Aunty Ruth

Aunty Ruth is staying over tonight. She arrived just after the carpet fitters had gone (carpet fitters! Been and gone! Carpet!! With underlay!!!) and Ben has been infatuated :) He eventually stopped calling her Sue (one of his other aunties is called Sue) and managed to comprehend that she is Ruth, and he has pretty much ignored me all afternoon. Which has been great because I have managed to make both halves of the celebration cake, a whole batch of cupcakes, and hoover the new carpet. (Did I mention we have carpet in Ben's room?!)

Ben has been bossing her around, ordering her up the climbing frame (which I mowed the grass around this morning - looks almost respectable out there now) and all around the garden, not giving her a moment's peace - and she's loving it, being the doting aunty!

This evening Steve went out to pick up another early birthday present - the £5 trampoline that I bagged from the Friday ad section! He saw the HANDLE of the trampoline (it's one of those small ones) as it went past the door and yelled "JUMP!" and so it is currently (temporarily) installed in the kitchen on its way out into the back garden. It's in such good condition, I am so pleased! This is being a bit of a bargain extravaganza of a birthday for Ben. He's had his big climbing frame already, which cost enough to get all the grandparents to contribute to; we're going away for a couple of nights to a hotel and having a slap-up meal out; and most of his presents (from me and his daddy at any rate) are bargains from sales or are second hand.

Tomorrow the whole of Ben's extended family is going away for a couple of days to celebrate Steve's and my 30th birthdays, our 10th wedding anniversary, and Ben's 2nd birthday.

Looking forward to it - hopefully will blip tomorrow before we go, but if not, I will keep in touch and backblip on Monday!