Josie decided that she wanted to do an escape room for her birthday this year. The problem was that the escape rooms typically only allowed up to 8 people and she had a serious list of friends to invite. She decided on 13 friends for her 13th birthday and who was I to turn down her request.
We collectively decided on a baking contest. Normally I would shy away from an enormous group of preteen girls taking over my kitchen but because of the remodel our house is SOOO dirty I figured this would be the best time to do something so potentially messy.
We had three stations set up. One in the kitchen and two in the winter garten. We divided the huge table into two work spaces.
In the morning Benjamin helped me decorate and surprise Josie with a ballooned and streamered and "happy birthday" signed winter garten. We didn't have much else to prep. We provided each team with the basics and anything extra or special that they would need for their creation they would need to walk to the local grocery store and buy. Each team was given 10€ and the freedom to buy what they could with it.
Josie divided the girls into 3 teams. And the minute we announced the rules they were off and running. Each team was given a lap top to find a recipe.
They really were self motivated and delegated jobs within their small groups. Before I knew it one team was off running to the grocery store while a couple others were having some trouble coming up with a recipe that they wanted to make.
Girls were coming and going but everyone seemed to have a job and were engaged and happy.
Benjamin roamed and quality controlled and for the most part her friends included him in when he would wander by. Marty took Mogli to a new to us dog park which helped tire Mogli out and get him out of the kitchen. He still loves to get under foot while I'm cooking. On their way back home they got stuck in a torrential downpour!! They both came home soaking wet!!
As the last teams were finishing up their creations they were also cleaning up their areas and doing all the dishes. I'm not sure what kids have against hot water but everything still has a shimmering, buttery coating. They really did a good job picking up and trying to clean but without hot water things- even a couple days past the party- still had a light coating of butter. But I can't complain. The kitchen was in no way the disaster I was expecting it to be.
Clearly some of them need a lesson in loading the dishwasher!! It was so funny to open it and see the bowl dirty side up.
After the creations were done we had a bit of time to open all of her very thoughtful gifts from friends. Then the pizza was delivered and devoured.
Benjamin, Marty and I gathered the girls and the desserts and very thoughtfully went through the grading criteria. Benjamin took it VERY seriously. There was a raspberry/vanilla cake, a chocolate mint cake and chocolate/orange mousse. The chocolate cake
probably tasted the best but looked the worst. The chocolate mouse got top score for value as they only spent about 1.50€ and used barely any of the provided ingredients
but in the end the winner was the raspberry/vanilla cake. The actual cake was beautifully decorated with chocolate covered raspberries but I forgot to take a picture of the whole cakes. Here is what was left after the girls ate dessert. They ended up playing a few card games and lying around laughing and talking.
All in all a VERY successful and happy 13th birthday party to our girl!!!
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