I often refer to my youngest child as “baby Maksim”, but I won’t be able to do that any longer as he has grown rapidly into a two year old toddler. As one of six children, Maksim is showered with attention when his siblings are home from school and today was no exception. His eldest brother Jovan, scooped him up and assisted with blowing out the second birthday candle. Maksim asks about them during the day, as he ambles through the house and garden, often stopping to tuck little cars and trucks into his pockets. We celebrated his birthday this afternoon with an afternoon tea in the sun drenched backyard and lots of old fashioned outdoor play. 

Big brother Jovan giving littlest brother a helping hand. 

It’s very easy to find yourself carried away with elaborate entertainment ideas when planning a child’s birthday party.  Unfortunately those sorts of parties end up with tantrums, tears and no time to JUST PLAY, which is exactly what kids should be doing. Maksim was thrilled to share the big blue truck with his lovely friend Lucy, and by the time bedtime rolled around he was diving for his cot with exhaustion. Which is just as well, because I really need to turn in early tonight too! 


I made this chocolate marble cake decorated in a farmyard fashion, by cutting out animal shapes from vanilla shortbread dough and then decorating with custom tinted fondant. Chocolate “Flake” bars double as edible fencing, pressed into chocolate buttercream generously applied to the top and sides of the cake. A little turquoise green food dye added to a plastic bag with shredded coconut  and rubbed through, served as the grass. This is a most delicious and manageable-to-make mid-week birthday cake that even a novice home cook could try. 

When Maksim saw his cake he broke into song – “Old MacDonald had a farm…” Quite by coincidence he even looked the part, dressed in a blue checked shirt and denim overalls. Happy birthday my little one!