Russell's birthday

Last weekend we celebrated Russell's birthday with a small 'do with our family and friends.
Post-Nara, the Firstborn wholeheartedly embraced the idea of a deer-themed affair, which I was more than happy to oblige. I recently discovered the joys of Carousell and ordered some decorations from there; a dramatic green showpiece took center stage and we were ready to go.

Clowning around with a new app before the party

 Mexican Caesar Salad

Bulgogi Beef Nachos + Salsa

Bulgogi Beef Nachos - Up close and personal 

Clams Carbonara

Sausages - Bangers, Chorizo, Cheddar Links

Grilled Sweet Barbecue Chicken -

So good, thanks to Cold Storage! 

More cheesing around... 

A successful family photo in under 3 takes

A scrumptious Strawberry Hill from Patisserie Glace fulfilled his clearly-inherited love for strawberry cakes

Hello deer!

What made this occasion extra memorable was the fact that Russell actually enjoyed his birthday party. Our friends will never forget how he burst into frightened tears when we sang 'Happy Birthday' at his first birthday, so they were all surprised by how chatty and energetic he was this entire time.  Good times indeed. 

The weekend Russell turned 3

Russell turned 3 on Friday and we had a simple dinner with both sides of the family.

When people say, "He's 3? Wow, that fast!"

I feel like replying, "Er, it has been one loooong journey."  

The Firstborn is a threenager so he's not into birthdays. In fact, he loathes the idea of a party and a meltdown was only mitigated when I told him his birthday cake had strawberries. Hence, there weren't many human photos to speak of but we will remember his impish ways.

We got a supremely cute cake from the ever dependable Patisserie Glace. Patisserie Glace hardly disappoints and this Strawberry Mille Feuille was delightfully light yet scrumptious. The rest of the weekend was spending doing the usual family stuff and playing with his significantly low tech presents. 

At this moment though, I'm pretty thankful I've a healthy, curious child who loves just about anything and everything related to numbers.

To many more days of us.

Turning two today

The weekend we celebrated the terrible twos

As I mentioned, July is a month of celebrations and we invited our friends over to commiserate with us on the terrible twos. Of course, I exaggerate. I think most of us are really enjoying this period of time when he's babbling away non-stop, repeating after us and exercising his independence and control over the stereo in the car. 

This year, I decided on a circus theme purely by accident after crawling the Internet for party delivery options. As you can tell, the DIY-Zakka mum lost steam and besides, these balloons were too cute to resist. 

At 6.30pm, I really wanted our first guest to arrive so that I could break open the Tosititos. 

Point to note though, party decorations always seem much larger on the computer screen.

In line with our keep-it-simple-because-I-am-just-too-darn-tired train of thought, I decided to replicate the taco and egg salad I made for Russell's dinner last week. 

This time round, I made a shrimp version as well - worried that the meal would be too meaty. I am happy to report the salads were cleaned out before 8pm and our mums would all be proud we ate our salads before ice cream. 

My mum contributed a guava salad with plum sauce that was wonderfully refreshing. 

We created a hotdog bar and people DIY-ed their way to sodium nitrate heaven. 

Cheese sauce? Bacon? A two year old's party is just an excuse to binge on junk. 

Hello Johnsonville!

Get your buns on... 

Johnsonville sausages have never ever failed us. 

Fulfilling KW's childhood dream, we ordered an ice cream cake from Swensen's, made with Cookies & Cream and Salted Gula Melaka. 

But it required two pairs of hands to saw through it. KW's right hand was partially numb over the next 24 hours after the party. 

"Ice cream cake... gimme me more!"

"Happy birthday to me, indeed!"

The weekend Russell became a lurker

These pictures from the weekend still crack me up.

 

 

Our little boy discovers portable video games for the first time and completely infringes the personal space of others.

9 stages of happiness at California Pizza Kitchen

And now for my next act, I am going to 

pretend to be the ultimate dream toddler. 

The one who quietly colours the kiddie menu with the crayons given, 

while mama and papa share intellectual thoughts about grilling pork belly and Vikings.

Yeech, what's that green nasty thing I have to eat? I wanna spare you the details but it does look like something I would find in my diapers after a busy morning. Oops sorry.

MMM, this green thing is good... No double dipping? 

Fine, double chip-ping then.

Another one before mama finds out I am hooked on this thing.

 Look at me, swift like the Dark Knight. Papa would be proud.

 Dang, the plate is too far away from my tteokbokki arms. 

*Starts panicking plotting*

AHMMM!

Gotta protect my Sunday Best, yo. I am halfway through my meal before mummy discovers my bib is missing. Story of her life.

Yessss finally, allll mine! My precious...