All I want for my birthday...is my 2 front teeth!

Jessica was up with the larks to cut the ribbon leading down to her birthday room. The 'rumpus room' had been prepared by my friend, Tracy and I the day before, so the message read, "No admission for any 8 year olds."
Her birthday card was a painting showing the new Tamagochi game that we have ordered for her present, but is not released until the 20th June!


Jessica opening her presents very slowly, next to her birthday table. Alex was dying to help and couldn't resist offering his assistance frequently!


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Luckily the rain stayed away for the Horse trek at Singleton Dunes! (Not really, I know it is Stockton really)....a nervous looking crew: Emily(Jessica's borrowed cousin), Jess(birthday girl), Claire(friend across road), Paul(Claire's Dad and Tennis opposition on thursdays), Alex and Chris, of course.



Blown away on the beach...and we couldn't see any whales !



Much more pleasant in the bush...Alex loved riding...especially when we did a few trots(my knees hated it though! Chris had to lift me off my horse at the end. because my knees were locked in a seated position..how embarrassing!)


This was the donut game......8 donuts tied to a pole, with 8 girls trying to eat their one first! Chris & I found it very amusing watching sugar, hair and chomping teeth battling together! Great party game...but maybe not too good to mix with loads of pizza, fizzy drink, ice-cream and sweets! The winner of this competition was sick at 2am in the morning.....so that will teach me!


Jessica's birthday party; pizza, party games, DVDs and sleepover(just for 4!)


Grace would be proud of me.....luckily one of my new friend's, Ann, is a wonderful cake maker; she has 4 children so she has lots of practise and fun. She and her eldest daughter gave me wonderful tuition and helped me to make this...my first ever birthday cake!

Our big 9 year old!

Jessica & Alex are very lucky to have a borrowed Nanny here too; she kindly invited us all to a special party to celebrate Jessica's and Alex's birthdays.

Our borrowed family for the year. We promise to put them back as we found them. We are very lucky.