Happy Birthday Auntie!

Yes I know that I have already posted today, but today is my little Sisters Birthday. I'm not asking you all to go and hassle her at her blog about not posting (its Butterfly Babies in case you are wondering) even though I pimped out her blog for her with a new design that she liked so much, I'm not going to point out that she couldn't even remember how old she was when we spoke to her this morning. Instead I am going to re-post my favourite story about my Sisters birthday, that was originally posted on the 24th July 2009, but with a newly discovered video!

It was Aunties birthday this week and as big sisters do I was teasing her about the gift that we had brought for her, by giving tantalising clues that were as ambiguous as... I don't know something that is really ambiguous! It was at this point that Auntie asked if I remembered the year that Top Ender couldn't keep a secret.

Our story begins many moons ago when Top Ender was still a Toggler, Baby Boy wasn't even a twinkle in my eye and Cousins were the last thing on Aunties agenda. Auntie still lived with our parents and we had been invited for a birthday dinner of Chicken and Salad...

Top Ender/Toggler walked into the living room having been primed with what to say and given the important job of handing over the gift almost as big as she was;

"Happy Birthday Auntie!" she recited
"Happy Birthday!" Both Daddy and I chorused
"Thank you!" said Auntie
"Here is your present Auntie!" said Top Ender/Toggler
"Oh thank you! I'll open it to see whats inside!"said Auntie excitedly eyeing the large gift
"It's a handbag!" answered Top Ender/Toggler
"No need to open it now then..." sighed Auntie

Click here to watch the embeded video!

Happy 2nd Birthday Baby Boy!

Its Baby Boys 2nd Birthday today.

We probably won't be around much today as we are going to be playing with the very nice and very large Thomas train track...

Grannys Birthday!

Today is my Mums birthday, so Happy Birthday Mummy!

Her cake from 2008, which will look very much like her cake this year apart from the pony candles...

Her birthday always makes me feel emotional because I was nearly born today too. Twenty-eight (plus three) years ago my Mum went in to labour on her birthday and ended up giving birth to me the next day! As a child it was always a two day celebration of our birthdays. We would go to a Chinese Restaurant (which as I have mentioned before you don't want to take Daddy to) and order lots of dishes to share as a family.

My Mum has been questioned over what she would like for her birthday over the last few months, mentions of products have been memorised and shared with my Sister (Auntie) and vice versa and together we came up with some gifts that we hope she will be pleased with.

Earlier this week I asked Top Ender;

"What would you like to get Granny for her Birthday?"
"An ice cream machine" she answered without missing a beat
"Top Ender is that by any chance something that you want rather than something Granny would like?" I asked
"Yes, yes it is." answered Top Ender (shes been watching too much Phineas and Ferb I tell you!)

They're plotting to take over the world. Either that or to drive their parents crazy in a two pronged attack.

Earlier that day Auntie had also asked Big Cousin the same question;

"What would you like to get Granny for her Birthday Big Cousin?" said Auntie whilst on the phone to me

"Erm, I don't know" answered Big Cousin

"Did you hear that?" Auntie asked me on the phone just before she was interrupted

"Mummy? I know now what I want to get her!" Big Cousin said excitedly

"Whats that Sweetheart?" asked Auntie

"A Monkey!" she stated

"Can you ask her if she means a real one or a stuffed one!" I laughed down the telephone

"Oh I know, she means a real one" said Auntie knowingly

Well I know that Granny isn't getting an Ice Cream Machine or a Monkey for her Birthday from her Grandchildren or her Daughters, but I do know that she is going to have a great day and that together with my Sister we are going out for a meal this afternoon. It might not be a Chinese but its still bound to be a lot of fun!

Wordless Wednesday - 1st Birthday and covered in chocolate!

This is my youngest Niece (and her Mummy who is my little Sister) as she was on her First Birthday. Isn't she beautiful?!

Top Enders Birthday

Today is Top Enders Birthday, so please excuse me if for not being here. As an apology here is Top Ender on Birthdays past!

To the most wonderful, kind and beautiful Girl we know!

We hope that today, and everday, you get all the good things you deserve. That you always have enough love in your life and that you know that we are here for you at any time you need us.

Grow up happy and well and keep all your dreams and ideas alive. Make sure you brush your teeth and don't worry about things that you can not change.

Be patient about growing up and don't try to force it, or rush it. Enjoy every moment whilst you can and eat lots of your favourite foods.

Remember that boys (other than those related to you by birth or marriage) are yucky and we get to meet all boyfriends before you go on a date with them and I promise not to ask them if I should buy a hat.

Love Forever

Mummy, Daddy and Baby Boy xxxxxx

Its not only Christmas that is Big Business!

Its not only Christmas that is Big Business in this house, but Birthdays too.

You see, my Birthday is the day after my Mum's and so we celebrated them together. It was great fun as I grew up, especially as my sisters birthday is three days after our Dad's and again we would love celebrating both the birthdays together. In fact the first Birthday that Daddy spent with my family was the joint celebration of my Dad and Sisters Birthday (and he didn't nearly get us thrown out of the Chinese Restaurant we were in with his Chinese accented version of Happy Birthday, that is just a rumour...) of which we even have documented proof!



It wasn't intentional that Top Enders Birthday was exactly two weeks before Daddy's, she was due before Christmas but managed to hold on until early in the New Year... and I was kind of forgotten by the Midwife team; But I will admit to some crafty planning with Baby Boy and he ended up being born 13 days after my birthday! I'm not sure what to do if we do go ahead and expand our family, perhaps I should aim for our Anniversary...

With Top Enders birthday being so close to Christmas and New Year, I have to start planning now so that other parents can schedule the party in and so that we can decide which one of our many ideas from our big folder of Birthday ideas we shall go with.

Last year we went with a Princess theme and we wrote special invites in Modern olde English (which we wrapped as a scroll and hand delivered to the other Princesses who were invited) inviting the girls to come in Princess dress. We spent the week before the party preparing the house...

The Royal Throne Room

The Magic Mirror (complete with recorded voice telling each Girl she was the fairest of them all)

Special wall sconces

A Roaring Fire

And of course a red carpet and Battlement leading to the Royal Front Door

We had Princess themed party games such as Snog the Frog, (which was my version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey) Decorating Princess Crowns, Decorating Cupcakes, Colouring in, Royal Pass the Parcel to name a few!

This year we decided to go with a Bag and Bear party theme and are holding Top Ender's party at The Bear Factory (hence the bear in the theme title) and we are going to make special bags for the party favours to go in (and there is the bag mentioned!), but I can't mention much more in case Top Ender's friends or their Mummies are reading as we don't want to spoil the surprise!

Last years surprise was a DVD that the children were given along with Thank you notes when we went back to school. It was a video of the photos that we had taken during the party, the very video that the children were watching as their parents came to pick them up!

Next year we are thinking of having a cinema party in a local hall... or maybe a make over party... or maybe a ball... or maybe a music party... or maybe a cooking party... or maybe...

Top Ender Giggles - Don't tell children ANYTHING!

It was Aunties birthday this week and as big sisters do I was teasing her about the gift that we had brought for her, by giving tantalising clues that were as ambiguous as... I don't know something that is really ambiguous! It was at this point that Auntie asked if I remembered the year that Top Ender couldn't keep a secret.

Our story begins many moons ago when Top Ender was still a Toggler, Baby Boy wasn't even a twinkle in my eye and Cousins were the last thing on Aunties agenda. Auntie still lived with our parents and we had been invited for a birthday dinner of Chicken and Salad...

Top Ender/Toggler walked into the living room having been primed with what to say and given the important job of handing over the gift almost as big as she was

"Happy Birthday Auntie!" she recited
"Happy Birthday!" Both Daddy and I chorused
"Thank you!" said Auntie
"Here is your present Auntie!" said Top Ender/Toggler
"Oh thank you! I'll open it to see whats inside!"said Auntie excitedly eyeing the large gift
"It's a handbag!" answered Top Ender/Toggler
"No need to open it now then..." sighed Auntie

Top Ender Giggles - Well you said you would move Heaven and Earth for me

"Mummy? Are you friends with Little Blonde Girl's Mummy?" Asked Top Ender
"Yes, Top Ender, I guess that we are"
"Could you ask her to move Little Blonde Girl's birthday party?"
"Why Top Ender?"
"Because the Carnival is this weekend and I would like to go to that and less people will go to Little Blonde Girl's birthday so it would be easier to move that."
"It doesn't really work like that Top Ender!"
"Oh. I thought it did"

Two peas in a pod

Today is Baby Boys first birthday. Even though I hate people telling me;

"Ooh you can tell your kids have the same parents can't you!"

Here is a picture of Baby Boy and Top Ender so you can see what they both looked like at One!

Top Ender Giggles - You don't really Mummy!

Yesterday Top Ender, Baby Boy and I went to Granny's to wish her a Happy Birthday.

"You didn't get me a card with 50 on did you Top Ender? Everyone has been giving me those and I'm not really that old!" Said Granny
"Hmm" said Top Ender
"How old do you think I look?" said Granny
"50" said Top Ender
"Remind me not to talk to you again Top Ender" said Granny

Top Ender Giggles - What did your last slave die of?

"Mum I want to make you a necklace for your birthday"
"Okay Top Ender"
"Can you help?"
"Sure want me to tie the string to the ring?"
"Yes, can you help me with the beads too?"
"Okay"
"Thanks Mum, I'll come back later when you have got to the middle"