And the boy turned two. Well, not quite yet, since this is the day before his birthday. Nana Sue had offered to host his birthday party on the Sunday, after Daisy's birthday party was quite hard work. Gregory was keen to get stuck into his presents, more able now to actually rip off the paper.
Nana Sue hadn't disappointed on the food front, laying on an impressive spread.
After the savoury, the sweet, and specifically Gregory's birthday cake. I particularly like the reflection of Daisy in the mirror.
Uncle Matt was tasked with preparing Gregory for the big candle blowing...
...which he did successfully, with Daisy watching on, ready to step in if it didn't work out.
Aunty Katie had chipped in with her homemade Oreo cheesecake for dessert.
The cheeky young birthday boy certainly seemed to have engaged in some chocolate eating.
Gregory and Daisy are both believers in efficient use of chairs, and this is a good demonstration of that. Having said that, Gregory doesn't look overly enamoured by the situation.
However, he soon relaxed and they got ever more wistful.
Uncle Matt took an order, I think for a blueprint some furniture.
The next day, the Monday, which was actually his birthday, we convened in the lounge with a big stack of presents, as is traditional. I had taken the day off work (my first of the calendar year - think I'd earned it).
Whilst Gregory could probably have opened these himself, it would take him too long, or at least far too long for Daisy to be able to wait patiently.
Here are some of the presents: a remote control car, a Bing car, some Lego, amongst other things.
Here was one of the most notable presents for this birthday. You may have wondered what the long tube present was a couple of photos ago. Well it was this: a large road mat. Ideal for a small child (or indeed anyone) who likes to play with cars a lot.
Here he got a bit carried away with pretty much ALL his cars (and trains and diggers and whatever other vehicles he owns, or has gained from Daisy).
All dressed up and ready to go out, but just chilling whilst watching TV first, obviously.
Well, just before we do go out, it's time to play with another vehicle in a recent pose he has adopted, lying down whilst playing to get a ground level view.
For the day out, we headed down to Tatton Park for the Roald Dahl's Tremendous Adventures, a themed takeover in place to celebrate the centenary of the great children's book writer. This crazy tree is probably part of one of the stories, but for the time being at least I can't place it.
The two little ones were ready for action, with Gregory almost straining at the leash.
First we would head down Dairy Wood Way, in search of the Enormous Crocodile.
Gregory had managed to find - or at least be in the same shot as - one of the footprints showing the way to go.
Occasionally we would see signs like this on the trees, giving quotes from Roald Dahl's books as well as a letter towards a word that you were meant to spell.
Finally, we made it all the way round. We survived! Someone should tell us that we're actually in the Enormous Crocodile's mouth, though. I think our celebration might be somewhat premature.
After a while, it was preferable to set the birthday boy free. What mischief could he possibly get up to?
Here is a shot of the three of us taken by Lynne as we wander through the atmospheric woodland.
Another quote, this one from, er, Muggle-Wump.
And in the middle of all this, a playground. With swings that they can both go on. How about that.
So where the hell do we go next? Lynne, never comfortable with a map (by her own admission), tries to find out.
By the large crocodile, some see-saw action. As ever, I hover behind Gregory in case he decides to launch himself backwards (although hopefully he has grown out of that sort of thing).
The eager scavengers have picked up a pine cone each, which they are sure to guard with their lives.
By this stage, however, it did appear that Gregory was getting a bit fed up as we looped back to the Enormous Crocodile picture opportunity. (If memory serves me right, we found a short-cut to it originally and then did the full course after that.)
The intrepid, if small, explorer, off for a mini-ramble.
As we headed back into the main area, looking for a spot of lunch, we noticed (well, it was hard not to) the Big Friendly Giant in the distance.
After lunch (in retrospect, was this a good idea?), all four of us went on a merry-go-round. Gregory didn't get the message about smiling for the camera, unfortunately, but otherwise it's not a bad one.
Here are the juniors in a giant peach. No sign of James.
"Daddy, can we go to Danny's Adventure?"
There was some fine topiary on display...
...as the boy was content to wander, free of the burden of the leash.
But it's all very well walking around. Why do that when you can ride in style. Cheerio!
He wasn't particularly perturbed by a slightly sinister scarecrow.
Danny's Adventure featured something of an obstacle course. I negotiated it with Gregory, although I wasn't about to squeeze through this twig tunnel.
As Daisy rushed on ahead with Lynne, we had to take things a little more carefully.
He did manage to get through this without getting trapped.
And to finish, a tyre walkway. Why not, eh.
Some mid-afternoon fuel was soon needed, and was provided in the form of yoghurt raisins. Probably to stop him moaning or something.
At this point, though, he didn't seem to want to continue. To be fair, Tatton Park is pretty big and his legs are still quite tiny.
We were delighted to find a maze on the grounds, which we duly did. It was a bit muddy, though (not pictured: mud).
Happy with his day at the park, he chilled out and hydrated.
In fact, so keen was he on hydrating that he continued to do this for quite some time, to the detriment of his walking pace.
Hopefully, though, he had a good second birthday.
On to his third year or head back to the Secret Portal.