Attention moms of critter-loving kids! Take a look at these too-cute-to-be-eaten DIY animal cupcakes.

Birthday Kid: August, age 3

Cupcake Details: August’s mom is a pretty amazing sculptor! She crafted these marzipan cupcake toppers — by hand! — into colorful flamingos, alligators, snails, ladybugs, whales, mice and more for his science-themed birthday party.

Where to Buy: Too intimidated to try this yourself? We don’t blame you. Get the look without the work with these supercute edible jungle cake toppers at Etsy.

Got a fabulous fete you’d like to submit to us? Check out our submission guidelines here!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Michael’s Colorful Bug Party

Coolest Cars Cake Ever

Ada’s Stylish (and DIY!) Owl Party

It’s very hard to put into words how, as mothers, we react to tragic events — especially those involving the senseless deaths of children. Lately I’ve been thinking about how these tragedies, in their unfortunate frequency, have begun to shape me as a mother.

Last October, in New York City, little Lulu and Leo Krim were the victims of a trusted nanny who brutally murdered them for no apparent reason. Their mother, Marina, was returning home, as she would on any other day, and found this gruesome scene in her apartment. I still remember the heart-pounding moment I read the news story, frantically wracking my brain to think about what I was doing at the exact moment Marina got home. My heart stopped and I felt my face flushing. I had just bid good night to my own nanny and was a enjoying cupcake surprise party with my kids — because it was my birthday. Thinking of these two dramatically opposite events happening, simultaneously, in the same city, was too much for me to process. How will birthdays, and every day, ever be the same for the Krims?

Then, in December, there was Newtown. Just that simple word tells an entire story. I was home recovering from surgery when the breaking news was announced. My heart stopped. I said aloud to myself, “am I reading this correctly? How could anyone shoot up a kindergarten classroom?” My son is in kindergarten. I read about parents awaiting word on the whereabouts of their missing children. My breath quickened as I kept checking my watch, wondering when my nanny would be home because all I wanted to do, at that moment, was hug and feel my kids so I could breathe again. I thought about the indescribable grief that was now overwhelming mothers who only 30 minutes prior were going about their normal day. Could they remember the last thing they said to their kids that morning?

Then came the news of the tragic bombing at the Boston Marathon and the announcement that one of the first victims was an 8-year-old boy, Martin Richard. Martin was there with his family to cheer on his dad who was running the race. I imagine how proud he must have felt clapping his hands and checking his watch, awaiting his dad at the finish line. My heart hurts.

I don’t want tragedy to be the only thing that reminds me to live in the moment with my kids, but, in these unfortunate reminders are important lessons in parenting. When my kids are driving me nuts whining or hitting each other and I’m using all my mommy power not to completely flip out and yell, I stop for a moment and think of Marina Krim, who would give anything to hear her kids arguing over a toy. Every time I put my son on the school bus, I stop for a moment and think of Newtown and remind myself that I should never — no matter how rushed — miss a good-bye kiss.

And this year, when I’m on the sidelines of the New York City Marathon, clapping my hands to cheer on those amazing runners, I will think of Martin and how lucky I am to be standing alongside my kids, in that moment.

How do you deal with all of these tragedies as a mom? Has it changed the way you parent?

Plus, more from The Bump:

5 Honest Realizations I’ve Had Since Becoming a Mom

3 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

5 Surprising Things I Miss Now That I’m a Mom

…And you thought ONE birthday cake-covered kid was fun? Imagine three! Check out this colorful Sesame Street party for a set of triplets.

Birthday Kids: Sarah, Logan and Joanie, age 2

Party Details: This trio loves Elmo, Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby, so their mom and dad threw them a Sesame Street party with three times the fun. Character cupcakes were the perfect compliment to a cake decorated with number “2″ candles, and guests posed in front of a photo booth that looks just like the real show!

Where to Buy: Cake and cupcakes: Kristine Esposito Schmocker

Got a fabulous fete you’d like to submit to us? Check out our submission guidelines here!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Sophia’s Pretty Princess Party

Georgia’s Floral Fantasy Party

Ada’s Stylish (and DIY!) Owl Party

Let down your hair and check out this truly amazing (homemade!) Rapunzel cake.

Birthday Kid: Brynn, age 2

Cake Details: Brynn’s family wanted a low-key, at-home party to celebrate her 2nd birthday — but they pulled out all the stops when it came to the cake! Her grandmother DIY-ed this gorgeous two-tiered tower wrapped with Rapunzel’s fondant braid.

Where to Buy: Decorate your own Rapunzel cake with this adorable — and edible — cake topper from Etsy.

Plus, more from The Bump:

Sophia’s Pretty Princess Party

Georgia’s Floral Fantasy Party

Ada’s Stylish (and DIY!) Owl Party

The only thing better than a great birthday party, is a great birthday party with an even greater story behind it! Meet Sophia — she was born over 11 weeks early, weighed only three pounds, and spent six weeks in the NICU fighting for her life. As a thank you to the medical team who helped her, Sophia’s parents included not only family and friends at their 1st year celebration, but also the amazing doctors and nurses that got Sophia healthy, strong, and home with mom and dad!

Birthday Kid: Sophia, age 1

Party Details: Sophia’s parents made a party fit for a princess! Pink tulle and pretty flowers complimented the amazing two-layer vanilla castle cake, which was decorated on each side with two smaller pillow cakes featuring a glass slipper and a crown. Sophia even dressed the part in an adorable party dress and headpiece.

Where to Buy: Photography: Simply Sophia, Photography / Birthday girl’s attire, tutus, decorations, and set up: Simply Sophia, A Children’s Boutique / Cake: Happy Cakes by Janet

Got a fabulous fete you’d like to submit to us? Check out our submission guidelines here!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Georgia’s Floral Fantasy Party

Ada’s Stylish (and DIY!) Owl Party

Liam’s Super Awesome Superhero Party

WOW! My jaw dropped when I saw the photos from this AMAZINGLY gorgeous floral fete. Georgia is one lucky little lady! Check out her party below and see our tips on how to get the same look on a budget (this is a great theme for baby showers, too!)

Birthday Kid: Georgia, age 4

Party Details: Using vintage furniture rentals and spectacular floral arrangements, Georgia’s mom (and some talented party pros) created a dreamy and pretty tea party with a Victorian feel. Georgia even got to play the role by wearing a period-style dress and hat!

Where to Buy: Photography: Cinnamon Dreams, Lesya Bilder / Event Planning: Southern Affair / Flowers: Haute Floral / Vintage Rentals: Rent My Dust / Venue: Dave n Busters Arlington / Cake & Desserts: Cakes by Design – Tabitha Ballard / Linens, Glasses & Chairs: Rental Stop / Stationery: Jennifer Kirlin

Get This Look for Less: You don’t need a huge budget to throw a Victorian tea party like Georgia’s. Use inexpensive tea cups, glassware, and centerpiece containers (we love the selection at IKEA!) to set your table, and decorate with large blooms from your local florist — or even the supermarket! Create a sweets bar on an existing piece of furniture and bake your own mini cupcakes and decorate with colorful icing. Accent the tables with faux pearl accessories from Party City, and paper doilies detailed with this doily lace edge punch for a vintage Victorian feel.

Got a fabulous fete you’d like to submit to us? Check out our submission guidelines here!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Gavin’s Spectacular Circus Party

Ada’s Stylish (and DIY!) Owl Party

Liam’s Super Awesome Superhero Party

Take a look at this ahhh-mazing cake for a little fanatic of the Cars movies!

Birthday Kid: Nicholas, age 2

Cake Details: Nicholas’ talented, cake-baking cousin, Amy Donnolo, crafted this delicious rendition of Radiator Springs. Lightning McQueen and the road signs, rocks, and cactus were all sculpted out of fondant, and Amy personalized the cake with Nicholas’ name and age on a faux (also fondant!) hood ornament.

Where to Buy: Make your own Cars cake with this fun cake pan.

Got a fabulous fete you’d like to submit to us? Check out our submission guidelines here!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Michael’s Colorful Bug Party

Gavin’s Spectacular Circus Party

Ada’s Stylish (and DIY!) Owl Party

No need to fear the creepy crawlies at this birthday celebration! Check out Michael’s amazingly colorful DIY bug party.

Birthday Kid: Michael, age 6

Party Details: Michael’s parents took his love of bugs as inspiration and hung oversized dragonflies, grasshoppers, spiders and ladybugs from the ceiling as decor. His talented mama artfully crafted the hand-piped cookies and the amazing cupcakes using gummy worms as toppers and crushed cookies as dirt!

Where to Buy: Inflatable bugs: Target

Got a fabulous fete you’d like to submit to us? Check out our submission guidelines here!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Gavin’s Spectacular Circus Party

Ada’s Stylish (and DIY!) Owl Party

Liam’s Super Awesome Superhero Party

I share a lot of information about my kids online. Of course I think my kids are awesome, funny and adorable and being their mom is so much a part of who I’ve become that, naturally, I love talking about them. I post status updates, photos and funny quotes to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I blog about my kids on The Bump. I also started a Tumblr to both archive and showcase my son Cooper’s amazing writing projects. And last week, I shared his first love note with all 480 of my Facebook friends.

His kindergarten classmate Janie (name changed to protect the child whose mother may not be an over-sharer) wrote him THE MOST AMAZING love note, ever. She told him everything she loved him more than. She drew pictures of them holding hands. She was so excited to give it to him. It was delightful, delicious and memorable and my knee-jerk reaction was, “OMG I totally have to post about this amazing thing on Facebook!” So, I did.

The love note post got about 35 “likes” and the subsequent post I made showing the drawing of them together got another 31 “likes” plus comments. Everyone loved it! Who wouldn’t?! It was so. damn. cute. A few days later, people were asking if Janie had given him a Valentine. Only then did it dawn on me that this moment was now etched into Cooper’s online presence for all to see — and would I want someone posting about MY six-year-old love life on social media?!

My Facebook page is set to be private, but suddenly I fast-forwarded in my mind to his college applications, job interviews and future girlfriend Googles which could result in the discovery of all of this history — history that I made the choice to post about, not him. Would he think it was as endearing and cute as I do? Or would he want to disown me due to embarrassment?

In the 1970s, my mom stored photos of me in a faux woodgrain spiral-bound photo album that was kept in a drawer. Now, we all inadvertently create a digital, searchable childhood legacy for our kids before they even have any say in it. It’s done out of love and pride, of course — but is it OK?

What do you think? Do you share stuff about your kids online?

Step right up! Feel like a kid again and check out Gavin’s whimsical and entertaining circus party.

Birthday Kid: Gavin, age 1

Party Details: Gavin’s mom wanted their guests to feel like they were at a real circus! She hired a caricaturist, clown AND local celebrity magician (who has appeared on Ellen and The Tonight Show!) to entertain everyone. Circus-goers snacked on classic big top treats like popcorn, cotton candy, Cracker Jacks and animal crackers. Friendly and festive animals were featured on Gavin’s amazing cake and also as decor around the room.

Where to Buy: Entertainment: Cleveland Entertainers / Cards: Shutterfly / Signs: Etsy / Cake: Sam’s Club / Photography: Hannah Dexter Photography

Got a fabulous fete you’d like to submit to us? Check out our submission guidelines here!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Liam’s Super Awesome Superhero Party

Cooper’s Crazy, Cool Carnival Party

Hilarious First Birthday Photos