Four years ago today....

It amazes me that in four years, my daughter has changed from the babes in arms, completely dependent, chubby little sweetheart into the bundle of energy, talkative, caring little girl that she is today. I know that I have also changed in those four years but I look at her and am just in awe... not because she is the cleverest (which of course she is!), or the most advanced (again, goes without saying!) but just because she is her own person who has her own ideas, her own imagination and most of all, knows her own mind. It might not be of the same as mine that often, but I wouldn't change her for the world!

Children are ace and I know just how lucky I am to have two, such special people in my life so, at the risk of switching everyone off my blog for life, I just want to record it now that they are two of the funniest, sweetest and loopiest people ever and by far, my most favourite!

The last time I threw a birthday party for my daughter at home, it was carnage - think every toy in the house out, food walked into every square inch of the house, broken stuff, kids just everywhere! I was determined not to repeat it but you can't not celebrate, especially when you're four! I even went a bit baking mad and made four different delights; lemon and blueberry muffins, coconut macaroons, millionaires shortbread and for the birthday girl, Devils Food Cake! I was up until silly o'clock last night but completely worth it - you can almost see them all in the picture at the back right, minus the birthday cake which I need to download!

I have been quite slack in all other cooking areas lately - haven't made bread for ages and the soup has been off the boil a little too! In my defence, life has really kicked in lately and I am pooped as well as not seeming to have any time. But I might have to knock something out this weekend although am currently trying out the 5:2 diet (where you fast for a couple of days a week). It's supposed to help  you lose weight round your middle as well as improve your defences against dementia and the like. So far, so good - I should probably get some scales to see if it's having any effect though..

Right, it's late - I'm waffling.

If we didn’t have birthdays, you wouldn’t be you.
If you’d never been born, well then what would you do?
If you’d never been born, well then what would you be?
You might be a fish! Or a toad in a tree!
You might be a doorknob! Or three baked potatoes!
You might be a bag full of hard green tomatoes.
Or worse than all that… Why, you might be a WASN’T!
A Wasn’t has no fun at all. No, he doesn’t.
A Wasn’t just isn’t. He just isn’t present.
But you… You ARE YOU! And, now isn’t that pleasant!
Happy Birthday To You!
Dr Seuss