the midnight scrapper

honestly, this will be the last post about 70th birthdays...

While sorting through the many, many photos from my mum's birthday in anticipation of making her an album to remember the night, I remembered that I had not shared the album that we gave to my dad when he celebrated his 70th (2 years ago).

I gave Oscar & Byron a big sheet of paper with 1 - 70 written on it and asked them to write out 70 things / facts / whatever about their Da. They took a few days but the list was made. I had pledged that I would not edit their thoughts or try to make the reality more "polished" - well you know just how honest kids can be LOL.

So this little 7 gypsies album - 70 Things -  became a tribute to a great Da (and Dad) from his 2 grandsons. They shone a spotlight on his life and love in such a simple way, and it touched his heart on the night like no other gift that he received.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kept the whole thing very simple, added some photos and the felt flowers and for the last 2 entries (69 & 70) I had the boys hand write a note to Da (love their handwriting so much).

Too many pages to include, but you get the idea from these pages.

Note 1: Yes, I know the "g" is missing from the cover (well used) and I will replace it when I paint another to match, or find that damn "g" somewhere on the bookshelf!

Note 2: When Oscar mentions that his Da pees on his soccer field, you must remember we live on a property (no neighbours) and the whole place is one giant soccer field. No need to ring the authorities. Ha!

 

you've never been to melbourne? no really, never...

I get this a lot. But not anymore, because on Monday my sister & I took my mum to Melbourne as our birthday present to her (yep, that 70th just keeps on going!). They have both been to Melbourne many times so Iwas the  tourist with the camera out the whole time.

We packed so much into those 3 days. Saw all the major sights...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Found this great patchwork shop...

 

Got to ride the trams...

 

 

Found this sweet little cupcake shop, and never wanted to leave...

 

 

Conquered (maybe!!) my fear of heights by going up to the top of the skydeck...

 

Saw "Billy Elliot...

 

And ate, and ate and ate - our favourite was Movida Tapas Bar...

 

 

 

Cool street art...

 

 

 

and so much more. Good times indeed. Now I have to get to work on my Melbourne album!

And just for the record, mum's birthday is now oficially OVER!!!!!!

Another Easter is celebrated in "style"...

Easter Sunday was cool and damp and just what we are used to for our annual egg frenzy hunt! As usual we gathered on my parents verandah and the hunt for the mini eggs was on. This hunt is not for wimps  (see here to bring you up to speed!!) and the boys did a stellar job of finding all the eggs.

 

 

As you can see the cousins started off with sweet yellow pails that their Mum thought would look good. These were soon ditched and Nana's tuppaware cupboard raided when it became obvious that those little pails were holding them back  (check out that green colander circa 1975 LOL)

Of course Oscar has pointed out to me just how "wrong" those cane baskets are  but we have had them forever and every Easter they just get dragged out again. He could be 30, I told him, and I will be dragging that basket out and putting it at the bottom of your bed. Ha!

 

 

Then it was time for the count to see who had found the most eggs...it was close but Byron claimed victory with 131. There was of course a dispute and countback but as we had already started to eat them it seemed a little pointless LOL

 

Lunch was very yummy indeed and there was barely a left over.

The highlight; the "hot cross bun bread and butter pudding" courtesy of Fiona. I saw this on her blog (and many other wonderful things I have copied, made, cooked from there, go check it out) and decided it sounded like just the thing. Behold, the birth of a new family favourite!!!!

 

OK, I think I have done it right...seemed to easy.

 

Fresh from the oven...ummmm smells very good.

 

Ready to be served with apricots and whipped cream.

 

A confirmed success...thanks Fiona. That last bit was eaten a short time later as the boys realised that, yes, they could squeeze in just a little bit more.

And finally, this Easter didn't see a lot of  creativity (had been busy with Mum's birthday and all) so I ended up making these as little treats...

 

 

I know, I know, juvenile and gross, but I live with boys and it just sort of rubs off on you!!! The "poo" is baby marshmellows to give it that genuine rabbit droppings look. They went down a treat with the kids and  grossed out the adults.

Happy Easter!

I'm still here; just been a little busy...

 So March came and went and all I remember is that we threw my Mum one hell of a 70th birthday party!!!

It started with about 40 of these invitations being sent out; all hand made and lots of steps!!

 

 

We made a thank you gift for each guest to take home at the end of the evening...could have used the Bazzill ones but decided to make our own (because my sister & I are just crazy like that LOL) because we wanted them to match the theme. They have a photo of our Mum from every decade of her life (baby to 70).

 

  

As a special gift, we organised for her friends and family to send us a note with a short message to Barbara about their friendship. We compiled these in the 7 gypsies "roladex" and planned to add photos taken on the night (still a work in progress). There were some very beautiful things written and it has reduced Mum to tears on several occassions since the big night!

 

 

We set up a little "display" as you first walked in, just to set the scene...

 

And of course, you totally need a red carpet entrance for such a big event (take that Oprah. Ha!)

 

There were flowers everywhere (5am at the flower markets, good times) and we went crazy with the paper lanterns, fairy lights & votives. The house & marque's looked so lovely when it went dark...twinkling away. Even the pool had floating flower arrangements.

This shot is just before everyone arrives and we are making last minute checks with the caterer and most importantly, the bar staff. Dougal, our waiter, is kindly wrangling the floating flower arrangement back into my optimum placement - of course this did not last long and I just had to let that little detail go!!

 

Here's the cake (and I can assure you it has photographed very bright and is not flouro green LOL). My sister made the cake and we used fresh flowers to top it (Mum was just relieved we didn't use 70 candles!)

 

And finally...my Mum & Dad on the night.

 

The party started at 7.00pm and we got to bed at 4.00am. Big Night!!!!

The food was fantastic (cocktail party), the guest had fun, I had put together a 20min DVD (set to music) of Barb's life which had her alternating from tears to hysterical laughter (which made the 5000 hours of scanning and resizing worth it LOL) and once the music cranked up it was party central.

It will take us till her 80th to recover, but it was certainly a night that we all won't forget for a very long time :)