Monthly Archives: November 2013

Blue Frog, Bouncy Castle and Sports – Birthday boy celebrations

My lovely little boy celebrated his birthday this week.  He has been talking about “turning 6” for several weeks and has been very excited about his party.  I have been so busy at work,  I am totally amazed that his party went as smoothly as it did, as everything  was last minute this year!

On the day of his birthday he had a school trip to the Wild Animal Kingdom.  His topic this term is all about the “Carnival of Animals” so this was an added bonus on his special day!  After breakfast, he  had time to open a couple of presents.  He had been asking for months for a skateboard, so guess what he got from Mum and Dad!!

Yeah - I got the skateboard!!  It is wicked.

Yeah – I got the skateboard!! It is wicked.

At the end of the day, we took Oliver out to Blue Frog restaurant at the Kerry Parkside (his choice for his birthday dinner).  We stopped at Baker & Spice on the way back to get some yummy cakes.  We stuck Oliver’s candle in his and sang Happy Birthday back at home!  Owen was messing around with the plate and kept pulling it away from Oliver!  He eventually blew it out and made a wish!

I WILL blow that candle out!

I WILL blow that candle out!

A few days later it was party time!  Oliver had requested a party of sports and games and wanted to invite all his class.  We hired the Function Room at The Emerald, ordered a Pirate bouncy castle and hired a couple of coaches from Sports World to help run the sports and games.  We had the party on Friday evening and invited as many parents who wanted to enjoy a glass of fizz at the end of the week too.

Happy Birthday, my sweet boy.

Happy Birthday, my sweet boy.

Once all the children arrived, they started on the Bouncy Castle.  It was a beautiful day, blue skies, sunshine and 23 degree heat.  All the kids were running around outside and having fun on the Bouncy Castle before the Lego tower challenge.  4 teams building the tallest possible towers in a 10 minute period.  This was the perfect lead up to pizza!!

Scrambling for the Lego to build the towers!

Scrambling for the Lego to build the towers!

Oliver holding his tower up!

Oliver holding his tower up!

Pizza time!

Pizza time!

After pizza had been wolfed down, the coaches from Sports World arrived and it was over to them to manage the chaos and mayhem!  They did a fantastic job of keeping 18 boys and girls active, competitive and paying attention.  There was just under an hour of running around playing lots of different chasing games, tagging games and ball games.

Ready, set, go!  It is time for Zombie Tagging.

Ready, set, go! It is time for Zombie Tagging.

They were attentive to the coaches and generally played by the rules!

They were attentive to the coaches and generally played by the rules!

The last 15 minutes of the party (only 2 hours, but felt like 6!!) was wind down time and birthday cake time.  We have had great success with Sweet Ever After cupcakes for the last couple of birthday parties, so we ordered from them again.  We had a flock of Angry Birds for all the children!

Angry Birds!

Angry Birds!

Another birthday candle to blow out too……

2 Cakes this time…...

2 Cakes this time……

Oliver really enjoyed his party and I hope that all his friends had fun – it was certainly lovely to watch them all playing.  We were all back home by 7.30pm and ready to put our feet up!  Relieved that the celebrations are over now!!

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Happy Halloween 2013

I love the Halloween time of year!  The crisp evenings, the beautiful leaf colors, the spooky decorations and, of course, Trick or Treat!

This year, Oliver wanted to be Dracula and Isabelle wanted to be Wonder Girl.  However, when Isabelle’s costume arrived it was far too big, so she was back to a witch for school dress up day, and then bride of Dracula for the party.

The weekend before Halloween, we all decorated our house:

Ready for Halloween.  Check out the skeletons pulling each other up to the balcony!

Ready for Halloween. Check out the skeletons pulling each other up to the balcony!

Owen put the ultraviolet light back into the porch light and it made a great effect on the white spiders web!  We spent ages getting the skeletons just right.  They are supposed to look like they are helping each other up to the balcony and they are supposed to glow in the dark.  They did not glow like we hoped, so a little of the effect was lost!  Owen had also made some scary potions (glitter and glow sticks) which lasted most of Trick or Treat night.

Scary potions that glowed all night!

Scary potions that glowed all night!

We were also 1 of the most popular houses on the Trick or Treat route as we were giving away glow bangles!  These were hugely popular with all the children.  Like last year, the whole neighborhood was out and about by 5.15pm!  Oliver and I managed to cover all the streets within 90 minutes and he had an overflowing sack of loot!  Owen and Isabelle were giving out the glow bangles and candy.

Glow bangles ready to go!

Glow bangles ready to go!

The following night, The Emerald had its annual Halloween Party at our Club House.  Everyone dressed up:

Count Dracula and Bride of Dracula.

Count Dracula and Bride of Dracula.

Isabelle's make up looked good!!

Isabelle’s make up looked good!!

Oliver did not like the teeth too much!

Oliver did not like the teeth too much!

Wonder Woman, Bride of Dracula, Count Dracula and Batman.

Wonder Woman, Bride of Dracula, Count Dracula and Batman.

The kids loved the party.  There are always plenty of activities for them, like skeleton tossing, pumpkin carving and zombie chasing!  The party ends at 9.30pm so it is not too late for the little ones.  All of their friends were there and dressed up in different costumes.

Amelie, Oliver, Isabelle, Ava, Sarah and Emma

Amelie, Oliver, Isabelle, Ava, Sarah and Emma

Another Chinese Halloween celebrated in style!