Our garden party to celebrate Joe's first birthday was thankfully a big success with the sun shining over Bournemouth for the first time in a week. Burgers and beers were consumed in large quantities and the nappy changing mat was in constant use as parents opted to make an afternoon of our hospitality. Indeed, an extra trip to Tesco for more burger buns was deemed necessary by my overworked father-in-law who took on Barbeque duties for the afternoon.
As for Joe and his baby friends, they seemed to have a great time. I was especially thrilled to see him displaying some of the Hawkins charm by enticing girlfriend Rivah into the sun tent with a handful of strawberry jelly and a white chocolate button. She gleefully accepted the invitation before Joe, caveman style, pulled her hair and dragged her into his hide. Rivah's mummy saved the situation with an iced lolly before any tears could flow.
The only slight dampener on day didn't come from a raindrop, but the car trouble which resulted in my sister arriving three hours late. All wasn't lost though as she arrived in time to deliver her bounty of pirate cupcakes for the kids party bags. And I was left with a chocolate teddy bear cake, that I had in reserve just in case she failed to arrive, all to myself. Yum! Yum!
