It’s not a bad idea to do a bit of exercise before a big birthday feast! It’s my nephew Caleb’s first birthday party.
“Hi girls,” I greet my nieces.
“My daddy built this!” almost 3-year-old Zoe says importantly.
“Daddy built our sand pit too,” 4-year-old Ruby says.
“Your daddy’s very clever, isn’t he?” I say.
“Yes!” They chorus proudly, with upside-down grins.
Zoe says: “My daddy built this”
Meanwhile, Caleb’s enjoying a game with one of his grandmothers. I’m very impressed at his hand-eye coordination. According to his mum and dad, he loves playing ball games and will do so for hours. You will get sick of it long before he does!
Playing ball with Nanna
As usual, the catering is courtesy of family and friends.
We have mini quiches with sundried tomato, one of my favourite ingredients.
Mini quiches
There are honey joys and chocolate crackles.
Honey joys and chocolate crackles
Jac’s and my contribution is a platter of pork and beef chipolatas cooked in the oven and served with tomato sauce and BBQ sauce. These plump little sausages have proven to be a party favourite.
Beef and pork chipolatas with BBQ sauce and tomato sauce
There are sandwiches, fresh and toasted.
Toasted sandwiches
Juji’s made a batch of mini sausage rolls, tasty little meaty bites wrapped in flaky puff pastry.
Mini sausage rolls
There are raspberry jelly shots (non-alcoholic so they are kid-friendly).
Raspberry jelly shots (non-alcoholic)
I think the jelly shots are the item both adults and kids are most excited about.
Zoe eats jelly
There’s fresh fruit, sliced into bite-sized servings, cheese and crackers.
Fruit, cheese and crackers
There are two platters of pikelets, another favourite with adults and kids alike.
Pikelets
My sister CW has cooked chicken poached in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, Chinese black vinegar, fresh garlic, chilli flakes, orange juice, star anise and cinnamon stick (recipe from The Joy of Cooking). The chicken is tender and delicious, with a touch of heat from the chilli flakes.
Marinated chicken
A family birthday party wouldn’t be complete without my mum’s noodles. This time, fried rice noodles with pork and carrot, served with a generous topping of thinly sliced omelette.
Mum’s fried rice noodles
There’s fresh chilli on the side for those who like their noodles with a little more kick.
Chillies to go with the noodles
It doesn’t take long for the noodles to all be eaten. Some of us go back for seconds.
Mum’s fried rice noodles
The birthday boy has a great brunch of toasted sandwich, chipolata and quiche, all washed down with plenty of water. With the arrival of the pikelets, he finds a new favourite.
Caleb eats his birthday brunch
For Ruby, chocolate crackles are the most wonderful birthday party food of all.
“Look Daddy, I’ve got a chocolate crackle!”
After brunch, it’s playtime. Or time to make banana muffins, if you’re Ruby.
Ruby makes banana muffins
Zoe is more interested in blowing bubbles with her Auntie Juji.
Blowing bubbles
Zoe is yet to master the art of bubble blowing, but she is determined to keep trying. And trying… and trying! She walks slowly, a look of absolute concentration on her face, gripping the bottle of bubble mixture in one hand as she blows gently, trying to make her own bubbles.
Concentration and dedication
Then it’s time for Caleb to open his birthday presents. All the kids are eager to “help”. Uh-oh – looks like the first day of the post-Christmas sales. Caleb doesn’t stand a chance among these older girls! Luckily, his mum and dad are on hand to intervene before things get out of control!
The kids re-enact the Myer Boxing Day sale
One of Caleb’s gifts is a new bear. Zoe and the new bear play us all a little tune on Caleb’s new xylophone (with Zoe giggling the whole time).
Caleb’s new bear plays the xylophone (with help from Zoe)
With brunch eaten and presents opened, it’s time for birthday cake. Caleb’s mum has made him a beach ball cake. It’s chocolate cake covered in butter cream icing and M&M’s.
Caleb’s 1st birthday cake
We all gather around to sing “Happy Birthday”. The girls (especially Zoe) are thrilled to help Caleb blow out his candles. The look of concentration is back on Zoe’s face.
Blowing out the candles
Hungry eyes watch from all sides of the table as the cake is sliced.
Hungry eyes
And then little hands creep onto the table to claim pieces of cake.
Distribution of birthday cake
This is all that is left of the beach ball after everyone gets a piece of cake. By the time we leave, there is even less left!
The aftermath
Ruby looks deep in thought as she eats her piece of birthday cake. If you’ve read previous birthday party posts you’ll know she’s always preferred a slow approach to eating and enjoying birthday cake.
Ruby is deep in cake
Zoe, on the other hand, throws herself right into the cake eating experience!
Chocolate cake makes such a mess!
After birthday cake there are icy treats for everyone as Angela hands out Frosty Fruits.
Ruby eats a watermelon and pineapple Frosty Fruit
Caleb shares a tropical Frosty Fruit with his dad. It’s Caleb’s first time trying an icy pole/ice lolly/popsicle and the look on his face is hilarious! But after the initial shock, he returns for more!
“Dad, it’s COLD!!!!! Gimme MORE!”
Zoe eats her Frosty Fruit while riding her bike (with a chocolate crackle carefully placed in the basket for later). Sadly, her Frosty Fruit meets with a tragic end on the patio. Never mind, Zoe!
A tragic end for Zoe’s Frosty Fruit
It’s been a lovely birthday brunch. Happy birthday, Caleb! Naps all around!
Caleb, 1 year old
I'm TFP, a food blogger from Perth, Western Australia.
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy birthday, Caleb! Your family gatherings are always some of my most favorite posts. Hopefully that doesn’t sound creepy :p they just remind me of my own family’s parties, but slightly different as we are from the Deep South in the States.
Jen,
No worries, not creepy at all. Quite a number of readers say the same (the family posts are their favourites).
I can’t believe Caleb is a year old already! Where does the time go? I’m also jealous that you all are in shorts and tank tops although I know a few months ago you were cold like we are now. :)
The Home Cook,
Well… This week we’ve all been in shorts and tank tops but with three days over 40C and the rest throughout the week 38C and higher, we’re all hot and cranky!
No idea where the time went. It seems to go faster and faster.
Hooray! Lovely post. Happy Birthday to Caleb, all grown up now.
I love the family cook up posts too. My family is very similar too. The whole family helping out to make the day special.
-F-
Fiona,
Yep, we all chip in to help, cook, read story books, and in my case, take photos. :)
Hello TFP!
I love your family posts.
It’s so brilliant how everyone contributes a little something. You inspire me to get my family together more often =)
And your nephew and nieces are so gorgeous! It must be so great to watch them grow into little people with their likes + dislikes + mannerisms. My ‘little’ cousins are now all teenagers!
Love the Ball Cake. Simple, clever and awesome.
xx J
Hi Jessica,
I don’t actually see my family as much as I probably should. Yes, it’s great hanging out with the kids, especially now that Zoe’s talking. We have hilarious conversations. Caleb’s next big milestone will be walking (hopefully soon) but I really can’t wait for him to start talking too! I agree, the ball cake was awesome.
Great post, I agree with Jen on loving the family posts. I love seeing the home-made food. Those quiches look great and full – whenever I make quiches they sink and don’t look as good… also those sausage rolls look so yummy!
I think I may have to go have my lunch now :P
Kath,
LOL, hope your lunch was good! :)
The food is simple but tasty. Each time we have one of these parties I always look forward to the signature dishes and the surprise ones too.
Great photos and great food. I love that photo of Juji and Zoe blowing bubbles. It’s beautiful and even more so in black and white. I love photos in black and white.
The cakes your sister in law makes for the kids’ birthdays are always so brilliant. How cool is a beach ball cake for a little boy’s first birthday party? :)
Caleb reminds me of how my brother was when he was a baby. His first word was ‘ball’, loved and still loves ball games (and has numerous battle scars from the soccer field to prove it), and thoroughly enjoys eating (and now, cooking) any form of pancake. :P
Dea,
Angela has a big challenge for the next birthday cake, I think! It’s Zoe’s birthday next and she has asked for a purple horse!
:)
Pleased you like the photos. I’ve been experimenting with black and white when editing photos – it works so well with certain shots and really enhances them.
My brother had a soccer ball cake one birthday (I think recipe is from the Australian Women’s Weekly birthday cake book) – my mum did an awesome job (I still think about that cake!) but I think I like the bright and colourful beach ball better!
I remember that cake too… mmm…
I’m curious as to how you make a cake in the shape of a ball!
Caleb’s hair is awesome, by the way – my friend’s baby boy had hair just like that – a thick shock of black hair that just went in all directions. Ruby has a very long torso – it looks like she will be quite tall!
Two cakes were baked in the glass bowl to make each hemisphere, then put on top of each other to make the ball (if that makes sense). You can see the join on the edge in the picture of “The Aftrermath”
Thanks, M.
Lauren, yes, I reckon in years to come Ruby will be towering over her little old aunties. :)
I love your birthday parties. The food and kids look awesome.
Cheers, Michelle. Glad you enjoyed it. :)
Caleb’s hair is indeed awesome. Many happy returns little man! That is an interesting cake, very moist and tasty looking! Family get togethers like these are always great!
Jon,
Yes, that’s hair to be proud of, all right!
The cake was delicious, especially the icing and m&ms.
I love Caleb’s spiky hair!!! It’s so electrifying! You know what they say about babies with spiky hair. Cheeky and mischievous..!!
Kristi,
LOL! His sister Ruby had pretty spiky hair too, once upon a time!
ZZOOMMGGGGGG, I think I have a huge crush on Caleb. Oops :$ so so so leng zai
LOLOL,
I’m sure if my grandma was alive, she’d call him a leng zai too (translation for those who don’t speak Chinese… “pretty boy”). His dad was pretty cute too, when he was little.
I love Caleb’s hair, funky style. I love fried mee hoon too, esp with the fresh cut chillies. Your family parties are awesome.
Charmaine,
The chilli was quite hot! I had a couple of bits of chilli and that was more than enough! :D. The mee hoon was delicious and was eaten up pretty quickly.
What a wonderful family party. I LOVE Caleb’s hair. How cute is that??
Maureen,
Everyone loves Caleb’s hair! I’m interested to know how it will look/change as he gets older.
Great party! Caleb’s hair is awesome. Your brother and Angie are fantastic with those kids! The love just pops out of those(terrific) pictures. Wonderful food, beautiful children-all around first rate post! I give you a 10!!
Thanks, Kathy, glad you liked it! :) The kids really have a great time at these parties. They’re going to grow up quite social creatures!
Brilliant photos of the kids. I love the smiley faces!
You don’t get the impression that that cake is as big as it is in the first photo, but when you see it in context you get the idea. :-)
CW’s marinated chicken does look good, especially when described, but I must admit that when I first saw it I thought it was little lamb shanks. I love lamb shanks!
Craig,
I really enjoy photographing the kids. I enjoy photographing children, in general.
Yep, the cake is bigger than it appears!
I love lamb shanks too, lamb chops/cutlets even more! The chicken was delicious. Would’ve been fantastic with some freshly steamed rice!
That’s such a lovely post! Looks like an awesome feast! :)
Thanks, Natalie. It was indeed awesome. Good fun as well as delicious.
Happy 1st birthday, Caleb! Seems not long ago you mentioned Angela was due with their 3rd child, and now it’s his birthday. :-) He is a very cute little boy. Always lovely to see the children. Ruby and Zoe definitely having a terrific time.
The food is glorious like usual. I especially like the presentation of the mini quiches; their colouring – and that platter! Honey joys and chocolate crackles in such festive cups. I’m sure the raspberry shots were refreshing.
Would like to try your mum’s noodles. I can imagine the scents of various dishes.
The beach ball cake is wow; definite eye catcher. So nicely done!
The photo of Caleb getting a taste of Frosty Fruit is priceless. :-)
Of all the food envy I’ve ever had with your blog, TFP, your family gatherings — particularly the children’s birthdays — tops them! If they were my nieces/nephew, they sure would be spoiled by this auntie. ;-)
Cindy,
Yes, this Christmas we were all remembering Angela pregnant with Caleb the previous year. I remember visiting him in hospital when he was a newborn. Now he is almost walking!
Oh yes, Ruby and Zoe always have a brilliant time at these parties. They are much more social than I ever was!
The food was all lovely. I’m a savoury tooth so love the noodles, sausage rolls and chicken, but I also love honey joys and had a few of those!
Caleb was so funny to watch eating the Frosty Fruit. Shock and surprise one minute, but back for more almost immediately!
Stay tuned for the next birthday soon, little Ms Zoe’s!
Looks like a great party, awesome food provided by the family and what a cute boy!
Ella,
*proud auntie grin*