the party

{My motivation has taken holidays, just like kindy. I loathe letting things drag on and I get angry at myself for letting it happen. These photos should have been here a week ago but life got in the way. I hate when that happens.}

I took a chance with the weather when we decided to have Ruby's party at a park. I wasn't comfortable having that many people in my home that weren't family. Come Wednesday before the party, I had to make a decision whether we needed a contingency plan. Weatherman was consulted, prayers were said - cloudy with possible showers (1-5mm) - I thought that was manageable. We left sunny, blue skies behind us as we drove away from home Sunday morning, and then drove into steady rain, ten minutes out from the park. Cue cold sweats, internal swearing at weatherman, more prayers..

We arrived at the park where the clouds parted and the sun shone warm, and bright. Dear God, THANKYOU!

My wonderful sister and her equally wonderful MIL met us early to help set up, pulling a giant number 5 in their wake. The bubbles were a hit. So were the oreo pops. Every adult commented on them and most mums asked how to make them. Pinterest is the bomb.

It really was a beautiful morning. Somehow I catered perfectly, usually I over do it and we are eating leftovers for the following few days. The kids played happily on the awesome, enclosed playground. They blew bubbles, and chased the giant ones coming out of the bubble machine. It was all too much for Cole who conked out while everyone was singing to the birthday girl. Dolly travelled perfectly to the park, next to me, wedged firmly into the front passenger seat. She was fabulous and so very, very delicious. I didn't get all the photos I wanted to, playing hostess and photographer just doesn't work.

We all left exhausted and happy. Birthday girl in particular. Mama grateful she spaced the smalls' birthdays out over the year so she can recover from parties..

I doubt he will read this, but I have to thank my darling hubby for all his help. He usually stays well away when I am in planning/baking/party mode so as not to get in the way. This time, he asked what I needed, and he did it. He stayed up with me till well after 1am the night before the party so he could pack the cars as much as possible so there would be little to do the following morning. He read lists, he crossed off tasks, he came back for more. And he didn't complain once. Thankyou my love! This one wouldn't have been done without you xx

*images 9, 10, 11, 12 and 17 courtesy of my sister

the party prep
invitations

the party prep

Despite the laborious task that is prepping for a party, I really rather enjoy it. Until the very end, at least, when I am cursing myself for making everything by hand and staying up till 1am for a week. The curse of the able crafter. Baking, icing, crafting, list making. Always with the lists. I would be useless without the lists!

Five is a big deal for me. A new chapter is soon to begin in my daughter's storybook of life - the school years. When I was growing up, we were allowed to have a party for the 'big' birthdays. Five, ten, thirteen, eighteen, twenty one. I was always jealous of the kids who were allowed to have parties every year. Of course, now I see that my mum had it right all along. When I told Ruby she could have a party and invite some kindy friends, she rattled off all the girls' names. Eleven of them. Add their mums and I was questioning what I had done. I'm not a fan of huge birthday parties, I would rather keep them small and intimate. I had wanted to do a small family gathering, separate to the kindy friends party. Ruby was not impressed with the idea that her extended family would not know all the girls' names - how could they play together if they didn't know their names? First world problems for my fellow control freak Virgo. September is always really busy for us - our wedding anniversary, my birthday, her birthday, every weekend full. There was no other opportunity to celebrate her big day with our families, so I bit the bullet and dived in head first for a big joint soiree, despite the heavy sweating and ridiculous size of the head count tally. Thankfully, we had a few apologies. Phew.

The day after her fourth birthday, she told me she would like to have a dolly cake for her next birthday. Her cake of choice stayed the same for nearly a year. Until about a fortnight before her fifth birthday when it changed roughly 23 times, and then ended up back where she started. Dolly had a little twist, her skirt was to be a rainbow cake. Having seen them e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e, I had to try one. A simple, easy cake to assemble, with maximum wow factor when we cut her open. And, most importantly, the birthday girl was suitably impressed. For the cake, I used Donna Hay's Rainbow Cake from the latest DH Kids Annual, minus the sprinkles, plus the obvious addition of colouring paste (I use Wilton). This cake is so beautiful, the perfect consistency for stacking so many layers. Dolly didn't move!

I'm not big on full on theming for parties, perhaps I am too lazy or just not organised enough to source everything. I am definitely big on doing it as cheaply as possible. I think I am pretty good at making things look great, while barely denting the bank balance. We had loose connections between food and decorations based around the bubble blowing she requested before we sent out her invitations, together with the rainbow cake. The rainbow cake was genius, because anything goes! And I do love me some colour.