Beth's Birthday Bash

Firstly, let me introduce you to....

THE CAKE!

Had I made it, it would have been sitting on a table in the centre of the hall with flashing Christmas lights all around it.  I would also be wearing a giant badge that said "yes, I made the cake".  But I didn't make it.  Shirley did and that is why the cake was concealed in the kitchen until it was time to sing "Happy Birthday".  Then Beth blew out her candle, I made her pose with her cake and Shirley sliced it.

The cake had naturally followed on from party food.

Which had naturally followed on from the party games....

parachute games

duck, duck, goose

After the party food there was a piñata...

And during the whole party there was...

Colouring in

The graffiti wall

Tattoos

Face Painting

and of course...

The Bouncy Slide

To see the party, click here

A few little love stories....

Bea has always been just a little bit in love with Zachary.  When she got Scarlett O'Hare (a Moshi Monster) she dissolved into giggles and said "Oh, just like the Scarlett Family.  I must show this to Evie and Zachary and Jacob"  I then promptly forgot about this conversation, until, at Beth's party I spotted Bea tugging on Zachary's hand and then, with delight, introducing him to her Moshi Monster.  Being a well brought up and sensitive soul, Zachary feigned interest.  Just look at the smile his interest produced...also notice the flamingo like excitement...

And how does Zachary really feel about this attention?

Enough said!

But, I didn't accidentally insert a plural above...there was another blossoming of affection....(just don't tell Adam!)

Pentecost Stories

This weekend in celebration of Pentecost we listened to many stories.  Friday night had a pot luck supper and stories, Saturday morning had "afternoon tea in the morning" with stories and the Sunday service had more stories.

Afternoon Tea in the Morning

I listened to the stories.  This is what I learned....

It was lovely to listen to familiar faces tell their stories.  They all prefaced what they said with the disclaimer that they were nervous and slightly reluctant to share their story...but when they began to tell their tale, it was difficult to silence them.

In a hundred different words they spoke of God's great grace and his great love.

They told us about how their lives were not easy, even though God was with them.

They reminded us that we did not really know them, or their struggles and they shouted out..."be gentle with me, do not judge me, because this is hard and I get it wrong...but God loves me"  

And then some quietly added..."God STILL loves me"

I was reminded...

We learn so much listening to other people's stories.  Every good story has a beginning, a middle and an end.  I like this quote...

But sometimes, when we are living in the middle of a sad story it seems so hard to imagine how it will end.  

It is comforting to know that the end...the ultimate end has already been revealed to us.

So no matter how difficult the now, or how sad the ending seems today, I believe in the ultimate "happily ever after"  But until EVERY tear is wiped away, I will listen to your stories of struggles and battles and pain because you will punctuate the story with love and grace and friendship.

And if you asked me to share what I know over scones and macaroons, I would tell you two things;

1.  Life is beautiful

2. Life is hard

But if you pressed me to tell what I know to be true  I would tell you only this.  I need God.  

Without Him, I would miss so much of the beauty of life and I could not endure the hard.

Skipping Picnics

So today we celebrated Darcey turning six.  

The festivities started off with an hour in the soft play at the Grove.  Bea was somewhat concerned on our journey there that she would have a nose bleed* but I reassured her that she would be OK and her excitement began to build.

* At Ellie's party, for some unknown reason, when she finally descended from the climbing frame, Bea took a nose bleed.  I of course was unavailable for Mummy duties, as I was stationed outside of the room, waiting to film the procession of partygoers.  Claire, Ellie's mummy, moonlights as a nurse and so took care of the event perfectly, but Bea obviously still remembered it.

After an hour in the soft play area, I once again stationed myself outside the door and thankfully, this time the little party people processed with no blood....

They climbed up to the party room, where they discovered....

...a picnic!

Or rather a room filled with picnics.  There were lots of cosy rugs spread out around the room, and on the centre of each was a picnic hamper for each guest.

On opening their picnic box, each little guest discovered lovely party food...a selection of sandwiches, fruit, crisps and yogurts.  The hot food quickly arrived as did the shortbread and buns, so there was a room filled with happy picnickers. 

See!

(Might I just add....

...gingham picnic hampers...kudos Katrina!)

Then it was time for some more fun...

There were games...

...bouncy hoppers...

AND

...

SKIPPING!

It really is the BEST FUN EVER!!!!!!

See!

Bea was so proud of herself everytime she launched herself over the rope!  Then there was a sequence of many, many sequential skips.  Her pride was evident.  There may even have been tears ( from mummy).

Seriously...everyone loves skipping!

There was even a spot of double skipping.

If you don't believe me you can see for yourself, but I warn you, about 4 minutes of this film is devoted entirely to skipping.

But if skipping wasn't enough...there were also....

I kid you not... GLITTER TATTOOS!!!!!!!

It does not get any better!

Sporting matching Cinderella slipper tats.

See!

Then it was time for birthday cake.  Look at it!

How beautiful is that!

The only problem was the elves and safety had been around and we weren't allowed to light the candle.  (Even though Firefighter Seath was in the building!)

But it was OK.  Katrina (courtesy of the poundshop, she was keen to advertise) was prepared.  At the moment Darcey blew out the imaginary flame on her candle, a glitter bomb exploded.

I kid you not, it might actually have been as much fun as blowing out a real candle.

Then it was time for home...

but the party bags have got to have a special mention.  Look!  The bunting matches the cake!

And, contained amongst all the other lovely stuff within were "make your own glitzy bangles"

so we did.