Crazy Hayzey has turned 3 - and isn't she proud of herself. As she should be.
The big day was actually yesterday and we did manage to make quite a decent day of it. The festivities started virtually as soon as Hayz woke up - there was a pile of pressies on the dining table and with minimal encouragement she started ripping into them and with various proclamations of 'wow' and 'cool'. It was very sweet to see her open the cards and then proceed to 'read' them before placing them all in a very neat pile.
After pressies we had a very quick breakfast and then it was off to swimming lessons before coming home to build the new climbing/monkey bar thing and getting ready for a small birthday lunch with family (Nanna, Grandma, the Kuckeks, Aunt and Uncle U with baby Lillee and Aunt BJ). The lunch was a last minute sort of affair but in the end both Mrs G and myself were very glad it occurred - it gave us a chance to sit down and actually talk to people without all the noise that comes with a full scale party.
There were more pressies from the various attendees which were duly ripped open and proclaimed in various ways. There was noise as the kids played and questions and answers about what's been going on in the world. It was very nice and very much enjoyed.
After lunch we headed off to the 'proper' party at a play centre. It's the first time we've done one of these and, I have to confess, it is very easy. We shared the party with Hayzey's best (who shares the same name and was born less than 12 hours after our own princess) and it worked well - for everyone I think. All the kids certainly enjoyed it and, for whatever reason, the party ran over and we got an extra 30 minutes of playtime.
Once we left the playcentre a small group headed off to dinner at a local restaurant. We were (luckily) given a table outside. Two tables actually. Not that the kids needed one - none of them sat at it for more than 2 minutes and they spent most of the night running around in the piazza/plaza type area. The adults got to sit back and have a chat.
So, as a final message - happy birthday my sweet little angel.