Under the sea … Party time!

The brief, from my outspoken four-year old, for his fourth birthday this year was an Ocean Motion party with an Aquarium cake. My initial thought was “Holy cow, how the hell am I going to make an Aquarium cake, yet alone host an under the sea party!” Living in land-locked Jozi, means there aren’t any aquariums readily available, and my budget didn’t exactly extend to flying a whole lot of kids and their parents to Durban for the day!

I did not have the energy to do the party at home this year, so with the help of Google, I found a great venue in Linbro park called  kiddy-up , which provides jungle gyms, playhouses, a jumping castle, trampolines and plenty of space for the kids to run around. As an added bonus each child got to go for a ride on a horse. (Not exactly sea-creature related, but dolphin rides were proving a little tough to organise, of course! And besides, all kids seem to love riding horses) 🙂 They set up and provided the draping, chair tie backs and balloons for the kids table in my under the sea colours, and also provided on-site catering which made my life easier. All I had to do was arrive with drinks, sweets, the cake and party packs!

Which brings me to the cake. I frantically googled for some ideas, and after purchasing a few icing moulds of various sea creatures, my mom and I set about making a menagerie of tropical fish, crabs, sea horses, lobsters, octopi and dolphins, which were then painted with food colouring. I made a large chocolate cake, which was slathered in blue butter icing, and then adorned with our swimming creatures. The piece de resistance, alongside the pod of dolphins, was a breaching orca (made out of rice-krispie-treat, and covered in plastic icing). Alex was super chuffed with his cake, and his friends were all very impressed judging from the oohs and aahs when I brought in the cake! (and the fact that the cake and creatures were devoured hungrily!)

The weather on the day of the party was just perfect, flawless blue sky and not a breath of wind. (Despite the weather being rainy, cold and miserable for the two days prior). Girls arrived in their best party dresses, and the boys came dressed as, well, boys. Much cake was consumed (especially by my young daughter) and much fun was had. Everyone had a whale of a time!

{a few images from the party}

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