I can’t believe my ‘baby’ Oliver turned 6 on Sunday.
The one who made me a Mama.
Who teaches me as much as I teach him.
My boy.
It really doesn’t seem that long ago he was actually a baby.
Those eyes-
And I could not, NOT share the famous and most touching of poems ‘Now We Are Six’ by A.A. Milne-it made me well up just typing it out-
When I was one,
I had just begun.
When I was two,
I was nearly new.
When I was three,
I was hardly me.
When I was four,
I was not much more.
When I was five,
I was just alive.
But now I am six,
I’m as clever as clever.
So I think I’ll be six
now and forever.
Beautiful.
I call Oliver my best friend, he’s my rock, my (sensible) sidekick who reminds me not to walk too near to the river near our home, when we head off on adventures, or you know, just fancy a stroll to our local express supermarket- and this little guy loves nothing more than painting, reading and baking with his Mama (and Grandad too)!
He even enjoys shopping with me (well trained). If only Daddy felt the same hey!
Oliver adores Maths at school and problem solving too. I have a feeling he might well become a doctor (the wish of a hypochondriac Mama)!
Super creative and logical too-what a mix!
And here are some more of my favourite shots taken over the years-
I love this shot taken two Christmases ago as he and ‘Papu’, my Dad made festive biscuits to hang on the tree, together.
…And here he is saluting me before scoffing an ice cream. Hup two!
Charismatic, confident, Oliver is a boy with a wild imagination and a relentless thirst for knowledge. He seems almost desperately eager to grasp the world around him, and understand all its complexities (my Mum says I was exactly the same as a child).
His endless questions and wonder make me see the world anew, and naturally steers me towards Google several times a day, so I can pretend to have all the answers.
I now know more about the planets than I ever did, making the solar system a real contender as my specialist subject for Mastermind! BBC2 I’m ready for ya!
Et voilà- the pensive person I made myself (kinda)!
Oliver is utterly fascinated by space and one day wants to travel to the moon.
The way Branson is heading, Oliver might just do that!
…And below, here is my all-time most favourite portrait of my son, aged 3-my caring, wise beyond his years, sweet, sweet Oliver.
My mini Marlon Brando!
I’m in love with this one too-
The photos we took on Sunday are special ones too
…Opening his presents in the morning discovering a bright red bike, helmet and Miposaur electric dinosaur toy yearned for all year, (along with little goodies and luckily a note for his money box from the grandparents), it was time for lunch at my brother, Uncle Solos’ Italian restaurant Giorgio’s before a party with his friends!
The unboxing!
Before a naturally vegan lunch!
Then, paaarrrrty time!
And what a party it was.
Oliver celebrated his special day at his most favourite place: The Rainbow Factory in Leeds-the most magical, creative space you could imagine-a wondrous haven for kids everywhere. Distinctly original, there is really no place like it in the UK.
Seamlessly weaving storytelling, performance and arts and crafts with play, it entertains and educates in the most stimulating and fun way!
Actors Rachael (Red Riding Hood) and Lydia incorporated Oliver’s favourite storybooks (Twits, Stick Man and more) into original pieces of theatre for the crowd of kids invited, along with creative games the children lapped up, wide eyed and engaged.
Most of all they laughed non-stop.
We could not have wished for a more perfect party!
…Arts and crafts time in the Creative Kitchen
Then feasting time!
And how incredible were the cakes?
So much so, they have a post each dedicated to them I will go live with soon, but huge thanks to creative geniuses Kath of Kath’s Cakes in Harrogate and Cakes by Andrea for the cupcakes.
After our Jamaican holiday with Beaches Resorts last year, the boys became besotted with Sesame Street making these the perfect cupcakes of choice.
And just look at the birthday cake by Kath. This might just be a world first as there wasn’t a Bear Yo Yo cake online anywhere when I researched ideas for Oliver. Oliver and his buddies are obsessed with these fruit sweets and shiny cards so this was literally his IDEAL cake.
Amazing huh?! Well done Kath. Oliver loved opening the actual fruit sweet and keeping the shiny cards too at the end. An extra present for the birthday boy!
Check out the detail. Wow!
…Blowing out the candles!
Make a wish!
…The delicious food and thoughtful party bags, Mr Men books included, made the perfect finale to a spectacular day.
We will always remember it!
Thank you Oliver for making our lives so fun and meaningful.
You dazzle us with your maturity but it’s important that we remember you are still so young, to not forget you’re growing, learning and developing, testing boundaries and finding your place in this big world despite being a little boy.
He only reminded me the other day he’s 6 more years until he’s a teenager.
Don’t rush to grow up so quickly, it makes your Mummy feel sad (and old)! Ha!
You’re are a perfectionist who is easily frustrated if you don’t get things right first time, but you must learn to be kinder to yourself and understand you can’t win every time.
You’ll get there, together Daddy and I hold your hand and guide you as best we can.
Your little brother can frustrate you but he loves you like no other, you are his hero and I feel the luckiest lady in the world with you as my kids.
I love you little boy, keep shining brightly.
The sky, the stars and planets too are there for you to reach for (and maybe even visit one day).
All our love, always x
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Looks like it wasn’t just the birthday boy who enjoyed the party 🙂
I love that he likes to cook with you. My toddler likes to help out in the kitchen as well. Hopefully it will give him love of food in his life 🙂
Aw I know, we adults loved it too! Absolutely getting the kids involved in the kitchen from a young age cements a love of food and cooking I believe x
What a beautiful post. Happy birthday Oliver. I can’t believe you are six already. I love the poem very sweet. Looks like a fab party x
Thanks lovely, it was a wonderful day x
What a fitting tribute to an amazing boy. Happy birthday Oliver!
Thank you darling x
Happy birthday Oliver, looks like you had an amazing day with your family and friends. Love seeing all the photos of him growing up. xxxx
Thanks sweetie, I still can’t believe I have a 6 year old xxx
Hi Vicki, what a smart little ‘rock’ you have, so sweet! There is nothing like the sensible words of a young child to bring a smile to your face and a swelling of love to your heart.
Oliver has chocolate drop eyes that I am sure he will break a few hearts with when he’s (a lot) older!
Lovely pictures too.
xx
Thanks Debbie darling, he is the most wonderful boy, thank you for your kind words, your support and friendship, means a lot xx
Time flies! Gorgeous photos! x
An amazing set of photos of an amazing day for clearly an amazing boy. You are both very lucky to have each other and the Rainbow Factory looks really special.
Thank you darling, very lucky. Thanks for your comment, the Rainbow Factory is a truly special place x
Happy Birthday to Oliver! What a FAB party it really looked like such fun and like you had such great friends around you. I didn’t realise how great mummy friend’s were until becoming a mummy (that’s obviously self explanatory), but I really didn’t appreciate how significant they’d be in my life and how much I’d really rely on them. Thanks for hosting #brilliantblogposts
Thanks darling, some of these ladies have been in my life since we were little and it’s just wonderful to have grown and had kids together, my lifeline. I’ve made lots of new friends who are also mums too that support network is so important isn’t it x
Lovely! & great photos! Happy Birthday to Oliver! I also love the AA Milne poems (& the Rainbow Factory).
Thank you darling, such a special day and poem x
Happy Birthday sweet Oliver, what beautiful children Vicki, fab pictures, and, no; you don’t look a day over sixteen!
Susan.x
Thank you darling Susan and love you for that comment, if only it were true! Ha x
Such a gorgeous post! Happy birthday again to your beautiful boy (and what a stunning model he is too). The Rainbow Factory sounds amazing and what a wonderful team of people. All these photos *swoon* – gorgeous shots as always darling. They grow up so fast don’t they! xx
They really do darling, thank you, we all had the most incredible time. I still cannot believe he’s 6 now xx
What an absolutely beautiful post. Sounds like Oliver had an amazing birthday lovely, genuinely welling up over your beautiful words about him, sounds like a little treasure!
Elle
http://www.theellenextdoor.com
xx
Thanks darling, aw so touched by everything lovely words xx
What a little character he is! I just love how “in the moment” he seems in all those photos, and just how happy he looks. I hope six is the best year yet for him, followed by many, many more.
Thanks darling, what a wonderful comment, thank you x
Birthdays are so amazing when you are a kid. It paves the way to how you feel as an adult on birthdays. I love them and hopefully always will.
It really does, what a wonderful reminder of that, thank you x
Happy birthday!!! What a great day and some bloody perfect memory making too! x
Thanks lovely, perfect day x
My goodness, I had goose bumps reading this post! Beautiful photographs and what a lovely little boy you have. Looks like you had a lovely party and Oliver’s cake looked amazing! 🙂
#brillblogposts
Thanks so much darling Becca, my sweet boy is getting older xx
Wow looks like a great day and wonderful birthday for Oliver. It’s amazing how quickly they grow up, my daughter (our first) is only 9 months old but already so grown up and no longer a baby! Makes me slightly sad but it’s great to see her little personality coming out already!
Oh so sweet, I still refer to my 3 year old as my baby x
Happy Belated Birthday Oliver! Looks like he had an amazing day. Those cup cakes are amazing! Thanks for hosting #brilliantblogposts
Debbie
Thanks so much Debbie x
Aww, what a beautiful post and your words in the end brought a tear to my eye. You indeed are a lucky and blessed lady to have such incredible kids (although it’s not just luck – I know those boys have darn good genes!) What a lovely party too and those cupcakes – so fun! Oliver is an incredibly bright, beautiful and caring child – well done to you and Peter for raising such lovely kids. Oliver so reminds me of A – she is always telling me things like – stay behind the line at train stations or to mind the gap on the tube or she reminds me to give her medicines (when she is having some) Ha! Sometimes I really wonder who the parent is! A belated happy birthday to Oliver and it’s been so lovely watching him grow up (even virtually) but I would love to meet both him and Xander very soon. And I think A and Oliver will get on well – they can be our parents for the day while we party!! xx
Oh darling thank you for such a lovely comment. A and O sound so similar and I’m the same, I often wonder who is the most sensible here! I would love our kids to meet, please come visit us in Leeds, lots of love xx
Such amazing photos, Vicki – Oliver is so photogenic and like you say, has such beautiful eyes! It is obvious to see what an amazing birthday he had and I am sure you all had a wonderful time. The party looks fantastic. This will be such a lovely post for Oliver to read in the future. Your love for him and his brother and how proud you are shines through 🙂 #BrilliantBlogPosts
Thank you so much darling, my boys are my world and I love that blogging means my boys can reflect on our lives as they grow older xx
Such a sweet wonderful post!! I loved all the pictures and Oliver is SUCH a cutie! I might be a little bias here but becoming a doctor is pretty cool and opens up doors to many opportunities. I wonder if in 10 years time he will be coming to me for advice or work experience!
I was in toys r us the other day and saw that robot dinosaur, it looks awesome lol. Oh if I was 20 years younger I’d be all over that lol. Wonderful to see you had such a special day xx
Haha you can still play with Miposaur when you visit us lovely Adam. I would love him to come and have work experience with you. So lucky to have such a wise and wonderful friend in you Adam xx
Looks like he had the most wonderful time!
You must have felt so emotional! I can’t even begin to imagine my little one turning 6!!
The poem was beautiful and made me tear up! This little people are so precious and time just flys!
#brilliantblogposts
Aw it’s such a moving poem isn’t it. Thanks for your kind words, I can’t believe he’s 6 too xx
Aw, it looks like it was a magnificent birthday, and you’ve really captured the essence of Oliver and your bond.
Thank you lovely x
Such lovely photos! It goes so quickly doesn’t it?! My stepdaughter turned 8 this week and, after knowing her since she was 18 months old, I can’t believe how quickly it has gone. It looks like he had a wonderful birthday! x
Oh wow, time goes so quickly, hope she had a wonderful birthday too x
Gosh this made me smile and cry at the same time. Your love for your son is just over whelming. Absolutely beautiful, thank you for sharing this. #brilliantblogposts
Oh thank you Laura, I love him so much xx
The love and adoration you have for your son shines through in this post. Many congratulations and what a super party x
Thanks so much Catie, my sons are my world xx
What a lovely warm and happy post. Sounds like he had a fab day and all you mums look so stylish. I think I need to go shopping. My daughters birthday last week wsnt quite as relaxed. Ha!
Thanks for hosting #brilliantblogposts
What gorgeous pictures and a lovely little boy you have! Looks like he had a great birthday party too – lots of fun!
Thanks darling, super day for a wonderful little boy x
Ah such a sweet and heartwarming post. Gorgeous boy. A fitting tribute to your little star x
Thank you sweetheart xx
Aww he sounds like such a lovely little boy, such a gorgeous little thing too. That cake is fantastic. I didn’t know there could be another little boy as obsessed with bear fruit as mine is, looks like he’s found his match! x
Haha yes, Oliver is obsessed with Bear Yo Yo’s-he loved his cake x
Oh how fab – we love The Rainbow Factory and their parties look brilliant fun #brilliantblogposts
They are brilliant aren’t they, the best party ever x
There are some seriously gorgeous photos in this post! Lovely lovely lovely!! And that poem… I haven’t heard that in such a long time, takes me right back! #BrilliantBlogPosts
Aw so glad you like the photos and the poem is a special one isn’t it xx
Wow, what a fab party and those cakes!
Thanks Emma, such a wonderful time was had by all and the cakes were fab too weren’t they x
Oh my – the photos on this post are just absolutely gorgeous.
And what a beautiful, inquisitive little boy you have. Looks like he had an awesome day too. Memories to treasure 🙂 #brilliantblogposts
Thanks lovely, so glad I have this blog filled with our memories, I showed Oliver all the photos too x
The A.A.Milne poem is wonderful but sad for us parents to read. You have stunning children Vicki!
Also the Yo Yo Bear cake is fantastic, I hope Oliver enjoyed his birthday party 🙂
It is such a moving poem isn’t it. Thank you for your kind words x
Oh Oliver you are adorable! What an absolutely amazing birthday he had – I’m very very jealous, I want to be 6 too now 🙂 instead of, um, 37 ha! What a beautiful boy inside and out – Happy happy birthday! Mim x
Haha I know how that feels, 6 was the best age, lots of love xx
wow I know the feeling time just flew by love the pictures they really capture the journey its amazing watching them grow #BrilliantBlogPosts
Thanks, really is wonderful to see them grow and flourish xx
Beautiful tribute and snapshot in time. Awesome cakes. I love that last picture. My eldest was 6 in October. It is a brilliant age to be. #brilliantblogposts
Thanks so much, a great age for sure x
I love the photos from the party, even the one with my weird expression haha! The rainbow factory definitely throw a good party that’s for sure. Luca loved it and was very impressed with his party bag (which normally get raided for sweets and then forgotten about). Those photos of Oliver through the years are so very cute too and from your beautiful words you can tell how proud you are to be his Mama. You’ve done a fabulous job at raising him so far, you should be proud of yourselves too.
Thanks again for inviting us to a wonderful party. Xxx
Haha so lovely to have you guys there, thanks for coming and for your lovely comment. You look fab xx
Those are amazing eyes and Oliver does indeed seem to have a bit of the Brando about him! What an amazing birthday party. Rainbow Ractory looks like an amazing concept. That’s brilliant! I wasn’t familair with that AA Milne poem but it is superb. Thanks fo rhosting #BrilliantBlogPosts
Beautiful poem isn’t it. My little Brando! Thanks for your lovely comment x
The party looks such fun! So many gorgeous photos too – I love the one of him jumping! 🙂 That A.A.Milne poem had me welling up, time just flies by. x #brilliantblogposts
So moving isn’t it. The jumping picture is fab isn’t it?! Thanks for your lovely comment x