in lieu of a proper birthday cake...

for tally's fourth birthday, we eat molded chocolate pumps.  

for her 2nd birthday, in holland, we eat traditional dutch taart, layers of whipped cream and filling in a type of pie shell.  

for her 3rd birthday, also in holland, i make a 45-minute train journey to utrecht, where a baker promises to create a traditional north-american style birthday cake with buttercream frosting.  i learn from that experience that canadian cakes differ from american cakes.  and cost 43 euros.   

i ask tally what type of dessert she would like for her fourth birthday here in england and she replies, "i would like chocolate flamenco shoes."    ???!!!!!!   i explain to her that i fear these may be difficult to come by, and she counters, "just check the chocolatier."  lo and behold, the local chocolate shop DOES carry molded chocolate pumps.  close enough.  but..."it's english chocolate, tally, not belgian."  the first time she tried cadbury, she leveled her eyes at me and proclaimed, "this is NOT chocolate."  but..."i can wear these, though."  i explain all the reasons why wearing the chocolate shoe will be impossible, especially after i see they cost 10 pounds apiece, but tally is nothing if not a girl who knows herself.  so we grimace through white molded chocolate pumps for tally's fourth birthday and she's supremely content, even if she can't walk in them.