Mat is 40

Today is Mat's 40th birthday. He is one of my oldest friends, we've known each other since I was in Kindergarten. It had been years since we had seen each other, but then he turned up when I was working at Woolies in high school, dating one of my friends! We reconnected and were inseparable after that and many years later, he ending up marrying my best friend! What are the chances? Anyway, I love the dude and would do anything for him, so being at his 40th was the actual best. This awesome photo, taken on Jens new phone (I am just a tad jealous) shows him perfectly, the country life, surrounded by mates, drinking a beer. Perfect.

It was actually such a good night, cold as anything, but that was no issue once they got the fire going! The kids all ran wild in the paddocks until they got too tired, at which time I took the boys back to mums and they went to bed while Madeline and I hung out.

Mat the party planner went all out and there was good food, a lotttt of drinks and even Mat's 40th stubby holders to go around.

Perfect!

Hanging with the bestie - photo by Maddie our 11 year old photographer haha

and one of Mat with Jen and baby Sophie 

The fire was raging - and provided some awesome light in the photos. It's just not a country party without a fire!

Mat decided an actual birthday cake wasn't necessary and instead had Jen make some poop cupcakes. They were so cute - and also so weird haha. But certainly tasted good!

Highlight of the night was definitely watching Mat smash up the piñata that I had so carefully filled with a buttload of lollies from Kmart. The kids went wild when it broke open, only to have the adults scrambling for first dips after a friend had jammed the top section full of mini bottles of spirits. Classic. Made it all the more perfect for Mat. Best bit was that he hit it so hard one of the bottles broke - even though they were all plastic! Wild. Had the adults cracking up.

Next day found us back in the paddock again, fire still burning away much to the delight of my kids. 

This girl of course needed to pose for photos and send them to her city mates. She's not quite a country girl, but she is sure trying.

She cute though. Haha.

Happy 40th Mat. Let's hope there's at least another 40 in you! ❤ 

Malinda's birthday cake

Sometimes (on the very odd occasion) I like to bake cakes for other people. A friend from church had her 40th yesterday and I offered to make her cake... then thought oh my goodness what have I done? haha.

I went with vanilla (this recipe here), cause I swear every birthday cake you ever have at a party is chocolate and I wanted it to be different. Must admit I didn't even ask her what she wanted, just went with it. Thankfully she seemed happy. I got this new cutter to make all the cakes the same level from the opshop this week and can confirm it works a treat! Look at that!

I had my little personal assistant balance it on her lap on the way to the party and was very grateful for her assistance. It made it there with no problems at all and I was so relieved.

I actually love it. The plan was to do the pink a little more pale originally to have it looking rustic, but then I decided to get in there with gold accent pieces and gold leaf on the sides and I thought it turned out great!

Gold leaf was a lot more expensive than I expected and I had to stick it to the cake with tweezers piece by piece.

Happy birthday to you Malinda!

isaac hits the big 4-0

today the youngest of my big brothers hit the big 40 (which most of all is scary because it means it is my turn next!) and we went for lunch at this cute little restaurant called "our table" in bedford.

what an old guy lol. he was very good natured about his baby sister teasing him with a big as birthday badge and big 40 candles on his cake that i made. his absolute favourite thing is banoffee pie, so i made that and took it along to have as his birthday cake. you can see from this pic he was pleased as punch.

i also bought him a lego truck set, as in all our childhood years that was his instant go-to whenever we would play with lego. he loved it. hopefully he actually makes it.

i have been blessed beyond measure having big brothers to grow up with. many times i've been told i missed out by being the only girl and not having any sisters, but i don't think i have missed a thing. it's all i have ever known and i have loved every minute of it.

isaac and i fought as children, and were best friends as teenagers. we did everything together, shared friends and run amuck, resulting in many ridiculous photos like this one. as we have grown up, lots of things have changed, but one thing will never change, he was my very first best friend. 

he is a classic car nut. loves his old holdens - and  funnily enough, even bought dougs older ute from us last year when doug got his new car, turning it into a country boy ute within weeks of the purchase.

we have laughed over the years about the fact that he doesn't talk a lot. you know if he says something it's worth listening to! he has always been the class clown and is so unbelievably witty with an amazing and quick comeback for every situation.

what can i say? we may not always see eye to eye (in fact we very rarely do!) but i love him madly and always will

he's become a great guy, an amazing dad - and still is the most immature person i have ever met

tactless as always, ready with a waiting hand to flip his next unsuspecting victim the bird.

happy big deal birthday isaac! i'll love you for always ❤

even when you refuse to take selfies with me!