blue. Pour each bowl into a prepared cake pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until the cakes are set and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 10 to 15 minutes. The cakes will start to pull away from the sides of the pans when done. Remove the cakes, allow to cool for about 10 minutes in the pans, and then turn out onto 3 separate pieces of plastic wrap set onto a work surface to finish cooling.
4. While the cakes are cooling, beat the butter-flavored shortening, butter, salt, and imitation vanilla extract in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Mix in 1 cup of confectioners' sugar at a time, beating in each cup well before adding the next. Mix in the cream, 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time, until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.
5. To decorate, lift the red layer using the plastic wrap, and gently turn over and place onto a cake plate. Remove plastic wrap. Generously frost the top of the red cake, then place the blue cake on top. Frost the blue layer, then top with the white cake; use remaining frosting to frost the top and sides of the cake.