Happy Valentine's Day

My 10-year-old son and my husband got up early and baked this cake as part of my Valentine's Day gift. It's all strawberry -- the cake, the jam between the layers and the frosting. We're saving it for dessert this evening.

Now, he and his Dad are hosting his first LAN party for friends in a computer lab at the college. The boys and their fathers will create their characters -- hobbits, dwarves, elves or men -- and train them to defend Middle Earth in Lord of the Rings Online.

I, in the meantime, will remain at home in the Shire cleaning up the kitchen. It seems they haven't quite figured that part out yet.

Who needs romance when you've got cake? Though I do hope my elf and hobbit stop at the store and pick up some milk on their journey home. Let's just hope they don't encounter too many orcs.