Two candles on the cake

We had great fun celebrating Pirate Jim's second birthday on the weekend. Despite my disorganisation and last minute changes to the guest list, it was, in the end all about PJ and making it fun for him. We were joined by Nana and Grandpa, who came from Far Away and stayed all weekend, much to PJ's joy (and ours too, when we could shuttle him downstairs at 630 am and go back to bed for an hours extra sleep!), and Tante Mia, who came from Not Quite So Far Away.

There were lots of gifts, lots of wrapping paper debris, lots of laughs, lots of cuddles and lots of fun.

I know he's got a lot of fans out there, so I thought I'd share some photos from the day.

Grandpa gave PJ a truck. After dinging every piece of furniture in the lounge room and the bin taking a fatal hit, we've taken it downstairs til he gets his full licence.

Nana gave PJ a blackboard. It's dangerous work, being an artist - hardhat is complusory.

We gave him a trainset. Our loungeroom is now known as the Island of Sodor.

Then there was cake. I'm a little bit proud of my efforts this year.

But what made me so proud was that PJ blew out the candles all by himself.

Luckily, I decided to whip up the fairy cakes to take to childcare the following day before we did the cake cutting. Lucky, because the oven blew up, and there wouldn't have been any cake at all if I hadn't distracted PJ with a balloon and snuck this one away before he could do much more than eat a few smarties off the top. Smooth off the icing, replace the smarties, and Bam! Flash cake for childcare! Does that make me a bad mama??

So I'm afraid I can't report on the best wine match for green-iced dinosaur cake - but bubbly went very well with the pistachio biscuits, apricot slice and cheese platter. It also went quite well with the little frankfurts!

Thanks everyone for you birthday wishes for PJ - he sends big kisses.

G x