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

After Kory's grading on Sunday, Krystal became a bit sleepy and lethargic, not wanting dinner and going to bed early.  She was awake in the middle of the night burning hot and not feeling well at all.  She got up in the morning fine, got all ready and down to school and she came over all funny again, so I just brought her home and she was sound asleep on the couch by 9:30am. 

Yesterday was much the same and last night she was up loads too, so just kept her off nursery today too.  It turns out most of her class has been off this week with high temps and sore heads.  Very odd.

Anyway, she was feeling a bit better by this afternoon, so we decided to make some cakes.  Krystal wanted to put them in all different cases, so we did!  Making cakes in pyjamas is a proper lazy day activity.  But glad she's better now. 

 Julie.xx

On Saturday Daddy helped Krystal and I make crispie cakes with Smarties on top.  Mummy went shopping in town, we don't like shopping and neither does Daddy.  Mummy doesn't like staying in at the weekend and we don't like going out.  So we sent her out by herself. 

Here we are making the cakes.  They were yummy! 

All Gone!

Mummy came back from a few hours in town with NOTHING!

Love
Kory
xxxx

This afternoon Mummy got out the stuff for me to make pink butterfly cakes.  I saw the recipe in a book last week and wanted to make them.  I did most of it myself, Mummy helped with the oven bits and measuring things, but I did all the mixing, scopping and spoon licking!

 

Love
Krystal
xxxxxxx