We started the big birthday with a big breakfast - Overnight Blueberry French Toast and sausage. It was delicious, not to sweet and not too mushy. (However it was not a huge hit with the 3 and under crowd.) We shared it with my parents and my sister and her son, who'd arrived the night before from Montana just to attend Gideon's party.
Then, knowing I'd be occupied making cupcakes the rest of the day, I'd thrown together a roast in a crockpot the night before as well (Jeremy put together the French toast while the rest of us were at the airport) - roast, carrots, potatoes, Lipton onion soup mix and a "splash" of Claude's Barbeque Brisket Marinade Sauce and a little water. I steamed some frozen green beans in the microwave right before we were ready to sit down for lunch, seasoned with just a little salt and bacon drippings. We shared this with both sets of grandparents and Rachel and Zane. My grandmother's dining room table had to be expanded to full capacity with an extra chair crammed onto a corner. It was great to have all the family gathered around.
The cupcakes (requested by the birthday boy weeks ago when I didn't even realize he knew what cupcakes were) came out well , if I do say so myself. As I mentioned to anyone that would listen, I'm not a big Martha fan - I actually don't really care for her personality at all and most of her meals (except for those put out under the Everyday Food brand) are expensive and unrealistic for most of us weeknight dinner home cooks. But her baking recipes are good. I've been pleased with several of her cookie recipes over the past year and the two cupcake recipes I chose from her website were big hits. I made the One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes twice last week - once to share with playmates and classmates (in a mini-cupcake form) and once for the party. They were praised and devoured the first time around and enjoyed at the party, as well.
However, their performance was eclipsed by the Vanilla Cupcakes (I skipped the "letter" part of these cupcakes - that's where Martha gets ridiculous) I also made for the party. While I personally just thought they were okay, they received the most comments and while there were 8 (of 21) chocolate ones left by the end of the day, there were only 4 (of 24) left of the vanilla ones. Both were topped with a rich cream cheese icing - two 8-ounce packages of cream cheese, 1 1/2 to 2 cups of confectioners' sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla extract; the chocolate ones were complemented best by this icing.
These cupcakes, along with hot cocoa, were shared with neighbors, playmates, grandparents, aunts, cousins (Jeremy's youngest brother's family also attended) in the afternoon. Shunning the more traditional orgiastic display of present receiving and wrapping shredding, we did a book swap where all the party-goers (at least the pint-sized ones) bring a new or gently used children's book to swap with other kids. That way everyone goes home with something (and gets the thrill of unwrapping something) and we don't end up with more toys than we know what to do with, all at once. And, don't worry, the birthday boy got more than enough new gadgets from generous family members.
After the cupcakes and book swap, most kids ended up outside in the unseasonably warm afternoon, throwing dog toys for the puppy to fetch, sliding on the slide, riding the tricycle, digging in the sandbox and the withered garden. It was a good party, with the emphasis on time with those who've meant the most to us - and especially Gideon - in the past year.
At the end of the day, I couldn't believe how smoothly everything had gone. I'd prepared two big meals and put together a birthday party with homemade cupcakes. I hadn't felt flustered or stressed or panicked or overwhelmed at all. I'd actually enjoyed the day and the time with family and friends.
Of course, that's because it wasn't just "I". I had lots of extra hands around - hands that helped wash dishes and ice cupcakes and decorate them with "Happy 3rd Birthday Gideon" and pretty doodles of butterflies and flowers. These family members made the day for us and we're so thankful to have them to share it with.
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