Uncle Stevie

This week Big Uncle Stevie has been visiting from Dubai. He spoiled the kids rotten with presents and time. Tom scored and extra large toolkit and Ela an inflatable, motorised aqua scooter (which has been the object of many a fight since).
It was also his birthday so he was spoiled back by all his seven nieces and nephews who sang happy birthday and helped him demolish this lovely large cupcake.

Husky '11

This weekend we went to Huskinson down at Jervis Bay for Mark's first Iron Man Competition. It was a half ironman, 2km swim, 90km ride and 21km run.
We stayed at the local caravan park and the kids had a ball, fighting over the bunk beds and sleeping bags. Especially Tom who made a new friend called Oli (whose dad was also competing), as were the majority of residents in the park, in one of the races over the weekend.
As usual we were briefed with our planned location(s) and bottles of Goo to hand over. We intended to see him once on the bike leg and twice during the run, then to be at the finish line.





Mark was up at the crack of dawn to do whatever he does before the race begins and was back at the van around 6.30am. I had intended to get the kids up, breakfasted and watch the start as Mark jumped into the ocean but we didn't quite manage it. I pretended i could see his head bobbing in the water from the cliffside walk from the park but in fact it took all my energy to get two tired kids and their scooters into position to see him whizz by in 2 seconds on the bike.
After that we attempted to relax at the beach but in actual fact there was a lot of waiting around by the running track. We were able to hand over the goo and do a couple of 'high fives' before making another mad dash to the finish line when, due to the crowds, we heard him (be announced) cross rather than saw him! He was shattered but euphoric and didn't stop smiling for at least three days! I don't doubt we'll be back again next year.

Cockatoo Island

This weekend we went for a camping trip to Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour! 

Cockatoo Island is a former imperial prison, industrial school, reformatory and gaol. It is also the site of one of Australia's biggest shipyards during the twentieth century.  

We took the ferry with six other families (14 adults and 15 kids) to the island where the tents were waiting, complete with inflatable mattresses. Once Ela got over the fact that she wasn't allowed to take books or toys she actually had a ball. The dads took all the kids on an adventure tour of the island, through tunnels and old warehouses and finally a swim from the causeway in the harbour! Meanwhile the mums sat around sipping bubbly and enjoying the view!
There was a kids BBQ followed by impromtu games, then the adults BBQ. The kids were in bed by 9.30 and the adults sat around the esky (no fires allowed) being social. Our lot slept quite well - actually we were last up!

We had to load the kids back on the ferry very reluctantly but with a promise we would come back again soon.

SRC

This week Ela was voted in as class SRC rep. (Student Representative Council). We are not quite sure how that happened (when I tried to ask I got my head bitten off) or what it means but Jubilation turned to sorrow a few days later when Ela found out the SRC meetings were scheduled at the same time as the junior choir (which she has also joined).
I tried to explain about life and choices yadayada but she was having non of it and couldn't chose which she would rather attend. So we wrote a letter asking for the times to be changed and they have been.
Very proud of her, as she is of herself - particularly as she gets to wear a special badge on her uniform. She seems to think it means people can tell her in the playground if they want an iceblock....

Back to School

Today Tom started at the local Pre-School (Cabarita-Mortlake Kindy) which was a much anticipated event. The bag was packed, shoes on and waiting at the door at 7.30am! When he arrived, Ela stole the show a little as all the old teachers recognised her and were asking how she was doing at school. Not to be outshone however, Tom was on the ball will all the routine - putting his lunch in the fridge, towel on the peg, bag in the locker. Then he exclaimed "You forgot my sheets mummy". And I had to explain that they were provided at this place (unlike at Gumnut where we take our own). He was straight out onto the play equipment and waving me farewell without a backward glance! Phew, easy!


We just made it for the bell at 9.25 at Ela's school, and the headmistress announced to the over excited kids that they would go straight to the hall to hear about their new classes and teacher. I made one of the mums promise to text me the gossip as they all hung around and I ran off to work.

Unfortunately Ela has been separated from her two best buddies, Celina and Mykala, but I don't doubt it will be long before she has a new best mate. She will be down the 'big end' of the school, in the new multi purpose room (that was newly converted from the old hall). And she seemed highly pleased about that. She wasn't able to tell us the teacher's name, but it sounded something like Miss Allow?

And after school it was Gelato all around as is the custom on first day backs, scuffed shoes and smiles too as we all cooled off from a very hot and sweaty day.

Australia Day

Another glorious sunny day in Sydney, perfect for celebrating Australia day by the pool with family and friends. This year we had about 24 adults and 18 kids. Our Tom had a ball, throwing himself in with his rubber ring on and asking 'Glenny' and 'Chrissy' to throw him up in the air. Ela too hardly left the pool for about 5 hrs, pausing only to grab a sausage off the barbie before diving in again. There were LOTS of empty bottles at the end of the day and plenty of weary kids that night by all accounts.

Mark the superhero managed to fit in a 2.5km harbour swim before the party. He and Chris did the Opera House swim in the morning then raced home to put the sausages on the barby by midday just in time for the guests to arrive!

Garage Sale

Well I knew it wasn't great timing, but I decided after having spent a whole week off, cleaning out all of the rooms of old clothes and toys, that we would have a garage sale at the weekend. The weather was touch and go and I only made the final decision to go ahead late on Friday night. So early Saturday morning I drove around al the local streets tying up notices (made by Ela and her friend Izzy) with balloons on roundabouts and at junctions. We set out everything on the driveway and the lawn and waited the rush of customers.

Alas all the big spenders must still have been on holidays for they came not in their droves but in a trickle. Only two visitors in fact! And to make matters worse Tom was wandering around pouncing on each item shouting "that's mine" and holding onto it for dear life. Maybe I need to try again a) when there are more people around and b) when the kids are away for the weekend!!

Its funny that in my mind I had SO MUCH stuff but in reality when we laid it all out, it wasn't really that much at all. In fact it looked rather sparse - as I imagine were the thoughts of the few drive-by visitors we had!