Another day, another birthday

This really is turning into a birthday blog.

The middle child is now 6.

Has her own radio to dance around her bedroom too , whilst listening to all those cheesy embarassing pop songs, little girls seem to love so much.
 And a shiny new "Hello Kitty" scooter to get to school on.

All the things that her big sister already had and that she jealously coveted.

However for a six year old she has the blowing out capacities of a 106 year old.

It took her ages to blow out the paltry 6 candles on her cake.

Chocolate Sheet Cake recipe from the Pioneer Woman CookbookCake was beautiful but the icing was way too sweet! 

Thats it now we are done with birthdays for a while, well mine is coming up but I am happy to admit that I am reaching an age where my birthday can go past unoticed... in fact this year it will, because I won't even be a year older. I am going to stubbornly remain 29 forever!

Playing around.

So you got a bunch of leftover balloons and a gorgeous party girl.

Surely thats a photo opportunity not to be wasted.

Nor could I resist the opportunity to play around in flickr/ picnik.

focal black & white effect

lomo-ish effect

Party-Time

Yesterday the girls had their first... and last... birthday party.

21 screaming kids running rampage round a village hall, all whacked out on sugar and E- numbers.

Amazingly we survived, without a headache even.

That still doesn't mean I'd be tempted to do it again.

In future it will be one or two friends to go to the cinema, bowling, etc...

A joint birthday party obviously means 2 cakes.

and to avoid arguments, 2 identical cakes!

This photo did involve a minor panicky meltdown on my behalf, as the kids lifted the balloons up towards the lights.... aaaarrrrggghhh!

 Visions of electrocuted party girls flashed before my eyes.

The party bags have probably not made me flavour of the month in some households.

Whoppee cushions and Popping candy!

Hee Hee!

Hopefully some tasty blueberries muffins for tomorrow Harvest Festival will redeem me.

Trials & Tribulations

I would apologise for my erractic blogging lately, but unfortunately it would be a hollow apology.

The gaps between posts may continue for some time yet.

We have been trying to get back into the school routine including the new addition of nursery for Baylie.

It takes time to dust of the skills needed to deal with the homework, attitude and nits the invariably come home from school.

On top of that, spanners have been thrown in the working of family life.

Spanners that have made life come to a standstill.

Spanners that have forced us to travel 150 miles and spend time away from our home comforts.

The spanner is that Ian's mum is currently very ill in Hospital with Pneumonia bought on by her Lupus.

Thankfully she is improving but the road has, and will continue to be a long one.

Small children don't understand the severity of the situation or listen when their parents tell the how much they need to behave right now.

Not having your own stuff or space can cause major meltdowns of 7 year olds and under.

Now that we are back home, the "to do" list is longer then before.

Lofts need insulating sooner rather than later.

Hedges need trimming.

Spare rooms need clearing out.

Sheds need to be put together.

Birthday Parties need to be organised rapidly.

Ria's Birthday shopping needs to be done and then done some more as I now have to take responsability for my mother in laws birthday shopping too.

So in light of all that, I'm sure everyone will understand if my blog comes last on the list.