Jack's 4th Birthday, Thursday May 14th, 2009
We were all up with the lark for the bike unveiling. Jack rushed into the front room, ripped off the 2 bows from the bike and got on immediately. He was over the moon with it. Later he said to Jason, 'I'm very proud of my birthday presents'. Bless.
Jack finds his new bike. It's a Thomas the Tank Engine Bike
He's soon riding it
Soon Nanny Maureen and Great Granddad Ivor arrived with another present:
It's a scooter, which Jack has wanted for some while
Jason opened his cards and soon the present receiving was over. I bought him 4 books, which he just loves. It's good to be able to read some 'proper' stories to him now.
Colchester Zoo
Jason, Sam, Ivor, Maureen, Rene, Jack and I all headed off to the zoo in 2 cars. It was a cloudy but not cold day, just right really. I took loads of animal photos of course!
This chap kept saying 'hello', a good welcome
There were loads of tiny monkeys with cheeky faces, they look so cute:
One way to eat your dinner
What a strange face
Birthday picnic
Jason, Sam, Jack, Maureen, Ivor, Rene
The cake's good
White Tiger
A colobus monkey, and below
Amazing hair style
The lion was quite magnificent. I took loads of photos of him but I'll try and choose a couple
He knows he's the king
In the children's section, this turkey was wandering about. They are SO ugly:
See that 'thing' sticking up?
and flopping down! Do click on any photos to enlarge them
I'm not sure what they were watching but Jack was enjoying it! Lovely
Jack fed Tania the elephant, and so did I. It was like posting food into a letter box:
Tania
We also fed the giraffes:
What a fantastic face
Which way to go?
Walking back to the car I was struck by these reflections
And this weird bird
We were all thoroughly exhausted by the end of the day and were pleased to get home. Jack was very good and loved his zoo trip.
Friday, 15th May
Jack was at school in the morning and we picked him up at 1pm. Sam had to take her car to the garage as a bearing had gone and I went to a super material shop in Bury St Edmunds to get some edging for Kitty's quilt. I bought one or two other things too...... I met up with Sam and Jack at a play centre, then it was off to Asda and home. I planted some annuals in Sam's garden but put my back out. It's even worse today. All in all a gentle day ready for:
Jack's Birthday Party, Saturday 16th May 2009
This was a party with some of Jack's friends from nursery. We had 9 all together and they played in the indoor play centre for over an hour then it was upstairs for the birthday food. There was loads of it and us adults had plenty too. The children were so good and nobody cried or moaned. It was a super party and Jack received quite a haul of presents, which we opened when we got back home. Party photos:
Jack in the white t-shirt back left
The only girl.
Jack with his best friend Ben
Jack waiting to blow out the candles on his cake (right)!
Stories before bedtime
Other Photos
This lady is a TV presenter called Michaela Strachan. She was filming (or being filmed) while we were at the zoo. We were watching the monkeys and saw the cameramen in the compound. Sam said 'I bet that's Michaela Strachan', at which point Michaela turned to Sam and smiled at her. Sam was SO embarrassed!! I took this lovely reflective photo of her and today found this on the internet: (Jack's ear is in the middle of the shot)!!Quote:
On Thursday 14th May, Michaela Strachan took a short break from filming her new show for Channel 5 to visit Orangutan Forest and meet Rajang; Colchester Zoo's 40 year old orangutan!
Michaela was filming for "Animal Families", a channel five programme. The series is an educational children's wildlife series. The series is planned to air on five/fiver in the autumn of 2009 during the morning 'milkshake' slot'.
So that's why she was there!
Jason helping Jack ride his new bike
Jason, Sam (and Kitty) watching Jack on his scooter
Bury St Edmunds Railway Station and below. A fine building I thought
I think that's more than enough. It was a great trip, apart from my back! Jason ran me to the airport last night and Jim picked me up as usual. It's always good to be home but it's pouring with rain today. Lovely Irish weather.
28 comments:
I bet Jack will remember his fourth birthday for a long time! And I'm sure some of these impressions will stay forever!
Thank you Minka. I hope so. I can't remember much before I was five, which is quite sad really.
Thank you for sharing your trip and Jack's birthday with us. He is such a happy looking child. I can remember the first bike I received! I know it meant a lot to share in the birthday festivities. The photos from the zoo are wonderful and I love the architecture that you shared as well. So sorry about your back - I hope you will feel better soon. We are having rain today also!
I do remember a few things, even a few details, but more than anything I remember the feelings and impressions. But then, I didn't have a Thomas the Tank Engine Bike... :)
Oh dear, sorry the back is worse. Great blog, very well paraphrased.
Some superb pics. Glad I got you with the elephant. The lion ones are excellent. What a great creature. Lovely shot of Michaela.
All in all, a very sucessful birthday visit. Lovely to see you. Look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.
x
what a wonderful three days and what a lucky chap and what sweet photos, aaaaw 4 years old, that's the age i teach every week at school, they are little darlinks. so glad you had fun. your cards arrived, awesome , will be blogged later...hugs.
What a great post! You did so much too!
I can commisserate with your back. Am feeling it right here too!
Cor ..... wish I could have been there. Those animals look wonderful - especially the lion. And what a lucky girl at the party - all those lovely boys and no competition. Looks like Jack had a great birthday.
What fantastic pictures - the animal ones in particular, they're so well framed, you could win prized with several of those!
Wow, what a full programme you had.
Loved the bike and the animals and most of all, Jack's beaming face.
Lovely family post. Jack is going to break some hearts when he is older. Hope your back is better - you'd better put yourself on light duties only for a few days.
What a smashing set of photos you have here -animals and kids- can't choose which I like best! x
Have your feet touched the ground yet? What a hectic few days - but how lovely to see such a happy little boy!
BT it was lovely to share all of that with you. Jack is a lucky boy, all those lovely presents and a visit to the zoo and best of all a family who obviously adore him.
Mildred, thanks for your comments, glad you enjoyed the photos. I'm afraid my back is worse today. I'm walking with a stoop, which is not good! Light duties it is, Heather!!
Glad you thought I managed to get it all in OK Jason. It was a great few days, action packed and full of fun!
Glad you liked the ATCs soulbrush and my blog entry. 4 year olds are fabulous and Jack has such a great sense of humour too.
Thanks aims.
Thanks for your comments about my photos EB. I took a lot more!!
Ha ha, Jack beams a lot Arija! Glad you enjoyed.
Oh thanks Jinksy.
Hiya Weaver, you must feel a bit the same after your trip!!
Hello Maureen, good to see you back again. Jack is indeed a lucky boy but he's easy to love too! And a sister due on 27th May. Phew!
what a fabulous post, and WOW those pictures! Loved the Colobus monkey, he's brilliant :-)
Beautiful shots of Jack, so lovely to see, really made me smile lots x
I remember once Dad found it amazing that I have no recollection of anything pre Magdalen St, so same as you, nada pre 5. Odd isn't it?!
Love and miss you. Hope you fit in a visit to the rest of us too, one of these days! :-) xxx
Outstanding pictures from the zoo.
I just want to snatch Jack up and kiss those rosy cheeks of his. What a little cutiepootie.
A bike! A blue Bike! I think most people remember their first bike.
Sorry, you back is out of whack.
What a wonderful trip you had. :)Bea
I'm glad you enjoyed the piccies DK, the rest are on Facebook, 2 albums!! I couldn't put them all on here. Will try and get North some time!
Bea, Jack would kiss you too, he's so affectionate. A super bike it is. My first proper bike was blue too.
BT Jack is so adorable and I love how he is proud of his presents. So cute.
Love Renee xoxo
BT, what great photos! I find all animals have some kind of beauty, even the ugly ones. LOL! My favorite is the lion. What a beautiful and proud KING he is.
How wonderful that you were there to share in Jack's birthday happiness. What a lovely family you have.
Your ATCs have been mailed out. Expect them soon!
Linda
Just wanted to say thank you to all for the lovely comments about Jack. :-)
OH WOW! Happy Birthday, Jack! Looks like such a wonderful and memorable day. Fun was had by all. Jack's face is so happy, he looks like he's about to burst! And all those animal photos are great, too!
And by the way, those are FANTASTIC antique bottles you found in your garden! Whoever buried them had no idea they'd become your treasures.
Glad it all went so well!
You have such a lovely family....thank you for sharing Jack's birthday with us!!
C x
Sounds like a great trip.
G'day from Autralia!
Thank you Renee.
Hiya Linda, it was a wonderful few days and I love Jack to bits, as you can tell! The lion was quite magnificent. I'm looking forward to my ATCs too.
Hello Bella, he was a happy boy indeed! He generally is though. I hope he'll be fine with the new arrival (little girl on 27th May). He's used to all the attention at home. I'm off to stay then too, to help out. My bottles are great aren't they? Someone's rubbish is....
Thanks Rachel, Carol and Chris.
Hello David, thanks for the visit. Do come again. My sister's in Bungendore, not too far from Canberra.
so glad you have joined in with the abc atcs....i get mine either from Hobby Craft here near where I live(you may have them there) or online at an 'art supplies' site...which i find on google...are you gonna try some inchies and swap with me??? come on i dare you! btw 'hows the back jack?' do you have probs with your back?? i had back surgery 6 years ago, so i know all about backache (another thing w ehave in common). ouch!
What a wonderrful picture story!
Amazing photo's, the animals! Your lovely grandson.
It shows you had a real great time!
Fun you are playing also!
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