Ducks, a playground & the party

Saturday was a busy day for POD. We headed to a nearby park while the car was being looked at then celebrated her Christmas Day birthday with a Summer party.

The park is not one we’ve visited before and we were thrilled to discover a pond there. It was covered in lilies and teeming with wildlife including ducks, moorhens and three of these of these little fellas. POD loved them and we stayed there for a little while just watching them waddle about. The ducks were less interested in us when the realised we didn’t have any bread!

In the playground, POD got to do what she does best…climb! Climbing up the slide then heading back down it only to do the same again.

There was a fair amount of hanging around too as well as sliding down this pole and attempting to climb up it. She has incredible strength for her age, I’m sure attending gymnastics has helped too.

Although hesitant at first, POD loved the roundabout. It was even better when we were both on it although Mummy quickly remembered why she didn’t enjoy roundabouts as a child. We span round a little too much but thankfully weren’t too dizzy afterwards. After spending time with a little boy at the playground, and waiting at the garage, we headed home for the party.

POD was three on Christmas Day and rather than have December party as we have previously we opted for a Summer one. Despite the UK’s unpredictable weather, we planned to have a BBQ with garden fun for sixteen children.

Little did we know what a superb afternoon it would be. The sun shone, the skies were blue and so much ice was needed we almost ran out. In addition to unstructured play we had a mini sports day with sack, egg and spoon and beanbag races. Having insisted on wearing her christening dress and a New York Yankees hat (now too small for her head), POD showed great determination when she won the first sack race.

The children sat together for jelly and ice-cream looking utterly adorable while they chatted away to each other. Although there’s a lovely photograph of them all, you’ll have to imagine that scene.

The bubbles disappeared quickly so POD was thrilled to discover there were more just for her (although she did share). Bubble wands are quite possibly the best thing ever!

Given POD was tired before the party started, she did brilliantly and had a great afternoon. This photograph was taken when everyone had left. POD had taken time out to examine her loot bag – bubbles and the stretchy man being the favourites.

We typically celebrate POD’s birthday on the morning of 25th December, she was born at 10.46am, with Christmas in the afternoon. It was great to do a Summer party for her, it meant she could have an (un)birthday celebration with all the focus on her.

Linking up with #whatsthestory here on PODcast.