What a weekend...

The weekend has come and gone and I can't believe it's already Monday!  We are all exhausted, but thoroughly enjoyed our weekend celebrations for my dad's 60th this coming Wednesday.  It all started on Friday, with the arrival of our extended family from Jo'burg.  On Friday evening, we all went down for pizzas and sun downers at The Blue Peter.  It's one of our favourite summer spots on the beach and the kids love running around, while we lazily watch the sunset.

Jake spent Friday afternoon with his Granny Karen and had already been to the beach, where he'd collected a smelly, living prawn in a paper cup.  Needless to say, I wasn't going to let it die slowly at home and he was quite happy to pop it back into the sea down at the beach.  The weather was very windy on Friday, a sure sign that summer is on its way - finally!  We were quite sheltered at the B.P. until well after sunset, it was a lovely evening to start off a great weekend...

After releasing his prawn, we noticed some action a little further down the beach front and went to have a look.  There were fishermen pulling in their nets, which was very exciting for a little guy who is so mad about fishing...

 Jake ran ahead, to be sure he didn't miss out on anything (that's him with the black top slipping off his shoulders)...

 Jake wasted no time helping the fishermen haul in their load.  Never mind that we were on our way out!  By the end of it all, his socks, shoes & pants were soaked, but he was so happy...

 Wriggling fish and busy fishermen...

 Jake working hard...

 Shiney fish for dinner!  Jake was super disappointed that he wasn't allowed to take any home...

On Friday, Jake brought home his various works of art from school.  You may remember this one from the school open day.  Jake is very proud of it (as am I) and insisted on giving it to my dad as a special gift for his birthday...

 Early on Saturday, we were at my mom & dad's to help them get sorted for the party on Saturday night.  The tent went up on Friday and our house was transformed into something very colourfully Bohemian ...

 Tables were decorated...

And little comfy chill out spots created...

 After the very iffy weather we've been having, Saturday turned out to be a scorching 30 deg, it was perfect and the kids took advantage of having a pre-party swim...

 My dad's family travelled down from Johannesburg to be with him for this special milestone birthday.  They wanted to give him his gift early.  As part of my dad's speech, he chatted about his leukemia and treatment thereof.  My dad loves his music and at the time, he said "All I Need is a Miracle", my uncle turned out to be just that and it's thanks to this wonderful man that my dad is here to celebrate his 60th...

   Their gift was an iPod, something my dad's spoken about getting, but never actually bought for himself.  Very special...

 Taking photos in the tent proved a little tricky for me.  The lighting was red and the background lighting blue.  Even if I had it, I don't even think I'd know how to correct everything that's wrong with Photoshop.  That said, the lights, the candles and tent gave so much atmosphere, it was really fantastic...

 This is my mom (middle) with her brother and sister.  Mom's the baby...

 Dad couldn't be left out...

 A good family friend, Nor, with Rosanne...

 The food was delicious.  We all did a little bit to help out, so that the work wasn't all left up to mom.  Jake and I made the fruit platters and some pudding (peppermint crisp caramel tart), Jo did fillet and a cheese board and Rose did chicken and crumbed prawn platters.  There was tons left over, but we finished most of them yesterday, I feel like a little round ball at the moment...

 Jake had tons of fun with my cousin's kids, also here from Jo'burg.  Aiden is 10 and Emma is 7, such beautiful kids...

 Connor also came, but wasn't feeling too well.  He had a bit of a fever and was a bit overwhelmed by all the people.  He wasn't that keen on having his picture taken, so I had to sneak one of him hiding behind Jake here.  He looked so grown up...

 We had a little bar set up in the backyard, so thirsty guests gathered there.  The girl in the pretty pink dress is my other sister, Sammy.  Non-biological, but sister none-the-less...

 More orange people...

  There's Danie!  He was hiding from me.  Chatting to my gorgeous sister and her wonderful husband...

 Another view across the garden.  Not so orange this time...

  Connor getting a cuddle from his pretty mommy...

 A family friend, who always makes Jake's birthday cake for me, made a surprise cake for my dad, using an old photo of him and my mom.  I think this was an engagement photo, so they were probably about 21/22 years old.  MY dad was a hippie...

 After everyone got stuck into the meal, it was time for a speech.  My dad loves making a speech and this one was particularly long, but also funny and we all enjoyed it.  Mom was up there to help with the reading, but my dad managed well on his own...

 Jake was in charge of lighting the candles on the cake.  This is him threatening to do it all through the speech...

 Dad surprised us by doing a little solo after his speech.  It was unexpected and quite out of character for him.  He did "I feel it in my Fingers" and did well...

 Singing happy birthday...

 My cousin from jhb, Glenn, and his youngest daughter, Julia...

 Connor thought nobody was watching him when he stuck his fingers into the icing on the birthday cake.  He'd made quite a dent by the time I managed to find a knife.  You're only young once...

 Jake and I...

 Me with the very special birthday boy...

 Jake loves to dance with me.  We're banging chests here.  You can't do that when you have a big chest...

  I can still pick him up, he's still my baby!  That's probably one of the reasons why I couldn't get out of the chair by the end of the evening...

 Like the rest of us have book clubs and dinner clubs, my dad belongs to a music club.  It's something that he's started up in recent times, but seems to really enjoy.  These are the guys...

 Having TEQUILA!!!

 A post-tequila shot.  My dad will die when he sees this one up on my blog, but I think it's hysterical.  Too funny not to share with all of you...

 At the end of the night, with just a few last guests enjoying the music...

 Jake snapped this pic of Danie and I, laaaate in the evening...

 We took a whole series of 1-handed photos of us pulling silly faces that I won't share here.  It was hysterical...

OK, maybe 1 - did you know that I can lick the tip of my nose??  What a bunch of chops we are...

 Oh and this one... This is a serious shot...

 Jake can keep going (this is an angry face)...

 Dork...

 The muso's decided to play a few hits.  I'm not sure whether they succeeded in chasing the last few guests away, or whether it was just really late.  We left shortly after they started up though, it was nearly 1am by the time Jake got to bed...

All in all, it was a very successful evening and we all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.  Although not as much as the birthday boy!  He was surrounded by people he loves and who love him and he has the most amazing gifts to remember his special birthday by.  Thanks to everyone who was there and who helped celebrate with us, you are all so special and we love you so much! 

Sue XXX