Birthday Photo Update

I've just been reminded that today Zac is 1 year, 1 week and 1 day old - and that this post is late, so here it is.

Andel and I were adamant that we did not want to give Zac a 1st birthday party. We felt that it seemed a lot of money and hassle for something neither he nor his friends present would really remember. We were horribly mistaken. As it turns out, it seems the world is in agreement that a baby's coming of age is something that cannot be passed by without a significant celebration. And if the parents aren't keen to do it, the rest of the world will.

So, inspired by some birthday decorations sent from the UK, we planned a Under-the-Sea themed lunch for Zac and his school buddies on Tuesday, and family tea for the Sunday. Both were intended to be low-key... Neither really lived up to that!

 

On the menu for lunch was vienna sausage squid on a bed of spinach sea-weed and pasta shells, followed by blue jelly sea-water with suspended jelly-sweet fish.

Smiley Squid

Lunch time at Bonny Babies

Getting treated to a Daddy-feed



Look, I can pose and eat my jelly!

 

No birthday lunch would be complete without a take-home box

For the Sunday, we made (yep, made) starfish and sea-shell cookies (made from sand molds, thanks to every local baking store not having any cookie cutters), cupcakes with sea-world toppings, and chocolate-dipped marshmallows (originally meant to be octopops, but that lost their legs when the chocolate wouldn't pipe!).

Not quite as I had pictured it in my head, but ok in the end!

Piped icing - the difference!

This took practically all of Saturday, so thank heavens for my sensible sister who, foreseeing the carnage that would ensue, already ordered the birthday cake to spare me having to try that too.

The awesome birthday cake - yum yum!

Throw in some more cake (a swiss roll from Yaya, carrot cake from Ouma, and a few extra treats), and you have a party table!

High tea indeed

The day was entertaining, to say the least. Who knew a 1st birthday tea could be so exhausting?! (and it was the 30 adults, not the 6 children that made it so!) Zac had a lovely day, although perhaps it was a little overwhelming, because (like his mother at many of her own parties) after tears, tantrums and throw-ups, he had to take a sick day on Monday!

Mommy's big boy

Thanks to everyone for all the wishes and pressies from near and far. Zac is such a loved and blessed little boy, and we are so grateful for the role you all play in raising our little monkey.