Albie graciously wore an eye patch every morning for most of this past year, so I was stoked when he wanted to celebrate 5 fabulous years in this world,  pirate style.

A sheltered beach-cove provided the very best spot to celebrate our wonder filled Albie’s fifth birthday.

I painted the flag and my brother hitched it high on a driftwood log.

Parrrrrty on me hearties.

Friends and family piled up for an afternoon of games and delight. Marcus led the smallest crew members in a treasure hunt, Captain Says and Walk the Plank.

The treasure hunt was for buried gold-foil wrapped chocolate. By the time, we got back to the X-marks-the-spot-spot, it’d all melted in the hot sand. So that was a fail, but hey ho. Some brave kidlets filled their mouth with sandy melty treasure anyway. Fiercely piratey that.

I lost Albie in the meelee at one stage, and then saw him down at the edge of where the sand meets the sea. I had to laugh at what he was up to. He really got into the theme of being a rough ol’ sea pirate.

It was a lovely afternoon.

I need to tell you about our gorgeous Nyah. That’s Nyah right there on Jule’s lap – my brother’s  first child and a miracle on all measures.

I surely will tell you – just as soon as I’ve unwound my thoughts from around my heart, and run those inevitably soppy thoughts passed Richy and Jules that is.

Anypirates,  that is Nyah, and she made the best baby pirate you can ever imagine.

 

Albie was spoiled with a myriad of very wonderful presents from very wonderful people.

And then to the ‘cake’, which was a Watermelon Galleon.

He’d had a cake on his real birthday, and I wasn’t sure an afternoon in the sun would be great for any kind of icing anyway. So I flagged the cake, and turned a watermelon into a pirate ship – as you do. It was a total win.

And then more time on the beach in the sun. On days like this, with all that love around, standing on this beautiful land, with these wonderful people, we know we are in the right place.

 

 

Dear Albie

Thank you for five glorious years.
How good this life is.

Love forever,
Mummy.