Big Party: Happy 1st Birthday!

The little tyke is a year old! Where did all those months go? I can't believe he's officially no longer a baby :(

Saturday, July 26th, went really well. The food was on the table without too much delay, the weather held up (mostly) during our lunch at the poolside bbq area, the guests were amiable and the presents were fun. Most importantly, it actually appeared as if minibeanie knew what was going on and was on his best behaviour! Well, given that he'd normally cry when approached by enthusiastic strangers, DH & I were hugely surprised when he didn't whimper once during the whole party :) In fact, he sat in his high chair in a lordly fashion presiding over the entire singing and cake cutting ceremony. Then he made a royal mess by squishing his creamy mouse cake with both hands and smeared his high chair (& bits of my hair) with cream. Ok, since that was a very special day, all was forgiven quickly. minibeanie even got some concessions that mummy wouldn't even consider on normal days - he got away with sticks of chocolate biscuits when offered by Auntie Bernadett. All's well :)



But here's a behind-the-scenes story of the party.

Truth is, party planning started a month ago with planning the menu, shopping (stuff in Chengdu has a tendency to be stocked out so buy-&-freeze is the best strategy) and ordering party paraphernalia from the States.

T minus 14 days, I baked the tomato flavoured foccacia and Tuscan olive bread and froze them. T minus 3 days, I made the chocolate and peperonico cupcakes. T minus 2 days, the sour cream was made with the yoghurt machine (can't find sour cream here) and 2 fillings for the Finnish sandwich cake, voileipakakku. T minus 1 day, the pasta and Waldorf salads were made, the sour cream and salsa dips for the chips were made and the voileipakakku was assembled. Finally, on the day itself (T), icing and decorating the voileipakakku, icing the cupcakes, thawing and heating up the focaccia and bread, tweaking the salads to taste and generally a 101 things before everything's deemed fit for presentation.

On the table was an antipasti plate (black & green olives, salami milano & bresaola), cheese platter (danish blue, camembert & gouda), bread basket (tomato focaccia, tuscan olive bread, Finnish rye crackers & salted plain crackers for the cheese), Waldorf salad, pasta salad & ham & egg voileipakakku. For dessert at our apartment, the birthday cake from Breadtalk, an assortment of cookies, chocolate & peperoncino cupcakes and a selection of teas and coffee.

Phew, I was glad I managed to pull off the party! It would have been impossible if it wasn't for the help of my Ayi and a friend who popped by.

The next morning

minibeanie is 1 year old!!!