Corky is...

3 today!  Happy birthday to my gorgeous, mischievous, busy, talkative, affectionate, train crazy, sweet little nephew, Corky!!!  It feels like Corky (aka Connor) has always been part of our lives.  I almost can't remember a time when he wasn't around and yet, he's only been here for 3 short years.  He has crept into our hearts in the most beautiful way and his cheeky smile can light up a room.  He loves everything about Thomas the Tank and we all have train names, which he uses often.  I am Duck, Jake is Duncan, Danie's Cranky (a crane), Jo is Henry, Paul is the most random Neville, my mom is Thomas and my dad Percy and Connor is Gordon.  When asked to show off his cross face, Corky turns his nose up and wrinkles his forehead, just as Gordon does when he's upset.

Jo (and Paul) threw "Gordon" a Thomas party again this year.  He had one last year, but with a Edward cake (train number 2).  This year, he had a Henry cake (number 3 train) and perhaps next year he'll have a Gordon train (number 4 train).  Jo really went all out and their home was transformed into a Thomas heaven...

 They even had this cool board for the kids to pose behind as the engine driver.  Jake's sadly starting to feel silly about doing things like this, but I managed to get him to pose for one snap before the other kids arrived.  They grow up far too fast...

 Of course, Bianca was there too.  She's a total party queen and loved every moment of the action.  And there was a lot of action.  My dad in his metro sexual shirt.  Very hip...

 The gorgeous table - what I wouldn't give to be a kid again...

 Princess Bi, getting in on the action...

 I don't know where Joanne got this jumping castle from, but it was amazing...

 Corky and his cake.  I don't think he felt much like smiling, this was the best I could get out of him.  I guess it's all pretty overwhelming for a little guy... 

 Telling Jake which piece he's going to eat.  These two have such a love/hate relationship at the moment.  They are always so excited to see each other, but it invariably ends up with a fight with Jake teasing Connor, or Connor not wanting Jake to play with his toys.  Then, when it's home time again, they don't want to part and Connor cries if Jake goes off without giving him a hug and a kiss on his forehead... 

 Candle time...

 Corky the Engine Driver...

 Hey, who invited these two clowns???  (by the way, the corner's not missing, the wall's in the sun)...

 The whole jumping castle and all the protective mommies watching that their monsters are playing fair...

 Ag no!  You again... 

 Jake and Danie normally manage to get Connor to strike a funny pose for the camera.  Like this...

 Or this, which isn't his cross train face, by the way...

 Back inside and out of the wind, Princess Bi had made her way across to the now deserted kids party table, to feast on their left-overs.  Nobody saw her getting there, we only saw her standing on her own, pigging out.  Hey, Bianca, here's a lesson you're going to have to learn early in life: A moment on the lips, forever on the hips.  Be warned...

 OK, if you smile at me like that with a jelly tot in your mouth, you can eat it all, I'll love you even if you have huge hips one day (but please try not to have)....

 mmm-nommm-nommm... what did you say...

 Connor partied till he couldn't any more.  By the time we left, he was so tired, he was just completely past humour.  I'm sure he slept really well on Saturday night...

I have other things to post about, but today's not the day to be serious.  Today's a day for celebrating a very special little man's birthday.  Happy birthday Connor!

Love Sue X