The big 4-0 for Peter's little bro

I love, love, love the fact that I have known my in-laws for so long. When I first met Peter's younger brother Stephen, he was 9 years old and I remember him getting very excited about being in "double figures" when he reached 10, as he was in this photo with Judith. Well today he hits 40 and on Saturday we celebrated with him.

Dee, the hostess with the mostest, had done a grand job of organising a hog roast, a marquee, lots of friends and rellies and a surprise present of a drum kit, along with a cake to reflect that.

We had a wonderful evening catching up with everyone, including nieces and nephews who are now some distance away, such as Jonny, who lives in Newbury and his girlfriend Megan.

I also need to extol the virtues of my own fabulous birthday planner, who made Thursday perfect for me from breakfast in bed, perfect prezzies such as a Paul Horton original and THE YELLOW UMBRELLA FROM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER!!!! to a lovely birthday dinner with surprise guests in the evening. He took all the pain out of being 48.

So we had a giggle with my sils. (6 weeks to glamping girls!!!)

The next familial celebration will be for my eldest sil and bil, Gill & Michael's 30th wedding anniversary. (I know, they don't look old enough). They were fresh back from Turkey looking tanfastic.

Some of Ste & Dee's friends hadn't seen Tom since their wedding and couldn't believe that this giant bearded bloke was "little Tom".

Anni was only saying the other day that she looks so pale on photographs; well put her next to her cousins, Lizzie and Naomi, with their holiday tans and she looked even more so. I think when Peter gets a new job, some sunshine will be first on the shopping list!

It wasn't actually Stephen's birthday until today and the real birthday bot on Saturday was my father-in-law. So we also celebrated his 78th brthday. 

Big birthday week in our family! And no, Dee hasn't been husband bashing, Stephen took a tumble off his bike the day before his party. Boys will be boys!