anatomy of a birthday party

i wasn't going to post this weekend, but i am having lots of fun with planning for N's 3rd birthday party on Monday.
firstly, there were the invitations, a picture scanned from a Little Golden Book Classic ...



then while contemplating the food, i read this from Nigella Lawson regarding parties for small children:

** They will be too excited to eat much. Concentrate on one or two star items - the cake, some special biscuits.
** Build a party repertoire for yourself. I now do the same biscuits party after party, but change their shape and their icing. I do the same sandwiches, provide the same sort of sausages and buy the same sort of crisps. The routine is reassuring to your children... and helpful for you. Add to this repertoire but keep it to provide a solid foundation.
** Don't try to please other parents. The party is for your child.
** Don't get agitated about the amount of sugar, food colour, salt, cream or butter. This is not the time.

great advice, so i will keep the food simple - fairy bread, baby cupcakes, cocktail frankfurts, some individual pizzas, and the usual chips and lollies (but not too much of them!)

then the cake. not the complicated Thomas the Tank Engine i was searching for, but with a great Gran to help we will attempt the Island of Sodor tomorrow.

the party bags are done and i'm now preparing to decorate...


so, lots of fun for me, and as for N, he just loves the "happy birthday song" and the candles on the cake. just the way a three year old should be.

because it will be busy on Monday morning we decided last night was a good night to give N his present from us. we bought it on-line months ago. i'm proud i lasted this long before giving it to him! :-)

oh, and look what you find when you actually open the stool to the piano you were given 16 months ago! maybe i am Noni or Benita afterall! ;-)