For us Watkinson-Hoopers the month of May is doubly exciting. Not only do we have dearest mamma's birthday (age undisclosed due to the Official Secrets Act) but it is also the Gal's birthday. So, what did we do this year? Was there any way that we could top the pony for the 3rd birthday and a puppy for the fourth birthday?
The finale was the Big Party for friends, that we did on the 17th May. Kezia had requested a Frozen Birthday, as it is her ultimate all time favourite film, and she wanted all her friends to come in their favourite fancy dress outfits. Way back in sept she also saw a magician called Magic Carl and found him absolutely hilarious. Since then she has constantly requested to have him at her birthday - so that is exactly what we surpassed her with! But, you know me. I couldn't leave it at that. So I printed off loads of Frozen pictures, posters etc to decorate the local church hall with ... I cut 60 cheese slices into snowflake shapes and arranged them on ritz crackers; I created 40 ham sandwiches in the shapes of snowmen and 40 cheese ones in the shapes of snowflakes; I made from absolute scratch some blue strawberry flavoured jelly which I put into tumblers I had hand decorated to look frosty - before adding marshmallow fluff and edible glitter on top of the jelly; I made several cakes - all of them teal coloured when cut; I cooked 104 cocktail sausages and 104 pigs in blankets (coz sausages get cold when they're "Frozen" - get it?!) Then I had to cook another 36 pigs in blankets because the dog waffled a load off the cooling tray. I baked like my life depended on it and made 26 snowmen biscuits - but each snowman biscuit comprised of 6 individual snowman shaped parts so that the children could 'build a snowman' when they got their goody boxes back home. it was manic! I'm not sure who appreciated it more - the 20 x 5 yr olds that were at the party, or their parents! We played Frozen music when Magic Carl wasn't on and Kez said it was the most brilliant birthday party she had ever had. Success!
Kezia's 5th birthay from Emma Hooper on Vimeo.
Well, let's start off with mamma's birthday. When dearest mamma was a little girl, her dad used to keep chickens in the back garden and she absolutely loved them. She has always quite fancied having them in her garden but,as dear old pops isn't exactly an animal person, she has always refrained.
This year, dear old pops completely excelled himself and bought mamma a chicken coop as a surprise and David and I bought her a chicken from each of us. It was a very exciting day and Kez couldn't wait to help Grum pick the chickens.
We toddled off to the garden centre for smallholders (chuckle) and came away with two lil beauties called Dandelion and Bluebell. They settled in straight away and were scratching and clucking quite happily whilst we sang happy birthday to mamma and everyone ate some lemon drizzle birthday cake. All in all, a very successful birthday!
Since then, all I seem to have done is prepare for the big 5th Birthday which was looming faster than I could imagine!
First we had the family birthday party on the 10th May - where I tested all my food ideas for the 'big party' out on unsuspecting grandparents!
Then there was the Big Day itself on the 13th. Kez woke up early before school and opened a few choice little gifts - including her main present from us which is a tilt n turn scooter. She'd seen other children riding these scooters to school for some time and kept asking for one, so that was her big birthday surprise. Of course, she rode the scooter to school!
After school we met up briefly with Grum and had a mini picnic on the walk home whilst Kez played with her Birthday Scooter. Then it was time to return home, where I had set up the front room to be a Frozen Party Room and had all her remaining presents (quite a pile!) waiting for her.
The finale was the Big Party for friends, that we did on the 17th May. Kezia had requested a Frozen Birthday, as it is her ultimate all time favourite film, and she wanted all her friends to come in their favourite fancy dress outfits. Way back in sept she also saw a magician called Magic Carl and found him absolutely hilarious. Since then she has constantly requested to have him at her birthday - so that is exactly what we surpassed her with! But, you know me. I couldn't leave it at that. So I printed off loads of Frozen pictures, posters etc to decorate the local church hall with ... I cut 60 cheese slices into snowflake shapes and arranged them on ritz crackers; I created 40 ham sandwiches in the shapes of snowmen and 40 cheese ones in the shapes of snowflakes; I made from absolute scratch some blue strawberry flavoured jelly which I put into tumblers I had hand decorated to look frosty - before adding marshmallow fluff and edible glitter on top of the jelly; I made several cakes - all of them teal coloured when cut; I cooked 104 cocktail sausages and 104 pigs in blankets (coz sausages get cold when they're "Frozen" - get it?!) Then I had to cook another 36 pigs in blankets because the dog waffled a load off the cooling tray. I baked like my life depended on it and made 26 snowmen biscuits - but each snowman biscuit comprised of 6 individual snowman shaped parts so that the children could 'build a snowman' when they got their goody boxes back home. it was manic! I'm not sure who appreciated it more - the 20 x 5 yr olds that were at the party, or their parents! We played Frozen music when Magic Carl wasn't on and Kez said it was the most brilliant birthday party she had ever had. Success!
I absolutely loved every minute of prepping everything, getting all the bits ready, putting the last handmade touches to her Elsa outfit ... But I am glad to put the cooking bowl and spoon down for a few weeks. I earned my stripes that week!
