More windows , blinds and the end of an era...no more babies

This weekend I arrived home from work on my youngest's 18th birthday, it truely only seems moments ago since he was born, of course I know it isnt, him having outgrown me by more than a foot in the last seven years.
I do of course miss his smallness, the hand that was pushed inside mine when he was unsure, the rip roar chuckles that would eminate from deep down in his belly when he was amused, the huge smile and soft blonde hair, the months of being dinosaurs, the trees we sacrificed to keep him in drawing paper and all the walking , climbing and rock searching that being outdoors always involved.

Baby storage.

New friends.

Bo !

And now I look upto him to see a fine , handsome young man starting his journey into adulthood, it has been a pleasure, I hope he will find me intresting enough to keep me in his loop as makes his way further out into the world , but for now I am happy he is doing so well with his A'levels and hope they will help open doors in the direction he would like to take next.

It was a large cake , with many candles !.

No birthday celebration is complete without a cake with candles and of course jelly and ice cream, it was good to have all the children here, although its nothing like when they were small, I love to hear them all laughing and ribbing each other as only siblings do.

Removing the old glass.

Sawing through and removing the old frame.

New window in.

 Sunday was taken up with getting the last of the new bedroom windows in before the weather really starts to take a turn for the worst.Last weekend we had two strapping younger men to help us, this weekend the workforce consisted of my husband and I. I must say ably terrified by the strong winds....although himself did keep assuring me that the glass was not going to fall out, but my stress levels reached 'peak', and although our goals were completed, I am in no hurry to tackle upstairs windows again anytime soon.

Then came the fun part today, getting everything back where it belongs , hanging the blinds and curtains  and just finishing off. A few small outstanding jobs to do, which hopefully will be completed on these couple of days off, then I must get down to starting on my christmas presents and the house will have to wait for a while .