Preparations

One of the gorgeous younger ladies in our house is celebrating a birthday on Friday, a 6th birthday. Preparations began today for her party on Saturday. This year I'm outsourcing to the local swimming pool, but you cannot forget lolly bags, in this case lolly boxes. There's enough confectionary in this house to rot at least 4 sets of teeth - but hey, it's a party, it would be like us going out to a birthday celebration and drinking water, or perhaps I'm just speaking for myself!

Festivities

The animal Leila wanted to see most at the zoo, was a baby duck! What do you know though, we managed to find some baby coots - so she was thrilled. Butterflies were rated most popular after the ducks, closely followed by the Penguins.

I was so thrilled with Leila's cake - it's so simple but I think it turned out really well. One day when I finally manage to get my own little corner cafe up and running, I'd love to do a sideline in children's cakes, they're so much fun to make and it's really not hard to make things that the children are so thrilled with - and they taste good! (PS Sandy - another time I used the icing kit! I use that over my more professional piping bags now!)

A ride on the carousel before leaving. I so wanted to sit on a horse, but with Leila being under a certain height she had to ride an elephant with an adult escort. Next time I'll choose the green horse...

Out takes from a very busy day

And as if that weren't enough, we had dinner for 16 here last night too! By 9:30 I was rather rocky on my feet - but will do it all again next year, for there's no better cause.

I'm not a big cake eater

but I do love making them, most particularly birthday cakes for the girls. In previous years for Ella we've had 1st Sunflower; 2nd Monkey; 3rd Princess Castle; 4th Clown and then this year, something altogether different again.

The handle was a little wonky and I only noticed that I'd put the spout on upside down when my dad pointed it out, Ella loved it though, was seriously impressed and I was seriously chuffed.

Couldn't be more beautiful if she tried

For the dozens of tiny moments in every day when she makes me smile. For the "thanks for a beautiful dinner mum" moments. For the daily "you look beautiful mum" boosts that make my heart swell. For her patience, her kindness which surpasses any I've ever found in anyone else, child or adult. For the love that she gives so readily generously. For still being able to hold her and kiss her until I've had my fill. For the way she plays with my ear lobe when we read a story. For how much she loved her sister from the moment she arrived and how they both look out for each other. For the happiness she has brought and continues to bring to our days. For now being the mother of the most beautiful five year old girl in the world.

Happy Birthday Ella xx

Photos - day 1 & 5 years

Minimum expense, maximum pleasure

I think a lot and I like to be organised. This translates to me being organised about things like birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and Christmas a long way in advance. Ella turns 5 in October and today we started making the take home goodies for her guests.

Made with scraps the supplies themselves cost something like $5.00 USD for 60 self covering buttons of varying sizes; the headbands to cover were about $5.00 USD for 12; the bags to put both items in were about $4.00 USD and the stickers around $3.00. Priceless, the amount of fun that Ella and I had together this afternoon making a start on them. Honestly though, I couldn't buy lollies for 14 kids for that much. Of course there's effort involved, but if it wasn't fun that we wouldn't be doing it. Making buttons is so satisfying and super easy for kids to do with the minimum of supervision. The headbands aren't something I've done before so these first two are a little messy still. Cute though don't you think - again for nothing more around 75c each and some very sticky fingers and a little fiddling and you have a very cute gift.

Stay tuned for the invites, which we're yet to decide on. Ella's decided on a garden theme, but the execution is still up for discussion - ideas welcome.

Big Day

We let Ella choose Leila's present this year - she chose a Care Bear! Ella received one from her aunty and cousins on her birthday in October and it was an enormous hit. Leila hasn't had much of a shot at "Cupcake" as she's called, as it's one toy Ella won't share. I think Ella's motivation in buying one for sister was partly to keep her away from hers, but also so she could "share" the new one! Somewhat suprisingly, it was a huge hit, she's been dragging it around with her all day. We bought her a wooden Noah's Ark which she opened appreciatively and then Ella played with - there's plenty of time.



The Sanctuary was great - I haven't been there since I was about 8 and my parents now live literally 5 minutes from the front gate. The place was absolutely rammed but it covers so much area that you didn't feel crowded at all. Ella's fave was the platypus, a very strange animal for anyone to see the first time - amazing playful considering how shy they are.

The cake is very unme - store bought nasty icing etc - but forgive me, in 42C weather baking is beyond even me. I'll make up for it Sunday when the family are over for morning tea and I promise it will be more impressive.

For anyone not local - here's one of Ella with some local wildlife. Koalas aren't known for being the friendliest of animals (they spit and bite), but this one, sadly (or thankfully), has gone to a supposedly better place, hence the relaxed pose!

Happy birthday gorgeous small one, I'll think of you most fondly at 11:25pm tonight!

366 days

Day 1



Day 366

It Ain't Half Hot in 2008

This is the second year where it's been scorching hot at NY. I remember last year vivdly as Leila was born on January 2nd and it was unbelievably hot. We hadn't had our air conditioning put in and I have to say, I was feeling every degree.

We had a low key night after a day spent mostly hiding inside. We did venture out later in the afternoon for a "swim" under our makeshift tent, but even the icypoles didn't help keep temperatures down.. It's simply too hot to go outdoors when it hits 42C, it's just a matter of enduring. At 9:30 when Geoff and I were finally eating dinner it wasn't much cooler but the two bottles of champers helped!

Resolutions for this year - find a better balance in life. I, we, often feel that we're never quite achieving everything as we'd like to. With me returning to work it's harder and efforts will be doubled to get things right. 2007 was, I think, one of the hardest. Neither Geoff nor I realised just how much life would change with the increase of our family from 3 to 4. We still try hard to manage the balance between individual needs, couple needs, parental duties and family commitments. I wish I could relax more, not worry about all the have to's and just do the good stuff. I try to get it right, but I feel I fail more often than I succeed. I'm a hard taskmaster though - overly sensitive to my own shortcomings, of which I feel there are many. I wish I could analyse less and enjoy more.

Leila turns 1 tomorrow. She's running, brushes her hair and teeth, waves, can make herself very clearly understood - surprises us constantly. We are having a low key birthday for her tomorrow if the weather allows. Our plan is to head to the Sanctuary with my parents for a picnic lunch. We'll have a proper cake with the trimmings this coming weekend with the wider family. It's not the big 1st birthday we had for Ella, I hope she doesn't feel neglected because of it in years to come. Ella's 1st birthday was a sunflower party and Leila's will be a daisy party - themed cake at least! She'll feel special, as we hope she does every day, because she is.

38 years

At about 6:15 I heard a little voice spoke in an urgent not so quiet whisper "where are the presents dad". A short sharp tap, tap, tap on the forehead a few moments later rapidly followed by a loud "happy birthday mummy". All four of us in bed this morning, opening presents, reading cards, smelling deliciously necessary candles and reading inspiring recipes.

Thanks for a wonderful, thoughtful partner of 12 years and husband of 9. Two gorgeous girls who work me work hard for my money but reward me with riches I can't compare. Loving parents and extended family, health, home, happiness.

Happy birthday me.

And Then She Was Four

On Tuesday of this week we reached another milestone in our house, our biggest girl turned four. What an amazingly gorgeous girl she is too. All children are precious, it goes without saying, but our eldest is the most generous, loving, kind and compassionate child I have ever come across. My inlaws commend us on her nature, but I don't believe we can take much credit at all for what I believe is just a gorgeous character all of her own.

At the end of the day she said to me "thank you for the most amazing party ever. Next year I want the same party with the same friends, the same games, the same everything". Her final words before sleep were "I love you mum, I never knew there could be such a wonderful day". True indeed.

5 Weeks Out

I start my planning for events in my family's life quite a few weeks out. It's now just 5 weeks until my big girl's 4th birthday. We've had a sunflower 1st birthday, a monkey themed 2nd, a princess 3rd and this year, with a more even girl/boy ratio, a more gender neutral fair or carnival birthday. My idea isn't original, I'm borrowing most details from a Martha Stewart party idea, but that makes it no less fun.



As I was cutting out the paper pieces for the invitations last night I asked my significant other why it is he thinks I make things rather than buy them. I obviously enjoy the process, but I could also buy something that would be as enthusiastically received by the children. I tend to under value the things that I produce, my cooking, my crafts and at times I even wonder if others think I'm trying to show off. Is there a tendency for those who do just buy things to think that those of us who make things are trying to be too clever?

I guess I feel that the effort I go to for birthdays and special occasions is an indication of how important they are to me. Having said that, I don't mean to infer that others who don't insist on doing anything themselves care less, so I guess it comes back to pure enjoyment. Mind you, at the last moment when you're still icing the three level castle cake with turrets, a moat and trees, I had to remind myself how much fun I was having.
This year our invitation list currently stands at 25 children, many more than in past years. I think I'm still a new mum in that respect as I've included the birthday girl too much in the discussions - hence everyone is being invited. I may have to consider restricting who comes as this party will be held at home and if the weather isn't nice it could be very stressful trying to host all the games in our small home.

I still have to write on the invitations and attach the tickets nan kindly found for us and then move on from there. Signs to paint, games to make, temporary tattoos and good face paints to find. It is fun and although it's a very short 2 hour period it's like a wedding isn't it - all that planning for something that's over so quick but the memories last you a lifetime.