...and while the rain held off we went for a morning trip to Walton Gardens...
...for ice creams...
..and playing....
...and a trip on the road train...
... before going back to Gma's for birthday cake!
Ben wasn't too impressed at first, but he did go back in for a second go!
Thinking about it with my teacher hat on (sorry, I know it's the hols, but the teacher hat NEVER goes away) - you could do a great Bear Hunt here! (you can't go over it, you can't go under it, you have to go through it! Squelch, squerch, squelch, squerch etc)
I was really impressed by Ben's rope climbing - when has he learned to do that?
Megs wasn't so hot at the climbing - but the swinging was just great.
After a small mishap taking the bikes off the car - (A is well known for his heavy handedness and managed to snap a key in the chain lock - fortunately he is also pretty good at fudging fixes for this sort of thing and managed to turn the remnants of the key) - we set off to ride from the Knutsford gate.
It was blissful riding through the woods - there were the muddy stretches that challenged the kids - but they both did fantastically well to keep going. It was quiet, and just so beautiful, especially after the drizzle cleared to leave us in dappled sunshine.
B is just so proud of his new bike - though he was a bit concerned when the wheels got muddy. I assured him that as it is a mountain bike it likes to go off road and get dirty :)
By the time we reached the playground the sun was out in force, and a charge around the swings etc left us in need of the cafe and cold drinks.
Then we headed back to the car along the road - passing a 3 stags on the way, sat under a tree for shade.
... and B is losing his rounded features, he's looked so much older these last couple of months...
...and finally one of my 3 loved ones - doing what they love best - having cuddles (you will probably notice that A has lost a front crown yet again ... i think his dentist is fighting a losing battle there :( )
In signed shirts with friend C.... his birthday present from Nana and Garandad - just look at him go!
He hardly ever falls off now :)
...past the fantastic mural on the building site that the new RST will one day emerge from...
...and the girls admired the fountain on the way to the Courtyard Theatre.
Lunch was a picnic by the river, then in the afternoon the sun came out. We wandered through the shops, and visited the Birthplace. It's years since I last went, and while the actual building, hasn't changed at all, the accompanying exhibition had been recently updated, and was really excellent. The girls were fascinated by it all.
All in all, a great birthday trip.
This excellent arrangement meant we could split the cost of a bouncy castle 3 ways, and led to over 5 hours of hot bouncing children!
