Makin' a cake of myself

(please note blogger issues on this post, where the hooey is my cursor?  There's no blip to tell me where my words or photos are going to appear!)

My son, (let's call him--) Keegan turned eleven in the month of May.  Along with a massive and hilariously impossible gift list, posted near the the main exit of our home where I would be sure to see it every day, the boy requested two cakes for his birthday.  An original from scratch cake, and a back-up box-cake. 

The last time I made from scratch, the cake came out like rubber and heavy on the rubber- flour-side.  But to please the boy who was not going to get most of the items on his much longed for wish list, I made two cakes.  I only took pictures of one, (should have done both) and now I can't find the exact recipe I used.  
 
Typical.

Here are the pictures anyway.

 Butter, white sugar, maybe some eggs?

 with the milk added, it beat up well, but looked curdled.  The butter wasn't blending, I think. 

 The batter was tasty. I had it smeared all down my front to prove I had not only mixed it, but also made sure it was edible. A little like melted vanilla ice cream.  It didn't have that weird taste that cake mixes have. 

 It cooked up nice, but didn't rise up and get fluffy.  There was only baking soda added, I think. Or was it baking powder?

 The edges curled inward, and looked hard and crispy.  That's not something I recommend you say about cake. "Yummm, Hard and Crispy MOM!"

 This is the homemade cake, in the pan with lumpy homemade caramel frosting.  I should have sifted the powdered sugar.  But I set the bag on a hot burner and a mess ensued.  Yes. I said "ensued."  I didn't spell it right, but I can totally say it.  In the corner next to it is the box cake mix.  I might admit to adding something to that creation too.  Maybe. 

  Keegan said it was pound cake.  It was heavy and thick, but moist.  Surprise surprise but cake testers said the frosting was too sweet.  I actually liked the frosting.  I love caramel, and I didn't burn it, over cook it, or under stir it.  It might have been very slightly grainy, but who cares, ITS CARAMEL!

Perfect or not, both cakes did get eaten.

And that's whats matter, right?