My grandma is turning 93. The week of her bday, she is working Vacation Bible School at her little hometown church. They are expecting 30-40 kids plus the parents/volunteers. My mom has talked to the coordinator and asked if we could bring cake/cupcakes for the last day of VBS to celebrate Grandma's 93rd bday with the kids. Coordinator said that'd be fine. But then I mentioned to my mom my concern -- VBS is in the evening from 7-9pm! She can't serve cupcakes to little kids that late! Parents will be devastated! I suggested cookies to pass out instead. Mom insists on candles- maybe not 93 of them, but she wants a LOT. I suggested a cookie "cake" but am not sure if Walmart sells those (Grandma's town has Walmart and that's about it. No Target or Albertsons or Krogers for MILES).
So what say you - something that the kids will enjoy, perhaps a little less sugar, but fun enough for grandma and blowing out candles? Please give me some better options! (I also suggested animal crackers. Tell the kids that when Ms.Sally was born, Noah had just recently gotten off the ark, so these animal crackers represent her birth .... ha!)
Also - if your kid were served a cupcake at 8:30pm would you be mad, knowing that it was for Ms.93-yr-olds bday? (My 4 yr old son will attend and I am thinking I'll make him share it with me just so he gets less sugar!)
Grandma turned 93!! VBS served cookies and punch on Monday and on Tuesday, so by Wednesday we knew the drill and cake/cupcakes were not a big deal at ALL. We made mini cupcakes as suggested so the kids could get a small one. Grandma blew out a load of candles that we put on a 9"-round. It was great. My son was on a sugar rush all three nights. He fell asleep around 10:30 or 11:00 each night after getting home 9:30ish. But eh, like you said, it's not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things. I actually dont' know what he ate b/c the kids' teachers served them in their classroom, yet the singing/candles was done with all the kids and parents and volunteers. Thanks for all the suggestions! Mom frosted the mini-cupcakes as y'all suggested and was so pleased with how easy that made things! (ie - not having to frost 36 mini cakes individually!)
You could always do the little mini-cupcakes that are just a bite or two. If it were my little kid, I wouldn't mind that.
Can you have a small individual size cake for grandma to have and put candles on, then have a pre-wrapped cookie or two for each of the kids to bring home? If the parents are ok with them eating the cookies that late, then they can let them open them, otherwise the can keep them for later.
Or maybe do the celebration and serve the cake right away at 7 pm when it starts - then they have a couple hours to get the sugar out of their system - they can all be hyped up on sugar at the church with you and by the time the parents come at 9 their sugar high will be crashing.
I personally wouldn't be that upset - but my kids don't fluctuate so much with an occasional late night treat. Even with a piece of cake (that they wouldn't finish anyway) they would be out cold after a VBS that ended at 9 pm.
If I was going to allow my kids to stay out until after 9pm, I don't think I'd be all that worried about a small cupcake. I can't imagine that there will be many preschoolers who attend since it's in the evening. Older kids can handle a little sugar in the evening and still go to bed.
The coordinator has said it's fine to bring cupcakes, and how many times in their lives will these children get to be part of a celebration for a 93 year old's birthday? I wouldn't be devastated to have my child be a part of this time and served a cupcake, even in the evening.
And cupcake cakes can be easily made, I've made many. Make the cupcakes, place them side by side in the shape you want, and frost the entire top as if it was one big cake. This will give you a place to write "Happy 93rd Birthday!" or whatever you choose, and make the cupcakes in Grandma's favorite flavors. To serve you simply remove a cupcake and hand it to the recipient with a napkin.
God bless your Grandma, and may she have an outstanding birthday!
Mini cupcakes are a good idea, I'm sure Wal Mart probably has those. Either way, I don't think there is too much difference between a cookie and a cupcake and I'd be okay with it for this reason for sure, besides it's probably a Friday night and they are already out until 9 pm, so I'd say do the cupcakes.
I wouldn't have a problem with the cupcakes. If my child could handle being out until 9pm then a cupcake won't hurt. I would think the sugar would be more of an issue for kids who are to young to stay out so late. You can always pass the cupcakes around when the kids leave and the parents can decid if their child could eat it then or the next day.
What's wrong with a cupcake in the evening? It's totally fine. I've heard that the whole idea that sugar makes kids hyper is a myth anyway. I'm not going to argue with someone who swears that sugar makes their kids hyper, but for most of us, it's not a concern at all. Do the cupcakes, and happy birthday to your grandmother!
I think being 93 in this instance trumps the sugar problem, seriously.
Heck no I wouldn't be upset. I think the mini cupcake idea is a good one. Jeez, tell the coordinator to lighten up, you stress about small stuff like cupcakes and you won't make it to 93!!
Happy Birthday Grandma!!!
M
I wouldn't be upset. However, if you're worried, you could do cupcakes without frosting on them or muffins. You could also do ice cream cups or mini-sundaes and put candles in that for her. You could also do an ice cream cake if you have a DQ in the area or if Walmart sells Carvel ice cream cakes in the freezer section.
I would be perfectly fine with my kids having a cupcake on the last day of VBS. And celebrating your grandma's b-day makes it extra special! If you're really concerned about the sugar content, you can also do mini-muffins instead. I don't know that they are THAT much lower in sugar, but if they have blueberries or bananas in them, at least the kids are eating a tiny bit of fruit. Cookies probably have as much, if not more, sugar as cupcakes.
Happy birthday to your grandma!
I don't know anyone who would be upset that their child was given a sugary treat to celebrate a woman's 93rd birthday. Bless her heart, don't make her feel so bad about wanting to do something special for HER day.
Let kids be kids, sugar and all.
Besides, they will probably be so tired from all the play and learning, they won't have issues going to sleep.
Heck, when my son was little, when I gave him something like that, he would pass out from the sugar rush.
Chill out with your own child too. This is his great-grandma. Let the poor child have the WHOLE cupcake!
Your mom has a wonderful idea and you need toleave her alone. No I would not be upset about a cupcake to celebrate a 93 year olds birthday that is still working at VBS!
It sounds like a darling idea. Help her pull it off and do not rain on her parade.
Think of the big picture. In a life time what is one cupcake? PLus a cookie or cookie cake is not that different but will not have the same effect. Your mom is right.
relax its one cupcake late at night for a special lady. i dont consider cookies to have less sugar. my kids are going to get a sugar rush either way. why not give the 93 yr old lady what she wants. let her have cake! HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!
I'd be fine with it--she's 93. But my kids don't have any unusual sugar issues, and some kids do. A good compromise might be to give the kids mini cupcakes. They are pretty small. You can give the honoree a full-size one or a small cake.
