Saturday was my children’s naming day.  Like the Royal Wedding but not really at all!  We’re not a religious family, we married in a Civial Ceremony and Christening didn’t feel right for us but it didn’t feel right not to do anything either.  For me it was celebrating the arrival of my children and our family with our family and closest friends.  We had a short, 5-10 minute ceremony lead by a family friend, lots of balloons, craft activities, held at the amazing Glo Family venue in Cheadle, with very lovely and talented Camille Wesser taking photo’s to record the day.  We released helium balloons at the end of the ceremony – it was ACE!

No one had attended a Naming Day before but many people left ours saying I want to do this too, I like that.  So what’s a Naming Day?  Here’s the 4 year olds take on a naming day with a conversation overheard with Lil’ H and his friend:

Friend:  Is it your birthday?
Lil’ H:     No, its my naming day
Friend:  But you’ve got a name, its H
Lil’ H:     I know, my name is H
Friend:  But doesn’t everyone know that it’s H?
Lil’ H:     Yes *shrugs* its a mum thing
Friend:  Have you got a cake?
Lil’ H:     Yes my mum’s got a cake
Friend:  Have you got party bags?
Lil’ H:     No we’ve got a sweet shop
Friend:  Cool!  I like naming days!

We didn’t have kids and adults food we had mini everything – fish and chips, burgers, chicken goujons, prawn cocktails etc. the food prepared by Glo Family was commented on by everyone and there was nothing left.  We didn’t have a cake as such we had mini victoria sponges, strawberry pavlovas, lemon cheesecakes and ice-cream cones.

Then after we’d played, crafted eaten and partied the children opened the sweet shop – manned by my beautiful god daughters and full of childhood memories … the dads quaffed “Fizz Whizz” popping candy and naughty mummy’s taught their offspring how to fire sweets from a sweetie necklace across the room / at people!

A fantastic time was had by all everyone loved the Glo family venue, the ceremony, the food, the company and I know they’ll love these and all the photo’s Camille took on the day – best decision ever as I took a big fat zero!  It was a huge success, I am really glad I did it, now I have recovered from the hangover.

This post is for The Gallery the prompt this week is My Weekend, that was mine so head over to Tara’s place Sticky Fingers to read about everyone elses heavily featuring CyberMummy me thinks!

We all had a fantastic naming day on Saturday here is a quick sneak peak of some photo’s taken at Glo Family by the very lovely and talented Camille Wesser

So its week 63 over at The Gallery and its a cryptic week with a Three Word theme.  My Three Word Gallery entry stars Lil H and was taken shortly after we arrived at our Center Parcs holiday home.  H is such a boys boy and this picture of him lying in the dirt poking sticks down a rabbit hole makes me smile, he was there for a-g-e-s trying to “lure” the rabbits out.  We’re working on subtlety, its not currently a strong suit, the rabbits left by their back door and played merrily at the top of the bank where H is lying. 

My Three Words Gallery:  Boy – Stick – Burrow

The first year of any new baby is always the hardest, my friend helpfully told me the other day it was only the first 18 years that were the hardest – thanks for that!  I wouldn’t change it and however hard it gets moments when I find my two playing together, laughing, together make all the tough stuff worth it.  We bought Baby G this rolling ‘click clack’ Giraffe toy by “I’m Toy” for her first birthday and it has been a hit with both my two and all our playdating buddies. 

We love Wooden Toys at Lancaster Towers, this is available for £21.95 from WoodenToyShop.co.uk who have also sent Baby G some fab wooden toys which we’ll be reviewing soon.

There’s a new game over on the Innocent website with chances to win some great Innocent prizes including the ultimate breakfast hamper.  Lil’ H is better than me at this game – no surprise there! 

My high score is a rubish 3 carafes and 3 extra oranges, enough for my weekend vodkas!  Let me know how you get along – my top tip is avoid the squirrels – they are Pesky with a capital P!