Birthday parties

Argh....

O is 6 tomorrow, and has requested a birthday party .  Not a problem.  Just a few kids around to play.

But it isn't...

First the total number of kids is 9, add in 5 adults, and that is 14 (in my tiny terrace).

Then you have to decorate.  Balloons, banners etc.  Plus party plates and cups, napkins, party hats, and party bags.

Then you have to have the cake.  It is a massive Olaf cake.  And I have made it huge on purpose because we are having family round on Saturday for more birthday cake, so it should do both.  But the icing came to £15...

And then there is the party tea.  £46 in Asda. Well, that included nappies and milk, plus the things to bake the cake, but lets say £40.  Biscuits, trifle, sandwiches, sausage rolls, pizza, crisps, veggies, dips etc.

And the main problem I have with all of this is that it is processed crap.  I looked into how much it would cost to make things like sausage rolls, pizza and biscuits from scratch and it is much cheaper to buy processed ready to eat stuff.  Annoying!!!  Generally I will take health over convenience and price (to an extent), but on this occasion I came to the swift conclusion that life is too short.

And I bet the children eat every bite.  It would be an interesting experiment to see if the children would eat the homemade equivalent with equal gusto, but I suspect that processed food has many chemicals that encourage gluttony.  Urgh....

I miss the days when my boy asked for a roast dinner with Nana and Gaga for his birthday treat!!!