party madness and magic

I'm still recovering from The Birthday Party. The one that happened a week ago. No, really, I'm fine, but it did take me a few days to recover. You know how I am about parties. I get a little anxious. 

Our apartment is far too small to host even a family get-together, so we booked a fun playplace where all the kids could run around like crazy and the adults could eat good snacks. I was determined to make my child's birthday whatever, and Bethany Actually's cupcakes were a bonafide hit. Not only were they delicious,but I had MEN come up and ask me, "How did you do that? " 

But I have to tell you a funny story about the cupcakes. I had planned on making a batch on Saturday night, just to see how they went, give us time for a Plan B if they didn't work out. Mom (who came up on Saturday to help out w/ party stuff) and I were so pooped from all our party shopping (including nearly disastrous clothes shopping) that no cupcakes got made on Saturday night. The first batch was completely fine, even if I did mess up the steps to mixing up the dry ingredients. I kept calling Mom over to the mixing bowl, "Does this look fluffy to you?" 

"No," she would say. "Think...fluffy. That is nowhere near fluffy, Samantha." 

The second batch I made was a double batch. Mom patiently sat down with Bethany's recipe and wrote down the doubled measurements. I dyed the batter and dropped spoonfuls into the muffin tin, and Mom was cleaning up behind me. I popped them in the oven, sighing with satisfaction, and Mom hit the timer. Or at least she thought she did. I noticed that she had pressed the 'cook time' which is something different and we think is what you use to set the oven to come on at a certain time? Still not sure about that one. I knew it could shut the oven off but somehow my brain didn't register that NOW the oven was off. I reset the timer; my head was spinning - Thomas still wasn't down for his nap, he was filthy, and a phone call from Beaux's family informed me that we would have people in our apartment BEFORE the party. Off I went to give our official 2 year old a bath, while Beaux vacuumed and I chilled out in the bathroom. 

It was a good thing, because when I got out? Mom was in tears in the kitchen. She and Beaux were trying to salvage the cupcakes. The oven had totally turned off and Mom realized it halfway through and turned it back on - what a calamity! They were so afraid that I would lose it - but all I did was hug Mom, reassure her that I wasn't mad, and just scrap the batch and start over. I still had to get Thomas down for his nap, and so it was my wonderful amazing husband who stepped in and made the batter. Later on he helped me distribute all the colored batter, he wins an award for being The Most Helpful Spouse during Birthday Party Insanity. My mom...she has a thousand stars in her crown, no doubt. 

Later, it got a little crazy. That's putting it mildly. People arrived (including very active twins, a surprise to us!) and the pimento cheese sandwiches weren't finished, nor the cucumber ones. Only the first 12 cupcakes were iced - Mom had run to the store to get more icing (whipped icing? not a good idea) and other party things. My hair was still wet. Somehow, we made it through, even with TEN extra people in the apartment and a pretty cranky 2-year-old not quite ready to be awake and faced with lots of relatives. Everyone pitched in who could (with Beaux's grandma icing cupcakes) and my brother and his fiancee transporting most of the food to the party. We were a four vehicle caravan, and thank Jesus I had all that driving time to have Beaux talk me through some deep breathing exercises. 

The party was a hit. The kids barely stopped playing to eat cupcakes, bless them. 

Don't you love that Thomas looks like he wants to run away? He was bashful while we all sang Happy Birthday to You! 

His best bud L blew out the first candle for him. 

There was a valiant effort on Thomas' part, but still Beaux had to finish the job. 

Then it was time to share the cupcake love with Lovie. She deserved her own fleet of cupcakes, to be sure. 

We had both sets of great-grandparents in attendance, which was incredibly special. I love that Thomas has them in his life - I only had one surviving great-grandparent as a kid and I liked my Pawpaw a whole lot. 

Christopher and Phoebe, food servers by day, and party rescuers by day as well. I swear my Dad was at the party but somehow I never got a picture of him. Sorry, Daddy! There were also many other friends and children but I try not to post too many pictures of unaware people on my blog. 

Beaux really did save the day, or at least my sanity, several times over. Did I mention that he got up extra early and cut up cucumbers, got meatballs started in the Crockpot, AND had coffee ready? I don't know how I ended up with TWO such wonderful boys in my life, but oh I am thankful. 

I am especially thankful that they're so silly. And I am really very thankful that I have a whole year to recover from this party, because OH MY HEAVENS. I need it. 

Comments

[lizardek]

Looks like a great time was had by all, and MY GOD! Those cupcakes!! What a lot of work, but WOW what a presentation!

[Megsie]

Ok. Not that I really want to make the cupcakes, but I really want to make the cupcakes. Recipe? Please?

Glad you survived the party. I had one a week ago as well, and it is such a relief when parties are over. Looks like everyone had fun! Happy Two Year Old!

[lindsey]

yes. those cupcakes are to die for. and i love all the photos. especially the last one with thomas and his daddy and matching beanies. wondering how you will top this for number 3!!!

xo

[Marilyn]

What a sweet post. And how wonderful that Thomas gets to know all of his great-grandparents. I still cannot believe he's SO BIG already! :) Glad he had such a great 2nd party.

P.S. Phoebe is cute...they look cute together.

[tinker]

oh the cuteness!
(& oh the pressure we mom's put on ourselves for the sake of our loved ones, esp those littlest ones :)
those cupcakes are the coolest ever though!

[Bethany]

Your party story sounds about on par with my travel story from this summer. I'm glad that you survived AND that you have a year's recovery ahead. Something tells me those cupcakes can go a long way toward making that recovery happen; I hope your diet allows you to have at least a spare nibble or two!

[christina]

LOOK at those cupcakes, girl! You are amazing.

Happy belated birthday to handsome Thomas! I can't believe he's two. Doesn't time feel like it goes nine-zillion times faster now?