Miss L is Eight!!

And in the blink of an eye Miss L is eight. She has been SO excited about her birthday, counting down the months, weeks, days and hours!
She came creeping up at 7am and tempted though I was to tell her to bugger off until lunchtime being the selfless Mummy that I am I leapt straight out of bed and we all came downstairs for a frenzy of present opening..
It was all over by 7.30am!!!
We had planned to go to Whipsnade Zoo for the day but the forecast was for wind and rain all day. It's fresh up there at the best of times so it was something of a relief when Miss L suggested Bounce today instead and the zoo tomorrow.
I made bacon and eggs (and mushrooms, tomatoes toast and tea) before leaving the Little Misses creating masterpieces on Miss L's new canvasses with her new pastels and getting in the bath for an hour or two.
Bounce was heaving but the Little Misses had a fabulous time as ever. Two hours of non-stop bouncing and asking for crisps!!
Before meeting Nana and Papa in Pizza Hut we went to Waterstones to let the Little Misses browse and spend some birthday money. Well Miss L got to spend some birthday money, we'd promised Miss E a couple of books because she's been so good today. 
She often struggles when it's somebody else's special day, getting jealous and silly. I'd talked to her about it last night asking her to try to let Miss L enjoy her day without feeling jealous, left out, grumpy and sad. She's been amazing - genuinely sweet and generous and making the day special for Miss L. And not doing her usual over-the-top over compensating!!
Yay, she's growing up!
So she got to choose a couple of books as a treat. She was in heaven choosing them!
Pizza Hut was fab. Fizzy drinks and ice cream craziness, lots of laughter and cuddles. Just brilliant!!
At 7.35pm we gave her a kiss to mark the exact time she burst into our lives in dramatic fashion. It could have turned out very differently but we were lucky. So lucky.
Nana and Papa came back to ours for a bit to give Miss L her presents and to watch her blow out the candles on her cake. 
Forgetful Mummy had left both the cake and the Hobbycraft voucher at home, oops!!
The blowing out of the candles is always a birthday highlight for me. Obviously the number candle changes but all the others are the same ones year after year. 
Four
Five 
Five again
Six
Seven
Hopefully they'll last for a good many more birthdays yet!

What a brilliant day. Miss L was so happy all day enjoying her special day. 
See extras for a few more.