William and Oliver's 4th Birthday

As soon as William and Oliver had demolished the ladybird and hedgehog cakes I made for their 3rd birthday William requested his next cake be a lion and Oliver requested a tiger.  I agreed and put it out of my mind.  As the 2nd July approached I asked them what cakes they would like and the reply was still a lion and tiger.  I was dubious as to whether I would find what I needed in Shanghai without having to remortgage the house!  Over the month leading up to the 2nd we visited numerous shops and I eventually found enough to have a go at some sort of lion and tiger except the shaped tins I really desired!  Icing them proved interesting in the hot weather and they had several cool offs in the fridge before they were finished.

On the morning of their birthday Oliver and William came downstairs and were greeted by the sight of a huge pile of presents. 

We asked them if they would like to open some before breakfast but they said no - either overwhelmed or led by their stomachs like their father! 






We had breakfast at 7am local time - just as it was their birthday in the UK!

After breakfast they opened all of their cards and presents and were delighted with them.  Sam and I bought them a bike each.  They had a quick go but since then it's been a bit hot to ride them. 

William, Oliver and Sam went off to get the balloons for the party while I started getting everthing ready. The bouncy castle arrived and despite having been measured up it didn't fit in the garden!  We put it on the road outside which was fine and a bit cooler.  Socks were a must until the sun went off it as it was boiling!  We also set up a paddling pool.

Guests began arriving from 3pm.  Once all of the older children arrived they were told the bad news that the party bags had gone missing!  William, Oliver, Henry, Teigan and Ryan had to follow clues all over the compound and eventually managed to find them!  After that there was biscuit and party hat decorating followed by bouncing on the castle (now cool enough to be naked!!) and jumping in the paddling pool.

At 5pm there was a birthday tea followed by cake.  By 7 everyone had left and I whisked the boys in to bed.  By 8 Sam, Aled and I were sipping champagne and ordering a takeaway - the perfect end to the day!