Danielle

Happy 16th Birthday, Danielle!

Monique || Sweet 16

Happy 16th Birthday, Monique!

Jarrod's Birthday || Dinner at Bronco's

Since this year was his big 16th, Jarrod organised for the two of us and a few peeps from church to hit Bronco's (steakhouse) for dinner one night. 

I'm out of brilliant ideas for things to write so without further ado I present some photos to you.

: : Seriously this food is good. I could live off meals like this ;) : :

: : Group photo just before we left. And yes, the camera lens is dirty . . . sorry : :

Jarrod's Birthday || Presents

Jarrod

Happy 16th Birthday, Jarrod! 

{for tomorrow}

Card-Making Spree!

Once a regular crafter, I rarely make the time for such things nowadays. What with school {work}, music, and other commitments, I usually can't justify some of my old hobbies.

On December 25th though, I decided to throw away all justifications and have a relaxing day of card-making (after I'd done some tidying and things :P) I produced 16 cards and two bookmarks (not counting the mess!!). The little ones joined me from time to time during the day, while Mum worked on sorting the clothes boxes. It was quite a nice way to spend the day, and afterwards I was pleased with my efforts. :)

My Sweet 16th :)

I wanted a memorable celebration for my sixteenth this year, and initially I thought something 'big'. Time slipped away on me though (and I couldn't really think of anything...), so we didn't actually finish organising this until the day before it all took place! 

In the end, the Sonnevelds came to our place around 12:30, and we piled into our people-mover {which I cleaned the night before - go me! :P} to pick up Middy and Becks before heading out to the Hunua Falls/Ranges.

Because we didn't end up having enough time for a long walk, we just went to the falls and then up to the lookout. Afterwards we got the food out of the car and headed for one of the picnic tables. Despite being somewhat gloomy, the weather held up throughout the afternoon, allowing us to enjoy ourselves without getting drenched!

Middy had previously committed to something else later in the afternoon, so dropped her home, then went to Manna Christian Bookstore while we waited for Anne Roos to be ready (she flew back to Auckland that afternoon), at which point we met her at Tenpin Manukau.

Two games later a tired lot of us came back to my place for the rest of the evening. 

While we had been all over town, my mum and siblings had been busy getting the house ready for us to arrive. They made beef casserole for dinner, along with dessert and cake (which we didn't end up icing or eating...oops!). They also pulled out our second dining table and set it up in the lounge for us {since you can't exactly fit five extra people around one!}. 

After dinner and dessert we claimed the lounge suite to watch Saving Sarah Cain. The food leftover from afternoon tea was completely forgotten but near the end we remembered the drinks ;)

By then end of the movie it was 10-ish and time for home and bed.

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This was actually from another day;
it's the mud cake I made and decorated myself.
Yep, tough stuff making my own birthday cake! lol

Gifts from my family

Gifts from friends
See, 16 really is sweet!!!! :P :P