Happy birthday, Maurice

This year's summer holiday has been all about family visiting, play dates, lots of reading, cooking and craft with Mummy and a post-building, backyard reconsruction/restoration project. We've also had many day trips and multiple 20/20 cricket matches at Bellerive. The weather has been wonderful so we've done lots of beach visits and swimming, picnics and time on the deck (which Daddy and I have just oiled over the past couple of days). It's been so nice to be at home to enjoy our new-look house. A bit like having a holiday at home, actually. 

The girls have had no TV during the day (except for watching cricket and tennis alongside mummy and daddy!) and maybe 3 movie nights. Their time at home has been taken up with lots of craft, the rehearsal of music and drama productions, the putting on of their 'shows', making up games, climbing the apricot tree and lots of playing in the cubby. 

On this particular day Alice woke up and announced it was her special teddy's birthday. Unbeknown to me, Maurice was turning 2. By the end of the day however, it was decided that he was actually turning 4. All this despite being given to Alice at birth 8 years ago. ))))))

Maurice, pictured above in the centre and named after his look-alike on Playschool, enjoyed a morning tea birthday party. All the beanie kids were invited. Wooden fruit laid out on a plate and presents from each of the girls unwrapped. Then after lunch Alice made her first chocolate cake with just a little help with the oven from me. We enjoyed a birthday dinner and the cake was served for dessert. Even with candles!!!

It was such a fun day and the girls loved that we made such a fuss. It's so great to see them come up with these ideas and let them get excited and wrapped up with all the planning and creativity. Their imaginations get carried away and it's priceless to watch!

We didn't ice the cake as it was close to bedtime and Maurice doesn't sleep well with too much sugar.

I truly hope this stage of childhood lasts as long as possible. We're trying to stretch it out as best we can. It seems there is so much pressure to have our little ones grow up so, so quickly. Here we are trying to put it off. Plenty of time for all that later.

Right now we're close to Sarah turning 10 and the twins to starting full time school.

Denial is a healthy, reasonable way to deal with it, is it not??? We aren't the only ones feeling this way, are we? Ideas for prolonging childhood gladly welcome!

Happy days for you, too.