Bernie's 19th

Because Bernie's birthday usually falls in Eastertide, we are lucky that it is often in the holidays. It was this year, so she was home from University for it, and we had a great time.

The kids all love it when we are all together as a family, and we don't need to do anything special for it to feel like a high holiday.  A family walk, some cake and candles, some cards and presents...

And in the evening we went to the movies to see The Hunger Games, which they all enjoyed too.

As so often, the birthday put me in a reflective mood. Bernie is now halfway through her first year at University, studying Fine Art.  She is having a good time: her first term was time to settle in, make friends and so on - but the work got a bit left behind in all that, which was a bit of a problem.  This term she resolved to put more time into the work, and has been enjoying that more, too, as a result.

The fact that she identified the problem and sought advice to solve it, and then followed that advice, as well as developing her own ideas, really pleased me.  In many ways, that kind of learning is as valuable as any other at university.  She is growing into a mature, sensible and increasingly independent young lady.

And it continues to delight me that the kids love each others' company so much.