Matthew turns 3!

Dear Matthew

 

Last Saturday you turned three! We started the day at about 3am where you woke up and demanded that you couldn’t go back to sleep until we put your shoes on, so you slept the rest of the night with your sneakers on. When you woke up in the morning we had your kitchen assembled and waiting for you, however as we’d decorated it with balloons we struggled to get you interested in it, as the balloons were clearly more exciting! You eventually also opened your other presents (pots and pans, plastic fruit and veg and some toy cars) and had fun playing chef.

We then packed up the car and headed to the Russell Brown Adventure Park for your birthday party. This is a favourite park of yours (I’m sure I’ve blogged about it previously) and we nabbed a good spot under a shady tree. Amazingly the weather was perfect (sunny and 29 degrees)! We decorated the tree and set up food and drinks, and the guests then started to arrive. You enjoyed playing in the water and especially watching some plastic boats we had brought along float down the stream with your cousins and friends.

You loved the train cake I had baked for you (an original from the Women’s Weekly birthday cake book) and have talked about it many times since that day so I know it was a hit! We sang happy birthday to you and you happily blew out the candle (twice!). What I loved was after finishing one piece you then came back and helped yourself to a second, grabbing a new plate and fork and everything! Classic!  

It was a beautiful day and I’m so glad so many of your little friends (and family members) turned out to celebrate our gorgeous boy. In the evening you washed the car with daddy and then your Grandad and Maree came over for dinner and to watch some soccer, but you and I passed out around 7pm we were so exhausted! Whoops!

 

The next day your Ma Ma and Gumps came over for the usual Sunday dinner at ours and brought your present - a motorised quad bike! Ma Ma claimed she didn't know it was motorised but you loved the fact that it was (and the box it came in). Such a lucky kid!

 

Love you birthday boy!

Mum xxx

 

Our weekend antics

Dear Matthew

 

We have been having a great time these past couple of weekends with family and friends so I thought I'd share some photos with you.

 

The first few are from your friend Charlotte's birthday (with the petting zoo) and your friend Oliver's dinosaur birthday. I loved it how you were trying to force the guinea pig to eat the celery to the point where you were almost poking it in the eye. You also loved riding the dinosaurs at the park where Oliver's party was held (and playing hide and seek under it). 

 

 

 

Just wanted to show you the strawberries we picked fresh from our garden!

 

And I had to share this photo of you wearing a tea towel while eating the breakfast you made yourself - a mixture of weetbix, porridge and cornflakes. Yum!

 

We also met your Grandad and Maree at Point Walter not too long ago and of course you ran straight to the water and rocks and thoroughly enjoyed yourself.

 

 

We have been trekking through the bush across the road from our house lately at your insistence, and I managed to snap a few cute photos of you and Soda exploring together, as well as the obligatory sitting-on-a-fallen-tree photo.

 

My sweet boy picked me this flower :) And lastly, just a few snaps of you and your dad at the playground. I love your resilience when you fall off the playground equipment- it not unusual for you to just get yourself back up and say 'try again mummy!'. It is music to my ears to see that you aren't defeated by problems, you keep calm and know that you just need to keep trying in order to master something. This growth-mindset is so important in life - I have learnt that it's not a good thing to call someone smart as they aren't inclined to try and better themselves at something that doesn't come naturally to them. I hope you always remember to 'try again' at things you may find challenging in life, whatever they may be.

 

Love you baby boy (you love it when I call you this by way, and want me to cuddle you when I say it),

 

Mum xxx

Light The Night

 

Dear Matthew

 

Last Friday we attended the Light The Night event at UWA to support the Leukaemia Foundation. This is where everyone is given a lantern which lights up and we walk in memory of those who have passed, those fighting and just generally in support of the Leaukaemia Foundation/families affected. We did so in memory of my friend Pia's beautiful mum Deanne, who passed away two years ago.

 

You had a great time attempting to destroy the lanterns with Pia's kids Thatcher and Marlow and also attempted to do a runner in the crowds many a time. Lucky your dad and I are on to your bolting tactics and grabbed you and pulled you back into the group.

 

We were so lucky with the weather given the horribly long winter/non-spring we have been having and the day after it absolutely bucketed down all day.

 

Despite not having a nap that day you managed to survive the event sans-breakdown even though it finished around 8pm - hooray!!

 

Always remember that it's important to support charities however we can. We are so lucky to live the life that we do and we should ensure we always give back to those less fortunate in their circumstance.

 

Love,

 

Mum xxx