A Paris Party

The lady on checkout when I bought party goods (a birthday candle and ten packets of chocolate wafers are a dead giveaway), asked what kind of party we were hosting for our ten year old. When I said "it's a Paris party", she asked if kids still knew of her. Very grateful that my classy Mademoiselle chose An Afternoon in Paris over anything Paris Hilton!
Here are the details.

We used an image of Elara in Paris drawn by my youngest sister as the background for the invitations.

As the focal point for the 'cafe' the girls would visit, we (husband and wife joint effort) made an awning. Just one item and our back deck looked Ooh la la! Some painted cardboard window panes, potted plants and flowers, pretty cake stands, and a couple of sets of white iron table and chairs (borrowed and freshly painted by my older younger sister and husband - merci!), and the cafe was scene was set.

The food was tres bon: chocolate eclairs; toffee dipped, creme patisserie filled, profiteroles; chocolate caramel tarts; mini quiches; croque monsieur bites; fruit; and french fries! Making all the food is a big part of the fun for me.

While the girls ate we offered a few activities and games to give them the full Paris experience. My artist/baker sister came and drew quick portraits for each of the girls. They were beautiful and a fair effort when there were twelve excitable girls! We took instant photos next the a miniature (borrowed) Eiffel Tower, then made our own Tower sculptures from wafers and icing. Then we had a wandering florist give out chocolate roses (which introduced our Paris themed, G-rated Truth or Dare game). This was mostly successful despite everyone on sugar-highs! Each girl had a truth and a dare hidden in her rose and took turns to read them and act on them (I've added these at the bottom of the post for anyone who could use them).

Part way through the rose game we all heard a big thuwump and went outside to see Elara's beautiful macaron tower cake smashed on the ground (thanks/no thanks wind)! Fortunately, my sister (who made the macarons) and I (who, I'm not going to lie, put a lot of hours into it) and Elara (who was in awe of it) all saw the lighter side AND there was enough to go around and enjoy after the fall!
At the end of the afternoon, all the girls had a magnifique afternoon and took home a bag with all their goodies (portrait, instant photo, chocolate rose, and a croissant).

Hope you can enjoy these few photos of the day!

Dare: Pretend you are walking the Paris catwalk, modelling some fancy clothes! Dare: See how many berets you can balance on your head! Dare: Eat some frogs legs! Dare: Exchange a clothing item with the person on your right! Dare: For the duration of the game you must call out ‘Ooh La La’ randomly! Dare: Everything you say for the next 15minutes must be sung to the tune of ‘Happy Birthday’! Dare: Try escargot! Dare: Find three stuffed animals and say ‘Bonjour’ to each!
Dare: Play ‘This Little Piggy Went to Market’ (in a French accent, of course) on one person’s toes! Dare: Be a mime and copy the actions and expressions of the person on your left for one minute! Dare: Waltz along pretend cobbled streets under the pretend moonlight with your pretend partner! Dare: Give the French greeting kiss to 3 others in the circle! Dare: Dance the Can-Can for one verse (while everybody sings)!  Truth: If you woke up invisible, what is the first thing you would do?
Truth: What is the funniest thing you’ve done at school?
Truth: Do you dribble in your sleep?
Truth: What would you do with unlimited money to spend in Paris for one day?
Truth: What is the strangest dream you’ve ever had?
Truth: Have you ever said something out loud that you were thinking, without realising that you’d said it? What was it? Truth: What do you like most about the birthday girl?
Truth: Do you ever sneak snacks when your parents aren’t looking? Truth: If you could be an animal, what would you be? Truth: What is a secret wish that you have? Truth: What are you afraid of? Truth: What is your favourite tv show? 

Truth: Who is your favourite movie character?

Boy Goes to School

It was different with the girls.
I worried about a bunch of little things.
But Zeb is ready. Physically, academically, socially, emotionally, creatively.

So there is no worry on my part.
But there is something... a little bit of jealousy.

Because there is a new lady in his life!
She will get to watch him make friends and be a good friend.
She will get to see him achieve and pass milestones.
Hear his witty, funny comments.
Praise him and teach him and remind him.
And she will see more of his sparkling smile (the one that has always felt like it was given just for me).

Of course I want her to share in all these good things (she is a wonderful teacher!), but I can't help feeling just a little sadness that he is about to branch out from our little nest of Mum and son contentedness!

You will do good and brave and compassionate things, Zeb.
I'm ready for everyone to see.
Go get 'em!

A Birthday Story

"We have themed Tess' first birthday around stories, for good reason. Story was given to her as her middle name because we loved it, because it is her Nanna's maiden name, and because it has significant meaning to us. 

Tess, as you grow we want you to remember that you are authored by your creator God. He had the vision for you, your unique personality and gifts, before your life even started. He has created you to be the protagonist, the heroine, the learner, and the preacher of your story. You get to decide how it progresses (much like a choose-your-own-adventure)! We pray that you experience passion, compassion, vision, purpose, joy, peace, forgiveness, humility, and bravery in your story. We pray that you will meet and be guided by wonderful people. We pray that you will stay close to your creator and listen for his direction.

Your first name Tess, means to reap or to harvest. And we want you to do this in your story too. Work hard, have patience and then enjoy the good and wonderful gifts you will be given. Make harvest out of all that you see. 

God has blessed our family with a harvest of gold, in you. A happy, social, affectionate, chatty little lady. We can't wait to watch your story unfold."

(These were the words spoken at Tess' first birthday and dedication to God. We held a small and delightful party themed loosely around classic books. Regency decor. Pretty afternoon tea food. Fragrant iced teas. Lemon curd cake. Handmade book invitations. Baby versions of the classics to read. Favourite lullaby (Kooks by Bowie) scripted on the wall. Prayers and a blessing. And a sweet girl in yellow.)

Make Love Your Goal: Resolutions 2016

Small ways to make love my goal this year: 

Tim: This year we celebrate our fifteenth wedding anniversary. With four kids, much of our time together is spent talking (and doing) practical things. So we are really going to try and go away for a small trip together this year!

Kids: There is no doubt I love them fiercely, but love doesn't translate to kids unless it's loving them their way. In the past year we took a helpful parenting course and to add to that learning I want to read the book "How to really love your child" and: for Elara, research and pray about the right high school for her; for India, try not to say 'later we will' when she asks something of me; for Zeb, make sure we embrace his boyness by enjoying his choice of games, toys and activities even when he is outvoted!; for Tess, to start to learn her personality.

Family: My sister has a big celebration of love coming up this year, so I plan to help practically with the preparation and enjoy the last family wedding!

Church: Previously I have aimed to be honest and open and share wisdom. This year I think I need to listen. To hear people's stories. 

Friends: My goal to write a snailmail letter to each friend this year. 

Book club: I hold a monthly book club in my home. Life is busy and doing the reading requirement is a way to show love to my fellow bookie friends! 

Community: Time to try my hand at Random Acts of Kindness. I will aim for quarterly. 

Environment/world: Expanding my knowledge about ethical clothing choices and working towards a greener and world-happier wardrobe.

Make It Your Goal: Resolutions 2016

Without too much retrospecting here on the blog, 2015 was more challenging than I wished for. In fact, it was a very hard year. And after a very hard year, you tend to think about how you can bounce back, or start anew, or make things better for the next. These thoughts are well supported by loving friends and family who encouraged me to take some ‘me time’ and, in a roundabout way, look after number one. So I sat down and considered my New Year Resolutions (which is my custom. Unlike many others, resolutions really help guide me through the coming year). Lose weight (or the more socially acceptable – exercise and eat healthier)? Embrace every, moment? Spoil myself more? Save money? All good things, but none of these ever sit quite right for me. This year, I can’t move past this song by Gabrielle Aplin (but originally by Frankie Goes to Hollywood):

The power of love

A force from above

Cleaning my soul…

Make love your goal.

Yes. After a tough year where I became stoic in order to battle through.

Where my soft-heart was weighed down with practical burdens.

Where I retreated away from people with a frozen ability to give.

Love must be my goal this year.

The raw and the emotional.

The sacrificial and the compassionate.

The hard-to-give and the free-flowing.

I am completely loved so I must love onward, instead of inwards.

(Next blog post I will unravel some specifics to help me stick to it during the year.)

Rockstar Party

Since this boy is a total rockstar (and owns a rocking name), this party theme was perfect for Zeb. Here are the details:

Invitations: I gave Tim a simple idea and a photo of Zeb and he created these rad invites. Fun invites set the tone as soon as they arrive in the mail. And these ones sent a ripple of excitement, no doubt!

Decorations: Layered invitations on the wall were the background for a DIY rock sign using cardboard letters and flashing fairy lights. I printed some of Tim and my favourite band shirt images, and displayed them with some converse shoes and punk Lego figurines.  

Food: Fruit kebabs displayed on foam heads (with punk styled make-up)

White chocolate shutter glasses with edible glitter (made with chocolate molds)

Orange jelly in the shape of a guitar

Other party favourites (Twisties, red licorice, sausage rolls etc)

Cake: A combined effort, with all of the gum paste shapes (lightning bolts, flames, guitars, band shirts, stars, microphone, and mouth) created by my sister. Zeb chose the colour scheme!

Activities: Decorate You Own cardboard guitar (with band stickers that we found at a clearance sale).

Pass the parcel (with mouth lollies in between wrappers, and an inflatable microphone for the winner).

Then plenty of free play!

Take home treats: Pop Rocks and shutter shades

It really was an awesome day and Zeb has wonderful friends who made it great (and big thanks to my Mum and Dad who helped at the party and in the week leading up to it).