Still celebrating 4

Before we spontaneously left for a weeks holiday I had allowed S to peruse the Women's Weekly Kids' Birthday Cakes cookbook. She'd chosen a ladybird cake for her birthday. Immediately my head was filled with a ladybird themed party, the ideas were flowing thick and fast until I sternly reminded myself that we were just having a quiet family birthday for her fourth.

So we made a fuss of her while we were away...but the previous promise of a ladybird cake haunted S and she'd ask me daily when we returned home if I could make her one.

After a week of nagging asking me about this cake I decided it was the perfect way to spend a day. She could make the cake and decorate it. That should take up hours of these school holiday days, right? Right.

With the littlest help from me, this independent four year old made and decorated her ladybird cake. How proud does she look? When it was all finished I called our next door neighbour and had Emma (5 yrs) come in to share it with us.

Needless to say S was wrapped. I was happy she had a friend to play with while I returned to the bomb site kitchen and got stuck into the clean up without a helper. x



S & Emma with sticky fingers after demolishing their piece of cake



Quatro

Sienna turned four while we were away. Since we were camping I didn't have an oven to make her a cake (the cake ritual is her favourite part) so we made sure we made a fuss of her in other ways.

Presents as soon as she woke up, from us and other family members. A cafe breakfast of blueberry pancakes with maple syrup. A play in the park and then an hour at a beachside childrens activity stand. A helium balloon. An ice-cream in a cone. A swim at the beach. Fish and chips in town for dinner.

Spoiled, no?

To top it off, when we got home from dinner an old family friend staying at the park had heard we didn't have a cake for S and he'd made one for her in his caravan. Chocolate cake with chocolate icing. 4 candles on top. We were so touched.

So yes, definitely spoiled and so well deserved.

Happy birthday to my beautiful S. You're growing in front of my eyes with each passing week. I just hope its fast enough for you...you want to be so big so quickly. x

34

I am 34 today.

I know it's been said a thousand times by countless others - but how did I get here so fast? Where did that time go? Am I really in my mid thirties already?

I'm not saying I'm old. I'm just amazed that I'm here already. But when I do a few sums in my head the numbers add up and it makes sense.

I've been with my man for 16 years :: I've studied and obtained a degree :: I've gotten married :: I've lived overseas :: I've travelled extensively :: I've worked 3 jobs in 3 different industries :: I've bought a house ::
I've had 2 kids

These things don't happen within a couple of years. It took time to get here. And so, here I am. 34.

I've always felt so young and I have no reason to feel any different on this birthday, but I do. I feel different. I feel like it's time for me to grow up. Be an adult. Suck it up. Do what I have to do to get where I want to go. Be authentic. Be myself. Like myself. Stop apologising for who I am. Stake my claim in this life. Say no when I feel I need to. Say yes when I mean it. Love more. Fear Less. Now.

So today I have cleansed, toned & moisturised my neglected face. My dry hands have been moisturised several times. I have gone to the toilet as soon as I need to go, instead of holding til my kidneys ache because I'm busy with other things. I discarded my breastfeeding bra and put on something lacey. I took my vitamins. I included myself in my list of people to care for today and I think I could make a habit of this. It's not half bad. It actually feels quite good.

I would never relive my youth but I don't regret a minute of my past. It's got me exactly where I am today. 34. Alive. Loved. Blessed.

Happy birthday to me. x