Lockdown but Down2Earth Birthday
Nevertheless, thanks to the stupid Corona virus, she knew her b'day was going to be a relatively small affair this year. She had given up hope to have any friend too on her special day. And she had started looking forward to her special day with 'Cooking' as the main theme! Oh ya.. she loves to eat.. and in the last cpl of months she has been getting equally fond of cooking.. So the menu was set daaaays in advance. Aam Ras Poori, Maggi and Biryani and if possible a little cake that we can make at home. Yes little - She was confident about my culinary skills :-D
Days passed and our countdown started. I and J were feeling were very proud of her and equally sad that she cannot see even her BFF's on her birthday. So after some thought, I managed to ask their moms. Both moms are my BFF's so I was more worried that they will say Yes for mine and N's happiness. But when they did, I knew they were equally ready. Yes, the lockdown is still going on. But some day we have to step out, and still stay safe! The moment I told N, that both her BFF's can make it to her b'day - she was ecstatic. Her excitement for her b'day suddenly grew 3 folds. Now the cake had to perfect and the chips packet should be bigger and the games should be in place! Hand-Made Return Gifts to be made! My God so much to do.. :-D
Just few days ago, the lil shop of stationery had opened and I was super happy to get the stuff I needed for the B'day planning. Lockdown - No Lockdown. Mumma needs to decorate! Yes Mumma always says - Not again.. But then ..You know.... Ma Ka Dil! I got some from the shop and some from my hoarder-loft from the previous b'day celebrations.. Waited till she fell asleep and finished decorating at 3! And I was ecstatic about her b'day! :-D
This year apart from decoration, making the cake was another big challenge. And no. I am not talking about a perfect cake. I am talking about a decent cake that is edible. So I had to try making 1 or 2 before the big day! After numerous video calls with my sis and chats with my friend A, I finally managed to make 3 cakes in 1 week. 1 trial and 2 for the D day. And if you know me - you know its a milestone in itself! LOL
They came out a little broken and a little shabby but they came out fine. Thank God! And after my sister's ganache recipe - it just looked perfect! What's better - it tasted good enough for a birthday too !!! LOL
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| The girls decorating the double border with Gems! |
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| FINAL PRODUCT! |
Another cute thing that I wanted N to have was wishes. She couldn't meet them, so why not bring them to meet her. From family, to extended family, class teacher, school friends - everyone sent so much love for her in their own unique ways on a simple request of mine! I am so grateful to each one of you for doing that! I kept on sending each recording to the iPad every half n hour and her face broke into smiles every time she saw another recording!! Another lovely part was, she had her online class in the morning and the whole class sang for her...wishing her! Mann her face beamed with joy! She never gets to celebrate her b'day in school as its summer holidays every year .. but this was special! :-)
Now I know the lockdown is not my fault - but i somehow wanted this b'day to be unique and special in its own way.. So I brushed off the long pending something that I wanted to do for her. So worked nights n nights on a special something. Yes. Her very own blog of stories!! I wrote a couple of stories and published them on a blog only for kids.. not-so-big and not-so-little kids! You can check it out at Niks' World of Stories
When I showed it to her nearing the end of her day she was happy, her eyes shone, her hug to me tight.. but she was tooo tired of the whole day to be able to read more than the intro and 1st story. Which she did and made sure I knew that she loved them. But when she took the iPad to read another 1 at bedtime, today - I knew she was hooked! And that was
victory!! :-D
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All in all - it was a beautiful birthday that she spent with all of us. Some in person and some on video calls. Had such a blast with her BFF's. Especially cos was meeting them after 60 days in lockdown. In their words - they were all happy to be as none of them felt like guests and they all knew how to play with each other in their own ways!! Yes the cooking theme was all mumma daddy's job now that her friends were home! But we loved doing all of that for her. In fact, it was a simpler birthday with more quality and lots more joys revolving around tiny but meaningful things. I may curse this lockdown a lot - but it gave me a chance to do these things for her and for that I am forever grateful!
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The icing on my cake was when she said before closing her eyes - This was the Best Birthday Ever, Mumma! Can I have it same way, every year?? My happy soul just hugged her tight and said Yes!
-ReflectionsMom
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