As the family’s resident expert baker, Irene insisted on making her own cake

Four layered strawberry filled cake with candles.
It tastes even better than it looks–the butter cream and the juice from the sliced strawberries soak into the cake to produce a luscious result.

with the first slice removed
She gives detailed instructions of how she did it on her blog. To celebrate we also found 14 pictures from her younger years.
Irene, as you can see, has always loved cake

A piece of pizza, a balloon, mum behind the camera, the world is hilarious.

One baby, and two granola bars. What’s not to celebrate?

She’s seen some chocolate we are not sharing. When asked what she wanted for dinner, she’d say “Dicky, Danny, Appie Done,” which translates as “Cookie, Candy, a pie, Icecream Cone.” We were sugar addicts, can you tell?

Zoe and Irene love Nutella
She has always thought that being alive was much cause for celebration–and she still does
We rented a camper van to explore Switzerland when Irene was 4. Here she thinks the bunks are really cool
Earmuffs make her really happy
After her first day of school–in England

Celebrating turning five.

Somerville College, Oxford, garden party.
At a garden party, at my old college, Somerville Oxford
Oh my goodness…I just love her smile, Anita! So beautiful. Happy Birthday to Irene!
Angela, thanks so much:-)
I love all those wide grins.
Yeah, our whole family still smile in pretty much the same way!!