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The kids love it when I tell stories about them when they were younger. They are always interested in how we decided on their names and love to know what they would have been called if they were born the opposite gender. Quinn Maria was the girl’s name we had picked out for Chance if our first born was a girl, and I have to say I was thrilled when we started off with a “pigeon” pair to start our family. I don’t actually think we had settled on a boy’s name for baby #2, so that worked out well for us all. We chose the name Quinn, from the show Daria and even though our Quinn’s personality is nothing like her namesake, the name suits her so beautifully. Maria was Nanny’s name and I definitely see some Nanny in Quinn! Some of the looks she used to give us as a kid were Nanny through and through!

From a very young age, Quinn has always been very determined, and she works hard to get what she sets her sights on. She has always done well at school, being a very quiet achiever. She is not a squeaky wheel anywhere other than at home, that’s for sure. The last three months has seen us exploring some strategies that have really paid off with her transition into high school. We are all so grateful for this, and Quinn is just happier and more joyful and playful than she has been in a few years. I’m so thrilled for her.

Quinn loves riding her bike, and for her birthday she got a brand new mountain bike to hit the streets on. Her previous bike that she had for two years was a freebie from kerbside collection, and she can’t believe how much easier the new bike is to ride! 🙂 She loves meeting her friends from nearby to ride around together and pop to the corner store for treats, and even go as far as Sandgate for a $1 slushy. It’s such a sense of freedom for her and I love that she loves to get out and do that sort of thing.

For her actual birthday we went bowling and got bubble tea (her favourite) and picked up the bike, then her friends came over for the afternoon and a sleepover. They are such a lovely group of girls who she has been close friends with since grade one.

She wanted a bubble tea cake, so we found a picture and did our best! Ha ha. It was an interesting attempt but she loved it all the same and it tasted delicious so she was happy. Did we nail the brief?? 🙂

The following weekend we had a little family/close friends party that rounded out 11 weeks of birthday/Christmas/New Years/birthday celebrations and I am telling you, I was so wrecked. It was a very low-key afternoon which suited us all just fine.

So that’s all folks! Birthday season is over, and we have a three month break until Julius turns eight. I hope everyone’s year is off to a great start and that you have all had time to enjoy the small moments.