My kids are notorious for wanting birthday themes that aren’t so simple. They always tend to pick something that I can’t just find at Party City or iParty. They never wanted Mickey Mouse, Batman, Go Diego Go, or Marvel Superheros. They always had their own ideas. Many involved LEGO, which they made nothing for at the time and I would have to make everything myself. They picked a camping theme, a camouflage theme, and fishing at one point.

So why would I think this year would be different? My son asked for a Dragon Party! Great. How to Train Your Dragon I asked? I really hoped so because NOW they make plates and party stuff for that (they didn’t when my oldest requested a HTTYD party years ago). Nope. Just Dragons. Like any kind of dragons…just not Hiccup, Toothless and all his dragon friends that I can walk into Walmart and purchase all sorts of party goodies for. I went to my go-to….just find cupcake toppers, use solid colored plates, and let the boys draw their own decorations for the house.

Now I ran into a bit of snag you see. My son and I have been watching the Kids Baking Championship on Food Network obsessively, so he had some “expectations.” I’m telling you now these 12 year olds are better cake decorators than myself. Well my baby boy didn’t just want cupcakes with dragons on top. He wanted cupcakes with dragons on top surrounding an erupting volcano! Dream big or go home, right!? So what is a mom to do? Give the boy cupcakes, dragons, and volcanoes. He even requested that the frosting be applied with a piping bag, not just spreading it on with butter knife (damn you Food Network).

I told him the volcano was a “rustic” volcano and the eruption was starting landslides, because to be honest, it was a bitch to try and frost. I spent the better half of a day constructing cake and frosting to make my boy smile. It may not have been too pretty, but it was delicious…thank you Betty Crocker.

So, what are they going to be requesting for next year? For some reason I’m thinking Fortnite. Help me.