celebration

Last weekend we celebrated my Nan turning 80! She is a wonderful lady who means so much to us all and has been a much greater influence and role model in my life than I expect she realises; a big get together for a big birthday was definitely called for!

I had also been looking forward to seeing so many of my family together again for months. Some of my favourite childhood memories are summer barbecues and birthday gatherings in my Nans back garden with all of my cousins. We always had so much fun!

(The above left is my Uncle Rob who came over from Australia, the right is my Auntie Chelle… can you guess who had to be persuaded to hold Matthew?!! HA!)

In recent years the opportunity to all meet like this has been harder to come by which makes it all the more special. Of course our number has increased some now we all have families of our own, my nan now has 7 great-grandchildren!

(My friend recently used the phrase ‘like herding cats’ in conversation…. this sums up trying to organise these photos perfectly.)

I adore watching my own children play with their cousins in the same garden with the same toys that I used to. Over time so much has changed in our family for everyone in so many ways but I love having this reminder that so much also remains the same. I do love family traditions!

I am truly blessed with a beautiful and lovely (not so) little family. This was such a happy afternoon and I’m glad to have this way of recording and sharing it!