I’m sorry but it is a rare child’s birthday party that exists without chaos.
Trust me, we’ve had some doozies in this family.
My particular fave was that wondrous swimming birthday party from hell in which one child threw up, another’s basketball uniform got soaked (by me) just minutes before he had to leave for the big game, the birthday boy and a guest both forgot their bathing suits and Horrid Mommy left the goodie bags at home. Fun, huh? Just typiKel.
Then there was the delightful time we were running late for a birthday party and I had to leave my ring as collateral at a gas station because I unwittingly left my purse at home. When we finally arrived at the party the ice cream cake (melting all the while on the passenger seat beside me) was soup.
Alas I also know firsthand that this birthday chaos is not just for kids.
This past weekend was really special. A huge windstorm hit our city.
It hit right around the time of my birthday.
Birthday Chaos Not Just For Kids
What does the storm have to do with my birthday? Everything.
At its height, the storm knocked out power to over 700,000 homes. As we drove into town for my birthday dinner, we noticed that the power outages were indiscriminately intermittent. Some intersections were working, others were not. Huge lineups formed at the ones that weren’t, with cars cautiously jutting out one by one. It was painful. Our 45 minute commute ballooned into an hour and a half.
Charming.
However, my gracious hosts and the other guests saw to it that I was feted in style.
Cast your eyes on this beaut.
Yes, it is a coconut cake from the wonder that is Butter Baked Goods Bakery! I cannot stress clearly enough how delicious this cake is. And I’m not really a birthday cake person. In fact, when I was little, I’d routinely ask my mom if I had to eat the cake at friend’s parties. Odd yes, and true.
How much does my family love this cake? Well, it was the one thing my two college kids insisted they not miss out on when they were home for the summer. The gold sprinkles on the top were our addition.
Now, have a gander at the wording on my birTday cake. It’s truly special. Several of my nieces and nephews call me Ahwee; a name they came up with when they were wee. That missing BirTday H is intentional. Ever since my sister miraculously bought a birthday banner that came equipped without an H my family always wishes each other a hearty Happy BirTday. Without fail.
Funny aside – when my niece ordered my magnificent cake she requested the H be missing. The good folks at Butter took her at her word and the original wording read “Appy BirTday, Ahwee.” Bless ’em.
The next morning after my festive party, I was treated to breakfast out. We arrived at the surprise destination only to find it shut. Not open. Closed. Why? No power.
Fine. We drove to a second location. Huge lineup. One hour wait minimum.
On to the White Spot, home to the infamous occasion of my mother and her friends ordering off the children’s menu. When informed that our wait would be at least half an hour here we decided to stay. We were beyond starving by this point and seriously worried that we’d miss out on the breakfast serving window.
The conversation amongst our fellow diners also waiting to be seated? The power outage. Apparently everyone else was eating out due to lack of power. Not because it was their birthday.
Windstorm, late arrivals, lineups? Chaos? Not really. I was doubly blessed actually. Not only was it my birthday but our power stayed on the entire time.
Enough about me and the birthday chaos not just for kids ditty. I’m curious about you. If you’re local, did your power go out? Still out? How’d ya cope? Any trees down? And you, what’s your favorite horrific kid’s birthday party story? Better yet, what’s your absolute fave of a birTday cake? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.
40 Responses
I LOVE that you ended up at White Spot. I cannot believe they haven’t showered you with gift cards due to all the publicity you give them!
One year on my birthday my mother put the cat’s ear drops in her eye. Because she thought they were her eye drops of course. We spent my 17th birthday at the emergency room. Eye sight saved! And, free of mites, too! Good times, good times.
Maybe I should pop by White Spot corporate? That is one birthday you’ll never forget! How’d the cat manage? Did she get human drops? My uncle once put crazy glue in his eyes. Yes. Both eyes. It won’t surprise you to learn that this was the brother of my mother. After about two weeks in hospital the glue melted away as he washed his face. Phewf. Eyesight fine.
“Appiest of Birtdays!” Very fun piece and love the tworedheart-felt cake! Truly. 😉
Thanks, Wend. Or perhaps I should say Tanks. Love that you still have the Happy BirTday banner. It’s a keeper.
So happy that you were well celebrated for your birthday ! Love the spelling on the cake, very special !! We lost our power for 32 hours, my husband and I were out of town ( only lost power for 7), so our daughter had to deal with the outages, amidst babysitting her sister’s dog and cat. Needless to say, she was very relieved when the power came back on. She managed to save the fridge food by putting a couple of buckets of ice in the fridge ! My best birthday story was my eldest daughter’s 6th birthday. I had made a cake with a carousel on top, and made a lovely paper top for the carousel. I lit the candles, then turned my back for a moment, only to hear a chorus of shrieks from the girls saying the roof of the carousel was on fire ! can only imagine the guests going home after the party reporting to their parents !
Read this comment out to my daughter and we were both laughing. Oh man. That must have been horrific. I am amazed that we hadn’t met at that point and so I can truly say I had nothing to do with the fire. Yes, can you just imagine the stories the girls told their parents over dinner. Oh man. M wondered if your husband had a fire extinguisher handy.
That coconut cake looks scrumptious…sorry about the windstorm…we have lost several trees due to windstorms over the years.
It is really the most delicious cake. I had no idea that I’d be getting one and it was such a treat. I’m sorry you’ve lost several trees. My daughter and I were driving around today and the work crews were out in full force. Still. Four days after the storm. We passed one house where a large tree was resting on the front lawn. Having missed the house by inches. I really should pop by with a piece of cake or six.
We’ve been lucky so far when it comes to birthdays. The hairiest thing that’s ever happened was a pool party for Son #1 in the middle of a very rainy summer a couple of decades ago. That day the rain stopped at 4:00. When I called the pool to see if they were open, the lifeguard told me they didn’t have any swimmers and were getting ready to close. I was about 45 minutes away from being ready to go, but I jumped in the car and hightailed it down there so a dozen active boys didn’t have to come to MY house,
Ha! Brilliant. I SO get this. I would have been the same. Oh man. The last party we had at home for my son was when he was 10. Someone turned off all the lights and they were running around and slamming doors. Each brought at least one nerf gun to the party and the dog was in hiding. It was sheer chaos. I can well imagine how you felt when you called only to learn they were closing the pool. Noooooooooooo.
I have to rat you out to the dog walikng group for not letting us know your birtday!! Glad it was a good one for you . Wishing you all the best this coming year!!
Thank you. Janice! And no worries on the dog walking group front. I’ve had more than my fair share of birTday cake in the last couple of days. Now walking, mind you – that I need!
First of all, happy birthday! You’ll never forget this one – what a windstorm that was! Our paper said today that it was historic, so there you go. We lost power for about 15 hours. I love the birtday tradition on the cake!
Yes, wasn’t that storm one for the books? Man alive. I can’t remember a time that the power was out for 15 hours, Lana. That must have been an interesting time. Did you eat out??
OMG Kelly, love the stories of the kids birthday parties. Too funny. That cake looks so delish. I could go for a piece right now with my coffee. Love the sentiment behind the wording. That looks like one heck of a windstorm. Happy birthday, dear Kelly, and I hope all your wishes come true.
It was a true delight to find myself pouring Rootbeer all over the birthday guest. “Something’s wrong” I thought as I continued to pour. His dad, very stern, had arrived much too early to pick him up and it threw me off. Kid soaked. Threw his basketball uniform in dryer (no time for wash) and it came out as stiff as a plank. Lord. Thanks for the lovely birthday wishes!
Appy Birtday my friend! Or as Bridget says in our house: HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAKE DAY! (she really enjoys her cake!)
Oh that is so fun – HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAKE DAY! indeed. Thank you. My daughter adores her cake too. Always and in any form and flavour.
I am starting to fully understand why your has its name! We didn’t have any storms here in the Southeast we’re just slowly baking away in the humidity and heat! I would probably have a heat stroke if it were to go out!
Yep – just typiKel. Oh that must be quite something to contend with. Heat and humidity. Our summer was so hot and everyone was complaining. Not much humidity, though. Don’t know how we’d have managed. Usually it’s wet here on the “wet” coast. The reason so many trees fell was apparently due to the months of dry soil. I do hope you get some relief – and soon!
Happy birthday! You deserve the best BIRTDAY cake ever! That coconut one looks amazing. And except for my fifth birthday party when almost no one showed up until an hour after it started (totally scarring, yes) because there was another birthday that started before mine, most of my birthdays have been fairly boring. Including my 21st. Where I went to bed at 9 because all my best buds were ill or busy.
Actually, I think I ought to get your friends. They sound WAY better than anyone I ever hung out with!!
Oh those early birthday parties from hell. Awful. I am sorry. Wish I could press the rewind button for you and arrange to have everyone show up. Early. Have to say I don’t even remember my 21st. Shows you how exciting that must have been, huh? However, I think these experiences ensure our own kidlets’ birTdays are happy. At least that’s what I told myself that time I made a redo cake at 2:00 AM for my daughter’s 6th. Nevermind that she only remembers the cake through my copious photos …
One of the hairest ones I remember was the time up at camp when I found a zillion ants crawling all over the icing – was it your cake? – anyway, I brushed all I thought off and then hurriesd with it into the dining room. One of you bright guys saw a couple of the creatures inching around the bottom and yelled out, “ANTS! Don’t eat it!” Being miles from any cake store, we ran out of the house and made do with climbing up and down the cliff to the beach. GREAT party. (Don’t miss the sarcasm.) So sorry I had to miss this latest. But my pneumonia almost banished. Made one mistake at bridge yesterday. By mistake, drank out of Jane’s glass instead of mine. Much rushing to the kitchen, hot water on glass, new iced water found. Protestations of “I don’t really mind!” Mum.
OH that WAS my cake, Mom. Remember it clearly. Now another question has arisen with your comment. How is it that I spell your name as mOm and you sign it, always, as mUm. Hmmmm. My pal Jane always writes mUm when referring to hers. Shall I change it to mUm myself from now on?
Happy belated birthday, Kelly! When I turned forty, friends took me to dinner. The waitress brought over a lovely slice of cake, with the words “Happy Birthday” written in chocolate sauce. Unfortunately, it also said “50th” and someone else’s name. The cake mixup was no biggie, but the fact that our waitress thought I could be fifty had me a little miffed.
Oh that is just so funny, Dana. I love it. And just so you know, every photo I’ve ever seen of you would never leave me thinking you were a day over 40.
Happy Belated BirTday, Kelly! Sounds like it was an ADVENTURE. Glad you shared the experience with us. It is always so fun to live your life vicariously through this blog. LOVE IT!!!
Thanks, Elda. On both counts.
I’m so appy tat you ad a wonderful celebration of your birTday! Wishing you many, many more years of happiness! May your own darling daughter, after she has sent her own children off to university, start writing a blog about the wacky antics of her fabulous mom. Typikel – The Retirement Years!
Oh my god girl, you can make me smile. Too funny. Tank you.
The appiest of appy occasions to you, Kel. I’m glad to know that the kid in you is still alive and kicking — enough to create your own birTday chaos. (You did kick up that windstorm to celebrate, didn’t you?)
Oh now this also made me grin. Too funny. Tank you, Armony.
Belated wishes for your Birt-day!!! Sorry it was a bit messed up by the storm but looks like the evening went superbly with that delicious-looking cake!!
By the way, my older son also asks me the same thing – whether he can skip eating the birthday cake!!
Our cat got sick the day before my birthday. Deathly ill. Elise’s birthday is the day after mine. I chose to take the cat in on my birthday to be put down so it wouldn’t happen on her birthday!
Her birthday was still awesome, by the way.
I’m just glad no stray branches crushed that beautiful cake of yours, Kelly.
Oh man, I am sorry about your cat, Eli. Yet once again you prove how wonderful a dad you are. Good man to take the cat in on your special day. I’m sorry that it was necessary though.
Oh Kelly – what a series of birthday stories!! You keep tempting me with mentions of the Butter Baked Goods Bakery. Your White Spot recommendation was “spot on” – so I am drooling for a sample of those baked goods, hopefully while enjoying a long chat with you!
In college, my friends threw me a surprise party, and the banner they painted read “Happy Birday!” That has been how we express our birthday wishes to each other ever since! (How many spellings of Birthday do you think are really out there?!)
It’s too late now to wish you a happy birthday, so now I am wishing you a happy, happy year!
So sorry it took me so long to respond to your lovely comment, Susan. Thank you. I grinned when I read about the “Happy Birday” greetings. That’s so fun. And yes, we simply must get together for a chinwag over lunch or tea (they just started a Sunday tea service) at Butter. Let me know when you’re next up!
You always bring a smile to my face! So you have had quite a few rather interesting b-day parties! I think my most memorable b-day would have to be my 23rd! I was a Girl Scout leader at the time and my troop had just decorated a Halloween pumpkin to be delivered to the fairgrounds for a special contest. I was on my way, precious pumpkin in my trunk, when misfortune struck. I was waving at someone I knew as they passed by my car, looked back to the road and realized I was across the center line….oops! Overcompensated….hit the guardrail…and managed to quite nicely flip my car upside down onto its top. I was fine….oh, scared and plenty bruised, but fine….the pumpkin? Not so much……but, being the ‘birthday trooper’ that I am…I did make it to my birthday celebration. A lovely, uneventful dinner out with my hubby.
Aw man you have had a go of it with birthdays, haven’t you? I have to say I giggled through your stories and thought “Oh I could see that happening to ME!” During my recent birthday this past August, my son kept asking me how I felt… “You feel good right mom?”
Little did I know- after asking him why the heck he kept bugging me about my health- he was fretting over me puking on him! He’s got this fear of puke, and last year I had the worst stomach bug and ended up puking all day on my birthday. It was just lovely…
Happy (belated) Birthday Kelly!!! Any leftovers you can share? Mmmm….
Oh now that IS something that would happen to me. How lovely indeed. Yuck. I am sorry but it makes for a great story, no? So glad that this birthday was puke free. Bet your son was too.