A birthday weekend.

Isabella was three years old on Saturday, so the weekned consisted mostly of baking, cake and balloons.



Present opening took place with everyone piled onto our bed as usual and even big brother Tom arrived ludicrously early so as not to miss out. Note the 'Dr Feelgood' name tag from her doctor's set which we thought was hilarious. (The Duplo arrived the day before, Jane!).



Elias made fresh pasta for dinner with a delicious spinach pesto sauce. He really is great at making it using the pasta machine and can do the whole process on his own now, which is pretty cool for a twelve year old I think.



Food for the party on Sunday was started in the morning with Lucy kneading the dough for the pizzas and helping to make cheese and salami palmiers (flaky pastry bites which are best warm), pizza sauce, egg sandwhiches with lovely fresh eggs from our own hens, and more.



I decorated my lemon cake with lots of pretty spring flowers.



Mr Davey made scones, tortilla and the gorgeous chocolate birthday cake as tradition dictates. Jugs of beautiful aquilegia, campion and buttercups from the garden were placed throughout the house. I think we made enough!



I hung a net of balloons over the table and once the candles were blown out on the cake, we released them. Such an easy thing to do, but it looks so lovely. Shame I forgot to get a photo! Here's Isabella all excited about her cake and that gorgeous chap holding her is my lovely Sam (second eldest son!) who arrived back from New Zealand as a surprise about 7.45am that very morning after a 44 hour journey and little sleep. Isabella took one look at him, said in a sorrowful voice, "Sam I lost you," and raced to hug him...so sweet! He's back for about a week, then off to Belgium to stay with his sister for a bit, so I am making the most of him.



Other than Isabella's birthday and Dave & I endlessly reminiscing about when she was born, the weekend had me sewing like a dervish to finish up the next batch of orders, and poor Dave also working his socks off as he has Ofsted visitng his school this week - just to add to an already overflowing workload. Hmm, sometimes life throws a dozen balls in one go and the result is sleepless nights. Soon be half term and a brief respite from all the stress...for a bit. At least someone was able to sleep!



So, Happy Birthday my gorgeous, feisty, stubborn, very cute and absolutely precious Isabella. We love you our little growing-up-girl'. x



(P.S. forgot to say on a totally practical note that today is the last day for the Lauren Tote Bag offer, so click on the link if you would like to order one.)