Icing On The Cake

Birthdays always conjure up in my head the idea of colourful balloons, pin the tale on donkey games, sugary double-layered cake, dairy ice cream, a bountiful stack of lusciously wrapped presents and children running on a manicured lawn. Funnily, I don’t ever remember having such a birthday or attending a party that matched my fairytale expectations of this birthday celebration.

I have to say that since becoming a mama my un-lived pie-in-the-sky birthdays have been trying to peep their head into how I think I should ritualize Zenchai’s birthday. It is easy to fall prey to the pressures of having a big do, especially as our culture feasts on the opportunity to let loose, spend a little dosh (money) and revel in consumerism. Even if we don’t give in to the push of the pipe dream party we can get sucked in by guilt ~ that we should be doing things certain ways because it is what is expected or that is what Suzy Jones next door is doing etc.

But I have to proudly say that so far I have squashed any rising guilt in me about how we jubilate Zenchai’s birthday. Just last week we beat the drum for his 3rd birthday. It was a huge milestone for him. This year he really comprehended what all the whooping and cheering was about. He’ll even boastfully tell you he was born in the toilet! (Click here to read our ecstatic birthing tango.)

We began our glorious day with Zenchai waking both Claude and I up. Zenchai loves a good morning wrestling cuddle. After jumping on us both, sitting on our heads and loving us like no other child could, we headed downstairs to really get things in full swing. He opened one present from his little girlfriend and one from us. Already he was basking in all the glowing attention.

Zenchai being a real car man, we were in a conundrum whether to take him to his cherished Mercedes Benz World or an outdoor farm play adventure area. The sunny weather made the decision for us. We set off for a day of playing in tree houses, sand and climbing frames. We had many shrieks of delight, giggles and frolics.

After our day out we surrendered to our home for an evening of family, food and festivity. We had a simple meal (cooked, but one of Zenchai’s favourites) with his grandmere, grandpere, little girlfriend and our friend. It was delicious food and company. The real icing on the cake was THE CAKE. I made a succulent RAW strawberry cream cake. His cake turned out even more splendid than I could have ever imagined. Not only did it look the part, it tasted it, too!!  Topped with vintage cars just for our car enthusiast and it was the perfect cake.

If you are interested in creating a cake like this one, I based it off a recipe in the Café Gratitude book. Basically the cream is made from coconut cream and cashews with the cake dough formed from dates and dehydrated almond pulp. DIVINE!

To complete Zenchai’s day, I read him The Birthday Story ~ a sweet reminder of where we come from. (Click here to read Shannon’s birthday celebration ideas including The Birthday Story.)

Happy 3rd Birthday, My Darling Boy!