Weekend Bday Gala(tta)

3 years old , 3 celebrations- just worked out that way.

Preview

It began with a mini do at her school on her nakshatra (star) bday.

They are not supposed to "celebrate" with chocolates. Instead she took some healthy eats ( read dates- seedless of course) for her classmates and was super excited about her paavadai and that they sang her the bday song.

The Show begins

The second one, at the new home, the idea was more to meet up with the new neighbors and to also use the long weekend to get some friends including fellow bloggers to see the new place. But most of the latter category were going out of town for the weekend & hence missed the fun.

But hastobeme and Lavs made it and I got to see the utterly cute Little Buddha is person who Anushka wanted to keep with us.

The theme was Teletubbies meets Jungle Book, among Anush's current favourite characters ( Did not know there was gay controversy over them in Poland, they are as sexless as a snail to my unlearned eye. : -) )

Menu-

Puffs, cornflakes mixture, potato chips, cake, laddoos- grape and orange squash

I actually found Teletubbies mould jellies which reminded me of that thoroughly unhygienic but most delightful sucking type ice lolly we called pepsi in my school days in Mumbai

Activities-

We had the generous Hannah Martin and her son do wonderful tattoos and the balloon sculpting . Though expensive they give almost all their earnings to charity.

I revisited the thermocol jigsaw concept I had made during Anush's first bday to engage the invitees.

My cousin was adept at juggling with 3 apples.

Music was a collection of Anushka's favourite songs in Hindi and English laced with Happy bday to you.

The final climax

The third get together at the old building that had been our home for the last 5 years and is now my parents' home.This was for old friends and neighbors and Anush's school friends. This had great attendance and itchy ( with her all new cool look and ek dum cool family ) made it as well. At the old place which has a lot more kids, some uninvited as usual.

We had a Dora mascot much to most kids' delight and some kids' fright

And the last minute incorporation was the Treasure hunt on a Jungle Safari played using the animal drawings from the previous party

Menu

Butter Corn, chips, vanilla ice cream, Blue curacao and lychee juice to add to the Dora colours

Credits

The theme cakes were from Cakes and Bakes with strict instructions in writing to avoid very dark colors and to keep the characters smiling

The snacks were a combo of the friendly Iyengar Bakery and home made stuff.

Anushka helped a lot with the prop making ( due credit to orchid and the www for inspiration).

Navy as usual was the balloon and music provider

My cousin made it from Kolkotta just for the weekend. So unlike the previous bdays, we

actually had a camera persons- he and my father! And he really juggled to the delightful chuckles of all our little guests.

My parents kept me sane, keeping people company and ensuring they had enough to drink/ eat

My ILs could not make it due to other family commitments.

The favours were etikoppaka tops/ sharpeners in animal shapes, sporty water bottles, some mandatory colour crayons/ pencils/ pens.

There were terracota key chains, chokers and ear rings for the older visitors ( why shld they always get ignored?)

Anushka's prime gifts this year apart from the various thoughtful and miscellaneous gifts she received, was a "laptop" from my cousin, an inflatable pool from her amma appa.

We have got her a piggy bank to let her learn the concept of saving (assuming it is not too early since it is never too late) Her indulgent appa took her for a drive after pasta and pizza late at night.

She also got to see lots of the huge light cutouts of Gods being Varalakshmi pooja on her bday eve and she loves those.

Review

Both parties left Anush excited and me exhaustedly satisfied with a smug grin.

Take out

Anush, I love you for being so perceptive and wise, so curious and caring , so naughty and so loving. And tell you a secret? I would love you even if you were not all or any of these.

Last year we wished that the year keeps you a happy, healthy and warm person- as you entered play school and made new friends. I must say that it was the terrific twos instead of terrible twos for most parts.

This year let us resolve to be a little more patient and listen more to each other and continue having lots of fun as we try and grow up together, okay?