on saturday we celebrated our little alexanders first birthday with a little party for our family and some friends. it was the best afternoon and everything was so so cute.
when i was pregnant with alex, i saw the cutest idea for a kids birthday party with a possum magic bush theme. i loved it instantly, having grown up in the bush and most of all because my dad has called me possum my whole life! he bought me a copy of the book when i was very small for a birthday gift and i have read it over and over and just love it. the beautiful illustrations, the story - all of it. so it was decided then and there that that would be the theme. thankfully doug was happy with it too.
one of my beautiful friends has access to a colour copier at work so she copied page after page from the book for me, which mum and i sewed into bunting and hung all over the loungeroom. it was the absolute perfect touch and i am super grateful. made it look a million dollars.
we also had a tablecloth of mums with a gumnut print on it and the cutest serviettes ever with kookaburras and native australian flowers on them
and wooden plates. so good. perfect for the bush theme. (thank you kmart!)
the cake was so good... a giant lamington! (simply unfilled sponges bought frozen at our local woolworths, made up a few hours beforehand with jam and cream)
and gingerbeer (can't get more aussie than that!) and water for the drinks...
the best bit of it all was doing the food. if you haven't read the book, it is about a possum whose grandmother makes her invisible to keep her safe from snakes in the bush. one day she decides she'd like to be seen again, only for them to realise that she needs to eat human food for it to happen.
they go around australia eating different things until the find the right ones... but i made all the food mentioned in the book!
anzac biscuits in adelaide
mournay and minties in melbourne. for the mournay, i made my regular tuna mournay mix and then baked spoonfuls in little puff pastry shells. it was so yum! even my kids that don't like tuna mournay declared it was delicious. winning!
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steak and salad in sydney. i combined the two and made this salad here and it was yummm! mum said to me, "jade, you really don't have to make alllll of the things." then asked me for the recipe. you're welcome mum.
pumpkin scones in brisbane (thanks mum! she makes the best pumpkin scones)
vegemite (and cheese) sandwiches in darwin.
pavlova in perth
and lamington (cake!) in hobart.
i was straight up obsessed with all of it. it was absolutely perfect!
he was adorable, smiled at everyone and had a great time being adored. he is such a sweet boy and we are so blessed to have him.
i am just the luckiest mum. he even lets me smooch him without complaining.
our happy little family! ❤
last but not least, i had my friend jen make little fondant stamped and painted cookies for everyone to take home. green and gold to be aussie as, and she even packaged them with little gold edible stars. talk about above and beyond.
best. party. ever!
happy birthday little alex. we love you like mad.
