Weather has been wretched all weekend, with today being really yucky, wet, and cold, but it didn't dampen the kids' love and enthusiasm for helping Michael celebrate his 45th birthday.
We planned a lunch of daddy's favorite, pizza, then chocolate fudge cake (at the kids' request, a cake with sprinkles and rainbow candy), then present opening, then "sports day" on the first floor. The kids made a card using their hand prints, lots of stickers and hearts, and each presented their dad with a present: a fancy briefcase, a fancy mouse, and a silver chain. Lola also made a necklace full of pendants of our faces. Sports day was apparently super cool, with basketball, soccer, tennis, and what Lola enthusiastically described to me as scooter ball. We then headed to the club where everyone got to eat a nice buffet and some dessert. As a special treat we lined up our driver to come drive us so Michael didn't have to. That was all of today, Sunday.
It was so sweet to watch how much care, thought and planning went into it from Lola, and also how excited the boys were counting down each day. When I dropped them off at school on Friday, their teacher knew all about it already! How precious are these little souls.
The lead up to that was a lot of fun too. On Thursday, Lola had book character day, where she went to school dressed as a rainbow magic fairy. We had to get creative with her costume, and at points we all had tempers and stress levels turned on high, especially in the morning when Lola was having meltdowns before going to school out of anxiety that her outfit wasn't perfect. But it seemed all sorted once she got to school. My handmade/hand painted fairy wings are now stuck on her bedroom door, which I count as a win.
On Friday, given my parent's encouragement to memorialize these things as they are fleeting, I stopped to take a picture of me dropping the boys at school. It's a morning ritual I have really come to embrace, sleep deprivation notwithstanding. It is just the biggest tidal wave of love when they both try to sit on me and take alternate turns smothering me in kisses as they say goodbye. Sometimes it is very European, with not two but three cheek kisses, and sometimes with a very resounding smack on the lips also. Lola's farewells take place first and she is already way too cool to even look at me, running away quickly as soon as she spots a friend (of which there are many). I thoroughly enjoy messing with her staid school's parent drop off though, by always shouting out her name as she is about to get on the lift. (I see the small smile tug at her lips as she puts her head down and steadfastly ignores me. Oh, I see you girl!)
Saturday was also a good day, as Lola and I started our morning trying a kids aerial yoga class at our friend's studio nearby. Lola had an amazing time and immediately asked me if and when we could do it again. The exercises are all really good for her core and upper arm and back strength as well as flexibility and confidence, so I am all about it.
The studio was beautiful with big windows, tons of plants, and very, very high ceilings. The instructor was also incredible with the kids. It was a no brainer to commit. Lola said she loved the hammock the best, and will start these classes after Easter break.
Then in the afternoon we had a huge birthday party at AMC, hosted by one of our friends who always brings the A game - think face painters, magician, all the food and drinks, plus the AMC eighth floor with its fire truck, train, police car, excavator, kitchen, super market... to name just a few of their favorites. The kids finished off at home with movie night in their pajamas before bed.
And finally, here are a bunch of pictures of the three of them learning and cooking and playing with their Chinese nanny on Sunday morning - wet, cold and rainy outdoors, but warm, bright and happy indoors.
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