Fifty three excited kids, three 90 minute sessions, fifty seven magnificent lions!
Session One, MC Square
We've been a bit quiet on the blog scene these past couple of weeks as we have been juggling the huge interest in the Cake Me! kids Term 2 School Holiday Program, fulfilling cake orders, as well as enduring the wrath that is the school holidays on the home front ourselves!
Although I love my two babies dearly and take pride in being a mummy first and foremost, it is still a tough juggle, trying my best to entertain them and ensuring that they have a wonderful school holiday that is both fun and educational. We try to have a special activity for them every single day, not just to keep them out of trouble, but also because they are only kids once, they are growing up too quickly and we want them to have a memorable childhood. We have taken them to the movies, to the park, on the train to the city, the art gallery, to see the dinosaurs, a live performance, to the market, the drive-in, they've had play dates with friends, been to a couple of birthday parties, seen a magic show... And that was only three quarters of the way through the school holidays.
So today (Wednesday), they got to have a break from me and spent the day with their amazing and doting grandparents, whilst I entertained 53 (yes, FIFTY THREE!) other children!! We were ecstatic to hold not one, but three school holiday program sessions and that we had the pleasure of teaching such clever, creative and enthusiastic group of kids.
Session Two, MC Square
Held in the beautiful Art Studios at MC Square (Manningham City Council, on top of the Doncaster Library), our 90 minute sessions were intense and fast paced. There was no time to break, it was all GO, GO, GO! Amazingly, the kids stayed focused throughout the entire session and were all determined to complete the task of sugar sculpting their own 3D lion cupcake.
There were times during the session when a few kids felt some self doubt, "do you think my legs will be too big?" and "I can't imagine this to look like a lion", but eventually, even the disbelievers were blown away by their own masterpieces. We love how each child tried to make the lion "their-own". One student created a dress for her lion, another shaped her lion's tail into a perfect "s" shape.
Some of the kids came with five or six other friends from school, whilst others braved participating on their own. It really didn't make much of a difference as the kids all got along really well and made friends during the class. The only "bickering" we heard all day were kids on one table competing for the title of "Most Meanest and Ferocious Lion".
Although the sessions were aimed at kids aged five and above, we had children attend who ranged from three, up to 15 years of age. A few of the kids have had some experience with fondant and cake decorating, but most of the kids had never used or even seen fondant before. As I always tell people, no matter how much experience you think you've had with sugar sculpting and cake decorating, there is always something new you can learn and always room for improvement. We truly believe this, and even for us, we are always striving to learn new techniques or refine what we already do.
The pride on each and every child's face at the end of the class when they presented their cupcakes to the parents and all the "WOW, YOU MADE THAT?!!?!" that followed, was truly priceless. Thank you to all the wonderful kids who made today a truly ROARING success.
Session Three, MC Square
So... does anyone have ideas on what else I can do with my own kids for the remainder of the holidays?
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A special shout out and thanks to Lynn, my wonderful assistant, we couldn't have done it without you today!
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“It was so much fun. My kids felt a sense of achievement in creating something so professional looking!!”
“Well done!! Definitely value for money & loved that the kids get to take creations home & also a cupcake for mum!!”