Big Birthday Bash & OPAM

Hello everyone out there in blogland! I hope you're all well & having a good week so far. Life in the Meares' Madhouse has been a little madder than usual over the past week, so I'm running late with the July OPAM random draw ... But I promise I have a really good excuse. :0)

You see ... This past weekend saw a certain someone celebrate a milestone, 'zero' birthday. I'll give you a hint ...

This blue eyed cutie has been gracing the planet with his presence for 50 years! So of COURSE there was a party! :0) My Friday off from my grown up job became a cooking day rather than a sewing day, but it was worth the lack of sewing, sore feet from standing in the kitchen & worrying whether there would be enough food (between my sister-in-law & I we could have fed several infantry battalions! Tee! Hee! Hee!) when my Beloved Geek Boy had a blast with the important people in his life ... As well as some new 'friends', because he shared the celebrations with his brother-in-law who hits his milestone next week. Wanna see some pics? :0)

Here's the birthday boy with some of his work friends.

And here he is with his good mate Terry ... GB helped Terry celebrate earlier in the year ... Don't you love it when you hit one of those runs in life? Everyone you know is turning 21, then getting married, having children ... Turning 50! :0) You end up partying way more than usual for a year. Tee! Hee! Hee!

GB's cousin Dean & wife Wendy came up from Brisbane & his younger sister Kylie & BILNat joined the fun.

Terry's wife Cathy, the soon-to-be-mother-in-law of one of our nephews, Rachel, GB's older sister Tonia & my Bestest-Buddy-Since-We-Were-Nine Lynette helped us celebrate. (In one of life's weird twists, Lynette's hubby shares GB's birthday ... But is ahead of him a few years!)

Justin & Lynda (Lynda & I met at belly dancing classes) & Lynette's sweetie & fellow birthday boy, Noel.

The co-celebrant & BIL Martin & his band Undercover provided some live party music ...

... As did one of our talented nephews, Harrison. (Not the soon-to-be-married nephew. :0) )

And of course I was there to help celebrate my Sweetie's milestone. I don't think he's changed much since that top photo. Do you?! :0) There were quite a few more people who helped us celebrate, but managed to avoid having their pic taken. :0) And on Sunday we celebrated a bit more on the actual birthday so both GB & Lynette's Sweetie got to enjoy their birthday ...

A DEEEEEELICIOUS breakfast at a little restaurant just five minutes from us, called Emeraude, that uses locally sourced produce wherever possible. Lynette & I have a little giggle when our sweeties are together ... Not only do they share a birthday, but we think they're looking more & more alike as they get older. What do you think? :0)

So ... That's my late-note. :0) But now to OPAM ... July was our most productive month this year ... & with two Secret Squirrel projects finished I can include myself in the tally this time ... WOO! HOO! There were ...

165 FINISHES!

WOW! Not bad! Well done to everyone who added to that tally & good work, too, to those who didn't have finishes but made some progress on longer term projects. We need to remind ourselves to enjoy the doing as well as the having of the finished projects. And the winner of the random draw is ...

RAEWYN!

Congrats Raewyn! Drop me an email & I'll send you a copy of the prize PDF pattern to enjoy playing with.

WHEW! Well that's it from me today ... I hope you enjoyed the catchup. I'm hoping to have some sewing time this coming weekend, as it will be our last free weekend until the end of September! Yes ... This is a busy time of year for us. :0) Have a fantastic week & don't forget to take some time out to be creative. Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!

KRIS