Four Parties, Two Continents, Priceless

Party Number 1

William turned 1 on 10th October, but his birthday celebrations started on Friday 3rd October with a Tea Party at Grandma's and Grandpa's in England before Paul flew home.

Table set for a King

Yummy Dinner!! and a Balloon

Helium Balloon Fun with Uncle Tony

I Love Chocolate Cake!! - thanks Mummy

Presents

I can't reach the Cake!!

Party House

Party Number 2 - Friday 10th October

My family came over on William's actual birthday for a small celebration to mark the day before the BIG party.

Party Number 3 - Sunday 19th October - Bob the Builder Theme

Jumping Castles, Face Painting, Chocolate Crackles, Jelly Cups and 27 screaming kids - We must have been made!! But it was a great day!!

I love Blue Icing!!

Cake complete with William's hand print in Bob's Face

The rain stayed away - only just

Bob the Builder
James as Spiderman

I had fun on the Jumping Castle Mum!

Cousins at Play



Jumping Castle Fun

Jelly Cups - Yum!!

Party Number 4 - Mothers Group Monday 20th October

More Food!!

All these parties have worn me out!!!

William's Trip to England

We decided at very short notice (1 week) to take William to England to meet the family, so off I went (on my own, brave girl!!) on 17th September - Paul meet us over there on the 26th after a business trip to Hong Kong and stayed with us for 6 days. William and I flew home on the 7th October in time to celebrate his first birthday on the 10th. More to come on William's first birthday in the next update.

William travelled really well and was a little star on the flight - he was not really affected by jet lag when we got there but he was a little shy to start with but he soon warmed up to two dotting grandparents and our adventure started.

This will be a mainly pictorial update with the odd bit of commentary. William met lots of family and friends and is a very socialable little boy, winning hearts all over England.

William's first visit to an English pub - Sunday Lunch at The Blue Ball near Paul's home town of Chesham with Grandma and Grandpa

William contented with his new toy from Waddedson House - Rothschild Estate

Uncle Mark - what a difference to the last photo taken of these two back in December 07

Great Uncle Brian (my dad's brother) at the Black Boy pub in Oving
Chris, Julie (Chris is my Dads cousin) and Brian with William at The Black Boy pub in Oving Buckinghamshire
Jules and William - cuddle time - William is getting tired
Stewart (my dads cousin), Denise and William

Shirley (my dad's cousin) and William

Shirley, William and me!

Great Aunty Ruth (Paul's dads sister), William is holding onto the gold!!
Aunty Shiv (Paul's sister in law)

Uncle Tony (Paul's brother)

Grandparents Day - (Paul's parents)

Great Aunty Vera (Paul's mum's Aunt)

Uncle Peter (Paul's mums brother)

Katrina and Isabella (Paul's cousin - Peter's daughter)

Paul arrived for a very short visit (6 days) on Fri 26th Sept and we had a get together with all of our friends at a local restaurant - Annie Baileys.

The Boys at 40ish!! - left to right Tim, Adrian, Paul, Mark, Paul B

Tim, Gill, Mark, Ruth and Paul B

Paul and William with Colin and Tina
Paul B and William - William then falls asleep in Paul's arms.

William in London

Trafalgar Square (closest I coudl get to the Lion on my own and get a photo!)

Swimming and Eating

William is changing every week and becoming more and more animated. He is not quite crawling, but loves being up on his feet and he took a few little steps yesterday with me holding his hands. He loves his food, especially yoghurt, I can't replenshing the spoon fast enough before his mouth is open again waiting for more. A week or so back he wouldn't eat any food I cooked and would only take food from a jar, but I have managed to wean him of the jarred stuff with yummy recipes that he now loves!! He is weaned now which has freed me up quite a bit, Paul can now give him the odd early am feed over the weekend.

We have started going swimming every Tuesday afternoon with Mothers Group and William loves it. Paul took him last Saturday and is about to take him again today (Sat) and he put William under water a couple of times - he was OK with it but we didn't push it too much!! I lay him on his tummy and he kicks away, drinking the pool water as well - so I have to watch that!!!

It is Father's Day tomorrow so we are going out for the day, so stayed tuned for photos.