Tamar's Birthday

I My sister, Tamar, had her twenty first birthday this year. This is a big thing in my house. With the exception of my self, everyone had a big 21st party (I didn't on a count of getting married :P)

The party itself was on Saturday, but we all rocked up on Rriday to get settled in and help with the preparations. The children were excited, not because on the party exactly, but because they wee going to get to see the aunties.

We had the privelidge of some friends looking after the animals for us while we were gone, so we stayed three nights, instead of the usual two. The friends, Dead and Holly, with their 18 math old daughter, Dalcy, took the guinea pig cage and it's cargoes of four piggies home with them, as these guys are used to eating grass all the time, and there cage has to be moved to a fresh grassy spot every couple of hours, and so it was easier for them to have them at home. (Also they are a limited fuss and definitely FREE lawn mowing service if you move the cage to line neatly up with the other eaten patches) and then Holly and Dalcy came over every evening to check the budgies, cats and rats, feed the rabbits and feed the chooks and collect the eggs, which they took home, as we obviously weren't using them while we weren't there, lol! Also I showed her in the garden which veggies and herbs were ready to eat now so they could help themselves there too, if they wanted.

Back to the party!

Since at least two other families were coming we were blessed that Mum and Dad kept the caravan for us to shack up in.

It got really cold on Friday night, but the other two nights were okay.

A view from in front of the caravan

This one from the doorway.

And inside.

There were about fifty people there...another large family who were close family friends, my Uncle and Aunty from Sydney made the trip special, Miriam, Ryan, and their two daughters, my brother Ben brought his girlfriend, my brother Tim brought his girlfriend and her parents, plus, of course, Michael and myself and our children.

The only family member who wasn't there was my brother Nath, who lives about 8 hours away and couldn't get time off work.

Tamar in the red, with Bed and his Girlfriend.

Kitchen activities, Mum in blue, Ryan in checkered jacket, Marelyn, (Tims girlfriends Mum) in white spots, and hiding behind Mum is my Aunty Sue, from Sydney.

Dad, Mr Shaw (the Dad of the big family) and Murray, (Marelyns, husband, chatting over food.

Lovely food! mum in blue, Mrs Shaw next to her.

Games to work off the savouries so we could fit the sweets in!

Cake!

Nomnomnom!!

Lighting candles..

Blowing the candles out.

And then, after the cake munching...

PRESENTS!!

At the end of the day those who were going home went, and the rest of us sort of drifted off to bed. No one was hungry for dinner (funny that!!) but every one was tired. Tired but happy.

The next day, Sunday, was spent quietly. We had a small church service, then lunch, then everyone else went home home except us.

We went home Monday morning. A smooth, non eventful drive. Full of quiet thoughts and snoozing.