turty-tree

Yesterday was my 33rd Birthday. I have had such a wonderful weekend, filled with everything I could have wished for and more! 

my 33 year old self

birthday breakfast

presents

 We headed off in the morning to my dear friend Lucy's house to spend time together and to celebrate

my amazingly gorgeous chocolate cake, thanks Lucy

 After lunch and cake we headed over to Ballymaloe House to see an art exhibition and for a stroll in their grounds.

 We took a scavenger hunt list with us

 and although we lost the list somewhere in the 'weird woods' I think we found everything on it and more.

Joa and his 'favourite girl' watching a caterpillar

 We found tigers too, and climbed trees,

 and just as we were coming home a whole load of super cars arrived as part of a charity event so we enjoyed watching them and their drivers clad in fancy dress mill around.

We ate dinner and chatted into the evening over a gin and tonic or two.

This morning after a very slow and lazy start we headed over to Lucy's father's pottery where the kids made me birthday presents on the spot.

our final pieces ~ mine is the one on the right!

 After yet more food, we said our goodbyes and headed home to find that a very special someone had left Birthday and un-Birthday presents in the green house for us to find.

 In need of worms for bait the kids headed to the garden and then armed with brand new (real) fishing rods we hit the beach

We didn't catch anything in real life, but as we were heading for home we met a couple of fishermen who on hearing how unproductive our fishing trip had been gave us some of the mackerel they had caught.

It was a truly special weekend, that I will remember and treasure forever, and I have a feeling that this 33rd year of mine is going to be nothing less than awesome!