I DITCHED THE FAIRY BREAD

Today I have to bake a cake.

Not just any old cake. A TRANSFORMER cake.

Why oh why did I have to be friends with such talented baking high achievers? The bar has been set exceptionally high. Luckily my friends know me well and fully support a cake with plastic toys stuck on top (my personal area of expertise if you don’t mind!!).

So, it would seem I have everything ready…..

It’s not like I’m useless at cooking.

I simply do not enjoy it; not for a nanosecond.

It is not therapeutic.

It is not ‘me’ time.

It is not peaceful.

It is a chore.

I am a functional cook. I get dinner on the table each night. My family is fed
and nourished. I may slap it on the plates, but I do it…lovingly…

You remember me? I was the flatmate who offered to do the dishes every night if you cooked. I don’t create disasters. I just do not attempt the recipes that are rated over the easy level.

My son turns four tomorrow and I want the world for him and then some. I want to see a face splitting smile when I place that cake in front of him – and I believe that he will.

CAKE+CHOCOLATE+TRANSFORMERS+EAT = EVERYONE’S A WINNER, BABY

We sneakily (insert ‘stupidly’) believed that we had another year up our sleeves until our little man fully cottoned on to the whole ‘party’ thing. I am
thinking we may have underestimated him. He left Kinder last week the biggest man on campus after telling the kids they could all come to his place for his ‘party’.
Ouch. I believe tomorrow may be a further test in resilience when he realises (despite me explaining numerous times…slowly & clearly…)
that…well…there ain’t no actual ‘party’ party. Now, we aren’t complete heartless monsters…we have some exciting surprises planned…morning movies with his cousin (his most favourite little mate in the world), possibly an afternoon park play, his favourite, spaghetti, for dinner, and the piece de resistance; a Transformer cake (home mixed and cooked in my very own oven!!).

This is a photo I have added in after writing this blog….gotta love the movies with your best buddy!!!

It’s just that recently he has attended some pretty spectacular parties.

Piñatas, food trucks, dinosaur digs, triple layer ‘frog in the pond’ cups, mini-golf & trampoline jumping to mention a few. Amazing days and beautiful families; but I have to ask, what is the etiquette? I am new to this. If kids have invited your kids to their party, how do you handle it if your child isn’t having one..? Would a future playground ‘date’ suffice?

And anotherie…are ‘at home’ parties a thing of the past?

And wait, there’s more…let’s not go past the all important lolly bags on exit,
shall we? It sure as shite helps to get them in the car without a full scale,
hit the floor screaming, tantrum. But can they include lollies anymore? Or is a healthy scattering of stickers and yo-yo’s with some smarties thrown in for colour, the new black? Or do we just ditch it for a lucky dip Mr Men book? I know my kids are still little enough, but Husband and I sure do enjoy those lolly bags….I mean the kids…the kids enjoy them…

So many questions…so little time…

Because next year is a biggie. Even I remember my 5th birthday. It rained in December, Shane gave me the most beautiful red sewing kit, and we had rides on the trailer pulled behind the tractor (sooo not an ‘acceptable’ activity in today’s world) and it was magnificent.
We had better start planning now.

And wouldn’t you know it??

In the time it took me to write this blog, Husband went and made the cake (I will admit I could hear it happening and played dumb…shhh….). Gawd bless that man!

Only problem is, it’s his BIG birthday next week and I have to produce another bloody cake!!

I’m thinking I may need to subcontract that one out…or hit the supermarket…they make GREAT mud cakes.

Happy birthday my beautiful boy. xx