So this week, like the others, has been a busy one. We have something on every night. Therefore we had to change Takeshi's birthday party to Tuesday so he could have some mates over and have some fun this year. His real birthday was on Wednesday.
My mate, Nawang, makes wonderful Sherpa food called momo's and sells them. We had that for Takeshi's birthday dinner. He LOVES them, so it was perfect. She gifted some to him. Perfect present.
He then had a few mates around for a swim, cake and smores. Easy for me and fun for the kids!! My kinda get together.
Here they are swimming.
Then we opened gifts.
Then we fed them cake. It was a huge hit. He wanted an 'Earth to Echo' cake. It's a movie. But I got to looking at the character and I wasn't up to making something that complicated. So I asked him if I could simply do an Earth cake. He said yes cause he's nice like that.
So this is what I came up with. It's not my best work by a long shot, but it'll do and they ate the WHOLE thing. I didn't get a piece because it was all gone. So that's a success.
Here they are singing 'Happy Birthday'
Then Takeshi started the fire and the kids roasted smores.
Then Takeshi started playing with some of his gifts.
We stayed up a little later and talked with mates and relaxed. It was a nice night and I think the kids had fun and I didn't have to do much at all. I was really grateful.
Takeshi had a fun time.
The next morning was his actual birthday. I saved the family gifts for this day, which was really nice.
Here he is opening his gift from my mate Kat. He wore that badge all day and ate his NZ chocolate.
Cold, hard, cash from Grandma. Always a big hit.
Perfectly wrapped gift from his Auntie Brooke.
Loved the legos!!
Auntie Les hooked Takeshi up with this sweet gift which he loves.
Grandma from NZ gave him this gift when we were over there. He picked it out himself and totally forgot what he'd gotten himself. So it was a surprize!!! Thanks Grandma.
Sweet bone carving. It's a Manaia. Here's the meaning.
Traditionally greenstone manaia are depicted with a head of a bird, the body of a man, and the tail of a fish. It is widely accepted as a tribal guardian and a supernatural being, with some carved as grotesque figures, and others carved as almost human with a fierce facial expression. The new age understanding of the manaia is that it represents the balance between the sky, the earth and the sea. Its design is based on birds which are seen as vehicles for the souls of the dead as they travel to the afterlife. Birds were so valued by Maori that their cries were listened to and their movements watched with care. As a result, all manaia serve as guardians and givers of omens. To wear one can protect from evil, and connect the wearer with the souls of the dead. They are usually depicted in profile, and some feel this is because part of the manaia is in the spiritual world, part in this.
Then he opened his gift from us. One is still turning up.
This one is a remote control car. He asks for one every year. So this year we got him a decent one. He loves it. I love these pic's.
Then he went outside and checked the mail and totally ontime was Autnie Kristin's card.
Good timing.
Way pumped to have more cash. Thanks Kristin.
Then later on we attempted to go to a movie but it was closed, so we went to swimming lessons and then I dropped the kids home and just took Takeshi to Pizza Pie Cafe. He wanted to go there because he had a coupon for a monster cookie.
Well played Pizza Pie Cafe!!!
So we went there and let him talk about all the important things he had to say.
Here's his monster cookie. It was whipped cream, ice cream and cookie. He didn't finish it hahahaha
He thought he was going to get a GIGANTIC cookie. I think he was a little bummed but tried to act happy.
Then he played with his toys all afternoon until it was time to go to rugby practice.
Here he is with the ball.
They all sang him happy birthday.
We saw our kiwi buddy Hamish there. It was nice to catch up with him.
Our car battery died and so Hamish had to rescue us. Lucky man.
Then we came home, had something to eat and watched a movie together.
It was nice.
Then today Nawang took the kids to 'Blue Cow' frozen yogurt to help celebrate.
So nice right?
What a great mate.
Here they are with her parents who are in town right now.
They came and stayed and visited for a couple of hours and I got to know Nawang's mum and dad a lot better. They even put the prayer flags up in our new house!! They look great.
Nawang's father has climbed Mt Everest 3 times and lived to tell the tale. It's like I was sitting beside royalty!
He said after the third time he decided to stop because God had blessed him with good luck three times and he didn't want to push his lucy any further as there has been a lot of accidents and deaths over the years.
He considers himself blessed and is happy.
His wife is just as cool and was glad he decided to stop so she could have him around! I don't blame her.
They'd met Sir Edmund Hillary a few times in their lives and love NZ and her father has even been to NZ once and loved it.
Top people man. What a treat to talk to them.
I'm grateful to good mates and that Takeshi had a good few days. Birthdays are so special and I'm glad his was a good celebration.
Takeshi is so great and in the same breath is so tough for me as well.
For the most part he's easy going and happy and very sensitive and kind.
But if you want him to do his chores or his homework then you get a fight on your hands.
It wears me down, day after day after day.
I go through different phases of trying to help him complete his tasks and we only have a successful day once in a blue moon.
Oh well.
He always has a lot of stories to tell and is game for whatever. He's a great eater and has a quick, firey temper like his mother. He's over it in minutes though and puts himself in time out. He's done this as long as I can remember, which is great.
Takeshi is so good looking he stands out. I get so many compliments about this kid and it's all true.
I know the headaches aren't gonna end with this kid, but I'm grateful for him being in my life and for what he brings to the table and the things he teaches me.
I love him and I hope I can be the mother he wants me to be and when he looks back on his life he remembers fond memories of us.
