Alex is (almost) 4 - A Cars Party and good reason for a blog post at last

Apologies to anyone who has been looking at the same WAY out of date blog post for the past 12 months or so…

To make up for it here are some hot-off-the-press photo's from Alex's 4th birthday party yesterday.

It was a big day, lots of planning involved and a cake that almost killed me… the photos below do not adequately capture the preparation, pain and stress involved.

… but we all survived and the party went off without a hitch, lots of lovely friends from daycare as well as friends and family came along, there were games, lots of presents, a bit too much sugar but smiles all round. That evening a very happy and exhausted Alex said 'I'm tired mummy' (FIRST TIME EVER) he took his pass the parcel prize to bed and fell asleep before I could even finish the story (SECOND TIME EVER).

The birthday boy

All the kids got drivers licenses when they arrived

Racing car bears - didn't take a picture when they were all finished but you get the idea

I tried to tell the kids we could just 'look at the cake' no need to cut it up

they weren't having it...

a look of horror from Uncle hOb re the amount of sugar involved

the anticipation

everyone was keen for cake 

duelling blowy whistle things - what are they called?

Piñata fun begins

Alex has a turn

OK, so I had to have a go or we would have been there all night

the rush for more sugar begins

it's like they'd never seen lollies before!

variation on musical chairs - thankfully no injuries

jumping castle - I forgot to take a photo until the party was over so looking a bit sad with just Alex

Will try to do another post before his next birthday!

3rd Birthday Tour - Part 2 Sydney

 
Alex's birthday tour continued home to Sydney a week later (yes I am a good 2 months late with the post) with family and friends gathering for a little party at our place. It kind of worked as a house warming as well (we've been here a year now, you might be sensing a pattern).

Friends in the courtyard thanks to the sun making an appearance

Despite panicking through most of the rainy week leading up to it, even buying a tarp in case we had to cover the backyard, the sun shone brightly on the day and it was great to see our little place full of friends and their various small people.

playing with Fern & Elliot

I was worried there wouldn't be enough little friends for Alex as we don't have that many friends with kids his age so I invited a couple of people from daycare as well. It turns out we had about 12 kids and remarkably the day went off without a crisis. Ok there was one moment when a little girl had found grandpa's electric razor and was inches away from shaving my (female) workmate's head but thankfully the would-be hairdresser's dad arrived just in time to avert that crisis.

Like I said - I was pretty proud of the cake effor

In fact I don't think there were even any tears all day and Alex had a ball getting lots of presents (some of which are still in the cupboard unopened - don't tell Alex); eating his number 3 cake (particularly proud of that one) and some healthy-ish snacks and running around with his balloons and bubbles.

Bubble present was a hit

Alex's 3rd birthday tour - part 1 Melbourne

official candle blowing ceremony

In a move normally reserved for royals - Alex chose to take a tour to celebrate his birthday - with celebrations on multiple dates down the eastern seaboard. The tour began with a trip to Melbourne where his Alexness was accommodated by the most wonderful Theodossiou / Braun family and the lady Emily. During his time in Melbourne Alex visited local attractions, got up close and personal with local flora and fauna at a trip to the zoo and supported the local economy by paying far to much for a punnet of hand picked strawberries. As you can see by the photos below all celebrations were thoroughly dignified and proper...

When touring it's important for one to sample
the local produce

and I mean sample...

Definitely no fun happening in this picture

The inevitable nude royal snap!

Sometimes one just has to take the wheel

Getting close to nature - and the lovely Lady Emily

Rock and Roll vs maths

Recently Alex's passions have recently run beyond the pleasures of counting. Although it's still difficult to walk down the street without Alex doing a blow by blow account of every house number, license plate and roadside speed limit - over the past few months he has discovered the joy of music.


This video was taken a few months back at his friend Lily's birthday - but he's been rocking out and jamming with the new family band (Alex on keyboard, Mum on drums, Daddy or Nanna on guitar) ever since. Unfortunately I have to clear all videos with his agent so it might take a bit longer to get a new musical post.