This is a post to make you all feel a whole lot better about yourself. If you are a Mum and sometimes feel you just can’t keep up with all those super Mum’s who throw super parties for their tiny tots then this is the spot for you. I mean, seriously, what 1, 2 or 3 year old is going to give a flying f..truck if you have mini milk bottles with mini straws, a sweets table that looks like it is straight out of a Country Style magazine or the wolds most expensive present.
This post is in fitting with my new minimalist, life less frantic, simplistic lifestyle. Well that is the story I am sticking with.
My baby turned 3 yesterday, yes, the little surprise package is really growing up. Clancy was beside himself with excitement about this birthday, all he wanted was a truck and a choc cake with Thomas on top. Hell yes – I can so do this! The problem with living in the middle of nowhere is that you can’t just pop down to the shops to buy that present, but thankfully Grandy & Poppy Chardy where on their way. I had to get them to stop by K-Mart and grab a few little presents for the poor little third child.
The birthday morning arrived and Clancy was just happy to play with his old, hand-me-down, trains. He couldn’t care less that it was his birthday. None the less we thought it only right to hand out a couple of presents. I nearly had to wrap them in hot pink paper but some how managed to cover them with something a little more manly. He tore open the first present – James & a trailer – from Thomas and Friends. I think he would have been happy with just this one small present. He was over the moon, even though I actually spotted another James, just the same, in the train collection, o well.
I know, I know – look at that little train, we really shouldn’t spoil him like this should we. What will become of him. All of these expensive presents. He also received a chopper with a spinning rotor that made loud annoying noises along with some super expensive (ok really cheap) little cars etc. He was over the moon with all of his presents from Team Chardy!
Clancy spent the day in his PJ’s, as he usually does, I would hate to dress him up for the occasion. I did offer to dress him on more than one occassion to which he replied “why” or “no”….my sentiments exactly! Who wouldn’t want to get around each and every day in their pj’s?
Now with my first two boys I was a bit of an over achiever and always had the cake made at least the day before…..fresh out of the Women’s Weekly Birthday book. This time I took a leaf out of Mrs Sav’s book, took a chill pill (or 3) and winged it. Made the cake on the day and let Clancy lick the bowl. He was thrilled with this decision and didn’t judge me at all. Here he is with Poppy Chardy.
He spent most of the day with that annoying chopper in his hot little hands….and they probably really were hot, given he still had those pj’s on.
Well, Wine Time late afternoon rolled in and we decided it was time for a little party. It was the fastest kids birthday party known to mankind. We trotted out this lolly platter arrangement, popped on some Thomas and Friends party hats and sucked back some Chardy fizzy. Harry turned into Edward Cheezel-Hands and we all had a sugary good time. God I spoil these kids don’t I. Now don’t feel bad about yourself if your lolly platters don’t look this great. Perhaps they just need that little splash of orange on them in the form of Cheezels! I know you can do it!
Time for dinner. Home made pizza was just what the birthday boy ordered. It was a fancy affair with Thomas and Friends napkins and that fancy cake for dessert. Check out this cake. Now again, please don’t feel bad about yourself if your cakes don’t look quite this fabulous…….
Look at Thomas sitting on top there – proud as punch. He was jammed on there so fast by Clancy that we didn’t even have a chance to wash him. God only knows where that little engine has been, but hey – who cares….the three year old was tickled pink with his creation. I was quite proud of the number 3 I made with smarties too. Do you think I should send a photo of this cake to the Women’s Weekly Birthday Book people, they may like to feature it in one of their future cookbooks!
Please note in the next photo – Clancy has had a bath and dressed up for his birthday dinner in a new (and super fancy) pair of PJ’s! He has some serious class. Such style. All in all it was a fun day. He was so happy he kept asking me to tell him a story about his birthday at bedtime. He is only human after all.
Awesome! You’re a woman after my own heart! Can’t wait to meet you at ProBlogger 😀
I can’t wait either Lisa!!! Not long now!!!!
Congratulations on doing a great job on the day. Most of the time its the little things like helping make a cake that can give them pleasure. Hope you got in a quite wine after.
Thanks Andrea. I sure did enjoy a quiet wine after it all.
Brilliant…just how it should be.
Thanks Rhonda. He had such a fun day. Doesn’t take much to excite them.
Happy birthday little Clancy! Love it all Dan!
Thanks Sal x
Miss Chardy, lovely to read your blog. I used to live on a farm out in the sticks and we had birthday parties for my kids just like Clancy’s. Kids these days don’t seem to have as much fun as your kids do and as mine did. My grown kids (in their 30’s) still remember all the wonderful things in their country childhoods as I’m sure your boys will. You deserve that evening wine with your partner.
Hi Annabel. He had such a great day, even if it did involve pj’s and a dirty Tank Engine on the cake, ha ha ha. Thanks for reading!
That is seriously the best / funniest blog post I’ve read in like forever!! Kids don’t care if it’s not out of Home Beautiful. As long as there is cake, chips and lollies they’re happy!! Love it!
Deb it so true. Boys just want to tackle each other, shove copious amounts of crap into their mouths and get dirty. They don’t care what the decorations look like. Don’t get me wrong, I love to throw a party….but I love to throw an ADULT PARTY….with wine not fizzy and soft cheese instead of lollies! ha ha ha.
We too had a simple celebration on the same day – pikelets requested for smoko – the builder let the dog in halfway through which resulted in much hilarity, canoes, chips, poppers at the Dam for an hour or so, over to the Pub for more chips and a kick of footy, steak, eggs and chips on the deck for dinner and a cake made and decorated by little Sister…Easy! I did ONE Princess Party a few years ago…NEVER again! I would like to be the ‘stripey straws in mini milk bottles Mummy’ but personally would prefer them with PIMMS!
ps LOVED the pic with Poppy. Cake is excellent. You look super glam in the family pic! X
Yes i agree, I love all the fancy pants party business, but best kept for adults I think, with bucket loads of bubbles. O Flick, of course you were celebrating too, big Happy Birthday to your T! Yum, steak/chips/eggs, what boy wouldn’t love that?
What a cutie! Happy birthday to your baby. I love your cake baking skills. Did you have some practice runs?;) No party is complete without cheezles x
O, HIH, of course – I had to practice that cake at least 3 times to perfect such a high level of difficulty in the cake making arena! I am so glad you noticed the skill involved! Got to love the good old Cheezel. Thanks for reading!
There have been many parties such as that here on The Farm….
Good work! Glad I am not the only under achiever in the children’s party department!
I love that you just had what I call a ‘normal’ birthday party. I can’t be doing all that theming, fancy-arsed stuff either. And his smile says it all! Wish I was going to Problogger so I could meet you!
Hi there, can’t beat the normal birthday party, he loved it. I mean – he is 3 for god sake, he would love anything that involved lollies, soft drink and blowing out candles on a cake. I am that excited about ProBloggers, can’t wait.