Birthday Week

Last weekend I turned 34. It's not even one of the big birthdays but I have felt so spoilt the whole month that it feels like this big milestone has been ticked off.  Slightly disappointed that William and Kate's royal baby wasn't born on my birthday, but missed it by a few days. I am crazy excited for them as they embark on this parenthood journey.  My Gran would be so proud at the royalist I have become. 

Anyway this week has been marked with illness. School holidays and everyone is sick.  We looked after some of the kids cousins for an afternoon while their parents recovered from a bad tummy bug. 

 I love how well these cousins get on. Amelie and Ollie the two middle children are glued at the hip turning our garden planters into a ninja pirate ship. While Nathan and Theo continue to look so alike and are both sporting their new haircuts after loosing all the Blondie locks.

Then we had a day in Napier on the cycle way making the most of the winter sunshine and Lucy has enjoyed having play dates with friends she doesn't see during term time. This is one of the antenatal baby friends 6 years on. Check out the coat Aunty Sarah. Loving it! 

I enjoyed a dinner out with some friends which was lovely and one friend presented me with this nose drip catcher that she crocheted for me after reading my last post.  It still makes me laugh, but seriously, the talent in that crocheting! 

The actual birthday was spent on a trip to the local ski mountain. Being School holidays, and a weekend AND a stunning weather report it was pretty crowded but still so glad we did it.

It is not for the faint hearted, a day at the mountain with little kids. It involved a 2 and a half hour drive each way traveling a road called the "Gentle Annie" (the name of a washing machine- and for good reason.) It is a windy, hilly, long long road that has your tummy doing flips but at least it is sealed now and the weather when we got to the mountain was stunning.

We left Nathan with Nan who succumbed to the tummy bug and ended up passing Nathan off to the now recovered Aunt and Uncle. I'm telling you, it has been a week of pass the children and it is just as well we have a big little village to raise our tribe because we have been utilising every member these holidays.

The last two photos are favourites.

 This one is of some Daphne that another friend gave me. I have always loved this plant and the fact that it is one of the only plants that flowers in July.  I have long held the belief that God created Daphne's just for me to add some perfume on my birthday. This bunch has scented our whole house this week and I smile whenever I get a wiff. Beautiful.

This photo was taken by Lucy by accident at the mountain when she was playing with my phone but it is now a favourite.  We were having lunch, and Ollie was sitting beside me eating his sandwich with one hand and holding my hand with the other as he sang at the top of his voice  in between bites a kindy song he knows by heart.  "This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it! This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made." 

Nothing warms the soul more than listening to your child sing praises to God surrounded in God's beautiful creation. 

Thankful for these 34 years, for the journey and the loved ones that surround me. These are good years.