For years Zoe and Shell have said that they wanted to celebrate their 40th birthday with a weekend away. This year was the year and wonderful Elise organised it for us all to head to Blueys. Pre-kids and pre-husbands we headed to Blueys for a weekend away and it was so nice and it was wonderful to be able to do it again!
This year, Elise made the rule that there was to be no cooking while we were away and we were all willing at accept that rule. We arrived late Friday night (Thanks to Ez for driving me up after school pick up). When we arrived we met up with Shell, Ali, and Zoe. We sat down on the couches with tea in our hands and enjoyed chatting and chatting. It has been so long since we caught up and even longer since we were able to chat without needing to dash off. We eventually headed to bed.
In the morning we had a slow start, enjoying muesli for breakfast and cups of tea. We then went for a walk to the beach before sitting outside a cafe to enjoy some morning tea. It was nice to not need to rush, to just enjoy chatting and having adult conversations.
We headed back to the place and enjoyed lunch of a cheese and dip platter, so filling. We sat on the back verandah and again, chatted.
Eventually lunch turned into dinner time and we headed out to the local bowling club to enjoy some dinner. After dinner it was some dessert back at the house as well as, you guess it, cups of tea.
The morning we cleaned up and headed to the cafe for a morning coffee/hot chocolate before we all hopped back into the cars and headed home.
This weekend was so lovely and relaxing. It was so nice to catch up with these girls and it was so lovely to be able to just hang out. We have decided that we should try and do this each year. These girls are such good quality. We have great chats and pick up where we left off last time. I value their care, their support, their ideas and advice. Thanks for the lovely time away ladies!
Music is something that the kids love and enjoy playing. Earlier in the year the kids had fun putting on little band performances for James and I. They didn't care that it wasn't played properly, they just enjoyed making music together.
It started with Daniel playing some of his piano songs. Even though we haven't done lessons since Covid really started, he does enjoy sitting and playing Amazing Grace and some other songs that he remembers, like Happy Birthday and Twinkle Twinkle. Eliza and Alexander also enjoyed dancing to Daniel's music.
Eliza has wanted to start learning the piano for a while but I held off until this year. She started to play some songs with just one finger.
So I decided that it was time to start piano lessons if she was keen. Her lessons have gone pretty well. She is keen to learn and to play. She is enjoying playing songs. She persists when it gets tricky, even though she gets a bit frustrated. She also has motivation to practice which is great because it definitely helps her improve in her playing. She is very proud of what she can play.
Her first lesson
Daniel decided that he wanted to join the band this year. He needed to choose 3 instruments he would be happy to learn. His choices were 1. Bass, 2. Keyboard, 3. Percussion/Drums. We heard back that Daniel was chosen to play bass. James and I were pretty excited about this. When Daniel was born, I felt that he would be a bass player and be very cool doing it. It was a bit exciting seeing that feeling become reality. James and Daniel headed out to Turramurra Music to purchase Daniel's first bass. We were considering buying a left handed bass but after chatting with some musicians and the person at the shop, Daniel decided to get a right handed bass because he doesn't know any different. He was pretty keen to have a play of it when they got home.
He had fun playing some simple notes on it that James taught him. Then that moved to being another family band performance. I do love Alexander's drum setup.
Bass lessons started up with an awesome tutor called Trent. He is apparently a great tutor who is highly regarded. He seems very friendly and encouraging. He also started Training Band on Tuesday mornings. James was away the first training band morning but I was very proud of myself to have all 3 kids out the door at 7:25am to get Daniel to band on time.
I am very proud of him and his commitment. He has continued to practice most days, he is committed to Training Band and he is picking up new skills and able to play new songs. I do hope that he will continue to enjoy playing bass. Would love for him to serve in worship ministry at church as he grows up, but will wait and see. If he decides to not continue then I will support him in that too. For now I will enjoy listening to his cool bass tunes coming from his room.
After Eliza's birthday party, the kids had enjoyed a piece of cake or cupcake each day at school or for afternoon tea. So much cake!
Thursday night at Mum and Dad's place Mum made Eliza meat pie for dinner (which Facebook reminded me was her choice last year too) and then Mum made her a cake. Eliza loved that she had a ballerina on it (which Nana kindly said can go in her dolls' house).
Thanks Nana!
Clapping and blowing out candles
Last night as a 6 year old
Friday was Eliza's actual birthday, and I told her that there would be no cake because we have had so much! Instead we had birthday jelly at a playdate at Noah's place with Emily, Lachie and Flynnie too. Friday morning Eliza was woken by a stacks on from her brothers.
The kids got up and got ready for school. After breakfast we sat down on the couch to give Eliza her presents. She started with reading the birthday book which had some cute messages in it.
Reading her messages from Daniel
Alexander
and Daddy
Then Daniel and Alexander both gave Eliza a Billy B book. Daniel brought home Bookclub on Wednesday afternoon and whispered to me that he wanted to spend his own money to get Eliza Ninja Kid 7 book. So so sweet that he wanted to do that! Nana J had already bought this book for her though so I told him that we'd head to the Salvos to get Eliza a present instead. James was then working in the city and time just flew past so we didn't make it so instead the boys each chose a book that I already had for her and they gave her their present.
Then we gave her the presents from us. She opened her other books and then opened her sheet for her main present. It was a spot the difference activity.
I loved her reaction when she realised it was earrings, then as she processed her present to getting her ears pierced and then we gave her a special pair of earrings from us. She was very excited!
She was so grateful
Nana and Poppy then walked the kids up to school and Eliza had a fun day at school. It was also Harmony Day which describes Eliza perfectly! She accepts everyone, she has so many people saying 'hi' and 'bye' to her as we walk to and from school. It doesn't matter how a person looks, where they have come from, she is just friendly to them. Even people who are unkind to her, she still tries to give them a chance.
I just love her caring heart for everyone. I wrote this as my Facebook post.
'Day 356 - thankful for my gorgeous Eliza who turns 7 today. Today at school they are celebrating Harmony Day which I think fits perfectly for who she is. I am thankful for the beautiful, caring, welcoming and supportive girl that she is, who is friends with everyone. Walking into or out of school many people say hi and bye to her. She loves others no matter what. She is encouraging, gives awesome hugs and has the best crazy eyes followed by a cheeky smile. I can’t wait to see what is in store for her as a 7 year old.'
After school we headed around to Noah's place for a playdate and then we headed home quickly to have FaceTime with Nana J and open her presents.
We then headed to dinner together. We decided that for each kids' birthday they can choose dinner. It can be heading out to a restaurant or we can cook something at home. Eliza chose to eat out so we decided to head to The Brook Eatery in Cherrybrook. We were seated near the pizza oven and the kids were amazed at the fire in the oven, how the chefs made the pizza bases and how the pizza stone moved around. Eliza just wanted hot chips so we got her calamari and chips and she swapped some calamari for chips with Alexander. The boys got the same, James had a seafood risotto and I got the special pizza which was yummy!
Playing noughts and crosses with Daddy
While James paid the bill with Eliza, Alexander stood on my legs to watch the pizza get made and go into the oven. The chef spotted him (hard to miss I guess) and waved hi. Alexander waved hi back. He then waved him over, I assumed to have a closer look. But then he cut a piece of dough in half and gave it to Alexander and said he could make his own pizza with it. He then gave a piece to Daniel too. They watched them making the dough, tossing it around which was cool. Eliza came back and also wanted some dough so they kindly gave some to her as well. Dinner for tomorrow night was sorted!
We headed back home and then the kids were quite tired so headed to bed. I started on her painters pallet cake. It wasn't too hard to make and it looked pretty cool. Shout out to Howie for the idea of making paint brushes using corinthians and then we added liquorice to be the bristles of the brush.
Saturday morning we were up and getting everything ready for her family birthday party. It was inside again because of the weather being very rainy but that was ok. We are now pros at setting up the house for indoor parties. The morning was very relaxed and casual. The kids were so very excited to see the Howies! So much noise and energy, even more than at Eliza's friends party. It's good to feel loved and wanted. The time went by with eating and chatting. This time I bought a few things that Eliza likes like Oreos, camembert cheese and twiggy sticks. It didn't disappoint. I also put out some of the lollies on the paint pallets to use up some more of the lollies.
beading with left over beads from Eliza's party
Auntie Jenny made a special one for Eliza
After a bit of chatting and eating and of course coffees by James we then sang Happy Birthday to Eliza and had cake.
Clapping out her candles
After singing to her I asked her if she wanted one of the paint brushes. She said yes. Then I asked her if she wanted to get some 'paint' on it which she was keen to do. She then tried to get some more and the tip fell out (bound to happen). James fixed it up for her.
I then asked if Uncle Howie wanted the other one because it was his idea and he was keen for it. Eliza got it and put some 'paint' on it and took it to him. He asked for her to put it in his mouth, James told her to paint his nose. She instead put some paint on his beard.
To save arguments I pulled out the Corinthians and offered them to everyone. Howie said 'No thanks. It tasted like liquorice and was yuck!'. I laughed and said that was because there was liquorice at the end of it for the bristles. We all had a laugh and he quickly accepted another one and enjoyed it much more!
Eliza then opened up her presents. She is one very lucky little girl! She got some more awesome craft things, some new books that I haven't heard of before and some great clothes. A very lucky little girl.
The boys moved onto playing cricket in the hallway but Eliza had had a bit much of people time so sat on the couch next to me with a book and just quietly read to herself.
Dinner was then making pizza with the pizza dough that we got last night. It was so yummy and the kids enjoyed making their own pizzas.
What a wonderful and busy birthday week! I am so grateful for all who are a part of her life. I love how they love her and accept her for who she is and I hope that she doesn't change. Happy 7th birthday baby girl! Thank you for being you. Thank you for your heart and care for others. Even when I was making your cakes you were there encouraging me and thanking me for my efforts, you didn't care about the final product (even though I did). Thank you for your cuddles when things get a bit much. I love you inquisitive mind even though I often don't know the ways to answer your many questions. I love your love of reading and am constantly amazed at your creativity. I love your cheeky grin, your crazy eyes and your gorgeous smile. You have shown me such strength this past year, I can't wait to see how God is going to continue to grow you and challenge you this year as a 7 year old. I love listening to your prayers, having you sing praises to God while in my arms at church or even while you are drawing in your room. May your love for God continue to grow. I hope you have felt loved and very spoilt this year because you are so very loved by so many around you. Happy birthday!
