The Buckingham Blog

Today, to follow up Krystal's 6th birthday on Thursday, she got all dressed up and ready for her party at Pizza Express on Belmont Street. 

We arrived about 10 minutes early to get into the room, only to find we actually had the whole of the top floor allocated to us - so a room with a big table set out with blobs of dough and another room with a big long table for the kids to sit at. 

 Krystal & Thomas

As all the kids arrived to join in the fun, hand over generous gifts and catch up with each other, it was time to get their gear on to make the pizzas.  They all got numbered hats, Krystal number 1 as the birthday girls and Kory coinscidentally got number 8 which he was delighted with as that's his age.  They also got aprons and washed their hands. 

 
Chef Krystal and Chef Kory ready to get making some pizza!

 it was time to head to the pizza making room. One of the managers, Luke, was taking the "class" and the kids were pretty good at listening to his instructions and actually following them.  it was nice to see and somewhat surprising that they did!

They spent some time making the edge thin so that it goes crispy, squashing the whole thing flat.  The kids all loved the feeling of the dough.

Next came the bit they loved the most, throwing the dough from hand to hand.  This caused much hilarity!

Some professional help was required but on the whole the kids did really well!

Once they got them big enough to put into the pans, they got some white "glue" and had to stick the dough in to the edges.  There were a few bases with holes in at this point but Luke was able to rescue them before any tears and tantrums occurred. 

 
Best Friends: Kory & Amy and Krystal & Annabel

Once all the pizza bases were in the pans safely, it was time for what could have been a really messy part - the pizza sauce - passata I think it was called.  Instead of spreading it on, the sauce was dolloped on the side of their base and they had to swoosh it, tap the base on the table or tap with their hands until the sauce was covering the dough. 

Rather amazingly, there was none on the floor, the walls, the ceiling or even the aprons!  Not sure I'd have been quite that brave with 11 kids. 

There wwas then a choice of several toppings, ham, mushroom, olives, pepperoni, cheese.  Poor Luke had to keep getting more as they were putting on so much, but they did look really tasty by the time they were ready to go to the ovens.

 
Thomas, Hannah & Josh (right pic)

 
Krystal with Erin (left pic) 

James couldn't resist a shot of the hats

 
Pizzas getting put into a carrier by numbers on the hats

While the pizzas were cooking, the kids went back to the table, got some juice and all chatted.  They were getting louder and louder by the minute but thankfully the food arrived just in time.  Silence in the room.  Lots of happy munching wee faces could be seen.

Just before it was time for everyone to leave, Krystal's cake came out, everyone sang happy birthday to Krystal (to which she looked really embarassed) and blew out her number 6 candle. 

Krystal had a wonderful time, her friends seemed to enjoy it too and Luke was brilliant with the kids.  I would highly recommend Pizza Express for kids parties.

Julie.xx

It's been a busy old week of birthday activities for our 7 year old.  Yeah, 7!!  How can my wee man be 7 already?!  It's like someone fast forwarded my life. 

His hactual birthday was Monday, we were wakened very early to be told he was now 7 and to get on with opening presents!  He got Skylanders for the Wii from us, as well as lego, books, transformers, pyjamas and a magic set.   He got Lego, Scotland strip and tracksuit & Skylanders storage from others.  He was delighted and there was nothing he didn't want or like (thankfully!)

He was at school in the morning, then I picked up him and his friend Amy at lunch time and took them to Burger King for lunch before returning them to school. 

By 3:15pm when I collected him he was excited about going out for dinner too (it's been a bit of a tradition that we go out on bithdays) so we headed into town to meet James after work and go for some food.  Chiquitos was his choice as it almost always is and considering he'd eaten a burger king, he put away some amount of food (5 fajitas to be exact - think he has hollow legs)  It was a nice evening.

Yesterday (Friday) was the last day of school for the Easter holidays and I had decided in my wisdom to have a few friends over to the house.  Only a few friends became 14 including Kory & Krystal.  I am so pleased the weather was in our favour and it was warm and dry enough to let them outside to play. 

They played football and with the garden toys, we fed them pizza, chicken, sausage rolls and potato wedges about 6pm, we did his birthday cake and played Just Dance on the Wii and soon enough it was time for most of the kids to be collected.  All but 6 went away.  There were 4 staying for a sleepover!!  We had Jamie, Daniel, Leah, Amy and of course Kory & Krystal. 

They played in the garden with some silly string for a while then came in, got into pyjamas, played on the Wii again, had wrestling fights, ate toast then went to get settled in for the night.  It was nearly midnight that they went to sleep and were back up at 6am *yawn*

They all left about 10am having had (I think) a great time.  Kory got stuck into opening his presents and once again did so so well.  His friends know him well too, mostly getting things they know he's into. 

One very happy and very exhausted little boy!  

Julie.xx

James that is!!

James isn't a fan of birthday's, in fact if it weren't for the kids being excited, I think he would rather never know it was his.  But they don't let him forget it! 

So we met him after work to go to Prezzo for dinner (thanks Coral & Chad!) which was really yummy!

The kids meals there are huge and they get bambinochino at the end which is in a small cup and is frothed warm milk with chocolate sprinkles.  They feel so grown up! 

So another year and another birthday - time is moving awfully fast!

Julie.xx

Well yesterday was Krystal's birthday and what a packed day it was!  We had to wake her early so she had time to open presents as school went back yesterday.  She took FOREVER to open them all and then had to rush to get ready!   (She wants me to put ALL the present photos on, so here goes!)

                       "I am 4" tshirt                                          Earrings with gems in them

Sparkly letters for her door

            Sleeping Beauty bowl and plate                                  Butterfly Lights

                 Rapunzel pyjamas                                          Tiana Doll excitement!

            Baby for the Wii (it's so cool!)                                           Books

At nursery she had an assembly where the whole school sang happy birthday to her (and a couple of others) which she loved and they did a cake too. 

After nursey Krystal had a quick lunch and then on to rising 5's.  I did a quick run round asda and then it was time to collect Kory!  We came home, had a yummy snack and headed in to town to meet up with James.

Krystal had chosen to go to Pizza Hut for her treat dinner, and boy did she eat!  She ordered a face pizza and a huge salad bowl and ate almost all of it!  Being 4 must be hard work! 

Unfortunately, as there was school again today there was no staying up late or anything, so it was home to bed! 

She had a great day and loved her presents - she was spoilt rotten! 

Julie.xx

Believing Kory was 6 was hard, but that my wee baby girl is 4 is even harder (and no don't get excited, that does NOT mean I want another baby!)  Here she is on her birthday each year. 

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011 

 Julie.xx

Today Krystal had a few friends round to celebrate her birthday next week.  I decided to do it in the Easter holidays for easiness.  The kids were all really really well behaved, the mums were too!  It's a whole new group of friends neither of us knew before she went to nursery which is really nice. 

 

 

Julie.xx

Today was Kory's party.  He had chosen to have a crazy golf party at Congo (a rainforest themed place) with a few of his friends.  So at 10am we headed down the beach, got the kids into 3 teams and off we went for a round.  Considering there were 11 kids, it was a lot less chaotic than I had expected it to be. 

I forgot to take photos on the way round, and only managed to get them to stand still long enough for one at the end!   Next it was time to go upstairs for some colouring in, some food and ice cream and of course birthday cake! 

The kids all seemed to have a great time, and when we got home, Kory got stuck into the presents he got for from his friends....

I think it's fair to say he's had a busy and enjoyable weekend turning 6!

Julie.xx

P.S. For Coral & Chad - here's photos of Kory in his space suits you got him

Yesterday was my birthday and now I am 6.  I thought I might have got up in the morning a bit taller, but I didn't.  However, when I got up there were banners and balloons all over the place which I didn't expect as Mummy told me she forgot to buy some.  She's sneaky.

I put on my birthday boy badge and then started to open my presents.  I got a drawing pad for the wii, a DS game, money, lots of books, games and clothes.  Here is me opening some of them and reading all my cards now I can read....

I had my swimming lesson at 10:30 - my last one at the place I have been going to for a year.  I've enjoyed it recently but am starting new ones at a different pool.

After swimming we came home, had lunch and yummy fudge donuts Mummy had bought.  Then I got to play with all my new things before getting ready to go out at night. 

I chose to go to an italian called Prezzo for my birthday meal which was very yummy.  I even got a wee bit of Daddy's beer! 

Krystal was in a silly mood when we were there, Mummy was trying to take a nice photo of me, but when we saw it afterwards, she was making silly faces in the background! 

By the time we got home it was late, so we had to go to bed as today is my party day.  Mummy will tell you all about it later on.

Night night
Love
Kory
xxxx

Today was Kory's 6th birthday, we've had a lovely day (for another entry) but I thought I'd show where he's come from to where he is now all in one entry.

2005

 2008

2009

2010

One of the things Kory asked for this year was to be a bit taller or to grow.  The observant amongst you might have noticed that in the 2009 and 2011 photos, Kory is wearing the same shirt.  So looks like his wish didn't happen!  (I had no idea he'd had the shirt so long, nor that he'd worn on a previous birthday until I was going through the photos, what are the chances?  He has loads of shirts!)

I can't believe my wee boy is 6!  He's as much fun and as fab as he was back then too, and getting smarter by the day - nothing gets past him!