Guest Posting gets Sweet

Off to do my deliveries for the week, but firstly-

Check me out... guest posting over at Cupcakes, Frocks and Pink (click here)

Happy Australia Day!

Shouldn't I be having a party??

Just wanted to have a quick holler to all my fellow Aussie's down under, to let you know how jealous I am of all the BBQ's, Beach & Blissful Bashes going on right now across Australia.

Have a coldie for me and I'll return the favour next week when we celebrate Chinese New Year.

Be safe.

Zero Tears

Today Number 3 entered 'big' school.
As I was standing in his classroom, I watched Mums and Dads fawning over their little preppies, wiping back tears, snapping memorable shots of their kids doing a jigsaw puzzle or holding a pencil, like it was their first time doing either - All I could think was THANK GOD! 
Master L has being attending Preschool at the same school since he turned 3, that's 2 &1/2 yrs... and last year he went 5 full days, so today really is like any other day...difference is this year will be less playing, more learning and a different uniform!
Amusingly, 70% of the kids being smothered by overemotional parents this morning have had the same experience. Two full years of preschool- between 3-5 days a week. Why the breakdowns? Is today a reminder that back in Oz that this would have been a momentous day? and we feel a little robbed as we didn't realize their big day was two years ago and we missed it?

L has been ready for school his whole life, an old sole in a little body. I'm not saying that I expect him to excel academically. In fact out of all four, he is my sporting monster needing the outdoors and physical activities more than anything else. What I mean is that he is ready for the challenges that he will face in becoming a student and the stimulation that a classroom environment will bring. In the last few days of the holidays he has been climbing the walls.

So no tears for me. Pure Joy - As Z plays contentedly, it's peaceful and I can actually hear birds chirping in the background, I now do the unheard of...

Work & Blog in the daytime!!!!

XXXX

Sleep (?!?) Overs

I don't know many kids that don't like a good sleep over. After a full weekend filled with other people's kids crashing at ours, I am taken back to J's 8th birthday.

 ...it's been 29 days, 22 hours and 15 mins since my last party...

Being the very last day of term, J's birthday sees the beginning of our 'summer' holiday of 5&1/2 weeks (not to be confused with our Christmas holiday of 5 &1/2 weeks) Most families retreat back to their home countries or head off on mad adventures across the globe. So we have a very small window in which to celebrate before A380s hit the skies.
He decided that he really wanted a sleepover party, so we invited 7 of his closest friends to crash.
Whilst one may crash with a headache at the end of the night, it is one of the easiest parties to pull off... you just need a couple of activities to get it kicked off - then they run themselves. (of course I had to add a couple of little Trini touches)
I enlisted a friends help to pick up all the boys (and my own) directly from school on the last day of term. Once back at ours, they were all instructed to jump into their swimmers. Many of the boys had brought their DSs along, so the beginning was always going to be a struggle to get them away from the electronics. After confiscating them all (oh wasn't I the popular mum?!?) I herded them outside where I ambushed them with my ready made bucket full of waterballoons. That was all that they needed to forget that I was a big meanie, and they alternated between water fights and pool silliness.

After their own hours of free play, we headed to the table, where each received an apron, chef's hat and a bucket load of ingredients to make their own pizzas ( a great way to lighten the work load of the party-throwing mum... get them to do all the work!) This was a HUGE hit and each boy (and one little princess) got stuck into designing their own dinners... then devouring them once out of the oven

 Thus followed ice-cream, which turned into an icecream war (as it does with boys) and games of AFL and Bullrush.

Back into the pool for a night swim, before cake. This was another Trini cheat - and I loved it as the party fell at the busiest time of the term for me - J wanted a chess board... insanely simple, but the boys thought it was really cool (yes my eight year old is a nerd :-) If I wanted to do my usual over-achieving, I would have made Chocolate sculptured chess pieces... but I went to Toys 'R' Us and got a cheap b&w chess set... too easy!

In a fit of giggles, they all poured themselves into the bath together (a photo I don't think I could show here) not sure how they managed to get themselves clean, but it was hilarious. Then each of the jumped into these gorgeous PJs from Ni-Night...(think she's going to be in Sydney in Feb for an expo) even the gorgeous Z had his own set. S got a special 'little house on the prairie' nightie. These jarmies were so comfy, that the boys wouldn't get out of them the following day. I know one boy was dragged out of them for karate, but then returned to wearing them afterwards, everyone else wore theirs home....two boys in white were extras that were heading on a plane to UK at time of movie, dropped in for dinner and cake before take off 

Who'da thunk? biggest hit? Matching clothes! 

My original thought was to monogram their initials on their pockets, but as I said it was the busiest time of the term, and I just ran out of time. They then cleaned their teeth using the little egg timers on their toothbrush holders (another awesome stock find for Stuffed Parties) and settled down to watch Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, which is one of J's favourite books. Surprising, it wasn't too late when the last word was ushered and we kicked back wearily with a Red.

Next morning, I was actually grateful for the dreaded DSs, as I know they woke up insanely early, but did not disturb the rest of the household as  they all rolled around on the mattresses quietly playing away until pancakes were served.

Twas the perfect party for an eight year old, easy, no fuss... lots of laughs and the perfect start to a holiday!

xxxx