"Am a Big Girl Now"

Last week Ayisha turned 3. 

She seems so big to me now - big feet, big hands, big hair and doing lots and lots more - lots of pretend playing, lots of daydreaming, lots of talking AND talking back with lots of attitude. 

She's been looking forward to turning 3 for what must've felt like forever to her, constantly asking me "Am 2 now? 3 tomorrow?" or "Is my birthday tomorrow? Or tomorrow tomorrow (day after tomorrow)?". 

So the day came and we had a Laidler family birthday dinner on her actual birth day, followed by a Cinderella Princess party on the weekend. It was a pretty last minute choice of theme made by Miss Squeaky. 

Initially she wanted Dora again, like last year. I tried to talk her out of it for weeks but with no success. Then she got introduced to Peppa Pig by her cousin Abbey and got hooked. The next thing I know, she wanted a Peppa Pig party. My initial reaction? Shock shock, horror horror! Let's go back to Dora, Squeaky! :p Not that there's anything wrong with a happy piggy family cartoon show but to be completely honest, I just wasn't comfortable with the idea. Another thing that came to mind was a vision of my family back home (read: my mum) over-reacting to her grandkid having a pig cake for her birthday. So again, I tried to talk her out of this one as well but still with no success. 

Grandma then helped by showing her a Disney Kid's Birthday Cake Book for her to choose from so she could make them especially for her. That's when she picked Cinderella. She was into princesses before but never showed any interest in any particular one. Can anyone tell why she picked out this one out of all the many Disney cakes?

Because it's got pink & purple colour on it! "My favourite!" as she would say. To her, it's the perfect cake. To us, it's just pink & purple cupcakes, it's too simple & plain. My MIL showed a doll cake to her and told her she'd make it like Cinderella but nooooooo it has to be those cupcakes. 

The funny thing is, she wanted it to be exactly like that. At first I thought of leaving out those troublesome fortune papers. But nope, GOTTA have those. "3 cupcakes, pink & purple colour, rainbow sprinkles with pink & purple paper on it ok?". 

From then on, it was all things Cinderella that we could find - cups, plates, goody bags etc. But I think we might've gone overboard with it (syok sendiri) because Ayisha didn't really care. Kids really are so simple, we tend to make it so complicated for them!

She was just content to have the cupcakes and nothing else. At one point, Michael and I were forcing her to try on a Cinderella dress that we excitedly found at 50% off. But all she said was "mmm..no thank you mummy". All she wanted was "a Dora balloon, Cinderella cupcakes and Peppa Pig books" for her birthday. 

So in the end, Grandma made the Cinderella cupcakes for her birthday dinner and she made little tiny version of them again for her party as well as a doll 'Cinderella' cake that's got a purple dress on and she loves it!

Purple princess dress from grandma that she wore for  days and days! ( I think she didn't like the Cinderella one cos it''s the wrong colour! :p)

Fried noodles & chicken wings dinner

Cinderella cupcakes! Jz like in the book..

..but more than 3 so the rest of us can have some! Aunty Vicki made those great fortune papers with fun fortunes in them!

The party we had that following weekend were joined by close friends & family. As usual, with kids party this young, it's also actually the parents party as well and of course, a chance for the adults to be kids again. 

So Michael specifically requested Chocolate Crackles and Fairy Breads - two very famous Aussie kids party food favourites. I completely forgot to take pictures of the Fairy Bread but it's just white bread spread with butter and 100's & 1000's sprinkled on them. I also made egg & tuna sandwiches and some pasta dishes. True enough, the crackles and the fairy breads were the biggest hit among the 'big' kids with a lot commenting on how they haven't had one for ages and how it took them back to many years ago when they were small. 

It was my first time making chocolate crackles - highly recommended. Super easy and super yummy! I googled for the recipe and most of them have copha as one of the ingredients. No idea what it is so found one without it but using cocoa pops instead of rice bubbles. Verdict? According to some of our friends, they're the yummiest they've ever had! So thanks to the cocoa pops I guess, for the double chocolatey taste! 

The only picture of choc crackles that I have, on the table with my friends Lina & Azi & hubbies :p

The party went quite well but at the end of the day, Michael and I were just so tired! Dunno if it's old age or having 2 kids or what but we're not sure if we're going to have anymore parties after this.

So we've had her 1st in Malaysia, 2nd in Bali and 3rd in Oz, that's it I guess. I'm sure Ayisha would be fine as long as there's pink & purple cake somewhere!!!!!

She's happy as long as there's Abbey!

Princess cake & little cupcakes

Princess with Barney slippers hehe

   

always a hit!

Michael was in charge of the goody bags, lots of lollies!

Happy birthday Squeaky! Love u lots & lots!

Oh, and where's her baby brother, Eli???????

Happy being passed around from one mummy to another!!