A beautiful little boy has just celebrated his first birthday and to help him commemorate this special occasion we were invited to join his family and friends in a most magical spot.We thought we were late, but we turned out to be early. Very early. No matter - the children were barely out of the car before this place began, once again, to weave it's magic spell.
While we waited the children quietly amused themselves with fallen branches and bits of nature. Bayan locked me in a eucalypt fortress (for my own protection from his "shark (sharp) teeth"), 
and constructed a restaurant, while the girls whipped up a menu and they all created a store filled with delectable treats.
Ruhi even found King Triton's trident. It is wonderful what you can find if you only take the time to look.
Before long friends began to arrive
and the party was on. We had a beautiful, gourmet, lunch that featured, among other delicious things, some amazing sundried tomato, basil and chicken wraps (I think I may need a recipe here, or at least a full list of ingredients...seriously. So good.) and then while the birthday boy enjoyed lots of cuddles the older kids got busy exploring the rose garden and surrounding areas. Bayan and his "best friend" J. amused themselves with an empty concrete well of sorts (mercifully there was no water and neither needed to be fished out.) 
They then dashed over to a metallic structure (art form) and happily posed for the camera.
Before being joined by the rest of the gang... almost. 
A. was conspicuously absent, but I did catch up with her on the lawn where she was only too willing to show me her latest treasure.
Speaking of treasures, there were more to be found...in the trees. Heaps of acorns that Anisa and A. enthusiastically gathered and stealthily deposited in Haleh's purse. Ruhi found some fabulous leaves and the boys found a branch swing that the kids all enjoyed until some kill-joy parents made them come down for - you know - safety concerns.
Bayan remembered Ruhi's skills at catapulting pebbles from the plants and devised his own method to show J.
Anisa paused from her culinary preparations long enough for me to snap this quick shot that shows her toothless grin something that I have been wanting to capture before her adult teeth appear. I love her smile and find the gaping hole so very endearing. 
On the long walk back some little legs got tired. It was a good thing that Dad was close by. Fathers can be so very handy.
They then dashed over to a metallic structure (art form) and happily posed for the camera.Before being joined by the rest of the gang... almost. A. was conspicuously absent, but I did catch up with her on the lawn where she was only too willing to show me her latest treasure.Speaking of treasures, there were more to be found...in the trees. Heaps of acorns that Anisa and A. enthusiastically gathered and stealthily deposited in Haleh's purse. Ruhi found some fabulous leaves and the boys found a branch swing that the kids all enjoyed until some kill-joy parents made them come down for - you know - safety concerns. To soften the blow J. and A.'s dad provided a distraction by allowing the kids to chase him across the immense grounds. 
Which was most delightful as it gave other parents a temporary rest and enabled them to sit for a moment and enjoy the company...and snacks.
Which was most delightful as it gave other parents a temporary rest and enabled them to sit for a moment and enjoy the company...and snacks.D. and A.'s dad brought a guitar, so we had music and many Baha'i songs,
before taking the kids back to the storybook trail that they so very much wanted to see again.
They played briefly in Mowgli's tree house, but mostly enjoyed being together and using their imaginations to create cook stoves, campfires and restaurants where they prepared such fabulous foods as chicken and rice, pizza, chicken and rice, soup and chicken and rice. Did I mention chicken and rice?
before taking the kids back to the storybook trail that they so very much wanted to see again.They played briefly in Mowgli's tree house, but mostly enjoyed being together and using their imaginations to create cook stoves, campfires and restaurants where they prepared such fabulous foods as chicken and rice, pizza, chicken and rice, soup and chicken and rice. Did I mention chicken and rice?
Bayan remembered Ruhi's skills at catapulting pebbles from the plants and devised his own method to show J.
Anisa paused from her culinary preparations long enough for me to snap this quick shot that shows her toothless grin something that I have been wanting to capture before her adult teeth appear. I love her smile and find the gaping hole so very endearing. 
On the long walk back some little legs got tired. It was a good thing that Dad was close by. Fathers can be so very handy.
2 comments:
This reads like such a wonderful narration of the day! We really had a great time at that magic spot.
I've been enjoying your posts tremendously Sarih, you are such an amazingly giving person,love what u did for teacher app. The 'Bayan Specials' are SO FUNNY!!! Miss him and all of you! must catch up soon.
Ruhi and Anisa are getting so grown up, Ruhi especially, and both are turning into beautiful young ladies. I love Anisa's hair bows. They make me think of a cross between some exotic white orchid and a butterfly.
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