Surprise!

My mother arrived on Sunday to spend Thanksgiving week with us. Although her birthday is on December 6, we decided to surprise her with an early birthday celebration. We got a lovely cake from The Gingersnap Bakery, which James was able to pick up the cake this afternoon without her knowledge:

It is a French vanilla cake with chocolate mousse filling between the layers, and ganache frosting. Pure decadence and about ten pounds in weight.

I prepared one of her favorite meals for dinner, beef stroganoff, and then we put a candle on the cake and brought it out, singing "Happy birthday to you!"

I am pleased to say that she was completely surprised. Spenser, of course, got into the spirit in his own little cat manner:

Happy early birthday, Mom!