Lydia's 6th Birthday Party

Around 3 weeks back, I organized a small party for Lydia who turned 6. Never before have I done a kid's party that is for kids. Well, I've done her other parties, but it was adult's majority, big majority. So the food had the adults in mind, more. This time, it was for 13 kids (5 didn't come), and a few adults.

I raced for days to clean up the house properly. I am quite a hoarder and it takes time for me to discard things, so this was a good push for me. And tried to bake some stuff that can be done in advance. So many things came to me that week, and each hour was sooo precious.

5 kids didn't make it. All are Lydia's besties

Having no helper to help out, I was all on my own. Cooking and baking doesn't take much time, but the aftermath, takes quite long to clear up each time. And the kitchen must look presentable too, when the guests arrive.

We made our own paper chain streamers, DIY invitation cards and Lyanne blew up most of the balloons. It was fun for them to be organizing this. I actually want them to try organizing a simple event, it's a good learning experience. I think these kids will have more and more ideas for their future parties, of which is good. I don't want them to sit and wait for things to happen.

I didn't rent chairs or tables for the kids to sit and eat, but wrapped up a coffee table and 2 small writing desk for them. I even made makeshift stools because I don't have enough stools.

The french toasts were the hottest item of the night, surprisingly. The kids just loved them

The menu for the day was

Spiralli with tomato meat sauce (half the kids didn't like the Spiralli :(  )
Blanched broccoli (the kids finished them)
Hard boiled eggs, shaped with a mould
Indonesian Chicken Boxings
Garden Salad with sesame dressing
Bear shaped French Toast (most popular that day!)

Chocolate Chunk Brownies
Mango Choux Dogs (LOL, imagine hotdogs)
Strawberry Jelly (I made a shortcut version with strawberry tea, but you can try the proper recipe with real fruit)
Fresh Cherries
Orange Cordial

The menu seemed simple...... not if you need to cook and keep everything looking clean after that.

Made from cake boards and wrapped food cans

My girl asked for a musical note cake, and so.. I made her a double tiered cake, vertical piano keys on the bottom with grape notes on top. It took me 8 hours to get this cake done the day before the party. Just this cake alone, 8 hours!

It was quite a rush as I finished the deco after the guests arrived. Blame it on the black paper. I wanted to get it days earlier...but got delayed until the last day of which I am super busy.
Lydia said, my notes aren't complete as the minim rest and crochet rest aren't made! Grrrrrr!

black keys that were too long.

Inside the cake was this pastel rainbow cake with Buttercream. The cake was put out for more than 1.5 hours before cutting, for display purpose (LOL), and it was at room temperature. My guests found the cake slightly too sweet for them and I do have to agree with them. But... the next day, when the cake was properly chilled again, and we ate it when it was fridge cold, it didn't taste that sweet, but just right. Cold cakes are weirdly less sweet. I won't be including the recipe in this post. Still procrastinating...

I only cut the upper tier that day and and the lower tier kept, as everybody was very full.
My husband and kids walloped the bottom tier over the next 2 days and buttercream cakes were never enough in the house.

Actually I also made some 'thank you cakes' for my guests to bring home. I forgot to take pics of them.
Oh never mind.