Shabby Art Boutique: Birthday Celebrations

My baby girl is having a birthday and I can't believe she is turning 11. It seems like just yesterday that I was cradling her in my arms.

Aimee had a rocky start to life and we came very close to losing her at 4 weeks of age. There were a few more hiccups along the way which truly makes us appreciate how special she is to us.

We have had a 5 day celebration and it isn't even her birthday until tomorrow. Her grandparents were leaving on holidays last week so we had an early birthday dinner with them last Thursday evening. Aimee chose her favourite home cooked meal and as always got to choose her birthday cake. I was quite relieved when she requested a Vienetta Ice Cream cake - how easy!!

Saturday was spent preparing for birthday party number two - the dreaded sleepover party. I think we should change the name to 'night owls' party because we all know they are never going to sleep. The pack of noisy girls descended on our house at 5pm and hubby and the dog ran for cover. At 1:30am I finally waltzed up the stairs for the last time to request they stop jumping on the floor above my bedroom. I didn't care if they talked and giggled all night but the thumping was sending me insane!! Would you believe at this ungodly hour they decided that they were hungry.... AGAIN!!!

Sunday morning when our noisy, and excitable little house guests were returned to their parents (with a certain amount of pleasure on my part) we set about restoring some sort of order to our home so that we could prepare for the family gathering to be held on Monday, a public holiday here in Melbourne.

Aimee had designed her own invitations for the family and decided on a party theme - her favourite of course..... lollies....that's candy for my US friends.

Sunday afternoon was spent making home made sausage rolls and savouries and lots and lots of sweet treats.......

like choc coated lolly bananas....

choc dipped snakes.......

butterfly cakes - that Aimee made herself.

my version of the NZ lolly cake......

and of course birthday cake number 3 had to be a lolly cake!!!

So with the candles blown out on cake number 3 and my house restored to normality, yet again, I feel I can finally sit back and relax. With my 'resting' restrictions still in place I am learning how to delegate.

Now all that is left is her actual birthday tomorrow which will just be a party of 4 and Gypsy of course, who has been in hiding for the past few days. I'm glad kids birthdays only come around once a year.

Today I am back to the studio for some peace and tranquility. I think the high pitched sqeals of 'tweenie' girls has done my head in because I've had to resort to the soothing tones of my 'Music in nature' serenity CD for background noise today.