Miss Moo Moo had been counting down the days.
She had told me that she was going to wake up at zero o'clock on her birthday and she was not far wrong. At 3am she came in, chatting, as bright as a button! After much discussion, I managed to get her back to sleep, however it wasn't for long. The ritual opening of birthday presents in our bed was all over by 6:30am.
It was a typical school day, but not before starting the day with croissants for breakfast, a couple of "happy birthday" phone calls and twirling in her new dress.
Miss Moo Moo had planned an after school party. Six of her little friends from school had been invited over, for more of a play than a "party". They were happy with party food and a couple of baskets filled with dress-ups.
The party food: fairy cupcakes, caramel slice, caramel salted popcorn, plain popcorn, party punch, gummy bears, zucchini slice, hommus and corn chips, and a fruit plate that nobody touched.
I set up a makeshift dressing room with a shade gazebo and some vintage sheets, they loved it. There were at least eight changes of dress-ups. The girls would come out to parade before the mums that had stayed. Then they would line up to get there photo taken, before changing into their next outfit. Lots of giggles, lots of fun.
By the time I had a chance to put the kettle on for the mum's, it was almost all over. I am used to having family parties that go on for hours, it was strange to have to get the cake out so soon, but also kind of nice.
But that was not the end of it.We like to stretch out family birthdays in this house. Miss Moo Moo's birthday this year, was no exception. Yesterday we had a family barbecue by the river. It was such a lovely day. 17 adults and 8 kids, the adults were able to sit back, relax and catch-up, while the children, happily played and played and played.
Scooters, skateboards, swimming, splashing, sandcastles, soccer - fun and games!
Naturally we finished the day off with another cake (see here) And after six hours in the park, headed home.
Sun-kissed and salty. Again, happily exhausted, the kids, because they had played all day long with their cousins, and me, because it was all over!
Don't misunderstand me. During the course of this week, a couple of those 'not-so-good big-life-events' that I recently talked about, happened. I think that focusing on Miss Moo Moo's birthday celebrations got me through. However, the combination of it all, made for an emotional, exhausting week. Today, I feel like a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
Oh.... and yes, Miss Moo Moo picked out our dresses for the party yesterday. Matchy matchy - I love it!!
