Happy Birthday!!

Today is Mike's birthday and the kids have had a ball getting ready for it. To be truthful I think they have had lots more fun than their Father. Our little girl has clear ideas of what a birthday party should include so at seven this morning I was told that we needed party hats and those blowers that shoot out and make a lot of noise. I tend to react a little to the "need" word but was conscious that I did not want to be raining on her parade so at eight o'clock we were busy making party hats and pretty cool they looked too. A cake, a card, a curry and an exploratory attempt at naan bread and we were all ready (two hyper children and one exhausted mother) to greet Dad on his return from work and host a party with Doug, Susan and Jack.

What to buy as a present had been a dilemma. The kids are a fat lot of use. (Maybe a skateboard for Dad..... ie I would like a skate board!!That's our girl!). Mike had no real ideas except those from play.com which are yet to be released. or a hammer. His deeply loved hammer is lost and we know not where. An Estwing framing hammer, long handled 28 ounce of you happen upon it and we are not buying another yet in hope!!. Both of us very conscious of budget. I thought of rummaging around the second hand stores for treasure for Dad, an adventure for us all and thought better of it. Plants for our garden or the allotment seemed to be a the best option and seemed to be a great way to spend my mother's day vouchers.... recycling at its best. And just think if we can get the redcurrant bushes and strawberry plants, which were a stinker to wrap let me tell you..... ( I had all sorts of ideas for my brown paper and string with buttons and beads that disappeared in a veritable mess of sellotape) to fruit then jelly and jams! Yeah. I have started to save jars, more in hope at this point. I am happy to report that Mike thoroughly enjoyed all the birthday happenings and is always pleased with something new to be planting.

We have the little people's birthdays coming up. The little boy wants a cannon. And do not even think of asking where that came from because I have no idea. What to do?! The little girl wants............... yep, a Nintendo DS! Dilemma!