Change of plans in the lead up to Daniel's Birthday

Plans sometimes have to go out the window. For Daniel's 9th birthday we originally planned to have birthday dinner at Mum and Dad's with our family before heading up to Hervey Bay on Wednesday. With the threat of borders closing again we felt it was important for James to head up to Hervey Bay early to be with his Mum for the one year anniversary since Malcolm passed away so he changed his flight to Saturday evening. This meant that we needed to give Daniel his birthday present of his new bike earlier on Saturday instead of Tuesday night. Fortunately Mum and Dad were fine with us popping over to do that. Daniel was very exited to get his bike, especially because it is a mountain bike. This bike Daniel saw when we went to get helmets for the kids and he said 'Mum, the next bike I get will be that one'. James and I then organised to get the bike and hide it at Mum and Dad's place until his early birthday.  

Then that night James flew up to Hervey Bay. It also meant that I had 5 days to solo parent in the lead up to heading to Hervey Bay. We also had the stress of not knowing if the borders would close before we went up there but we just took it one day at a time.

Sunday morning the kids and I headed to Daniel's AFL. Of course it was a rainy day, the first one in ages. Mum and Dad were amazing and came to help watch the kids (with umbrellas, raincoats and gumboots) and I'm so grateful for them coming still in the pouring rain. There was no way that I could have watched them while coaching on the field. It really was a wet and miserable game but the boys did so well. It was a memory for Daniel and I all wet.

We then headed home and prepared the house to have a Gower family get together. We had organised for Nat and Steve and the kids to come around for lunch with Mum and Dad and Jens and Oscar but then Nat suggested it might be nice to try have see if any other Gowers could come. It was great that Mel, Ben and the kids could make it as well as Kimberly and Kylie.

I made a cheese platter for everyone to snack on before lunch.

We were going to have a simple BBQ where everyone would bring their own meat and something else to share and James would do the BBQ. With James now up in Hervey Bay, Dad kindly took the lead with the BBQ (I had no idea). 

The rain paused for a moment for the kids to all have a play outside which was great. Handball, basketball, throwing balls. The kids had a blast running around and playing together.

Dad did a great job on the Webber and the meat and kebabs were cooked perfectly. There were some salads too which were tasty as well. It was great. We ended up having the kids table and then the adults room. Kaysey was very excited that she has graduated to the adult table.

Adults room

Kids table (with Steve about to shoot the rocket)

I love the response after he shot it. Such laughter

After lunch the kids went and played really well together. I do love that my cousins' kids and my kids get along so well. The love playing together and catching up. It really is very special. And I loved catching up with my cousins too. We all had many laughs in the chats. It was just such a lovely day together. I'm really glad that I didn't cancel it with the change of plans with James not being there. And of course everyone pitched in to help clean and organise the place too which was lovely.

Daniels playing together

Oscar was so popular watching videos on his phone

Our cousins' kids

My gorgeous cousins

Really, we are all a bunch of crazies.

Sunday night Daniel kindly offered to read to Alexander because I was quite tired after the big day. What a sweetheart, although it did bring back memories of a year ago when he did the same thing around the same time.

Monday was a mufti day for the big kids as well as Crazy Sock and Hair Day. Both kids got to design how they wanted their hair to be done. Eliza's hair sure was crazy. I was quite proud of myself for managing to do her hair how she wanted it. Daniel was keen on having half his hair spiked and half flat. The kids were keen to have spray paint again this year, but I didn't have any so hair gel and crazy styles would have to do.

Crazy hair for my crazy girl. This hair elastic is awesome! Mum got it for Eliza well before she was at school with the idea that it would come in handy for crazy hair day. It sure did!

She also wanted an Elsa braid up her hair at the back and then pinned at the top of her head.

Daniel's hair was much easier!

And he insisted on wearing one sock over his pants for crazy sock day (it drives me crazy when he does this so he thought it was especially funny)

Alexander had normal hair for a normal day at preschool. I loved the craft he made for us though. It is a picture of our house On the left is the kitchen where a teapot has been knocked off the table, then there is our loungeroom with the couch. There is then the carport and our car with Daddy and Alexander in it. Very cool!

Once the kids were in bed it was time for me to get cooking to make Daniel's birthday cake. The plan was always to make it and have Daniel's family birthday at Mum and Dad's place before we headed to Hervey Bay. We weren't going to do a big Sydney family party because of being with James' family in Queensland for his birthday. So that meant that I was to make a cake for Tuesday night dinner. Daniel looked through the cake book and decided he wanted to have a bass cake. I normally don't cook the same cake for the kids, I have a rule about that, but I decided that this could be an exception because the ukulele that I made for his first birthday is quite a different style to his bass guitar. I got his bass out so that I had something to look at to get the design and colours right and if I'm honest, this cake is one of my favourites. I'm heaps proud of how it turned out!

The shape

The icing was different tones with cocoa powder

Lollies and wafers for the knobs and dials

Liquorice for the frets 

Bass guitar comparison. Which is the real one?

Instead of the bass logo I wrote Daniel and his age on it

The best part was the morning when Daniel was up and dressed for the day I called him into the lounge room where the bass guitar cake was for him to have a look. He loved it and was very impressed! Even though it took him a while to notice the cake was even there. Ha. I messaged the video to James and he loved that Daniel looked at his feet before noticing the cake.

Look at that face. Pure joy.

Tuesday morning was then Daniel's Drama performance. Another change of plans needed to happen. His character was an antelope. Yep, an antelope. What the? How do you dress your kid to look like an antelope? I found a mask on the internet that I was going to print off and laminate for him. Then the day before the drama performance we got an email saying that masks weren't allowed because they want to see their kids' faces. Far out! Stress levels were a bit high. I went through Daniel's cupboard and managed to get some antelope clothes colours together. That was good. Then I needed to work out how to make him look like an antelope without a mask. I came up with the idea of using one of Eliza's headbands. I then attached a couple of pipe cleaners to it and then glued on 2 orange antlers on. It did the job and he looked pretty cute.

He did a great job as the antelope. He spoke clearly and he played his role well. I was really proud of him. He didn't need to have a script because we had practiced his role but they were handed out anyway so he did end up reading a lot of it, but he still did a great job and used expression when he needed to. Well done Daniel!

It was great that even with Covid rules around, we were able to go and see. We had to sign in, we had to sit spread out and it was outside but we were able to go and see our kids perform, something we missed out on last year. I also love seeing how Daniel just owns his role and is so confident. I do wish that James could have been there to watch it though.

In the afternoon I had to take Chilli to the vet for boarding (I managed to get her in the bag. The poor thing really doesn't like car trips and heading to the vet). 

Mum and Dad kindly picked up Eliza and Daniel from school and then went and got Alexander from preschool. They then took Daniel's cake to their place which was a big help so it didn't slip and slide in our car with the kids. 

It was nice to have family dinner together (who would have thought that it would be our last time doing it for a while!) Then we had cake. Daniel helped put the candles in and we sang Happy Birthday. When he blew out the candles I'm not too sure what was going on... maybe it was Oscar mentioning that it was Covid times so he shouldn't be blowing and clapping instead. Not sure. Anyway, we had cake and it was yummy. 

Then it was present time. He had the best reactions to these presents. He was so excited to get his ugg boots from the Howies that he had waited a year for. It's the gift that keeps on giving. He also loved getting Dog Man book and Hot Dog books. He was very excited and curious about the aviation lego from Nana and Poppy too.

Happy almost birthday to my resilient boy. So glad we were able to have this little birthday celebration for you with family in Sydney. Now all ready to head to Hervey Bay tomorrow.