playschool birthday
The Bun turned three over the weekend, but I've been too busy to do a proper update on what went on. Apart from packing and prepping for my trip to Switzerland (I have to pack for myself and for The Bun - guess whose packing list is more complicated?) in limited pockets of free time, I'm also trying to do as much party planning before I go.
Since J is away and has missed celebrating The Bun's birthday with him, we agreed to do a (very) belated birthday party for The Bun in August, on the day J gets home. The date of the party doesn't actually matter, since it's more about creating happy memories for The Bun, who now is at the age where he can appreciate such things, and because I doubt he will have a big party next year when we're away. Anyway he doesn't really know how calendar dates work and he's never going to turn a birthday party down, is he - correct date or not.
We did manage to pull off a small birthday celebration at playschool though on Friday, a day before his actual birthday. Coincidentally it was the last day of term and the theme for that term just happened to be about food, so when I mentioned his birthday to Teacher S a few weeks ago, she suggested incorporating the celebration into the activities for the day. All I had to do was bring in a plain cake for the kids to decorate, and some candles.
So the day before we went over to my parents' place to bake a butter cake, since my mother has a proper mixer that we could use. The Bun enjoyed the entire process thoroughly, helping to sift the flour, count the eggs, and stare into the mixing bowl for a good ten minutes while it did its thing, as though he could will it to mix faster.
The next day we took it in to school. Everything for the day revolved around cake - a story about a mouse and a cake, the kids painted tape outlines of cakes on the mirror, and finally! The actual decorating of The Bun's birthday cake. There were only five kids in class that day so it worked out well since this way there was enough room for everyone to take a turn.
Painting cake pictures on the mirror
Teacher S showed everyone how to sift icing sugar and cocoa powder, and each kid got to stir the icing mixture, then spread it onto the cake. And then - treat of treats! - everyone decorated the cake with M&M candies. Kids being kids, quite a few of the M&Ms ended up in their mouths instead of the cake.
Icing and decorating the cake
The Bun was as pleased as punch when the candles were finally lit and the cake presented to him. I think he sang the birthday song the loudest for himself - after all, he has been pretend-playing this very moment for weeks in advance.
It really doesn't take much to make a little kid happy - not even presents. For The Bun, that simple cake with candles on it was just right, and more than enough. He glowed with pleasure. The teachers really went out of their way to make his day extra-special, and I appreciate that enormously.
On his actual birthday, Saturday, The Bun went out with my parents and I - first to order a cake for his birthday party (the design he chose is another post in itself), and then to Vivocity to shop around, simply because he likes going there. Since he already had a celebration the day before, we decided to keep the day low-key. He was greeted with birthday wishes and kisses, but otherwise there was no special fanfare. Just going out and having fun was more than enough for him. His big (belated) bash in a couple of weeks will be the final cherry on the top!
Since J is away and has missed celebrating The Bun's birthday with him, we agreed to do a (very) belated birthday party for The Bun in August, on the day J gets home. The date of the party doesn't actually matter, since it's more about creating happy memories for The Bun, who now is at the age where he can appreciate such things, and because I doubt he will have a big party next year when we're away. Anyway he doesn't really know how calendar dates work and he's never going to turn a birthday party down, is he - correct date or not.
We did manage to pull off a small birthday celebration at playschool though on Friday, a day before his actual birthday. Coincidentally it was the last day of term and the theme for that term just happened to be about food, so when I mentioned his birthday to Teacher S a few weeks ago, she suggested incorporating the celebration into the activities for the day. All I had to do was bring in a plain cake for the kids to decorate, and some candles.
So the day before we went over to my parents' place to bake a butter cake, since my mother has a proper mixer that we could use. The Bun enjoyed the entire process thoroughly, helping to sift the flour, count the eggs, and stare into the mixing bowl for a good ten minutes while it did its thing, as though he could will it to mix faster.
The next day we took it in to school. Everything for the day revolved around cake - a story about a mouse and a cake, the kids painted tape outlines of cakes on the mirror, and finally! The actual decorating of The Bun's birthday cake. There were only five kids in class that day so it worked out well since this way there was enough room for everyone to take a turn.
Painting cake pictures on the mirror
Teacher S showed everyone how to sift icing sugar and cocoa powder, and each kid got to stir the icing mixture, then spread it onto the cake. And then - treat of treats! - everyone decorated the cake with M&M candies. Kids being kids, quite a few of the M&Ms ended up in their mouths instead of the cake.
Icing and decorating the cake
The Bun was as pleased as punch when the candles were finally lit and the cake presented to him. I think he sang the birthday song the loudest for himself - after all, he has been pretend-playing this very moment for weeks in advance.
It really doesn't take much to make a little kid happy - not even presents. For The Bun, that simple cake with candles on it was just right, and more than enough. He glowed with pleasure. The teachers really went out of their way to make his day extra-special, and I appreciate that enormously.
On his actual birthday, Saturday, The Bun went out with my parents and I - first to order a cake for his birthday party (the design he chose is another post in itself), and then to Vivocity to shop around, simply because he likes going there. Since he already had a celebration the day before, we decided to keep the day low-key. He was greeted with birthday wishes and kisses, but otherwise there was no special fanfare. Just going out and having fun was more than enough for him. His big (belated) bash in a couple of weeks will be the final cherry on the top!