Could I be any more tired?

Oh my god, I am soooo tired...and I've felt this way all today. The night before last when we went out for dinner was lovely but I felt pretty spaced out and sick. The restaurant was good (Lyrique, on the road opposite Lorretta's just up from Billy's). I'd like to go back there with MK, there was a lot of Greek food on the menu which was yummy. Our shared starter was delicious. Unfortunately Lucinda wasn't well so couldn't make it, so there was Lorretta (who looks phenomenal for having a 4 week old baby), Pam, Christine C, Nina and I. A good number.

MK had looked after the three girls, who were all in bed by the time we left. Nina was concerned that Emma mightn't settle but she was perfect and there wasn't a peep from her apparently. We got to bed around midnight, then I was up with Charlotte not long after this and didn't get to bed till 1am. I heard Emma during the night, once, but don't think I was up again.

So yesterday, Nina and Emma walked with us to school then kept going to their place (to let the packers in for the last time). I dropped C off to garderie went for my walk, showered then started baking. I didn't stop (well, briefly for dinner) till I went to bed at 1.30am last night. I had so much to do...well, not just baking but everything else that needs to be done. Nina and Emma came back around 12.45pm and had lunch. When MK came home from work around 2.30pm he drove them back to their temporary apartment and dropped my cookies off to David.

Thing is, even when I did eventually get to bed last night Charlotte woke not long after and I was up with her till 2am (I ended up moving her bed into the spare room. She protests, but for some reason sleeps better in there). So I really went to bed at 2am...then Charlotte woke at 6.30am this morning. Not a good look.

The girls were good though, and MK had helped do some decorating last night so I didn't have too much to do. But it still took all my time right up until 10am when the party started. First to arrive were Christine and Alessandro, then Aussie Jen with Katia and Chloe (still jetlagged from the trip home from Australia on Sunday), and we also had Nina and Emma and Lucinda and Stefan. I had also invited Teresa, who came with her two girls, but she didn't stay long as she felt sick and nauseous. She kept running to the bathroom, poor thing, so she packed her stuff and left. I felt sorry for her as she's keen to meet new people.

So, last night I'd made a bear-shaped cake (chocolate with buttercream frosting) which looked very amateur-ish and confirmed that I don't enjoy decorative cakes for two reasons - I lack creativity and patience. But it was for us so it wasn't stressful. I also made cut-out sugar cookies in the star and heart shapes, and decorated them with gel outline and sugar glaze frosting. Today the kids were able to decorate them with the pens I bought in the States made of edible 'ink'. I also made butterflies out of pretzels (and caramels and chocolate), Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies (left over from an order the other day) and different shaped vegemite and cheese sandwiches (stars, hearts and bears). I also bought marshmallows and kangaroo shaped salty snacks. And I think that's it. For party favours, I tied a bottle of bubbles with a tube of Smarties (both about the same size) together (well, actually MK did it) plus I put bon bons (lollies) in an edible basket (like a waffle ice cream cone but in basket shape).

It was a lovely day...Charlotte had a great time, and Lily loved seeing Katia. The kids and adults all ate, in fact I think I could have made more Chocolate Cookies and the adults would have eaten more. Charlotte opened her gifts and had a smile and thankyou for everybody. She was beautiful to watch. Alessandro and Christine gave her three puzzles, Katia and Chloe gave her a Shelly doll (small) and a beaded bag (Jen had seen how much C had like Chloe's one when we visited so got Charlotte one). Emma and Nina gave her a back pack on wheels (like an old person's shopping trolley, and the back pack is detachable. It's really great) and Lucinda and Stefan gave her an adorable soft doll that has a zip up her back for pj's. Charlotte gave the doll a big hug as soon as she opened it. She can be so tactile and enjoys hugging and touching different textures.

We cut the cake and everyone enjoyed that. Charlotte did a great job of blowing out her candle, including the second time for the camera. Where would she have seen how to blow out a candle? Christine and Alessandro left, then a bit later Jen and the girls left. Then Lucinda and Nina stayed on till just after 3pm. The place was a mess, but the kids were happy enough (Emma and Lily watching Hairy Maclary on dvd and Stefan and Charlotte playing independently) so we had a chance to chat.

Michael came home from work and saw, maybe for the first time, the sort of chaos and mess that one of these parties create!

Charlotte had no nap today, so both girls fell asleep quickly. I really hope for a peaceful night's sleep.