Emily Under the Sea

To celebrate Miss Emily Bubbles 4th birthday, she choose an Ariel inspired "Under the Sea" party.  

The weather co-operated and turned the garden into an ocean.

However, knowing how unreliable the weather in Northern Ireland can be, her Mummy and Daddy had also prepared some aquatic themed indoor crafts....

There were scratch art mobiles and magnets to make.

Peggy mermaids to create...

Photo frames to decorate...

Pirate treasure chests to decorate and fill...

There were under the sea props to be photographed with...

(Finn and Emily are definitely besties... you can see that here)

... and here...

Jellyfish you had to push your way through...

Ariel had brought along a few books and some comfy cushions if you needed a bit of a rest in the reading corner...

And if you can't read yet, there was always someone on hand to help...

If you didn't fancy doing any of the crafts, you could always play with the epic lego table.  Some little people did not leave it!

Then of course, there was the party food...

Chocolate pirate treasure

Even the chocolates were themed...

...now if you thought that there weren't enough buns, Uncle Andrew was on hand with a fresh delivery from Abbie's Bakery...

Then all of a sudden, the rain stopped, the garden dried up and the bubbles came out...

...as did the football...

Then it was time to sing "Happy Birthday" and for the birthday girl to blow out her candle.

She was also tempted to gather the sugar flowers from her cake...

...while her Mum became Mrs Maud of the ice-cream parlour..."Yes Max you can have strawberry and chocolate sauce"

Happy 4th Birthday Emily

(To see more of the action, click here)

Sugar and Spice

Once upon a time, Bea was invited to Anna's Sugar and Spice Tea party.

(This is us leaving...with party bag)

 Silly us, we assumed that sugar and spice was for all things nice.  We forgot Anna's "spicy" heritage. So we arrived for an iced tea party where they served the McFaul sweeties and buns along side the traditional Kilpatrick curry

sugar & spice
cupcake & pakora

Did we mention that this was Anna's first birthday?

We wondered what kind of a gift she would like...but there was no debate over the wrapping...Anna is now old enough for the princesses!

(Good call Bea!)

It was a beautiful day for a tea party, so we headed out into the garden so that Chris the kids could play with the moonsand

If you didn't like moonsand, there were one or two other options outside...

Or you could come inside and decorate a coaster...

...or four!

Of course, Anna is the granddaughter of Carol the cake maker.  

Happy Birthday Anna

(you really are "all things nice")

 To see Anna's party, click here.

Beth's Birthday Bash

Sometimes, the only way to describe your party, or your cake is as a BASH

This is Beth bashing her birthday cake to release the sweeties inside.

Time lapse of 20 seconds.

Then, this...

Now before you judge the hungry hoards, they had worked up quite an appetite.

You see, for her birthday bash, Beth requested a trip to We are Vertigo, and a play on the high ropes....

You can see "Brave Beth" by clicking here.

Before attempting the high rope, you must first, pause for a photo...

(spot the boy)

Then you must get safety harnessed up...

Now all the little faces looked up at Brave Beth, who hitched up her safety rope and RAN across the rope course.  Followed by her partner in crime....Daredevil Evie

Then one by one, all of Beth's posse hitched up and high roped.

Did I say all?

All except one...then two...

Miss Bea decided that taking that step across the breach into the unknown was just too terrifying.  I'll be honest, there were tears.  Josie sighed a sigh or relief and followed Bea down.

So what did these two scaredy cats do?

Play on the soft play?

Not a bit of it!  

They harnessed up and climbed the climbing wall

Then Josie decided that perhaps she was brave enough for the ropes after all.

She was a little tired after that....

Beth only came off the high ropes to climb the wall...

But Spidermax wouldn't let her do it alone.  No!  He sprinted up beside her.  Often holding on by one hand!!!

Max then took the opportunity to show his mum the ropes...

literally!

Even Molly had her own mini ropes course

Then, slightly exhausted and STARVING, the girls (and Max) headed home for a well earned McDonalds and some cracking cake.