A boy and his dog Joshua & Hudson: Happy Birthday Mummy !

Well, what a day ! It started with Joshua running into our bedroom (early!!) and whispering to Daddy ... then running back out again and returning with a handful of parcels. Hudson was picked up and placed on the bed so all 4 of us were there to open cards & presents. Mummy felt very spoilt indeed by her boys, her family and friends.

But the most special and memorable moment of all was Joshua's poem. From the age of 2, Joshua has given me a poem each birthday; it is something Mummy originally asked for and so far she has 6 in her collection. Up until this year, Daddy has always written a poem on behalf of Josh, or copied some lines from a printed poem. However, this year was different ... Daddy took some lines from a collection of poems and then Joshua wrote the last two lines. What made it even more special was that Josh stood at the end of the bed and read the poem out ...

For all the times you gently picked me up

when I fell down

For all the times you tied my shoes

and tucked me into bed

or needed something

but put me first instead

For everything we share

the dreams, the laughter

and the tears

I love you with a Special Love

that deepens every year

"If I just had one wish, I would wish that Mummy has a ginormous good life - I love you Mummy"

The day was lovely and full of celebration and phone calls ... we took Grandma to the Garden Centre for morning tea, went to a girlfriend's for a birthday brunch, then a 2-hour hike up into the hills to get ready for a birthday dinner at Rosie's. A truly lovely day - thank you everyone!

Joshua running in with all the parcels - all wrapped up in brown paper by Daddy and then artistically drawn on by Josh!

Albeit half asleep, Josh and Daddy sang "Happy Birthday"

Joshua reading out the poem - Mummy felt very emotional

There is no birthday without Huddy joining in - the only time he hops up onto the bed is Christmas and birthdays so even he knows it is a special day