My lil' girl is 4-tastically 4! - Preparation

Months ago

When I asked her what she wanted for her party this year, she gave me a 'I dunno; I can't think look'. Che-che gave her so many ideas, which were HER IDEA! I ignored che-che indefinitely.

Then that same day they were watching Little Einstein on Playhouse Disney, she was so excited, shouting "Annie! Annie! Annie!" "pat, pat, pat.... " Sang along to the theme song.. I asked her if she liked Little Einstein and she said yes. If she wanted it to be her theme this year (since it's for both boys and girls, it'll make things easier for me) She agreed. BINGO!

Theme settled so the next thing follows, sourcing for products. Planning the time for shipment etc.. When the boxes day after day. We had a total of 4 boxes, the last one was extremely big. Actually my shipment also includes their Halloween costume, Children's Day goodies etc.. Haven't considered what to buy for che-che's birthday as I decided to take things as it comes. I was overwhelmed with so many "projects" one after another without any break.

Goodies - Handmade

In the end, these are the goodies I've bought and prepared for them. The only thing I kindda regretted was buying that plain white castanet, since I'm following to the music theme. I thought it came with some gems for decorations like last year's craft. Had wanted to go down to Laine's to get some nice gems stickers but then it's not safe. Imagine a kid so happily hitting the castanet and injuring himself/herself with the 'hard' gem stickers. Managed to get some cute flat stickers from Evergreen. Saw some really cute 'face' stickers.

Printed instructions, cut, paste on the cellophane bags. Cut the stickers , rebag. Packed the whole thing. Tiring!

Always liked handmade stuffs. Shows my undying love for my kids. Yay... at the expense of my health with all the late nights, surely it's undying love.

This is a must have, if you noticed in most of my kids parties - chocolates. Thankfully, it is not the embarrassing situation where I had to re-fridge them and tell my guests to remind me to give it to them later before they leave like in this party.

These are the chocolates prepared this year. No more colouring, just simply white chocolate with dark chocolate. Yums! I'm suppose to be on a diet but I ended like licking my fingers. Haha! Don't worry I did not dip my saliva into your chocolates, ladies!

Needless to say, Photoshop wordings and cut again to paste behind my chocolates.

Goodies - Purchased and packed!

Here, mei-mei offered to help to pack her bags for her friends in school

Things inside : blowout, guitar bubbles, yo-yo, kaleisdoscope, stickers, castanet, jelly beans (which I got it at a very good price online as compared to what you pay in specialised chocolate shops in SIN), milk candies, seaweed & musical note chocolate

The boxes come in 6 different colours.

At first I only photo-shopped and printed out only the front and back stickers. Then realise the 2 sides were so plain. Aligned the colouring pictures, photoshopped and then printed out.

I was so happy with this outcome until I realise it looks like a Happy Meal Box. Not a bad idea at all.

I packed differently for her Shichida friends. In a cup. I wanted the cup for my 2 girls but it'll kill me $$$ if I were to buy for all 30 kids. So thought to get this for a smaller group of children.

No space to put the guitar bubbles so hanged it outside the bag.

Not forgotten are che-che's IJ friends. Had to get them something different coz' LE would be very childish for them.

Party where?

Honestly not so keen to have one in my place. It's the mess we have to clean after the party. Plus not that I live in a mansion, I don't have much space in my house.

I had been sourcing and checking out for a venue for a party. I came across Rhythm In Me, which suits best coz' of the music theme. I liked what I saw there. Ample space for the kids to jump, run about. Big makan area space. Minimum = 20 kids.

Thought no problem since I can invite mei-mei's classmates over. I can get 12 or maybe a humble 10? And the other 10, I'll get some of che-che's friends & my friends over who's kids are of varying ages. I spoke to the teacher in mei-mei's school about my idea, only to be told that past experience wasn't too optimistic. Parents have invited their classmates but out of that 17 kids in the class, only pathetic 3 came. Wah.... then how am I going to get that remaining 12 kids after minus-ing her Shichida friends? Outside friends or che-che's friends who have 2 or more siblings, the age gap varies. The majority will then be 6 - 9 years olds. For a 4 year-old party?? Games are organised to the age accordingly, either way some group will be bored. Too easy or too hard? Then it's suppose to be a party for mei-mei not for che-che.

Finally made the decision not to have a party outside this year but to bring it to her school. Rhythm In Me do organise parties outside. But the minimum number became 15?? Additional kids costs $$. Duh! Scrapped the whole idea, so next in line was to get someone, some clown - if no clown I can be the clown - do something. Fortunately I had that settled quickly and kids were left in suspense. There was also the intention of letting che-che to pontang school ... ahem.. naughty mummy. Then came the good news - NO SCHOOL!! PSLE Listening Comprehension on that day.

Cake

No time to bake for mei-mei. And sadly too, I have no space in my fridge if I want to do a cake as tall as a 3-tier wedding cake (joking! Not that capable) or as wide as the ocean. Now you know the reason why hubby bought a smaller fridge - to stop me from baking.

No time to decorate cake. Though I'm itching to do one. Hmm......think better to take the $$ to buy one.

With the house looking like a warehouse, I can't wait for the day to come.

15th - (Wed)

Collected the cookies in the morning. Cookies are meant for those kids who don't get to eat the cake. I like the cookies

and then guess what? Name is written wrongly. Made a call to her to inform her about the mistake and to correct the name on her cake. She offered to make the corrections but I didn't have to time to go back to her place and go back in the afternoon to collect. Declined the offer

The same night I made some rainbow agar agar for the kids in cups

Looking forward to Friday