A few weeks ago we cancelled the twins’ first birthday party. They had colds, they were teething, they were simply too revolting for me to subject other people to them. It was the right decision for them but I was sad for me – I wanted a party to celebrate these little lives that we had created. And if I’m honest, I wanted a party that said ‘Well done Amber and Kirsty, you survived a year! No wait – this year you thrived!’ I wanted a day of joy, to show everybody how happy
we are, this little family of five.
I’ll admit that it was a little galling to be felled by two colds and one emerging tooth. Particularly after investing in the helium and the balloons, the sugar paste in every colour of the rainbow for the cake, the banners and streamers and
cardboard letters spelling out their age that I had meticulously painted with rainbow designs.
It was necessary but I was sad. And having booked this date in July in order to accommodate all of the different schedules, there was no chance that we would simply be able to pull out a new date for the party a few weeks down the line. We put it down to ‘one of those things’ and moved on.
Until this happened. A visit to my in-laws turned into this. A surprise party, with decorations and balloons and a whole cake with candles and sparklers. We sang ‘happy birthday’ and we blew out the candles and I couldn’t quite believe the effort that they had gone to, all for my little boys
Looking at these pictures tonight I can’t tell you how grateful I am for my in-laws, who love these little boys so much. I’m sure that I haven’t always been the ideal daughter-in-law all of the time, especially when I was younger, but they’ve never been anything but thrilled and excited about these babies, and deeply in love with them since they have arrived. Nanny Jackie taught them to clap and those gorgeously-wrapped parcels contain the best part of a toy shop – she’s the only person I know who loves children’s toys more than my children! (She tells me, by the way, that the bells pictured are so that the twins can wake me up in the morning! Thanks, Jackie.)
They’re family. Family that throw surprise parties for these little boys and their mamas.
My heart is full.
8 comments
Oh what a lovely surprise for you and your gorgeous babies. How thoughtful and kind of your in-laws. Happy birthday little ones xx
Oh, what a sweet surprise. Looks like the most perfect first birthday celebration.
Aw this is just lovely Amber and what lovely in laws you have- they sound one in a million. It looks like a great party for your gorgeous boys. x
congratulations on surviving and thriving in the first year! They are getting so big and they have teeth – plural! (Finn is jealous). Congratulations x
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What a wonderful surprise for you all and how happy you and your beautiful family look. You have indeed survived and thrived this past year and your gorgeous twins have grown from squidgey newborns into inquisitive little people. I’m so pleased you managed to have a party after all.
How amazing, these are so sweet. They really went all out for you too. You have fantastic in-laws (I do too), this is something else though. How blessed are those little boys to be so loved by so many xxx happy 1st birthday party boys xxx many more to come xxx
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