Tom's birthday

My baby turned 3.  He didn't know it at first (he was fast asleep between Steve and I), Sam came bounding in at 7:01am, slipped into bed next to me and said in a loud whisper 'can Tom open his presents now?'
I responded with a 'NO!  He is still asleep' 
'ahhhh' 
'close your eyes Sam, let me get another 15 minutes sleep' 
'ok' - wriggle, prod Tom, fidget sigh -
'is it 15 minutes yet?'
'arghhhhhhhh!!!'
Tom woke up.  We all moved and shifted and turned, and sat up plopping a large bag filled with presents on the bed.  Sam took charge, handed Tom his presents and helped him to open the tricky ones

The gift that he was most excited about was his shopping trolley filled with play food

The boys and I went downstairs and then began a frantic attempt to get the house sorted before Grandma and Grandad arrived.  Breakfast, wash and dress the children.  Breakfast shower and dress myself.  Get call from Steve in the bedroom - 'why didn't you wake me up (it was 10am) I have to get Sam to Percy Park (first rugby practice, ever) by half past 10!'  Aieeeee!  Sam doesn't want to learn to play rugby anymore.  Drags his feet.  Hides in his bed.  Is told he is just feeling a bit nervous and only has to watch and see what he thinks.  Decides the promise of a drink of pepsi after practice might be worth going to check it out.  They head out living Tom and I to it. Clean the bathroom (tom watches telly).  Clean the kitchen (Tom wrecks bathroom).  Check the living room clean has held up through yesterday afternoon and this morning (no).  Hoover living room (Tom wrecks kitchen).  Fail to make it to Morrisons to buy the birthday lunch Tom has requested.  Grandma and Grandad arrive to Tom's immense pleasure.  Leave boy child with grandparents and tear to the shop.  Get back with yummies to suit all disparate tastes.  Find all my menfolk in situ, returned from rugby having had (pardon the pun) a ball.  Lay the table, put out food, call everyone in, sit down and... phew!!  Sit down myself!

Grandma and Grandad had to leave early because they had to get home to get all their packing done for their trip to America on the 8th, but they held off leaving to see eldest grandson Daniel arriving.  This was all coming up for about 4pm which had me a bit panicky because we were meant to be at The Treehouse for the party starting at 4pm!  As it turned out we were the last to arrive at ten past 4, but it was okay because all the guest were children of my friends and neighbours who understood my garbled explanations and apologies!  In summary the kids had an absolute blast - all the different ages (from 1 through to 8) playing happily together - even if they all had a slightly different understanding of the rules, there was a fair amount of Mornington Crescent going on!!!  Birthday tea was chips and a choice of chicken nuggets, fish fingers or hotdog, followed by ice cream, which seemed to be enjoyed by all.

Then it was 5:30 and time to go home and unwrap his pile of wonderful presents from our lovely, generous friends.  Tom was a bit overwhelmed at times and just wanted to sit and play with a present once it was opened - hard to do when you have an eager older brother (that's Sam of course, for those of you who see the picture and get confused...) who is very keen to see what you've got that he can have a go with!!!