DSC09753 - Copy

24 August 2013

August Nine-Year-Old Birthdaying

I do have to say just how quickly it comes around, again, and how surprising it feels with this first child to be the mother of a nine year old already....
IMG_0421

Favourite present: time turner.
IMG_0424

Birthday morning, breakfast table set with rainbow candle and her favourite family photograph.
IMG_0414

A party for a whole host of friends. This is the first time she has really specified a themed birthday party, and I got sort of carried away. Just a little bit. But it was amazing (and shockingly organised, for saying I don't usually work well with deadlines). ;)
IMG_0435
(The awesome bunting is by Aisling Designs. The painting is the one that usually hangs there, a picture of Alice and her sister reading in the meadow, which Jenna made when she was five.)

IMG_0433

IMG_0438
Are you *sure* you don't want an olive? Quite sure? (Yes, they face painted each other. All the parents already knew me well enough to expect children to be returned home filthy with a combination of garden potion-making, glittery crafts, face paint, and cake... But still, particular apology must go to Kirsty, whose daughter attended wearing white...)

IMG_0434

IMG_0437

IMG_0436
The penguins have become a tradition. I wasn't allowed to leave them off, even after complaining that they weren't very Alice in Wonderland.

IMG_0452
Hand-decorated mad top hats were a (belatedly remembered) hit just before home-time. :)

This was the first birthday Martin has ever had to work in Jenna's life, so the first not spent together as a family. Strange to think that were our children not home educated Jenna would usually be the only one to not have school on her birthday. Anyway, to help with the disappointment of missing Daddy's presence at her celebrations, we carried birthdaying over into today and took her out to spend her birthday money, and all went swimming as a family.

To be entirely honest today was a little stressful, as the children were all extremely tired from partying (especially Talia, who had an incredible hour long screaming fit right in the middle of town, including attempting to strip all her clothes off, and two attempts to bite me). Well, Jenna had a wonderful two-day birthday, anyway, and that was the main aim. The rest of us might just want to sleep all day tomorrow!!

10 comments:

  1. What a wonderful birthday, love the penguins. Hope you have a bit of rest after the party.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peace and quiet here, today. And lots of cups of tea... :)

      Delete
  2. Well done, fab party food and lovely presents, wishing for you a peaceful Sunday.

    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a great party. I totally forgot planned activities, because they were all so happy just running around together. Martin didn't get a scrap of food though, because they ate every last bit (I had to keep slicing up more fresh veggies, because the veg all went first)!

      Delete
  3. lovely party! kudos for surviving the meltdown.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My usual tactic is just to sit down on the floor with her and talk soothingly until she calms down enough to pick up, but after half an hour of that we were late for swimming so I ended up having to carry her to the pool still howling. When she realised she was allowed to take her nappy off and get in the showers at the pool, she was all smiles again! Poor bean!

      Delete
  4. Looks lovely :-) What is the white on the penguins? My phone won't zoom in. May pinch your idea if that is ok ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's cream cheese. :) I found instructions on Pinterest a couple of years ago and am no longer allowed to leave them off any birthday table.

      (And the mushroom ones are half cherry tomatoes on top of mozzarella pearls.)

      Delete
  5. Happy birthday Jenna - that looks like a fab party!! Love the top hats and the "eat me" cake :-)

    ReplyDelete

Penny for your thoughts? :)