Seven!
10/17 Update: I found a group picture of all the kids!
We just had a brilliant time for Myles' seventh birthday. I took a bit of risk wanting to have his party at a local park. Unlike my beloved Frick Park in Pittsburgh (where my sister has held several of my nephew Crispian's parties), our park is short on pavilions, or any picnic facilities at all. In case of rain, or wind, or really poor air quality, we would have to move the party to our apartment.
However, the weather was beautifully mild, recognizably fall weather. We were able to take over a bench, and my friend Emily who lives next to this park lent us a small table to help hold our food. Some of Myles' Changping friends were there, and some others came all the way up from Beijing. I think we all had a wonderful time.
The menu was simple--three dips with assorted crackers, crudite, and tortilla chips (which I made myself, though from purchased tortillas). The cake was, like last year, Happy Catholic's buttermilk chocolate cake this time with yogurt substituted for the buttermilk. I had misplaced the vanilla among my spices and seasonings, so I had to improvise with a little almond flavoring. Later, when I was about to make the peanut butter frosting (again, like last year), I took a call from one of the other mothers who mentioned in passing her kids not yet eating nuts other than almonds out of concern for a potential inherited nut allergy. I scrapped the peanut butter icing and instead made a butter cream from How to Cook Everything Vegetarian. Again, I still could not find my vanilla so I subbed almond extract (at less than half the amount of vanilla). That ended up being a happy accident. It was rather tasty.
It's a good thing Myles has simple ideas for cake decorating. This year, he just wanted the cake to have a big number "7" on it.
This isalmost everybody.
It really was a great party for Myles, and we only have our friends to thank for it. They really helped make it a special afternoon for him!
We just had a brilliant time for Myles' seventh birthday. I took a bit of risk wanting to have his party at a local park. Unlike my beloved Frick Park in Pittsburgh (where my sister has held several of my nephew Crispian's parties), our park is short on pavilions, or any picnic facilities at all. In case of rain, or wind, or really poor air quality, we would have to move the party to our apartment.
However, the weather was beautifully mild, recognizably fall weather. We were able to take over a bench, and my friend Emily who lives next to this park lent us a small table to help hold our food. Some of Myles' Changping friends were there, and some others came all the way up from Beijing. I think we all had a wonderful time.
The menu was simple--three dips with assorted crackers, crudite, and tortilla chips (which I made myself, though from purchased tortillas). The cake was, like last year, Happy Catholic's buttermilk chocolate cake this time with yogurt substituted for the buttermilk. I had misplaced the vanilla among my spices and seasonings, so I had to improvise with a little almond flavoring. Later, when I was about to make the peanut butter frosting (again, like last year), I took a call from one of the other mothers who mentioned in passing her kids not yet eating nuts other than almonds out of concern for a potential inherited nut allergy. I scrapped the peanut butter icing and instead made a butter cream from How to Cook Everything Vegetarian. Again, I still could not find my vanilla so I subbed almond extract (at less than half the amount of vanilla). That ended up being a happy accident. It was rather tasty.
It's a good thing Myles has simple ideas for cake decorating. This year, he just wanted the cake to have a big number "7" on it.
This is
It really was a great party for Myles, and we only have our friends to thank for it. They really helped make it a special afternoon for him!
Comments
- Natty and Sassy :)
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