This week saw my three three year olds turn four. Yep, they are four. I cannot believe how fast (and yet so slow some days!) the time has gone. I have four little people now, each having their own little personality and idiosyncrasies. Hayden is still the ultimate big brother, who knows all of his sisters toys names, knows how to fix a tea party, and who has unconditional love for his siblings. This is one of the first photos of him being a big brother – here he is visiting Emma (about 6 hours old) and singing to her (Miss Polly had a dolly who was sick sick sick…)
Being school holidays, we have had the fun of having them home every day. Last week we took them to a special high tea (Enchanted Forest High Tea at the Stamford Plaza in Brisbane) to celebrate their birthday, get dressed up like princesses and princes and have tea and cake (a daily mission for them!). We were the only ones there, and we got the special treatment. The kids were overwhelmed with the tea pots, cake and sandwiches. It was very special – and reports from the kids “I think that high tea is very special Mummy”.
High Tea!
It was an amazing time – and so incredibly worth it (we got 2 for 1 vouchers off of Facebook, so it was very affordable!). They all had an excellent time, and had happy birthday sung to them!
Moving along to their actual birth ‘day’. They all wanted different cakes. Yep, three cakes. They all decided (as a collective I guess) that they wanted to go “Birthday Camping” for their birthday wish/present. So, for the cakes, Brendan wanted a fire truck, Emma wanted Slimer from the Ghostbusters, and Caitlyn a Princess. This is what we ended up with –
Cakes are even in birth order!
We sang happy birthday three times, and they had a small piece of each cake. (we still have left overs even after giving some away!).
B
Ems
CJ
After cake, we set off for birthday camping. We went to Murphys Creek Escape, in the Lockyer Valley. It was amazing. The kids love the caravan. So do I. It is some quality screen free time where we all have to work together, play together and be together. We had a camp fire every night, and some marshmallows roasted over the fire one night.
We set off on a “safari” where we wandered through the creek bed and the rocks. It was a wonderful few hours (yep hours!) where the kids were able to safely explore and look around. Even though it was cold and the water was freezing, they all unanimously decided to go for a ‘safari swim’ and build a dam. Thank goodness for warm showers (20 cents for 2 minutes) and extra clothes!
All four kids were dripping wet, covered in sand, mud, and red dirt. But they had FUN. And so did we. Watching them work together (for a bit!) building a dam, then running off and splashing, playing and just being kids. It was beautiful to watch. And I know they will remember it. No fighting, just fun and exploring safari style.
This is one of my favourite photos from the trip away –
I have started the impossible washing load (am 6 loads in…a few to go) and the kids have mentioned a few hundred times how much they love camping and want to go again. And soon.
So now I have a 7 year old, and three 4 year olds. I cannot wait to see what the next year brings!
Moloney Mayhem :) 