I swear he *really* was happier than he looks in this picture. I figure he was just mesmerized by the candles. We had a very small family celebration at home with just us and grandma and grandpa (also his birthday) from Mystic. The Friday before I came into his classroom and they held a small party for Alex there... goodie bags of toys (no candy) and sugar free strawberry jello. Actually, Alex won't eat jello but there are other kids with food allergies in the class so jello was the safest bet that even the kids without dietary restrictions would also like. The Halloween class party should be a hoot. Another round of celery, anyone? 
I'm hoping to find out which other parents have their kids on restricted diets in the class and between us figure out treats the kids could have as a class. Heck! I know how to make gluten, casein free ice cream cake! Alex's cake above was made with The Gluten Free Pantry's Danielle's Chocolate Cake Mix, Cherrybrook Kitchen Vanilla Frosting Mix (though I will use something different in the future... this came out heavier than I think frosting should be), Enjoy Life Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips, eggs, Earth Balance Buttery Spread and the "ice cream" was Organic Rice Dream Vanilla Ice Cream. Basically, bake the cake in a spring form pan and chill in the freezer. Get the ice cream soft enough to work with and spread it over the cake. 'Another idea: crushing up some Kinnikinnick Kinitoos "Oreo" cookies and mixing that in the vanilla ice cream before spreading . Put back in the freezer to chill again while you whip up the frosting. When you're sure the cake/ice cream is solid, spread the frosting over the top (sides, too, if you want but you'll likely need more than one box of frosting mix), toss some chocolate chips all over and WHAALAA! Cake. Dana's last birthday I made a two layer chocolate ice cream cake which was a lot more work but came out much prettier. Wish I had gotten a picture, dang it. There is a bakery that will custom make you a gfcf birthday cake but they're all the way in Old Saybrook. http://www.aleias.com/bakeselect.htmlNevertheless, if we host Thanksgiving again this year, I plan (and better planned... as this cake ended up being a 'til-3-am-rush-job) on making another. Maybe learn how to be a pastry chef and start my own home-based gfcf bakery shoppe? Hmm...
Afterwards, grandpa treated us (and our neighbors... who do actually love his playing) to a few tunes on his bagpipe. The lessons are going great, he's already done a few gigs and up to be in an upcoming parade. Go, Grandpa!
