Indy's Birthday Party

Well, the 5th November saw us celebrate another birthday in the life of our daughter, Indy. It was her 7th birthday, and it was great fun. I have never had enough money to hold a party at a restaurant, or at a local soft-play centre, or even in a hired hall. I have not had enough money to hire an entertainer, or to have party bags full-to-the-brim of personalised gifts, pre-packed by a lovely company. Even our own wedding was largely homemade and low-budget.

As a child, before my birthday parties, my dad made annual trips into the woods near our house to "find" young trees to chop down and turn into poles for hanging crepe paper streamers, that would hang across our back garden with multi-coloured balloons. Dad would usually make a mix-tape of whatever songs were fashionable at the time, as well as Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday" the "Theme from Fame" and Olivia Newton-John's "Let's Get Physical" (and yes, I really did think it was all about exercise!!) He would also put together games of all sorts, that generally involved getting very messy, very giggly, and being rewarded with little prizes from the local toy shop. I remember one year, maybe my 9th birthday, he had devised a treasure hunt around the garden, that involved working out all sorts of riddles and puzzles. So much fun!!! My mum always made an amazing birthday cake - an owl, a teddy bear, a country cottage, a record player - and created quite an outstanding spread of sausage rolls, dinky sandwiches with various fillings, Party Ring biscuits, hula hoops, Twiglets and Iced Gems. Jelly and ice cream in abundance always followed, and fizzy drinks like limeade and cherryade, which we only had for parties, would be poured until over-flowing. Mum put together great party bags with pencils, party blowers, tiny packs of pencils and those plastic moving snakes. Of course, everyone went home with a slice of Mum's amazing cake, and when they had left, Mum and Dad marvelled at all of the lovely presents that my friends had brought for me.

I have followed in my parents' footsteps with my own children's parties - all homemade (by necessity) and full of food, games and fun. Indy's party this year was no different!! I thought that you might be interested in what we did, as, in my researching for ideas and hints, I discovered a few blogs that featured a "How to..." for their parties. So, here we go...

Indy asked for a chocolate party. As we talked about it more, it developed into a "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" Party. It was going to be fairly low-key, as I try to remained de-stressed as the dark nights close in, and my depression often starts to rear it's ugly head. However, as soon as Roo, my 10 year-old son came up with the idea of Golden Tickets for the invites, it spiralled wildly out of control!!!! We decided to put the tickets inside chocolate bars, and as the only appropriate chocolate bars (wrapped in foil and then in a paper sleeve) were Nestle, which I tend to avoid, I found myself buying huge Cadbury's Dairy Milk bars which I then broke into small slabs, ready for wrapping. I used gold wrapping paper for the foil and made my own sleeves which I designed on the computer. I was just delighted with them, especially when I saw the guests' faces, and heard their squeals of delight, as they opened them on the playground one morning!!!

So, we then began to plan the party in detail. We decorated the house with paper bunting made using old scrap-booking papers and colourful balloons. As the children waited outside with their parents, they ate squirrel and star-shaped gingerbread biscuits. Roo dressed up as Willy Wonka, welcoming the guests and collecting their tickets on arrival. Dave had made a big contract, which the children signed, just like in the old Willy Wonka film with Gene Wilder.

As we were clearly unable to make our whole house edible, in the living room, I created an Edible Garden, which included a gingerbread house, green coconut grass, edible rice paper flowers, brown sugar soil, an edible veggie patch made with dried cranberries, rainbow drops, sprinkles and red fizzy laces. The kids silently stared at the Edible Garden, mouths and eyes wide, before being told that they could eat the whole thing!!! They then proceeded to really go for it!!!

"Willy Wonka" then led them into the dining room, where they helped themselves to the Lolly Tree, met an Oompa Loompa (my future sister-in-law, Heather) who was "spinning" fine strawberry laces on my spinning wheel, and ate of her wares. They had a game of Pass the Parcel, where little Emily won the prize of a tube of Jelly Tots, and then made their way outside.

"Willy Wonka" led them into the Tunnel of Delights (the side path to our back garden) which had been decorated with candles, fairy lights and ribbons, upon which hung mini chocolate bars, sweets, lollies, chews, candy canes and more laces.

They popped their treasure into little plastic cups, labelled with small bunting triangles with their names on, and then walked through into the house to be greeted with a basket full of marshmallows and a flowing chocolate fountain!!!

After this, they sat in a circle to play The Chocolate Game - you know, the one with a die, over sized coat, scarf, gloves and hat and chocolate bar to be chopped up with a knife and fork? - even the shy kids got stuck in!!! We re-grouped with a party tea of funky sandwiches, mini choccie cupcakes, crisps of all shapes and Fizzy Lifting Drinks (the essential cherryade, limeade and orangeade.)

The children gathered in the living room to watch Indy open her presents, and then sat down in front of the old version of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", whilst they waited for their parents' to arrive. I couldn't resist pouring the full jars of sweets into their little hands and laps, just at the point that the shop keeper in the film does the same thing, as he sings, "The Candy Man". It made an complete mess of my living room carpet, but the kids loved it.

As they left, full of sugar, pupils fully-dilated, I couldn't help but feel that we'd done a good job. A homemade party is definitely a lot of work (my first diagnosis of depression was after a homemade party three years ago!!) but it is so much cheaper and really satisfying. And I think that the kids who came will remember it for a long time.