THE party

I can't believe that I am sitting here at 3am and doing a post! Why I am awake at this ungodly hour is because the princess woke at 2plus coughing and I couldn't fall back to sleep after being woken. Thus I am here now. I should be snuggled up in bed recovering from the excitement of the past few days, with the princess falling sick the day before school started, on Thursday, and all the buzz with preparing for her party happening at the same time. It was a test of my endurance to the limit. I've never been so challenged before, taking care of a sick child and surviving on very few hrs of sleep a day, and doing such a huge amount of work at the same time. She seldom falls ill, and hardly this bad. And it had to happen now of all times. Since Friday, she was waking up in the early hours of the morning - 3am, 5am, and then on Saturday night, after baking the entire day, I was all ready to rest early so I'd be up bright and early, and all rested for Sunday's madness, but no, our friend had other ideas. She was coughing continuously we all couldn't even go to sleep till after 12am! And considering I had to wake at 6am to prepare the food, I was in bits! I just have to thank the good Lord that I was in good health and able to accomplish loads.

I am never EVER going to have a noontime party again! It's crazy! I just have to say I'm VERY relieved it's all over. But then again, I have told her that this is the last big party we are having. She has agreed to it. From next year, we will only have a few very close friends, and I do mean it. I know of poor G who said that, when her girl turned 6, but still has no choice but to have big parties. Haha. Speaking of which, I'm sorry G and her family were not able to make it due to family commitments.

Preparations started earlier in the week when I made the pasta sauce to freeze, then baking of cuppies on Saturday all day. And finally on Sunday morning - baked chicken wings, prepared sushi rice and ingredients, iced cuppies, rolled sushis, etc.

I almost abandoned the sushi last minute as I was very rushed for time. However, I'm glad I persevered and was rewarded. My shifu, Minako, says I did well, that they were nice and round, and not like mountains this time! Hurray! That's what stress produces? Haha. Perfect round sushi! Yay!

Photos didn't turn out too well. Most were blur. Sad, as I used 'auto' on the camera. I usually do 'manual'. I mean how bad can 'auto' turn out? Beats me!

On the menu we had sushi, pasta in bolognaise sauce, chicken hotdog, some little salad, baked chicken wings, which were prepared by moi. Then I ordered fried beehoon from the market stall downstairs my place; curry chicken from a hawker stall in Suntec; canape and chocolate coated strawberries courtesy of princess' godpa from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; pizza from Canadian 2 for 1; some fruits. Am glad all the pizza were gone, and pasta too which had half a pot of sauce remainder. I panicked and quick thinking me got godpa to check if he could help get some from the outlet. Thank goodness he managed to get us more pasta. I can't thank him enough. And also the lovely coffee which was a hit.

The curry chicken was loved and devoured by all. Lovely with the beehoon or the crusty baguette.

Time for cake. I would like to thank Cranberry for showing in her blog the icing printouts and eagle-eyed me for spying them. I was actually looking a few months back on the internet for these, and Cranberry directed me to her friend Zu who printed them. Thanks to both you ladies, and it was a real pleasure to meet Zu who so kindly met me closer to my home during her lunch hour. Thanks very much.

The icing I did didn't turn out too well as I was truly pressed for time. I whipped it too stiff so it was a little tough to pipe them out, but still managed in the end. No time for perfection. Looking at Cranberry's really put me to shame. Such perfect stars.

It was a craft party, namely t-shirt printing. I don't have photos to show as I was too dazed to even take photos of the kids at work. At that point, I was just working on autopilot. Friends who spoke to me during the party, I'm sorry but at times, nothing was going through my brains.

I had wanted to do cupcake decorating with the kids but no time to even prepare the icing so that activity was abandoned. And besides, quite a number of them had to leave by 2pm, so there wasn't really much we could do.

The other activity was nail art done by princess' friend's mum, Daph. She was all prepared, with a portable fan to dry the nails, and one mum guest even asked if she was a professional. Hahaha. The birthday girl gets special stickers on her nails - her favourite butterflies.

I was, however, disappointed with the tattoo artist. I had booked her for 1pm, partly my fault, as I thought it'd be nice if she came after they had all eaten. But when I heard that some kids were leaving early, I messaged her to come at 12plus. Unfortunately, she came too late, at almost 1.30pm. I feel really apologetic that some kids didn't have a chance to have paintings done on them.

However, this artist is really talented. I mean I have seen my fair share of people doing body art, but not this kind of standard. While speaking to the artist's mum, I found out that she was the one at the recent EA Christmas party we attended just last month. No wonder, when I saw the girls at the party with tattoos, I said it to G that hey, that looks like the work of the artist I hired. These are her signature works.

She did a Rosella. For those who are not familiar with Rosella, she is Barbie as the Island Princess, in the latest Barbie movie. Rosella was a favourite pick among the girls.

Ariel was the second favourite choice.

She also does beautiful fairies.

In ending, I would like to thank so many people. This would not have been possible at all without my group of trustworthy friends and cousin who constantly help me out each time. For putting up with all my nonsense, very high standards, and all the last minute things I throw out at you. For the message that came through last night, saying, 'do you need me to come in early to help you set up?'. That really warmed my heart. I wasn't expecting that as she has a new baby to care for. Thanks a bunch, Daph. Your little prince is very handsome. And even hubby thinks he looks ang moh. I don't know how you gonna convince others that Chak is the daddy! Hahaha. I think it's because he is too fair for a pure Chinese and also the light brown hair. Hey, you think that got to do with you always colouring your hair? Hahaha. Also, thank you for the echinacea you brought for little princess. That was really thoughtful of you. And thanks, Chak, for so kindly preparing them into syringes all ready for consumption.

To the godparents, I can't say thank you enough. For everything. I'm sorry I had to dump all the dirty work on you, K, and thank you for being one of my great friends.

To Jill & Sam, thank you too, for always picking up the pieces along the way. Sis and Lyn for tidying up after, carrying all the stuff back to the house, and Lyn for playing with princess after she woke.

You guys are my rock. :)

Also not forgetting the people I neglected as I was too busy or tired. Thanks for your understanding.

Ok, ok enough already with the Oscar speech. It is time to go back to bed. Hope I can sleep now.

That should satisfy some for my week of missing posts? ;)