Cakes 2.0

After making my first 3 cakes and realizing how much time they took with a small child I had some down time between making cakes.  They are hard since every cake is different and every cake is a learning experience.  They are also beyond terrifying to make, they take some good time, and people only order cakes for special occasions and I'm terrified they wont taste amazing!  I taste them when they come out of the oven, but who knows the cake may dry out in the freezer, or fridge, or between decorating processes.  And the only way to learn is to experiment. So far so good, and keeping my fingers crossed they stay that way.  Anyways I decided after nearly a year and a half of no baking, no decorating, no nothing, that I would try again.  My dads 50th was fast approaching and my step mom presented the offer to me to make the cakes for his surprise birthday party.  I was extremely hesitant, because not only had it been forever but this was a special occasion that I would be present for.  The cake could look amazing, but taste awful... or maybe it would taste great but the design wouldn't be what I had hoped for.  Anyways here are the pictures of my process to cake number one...