On Friday, Orin had a Graduation ceremony at Elfs to celebrate his time at pre-school and mark his transition to school.
The children performed a group reading of “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” complete with actions:
Heather presenting Orin with a certificate and atlas:
Unbelievably it has been a year since Arlo was born. In some ways it seems like this year has passed so quickly but, on the other hand, it feels as if he is so much part of the family that it is impossible he has only been with us for a year.
The presents:
The Birthday Boy:
Aidan made a special card for Arlo with a love heart made of hama beads and signed by all three big brothers:
Cards:
Opening his presents:
Trying on his new alien dressing up costume:
Riding on his new digger:
What a difference a year makes: Arlo on his first birthday ….
…. and almost a year before:
It seems Arlo has inherited the wonky Platt gene along with the other boys, the one that makes them all stick out their tongues when concentrating:
Of course, Evan had to have a go of the dressing up costume:
I Spy Bag:
Happyland ambulance:
Space toys:
Arlo the cutest alien in the universe:
Evan and Arlo playing with the space toys:
“Happy Birthday to you!”
The cake:
Blowing out the candle with a bit of help from his brothers:
Diving in to the cake:
Our wee chocaholic:
Playing on his digger:
Playing with his I Spy Bag:
It really does not feel like seven years have passed since Aidan was born and I became a Mummy but Aidan did indeed celebrate his seventh birthday while we were on holiday in North Wales.
The birthday boy with his pressies:
Arlo was determined to help with the unwrapping:
Aidan opening his presents:
Aidan wearing his new Batman costume:
Aidan elected to have pizza for his birthday dinner so we had lunch in Pizza Hut:
We went to the cinema to see ‘How to Train your Dragon’ in 3D, which was Arlo’s first ever time at the cinema:
His birthday cake was a chocolate orange cake:
Once he was home, he opened his final present from us which was a box set of Roald Dahl books:
It was Evan’s third birthday on 8 April. He had a lovely day filled with present-opening, new toys to be played with and his favourite pesto pasta for dinner.This is the stash of pressies prior to opening:
Birthday Boy!
Opening pressies:
Evan’s main present from us was a whole load of dressing up costumes:
Simba:
Go go Power Rangers!
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It’s Super-Evan!
His new ‘Up’ figures:
Playing with his remote control tarantula:
New spider raincoat:
To infinity and beyond!
Skeleton Pirate:
Simba again:
Watching ‘Up’:
For various reasons, we did not manage to have his birthday cake until a few days later when we were on holiday in Wales:
It was Chris’ birthday on Sunday. Here he is opening his presents - with a bit of help from some eager assistants:
It was also Mothers Day so, on the basis that neither of us wanted to slave over the cooker that day, we all went out for Sunday lunch. It was Arlo’s first time in a restaurant:
Aidan was recovering from croup which is why he looks a bit tired and grumpy:
Chris and his birthday cake:
At the close of term, Aidan took his pledge and officially became a Beaver Scout. As well as gaining his scarf and woggle, he also earned his first set of badges. He was very proud of himself.
Orin turned four on Saturday 3 October. He had been very excited in the days leading up to his birthday so there was every possibility of him exploding on the actual day.
This is Arlo waiting for Orin to come downstairs:
Getting ready to open his presents:
Opening cards:
He was grinning like a Cheshire Cat all the way through opening his presents:
Playing with his Playmobil Dinosaurs:
Orin’s new Cave Troll:
And his Sauron too. It’s probably not normal for a preschooler to be into Lord of the Rings but he is so we just go with it:
Orin was chuffed to bits to be given this tiny wee stormtrooper by his (girl)friend, Ellen:
Orin munching one of his chocolate skull lollipops. He was a wee sweetheart and, without even being asked, shared them with Aidan and Evan:
Orin having a cuddle with Arlo:
This is what happens when you give your four year old stickers:
Orin opted to have macaroni cheese for his special birthday lunch:
Chris made a fantastic chocolate cake. Orin had requested a Star Wars theme (go figure!) so Chris decorated it with white icing to look like the ice planet of Hoth and I added some Galactic Heroes:
Orin’s wee face lit up when he saw the cake coming into the room:
Blowing out the candles:
About to explode with excitement:
Orin eating his scrumptious birthday cake:
The following day, Orin wore a t-shirt he was given for his birthday. I think it might be a reference to my interest in sideshows:
We took a trip to eat at Pizza Hut and then play for a couple of hours at Sox n Slides soft play centre. Munching at Pizza Hut:
We finally got around to opening a bank account for Arlo. He was given a sorting bank and a calculator to welcome him as a bank client!
We also bathed Arlo in the big bath for the first time. Here are the photos (with modesty “white out” areas, of course!)
All snuggled up inside his personalised towel:
Tuesday was Evan’s first ever day at nursery. He has been eager to start attending and we felt it made sense to get him used to going while Orin is still there and in advance of him getting his funded place and going give mornings each week. All Summer holiday he has been saying, “I go to nursery after Summer.” He will be going just one morning a week for a while and at some stage it will increase to two days. Evan is just chuffed to bits to be a big boy - though Orin keeps reminding him that he is a Green Goblin while Evan is only a pixie.
Anyway, here is Evan all kitted out and ready to go to nursery for the first time:
This series of my two nursery bound boys together just gets sillier and sillier:
This photo makes me smile every time I see it. Evan modelling his “blue steel” look. (If you have seen ‘Zoolander’ then that reference makes sense and if you haven’t the it doesn’t!). Evan is such a wee comedian. He cracks me up.
The title says it all really. These photos record Arlo’s first bath at home, assisted by biggest brother Aidan.
