It had been 3 years since the twinions had a birthday party.
I wanted to be a kick arse mum who held a party every year. Delve right into the joys of baking, exceeding expectations year after year with a proud display of awesome birthday cakeness.
Then, boom! Reality happened!
I know everyone (especially the kiddliewinks) had a fantastic time at that first birthday party.
Rather than see all the wonderful things that happened that day, I (shamefully) thought about how stressful it was.
But really, did it need to be?
What do one year olds care if there was a bit of rain or that there was too much balsamic vinegar in one of the salads?
Alas, it took me 3 years to recover. Of course, I was also trying to jump over other hurdles during that time. Namely, the idiosyncrasies of being a harsh self-critic; a perfectionist.
People can shake their head in disregard and say, “Come on, Grace. Get it together. It’s just a friggin’ kids birthday party…”
But I highly doubt I’d be the first mother who hasn’t – secretly or publicly – put that pressure on themselves to make sure EVERYTHING is just RIGHT; EVERYONE is having a GRAND time.
Luckily I snapped into my senses for the twinions’ fourth. This time, because I was aware of those tension levels rising, I knew how to control it.
Well, for the most part.
I totally lost my shizz when chocolate started leaking to the bottom from the cake tins, within minutes of being shoved in the oven.
“FAAAAAARK!!!”
“It’s okay, babe. It’s okaaaaaaaay. It’s all part of the journey” Mr Surfer said in a New Age, hippy la-la calming voice.
You know where you can stick your “journey”.
By tomorrow, all of this will be a laugh and a great story for dinner parties, I tried to assure myself.
Hindsight, hindsight…wherefore art thou, beloved hindsight?
With restored determination, I returned to the kitchen.
After slaving away over the oven like we were starting up our own Baker’s Delight, I successfully baked FOUR round Betty Crocker Devils Food Cakes.
Anyway, both dinosaur cakes turned out awesome. You’d hope so after baking, frosting and decorating them till 3am (Thank you Mr Surfer and your creative skills).
Of course, the day turned out brilliantly.
A friend generously offered his balloon shaping skills. Kids whacking an empty Piñata to no avail provided great entertainment for us adults. (No one told me those things weren’t pre-filled!)
Proving once again twins are their own little beings, encountering experiences with their own individual reactions, when it came to standing in front of all their friends and their parents to have everyone sing Happy Birthday, K-Bear was proud as punch, soaking up the attention.
My Nunu, however, my beautiful, precious boy was a little overwhelmed. Digging his little head deeper and deeper into my chest as the singing and cheering continued, I was reminded of his unique trait to internalise.
It’s okay, I kept reassuring him. Seconds later, he was just as ecstatic as his brother as they both cut their own green dinosaur cake.
These are the intricate, delicate moments that become fundamental references in life. I think they call it perspective.
Without the meltdowns, we can’t appreciate the priceless smiles.
They happen. They’re part of the journey.
Do you have pre-birthday party meltdowns? Or are you a cool cucumber?
Joining Essentially Jess for IBOT
kirri says
I am in awe. I have never baked a fancy cake for bday parties….so well done. The Dinos are fabulous xx
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mamagrace71 says
Thanks, Kirri. But I reckon it’ll be another 3 years till we do it all again 🙂
Renee at Mummy, Wife, Me says
Lol. I didn’t know the pinatas weren’t filled either! Thanks for the tip. I am far from a cool cucumber when it comes to prepping for my kids’ birthdays, but I definitely try to make a concerted effort to not get too crazy!! I’m glad it all went well. Cakes looked awesome x
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Lydia C. Lee says
12 years in, I’m the outsource queen. My youngest, however, keeps insisting on parties at home. I hate this and I stress but I am getting it down to an art. I do also warn people at the party before ours, that they need to lower their expectations and the wee girls will be totally crap compared to this one – they all laugh and I point out I’m not joking and it really will be, so get their expectations in order….That seems to make it a success because they all need to tell me how great it is (because of my apparent low self esteem)
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Trish says
How gorgeous a day and those last smiles.
I feel the pressure but it works okay in the end.
Love those cakes too.
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Kathy says
Well done Grace and so glad it all went well – and mostly that you took a deep breath and enjoyed it all (that is pretty funny about the empty pinyata)!
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Lauren @ Create bake make says
The dino cakes look amazing!! We’ve only had two birthdays so far, for his 1st birthday I had several pre-party meltdowns, which probably weren’t helped by the fact I was also 13 weeks pregnant! For his second birthday, I did feel a lot calmer and actually enjoyed myself on the day. I think it also had something to do with the fact I’d said this would be his last ‘party’ for a couple of years!! In just over 3 months I will have to do it all again for his brother’s first birthday! I had no idea that pinatas weren’t filled either, I was actually thinking of buying one for our big boys party – am now glad that I didn’t!
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Josefa @always Josefa says
Love this post Grace, the photos have captured what a truly beautiful day the twins had! Birthdays can be overwhelming, sometimes too overwhelming! This looks like it was so much fun xx
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Bec @ The Plumbette says
I was laughing away at this post. The cakes, the piñata… I’m glad it was a great day. Magdalene’s first birthday is in a couple of weeks and I’ve delegated the cake making to a friend. I’m over the pressure and prefer to pay someone to make a great cake than for me to balls one up and feel like a failure. Well done you on making two dinosaur cakes!
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Lucy @ Bake Play Smile says
Those dinosaur cakes are awesome!! You are one clever chicky! So glad they had a great day! Success 🙂 xxxx
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Robo says
You did good, G!
I don’t get the big dramas associated with kids parties. My kids have fun anywhere and I know that most others do as well, so I call bullshiz on all the drama.
I theme a few things and let them run riot. And I get help from the grandmas and aunts. Done.
Happy birthday again to your magical boys! XX
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Robyn (Mrs D) says
Oh Grace this did make me laugh!! It’s so beautifully written too. If you ever have another near cake disaster just look up my Miss H’s mermaid cake – I made it backwards and didn’t even notice!! Those Dino’s are awesome!!! Xx
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EssentiallyJess says
I am not a pinterest party mum. My kids birthday’s involve pass the parcel, fairy bread, slices of watermelon and cake. That’s it. I’ve found that really, that’s all kids want. It doesn’t need to be a big grand, perfect affair. Just a time to eat to meet with your friends and celebrate the day.
Your party looked perfect to me xx
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Tegan says
For Dyllan’s first birthday I stupidly left the cake making until the day of the party..oh how stupidly naive I was. They tasted awesome..even if they did look a little ahh special.
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Tegan says
oh and awesome work on the dinosaur cakes! They look great!
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mamagrace71 says
Thanks, Tegan! I can’t take full credit though. Mr Surfer’s the master of frosting 🙂
Lizzy - Muddle-Headed Mamma says
Your cakes look awesome! I’ve definitely never made a cake that looks anywhere near as good. i do get a bit nervous before a party but once everyone’s arrived I relax. Your boys look so happy in the photo – well done!
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Nicole says
So not a cool cucumber, or cool anything else for that matter. I love parties once they are done, but before and during, are so stressful. Your cakes look awesome!! Great job. The boys smiles say it all. Hope next time you can be a little kinder to yourself xxx
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Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says
Well done girl those cakes ROCK! I’m interested to know if you made them different colours on purpose or hard to make same colour. Parties are always a bit stressful really, it’s always a matter of hoping everyone has a good time, but as long as there is cake, goodie bag, balloons then they will xx
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Psych Babbler says
Oh wow! The cakes look awesome! Can’t believe the amount of effort that would have gone into them. Looks like it was an amazing day and the twinions smiles say it all…
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Simone says
Good job with the cakes! Good job just getting through the party. I have not thrown a kids party in many years. Terrified hahaha!
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Kylie Purtell, A Study in Contradictions says
Seriously Grace, your cakes looked awesome! I am so impressed! I got quite stressed before Punky’s first birthday party, but only because all of the people who said they would get to the park early to help me set-up didn’t and so I ended up doing it all by myself, as well as trying to direct Dave at home via the phone as to what needed to still be done. It was super stressful. It was also 35 degrees at 9 in the morning and ended up being 40 degrees in the shade, and I was 6 weeks pregnant so on top of the stress I was feeling like shit to boot! So for her 2nd b’day we just had the family round to our place for BBQ dinner and barely had to worry about anything!
I am hoping that Zee’s first birthday party in July is a much more calm and relaxed affair!
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Kaz @ Melting Moments says
Yay! Looks like a brilliant day was had and with only a teeny meltdown. You did a great job. It’s amazing the pressure we put on ourselves 🙂
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Ai Sakura says
You’re doing so well as a mum in bringing up these 2 lovely boys. I hope you remember that each and every day xox
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Nami says
Ha, ha! We don’t host birthday parties for that specific reason. You did great, those cakes looked AWESOME. Pat yourself on the back and pour yourself an entire bottle of something strong.
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