Press ups!

Our little Baxter is on the move in a big way! At 6 Months and in a period of just a few weeks he progressed from pushing up on his hands and knees followed by hands and feet and then quickly figured out how to sit up, roll over from his back to his front and now he clambers about all over the living room floor -almost but not quite crawling -searching for something or someone to pull himself upright. So much development so quickly! And it all started with some press-ups just like this:

Good job Baxter!

Diamond Jubilee

The weekend of June 2nd was an absolutely historic occasion. The whole country celebrated our Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee marking an amazing 60 years reign as Monarch of England and the United Kingdom (and the only other to reign this long or even live this long before her -in the whole entire history of the British monarchy -was Queen Victoria). And so, did we all go into town to visit Buckingham palace and push past some 12,000 revelers from up and down the country and beyond to catch a glimpse of (and in these times that glimpse is more likely via a big-screen) of our elegant and iconic matriarch -Pah! 2 young kids (one still requires the boob), over-crowded streets, overcrowded London transport, rain (of course!) and grey cold weather (in June) -FORGET IT! Lizzy, we really wanted to come to your party but, such big occasions for young families are logistically quite horrifying! And so, keeping with the British spirit we put all our patriotic efforts into a good old family knees-up! (would have been a garden BBQ if the bloody weather was nice!) and conduct our very own celebration at home...Pilgrim style!

So, up with the Union Jack on with the silly bowler hats and a dodgy queen mask! No one drunk the Pimms but we drank ALLOT of Champers and wine! Kellye rising to the occasion whipped up some amazing lamb cutlets (of which she doesn't even like much!) and then the Pièce de résistance...a traditional and classic Victoria sponge cake with crushed raspberries and whipped cream...

...which of course was all that our girls were interested in!

After that Daddy got busy with the face painting much to everybody 's delight -

that is, until Olive and Charlotte decided it was their time to paint the grown ups faces!

Hurrah!

And not forgetting our little Baxterpotamus who had himself a right good old time (almost) crawling about.

And so, all-in-all I think the Queen would have been very "amused" with our fitting family celebration:

God Save the Queen! Hip-hip! Hooray!

Face Paint

A recent painting session went quickly from paper to face when Olive got her own way! I mean come on it's just so much more fun!

What a monkey!

Trampoline

Look what Olive got for her 3rd Birthday!

How excited?

Check out that form, the technique...

Game over.

Bouncy Boy!

Baxter had a go in the bouncer the other day and had himself a right good old time! He looked so bloomin' cute bopping up and down in the doorway with that big cheeky grin!

Olive's 3rd Birthday

What is it about the 3rd birthday? All of Olive's friends from nursery putt on a succession of extravagant and elaborate 3rd birthday parties and now it was our turn! Thankfully we have Mummy's ingenuity and thrifty party planning skills and with permission granted from the Palace (!) we arranged an Easter Egg hunt party in the gardens of Hampton Court and it was a belter! A perfect day, beautifully sunny and warm we invited 15 of Olive's best friends from nursery to join the hunting party and locate 200 little eggs we planted around the shrubs, bushes and flower beds. Armed with little baskets and the promise of treats, sweets and surprises -they got well stuck in!

(Chloe, Craig and Lily)

...all the kids loved their egg baskets!

(Chalie b)

The food was almost ignored -at least by Olive who just about managed a few grapes amidst the excitement (and didn't even eat any of her own cake if you can believe it!).

...Daddy a little miffed dishing out the juice bottles!

(Zac)

And then it was time for that cake!

Mummy outdid herself again with her stellar baking skills and made a truly wonderful cake and tier of cup cakes all topped with Cadbury's mini eggs. All the mums were duly impressed!

Mummy conducted happy birthday and Olive stood on the table to blow out her candles and cut the first slice...

(Charlie, Anabel, Jessica, Joshy)

All the kids had to be restrained from those cupcakes and cake and then for the most part they just went and scoffed the mini eggs on top!

And then the award for best present goes to...Mel! For supplying Olive with her 4th "Princess Dress" and matching tiara! It is amazing but you just can't go wrong with that -she absolutely loves it! No sooner than the present was unwrapped it was on and some magic wanding was in full swing!





The party rounded-up with some good ole bubble blowing and everybody sprinted about trying to catch those shimmering allusive spheres! And so, with perhaps a little too much sun and definitely a little too much excitement, Olive was absolutely beat!

My beautiful girl, already 3 years old in the blink of an eye! What a great day we had -we're completely exhausted!

Happy Birthday Olive!