Christmas holidays - Day 1

We've just returned from our little Christmas holiday family tour, which saw us spend time in Coffs Harbour and Inverell with both the Bartley and Hobson families.

 

Day One was the big drive to Coffs Harbour (approx 5 hours).  The kids were set up with DVDs and individual snack bags, which kept the annoying "Are we there yet?" question to a minimum. 

 

Not surprisingly, the first snack of choice from their bags were the chocolate reindeer noses.

 

It was very sweet to turn around and check on them, only to discover Milly and Buster holding hands.

After arriving at Coffs and enjoying a refreshment, and with the kids bathed and in their pyjamas, we set off to enjoy some of the Christmas lights.

One house we visited even had a snow machine.  Although it was more like soapy hair mousse than icy snow.  The kids didn't care, they were loving it.

Well, not everyone was loving it.....

... that was until they got kissed by a robotic reindeer.

Even Santa showed up to do a song and dance.

Christmas craft

Henry's first sewing project.

Twinkle McJingles

Hot, hot, hot

Putting on his parts

 

My Nan always had a saying for someone who pouted and carried on when they didn't get their way.  She'd say "they're putting on their parts".  I've now started using this saying with Buster.

 

Buster seems to be going through his 'terrible two' stage, albeit two years late.  He can throw a good little tantrum if he doesn't get his way, and just like his mum (aka me) he knows how to hold a grudge.  He sometimes gets himself so worked up about not getting his way that he exhausts himself and falls asleep.  In the past two weeks this has happened a number of times, and each time he's fallen asleep before midday.

 



 

Christmas photos and outtakes

A conversation with Buster

Buster:  Mamma, elves aren't real.
Me:  What do you mean they aren't real?
Buster:  They're not.
Me:  But who makes the toys for Santa?
Buster:  Elves.
Me:  So they are real?
Buster:  No.
Me:  Does that mean Santa isn't real?
Buster:  No.  Santa is real and the tooth fairy is real.
Me:  Why can't elves be real?
Buster:  Because they're not.

Buster's first concert

I've just asked Michael how he would describe Buster's performance in his end of
year preschool concert.  His words.  "It was as good as expected".  "Patchy".  "He was there".

Admittedly, we had low expectations.  We anticipated someone who would do his own thing or maybe be silly.  It's not easy for four year olds to sing and do choreographed pieces with a large group of adults watching, taking photos and filming bits of it.  He was kept in close check by his teachers who made sure one of them was always next to him.  All the girls in his preschool group were very in to it.  They performed with pride.  Most of the boys were just watching everyone else but by half way through were singing just as loud as the girls.  Then there was Buster. 

So what did he do?  Well, he stayed with the group as they performed.  He pulled faces and he did his own choreography.  He is his own little character.... and he is quite a character.  We love him to pieces.  He is our Boo.

I took a bunch of out of focus photos, but I feel they do capture his contribution ...... and as Michael said "he was there".

Award season

School presentation day was today and weren't we the proudest parents to have both kids chosen to receive awards.  Henry's award was for "Excellent attitude toward literature and reading" and Milly's award was "Excellent attitude, application and achievement". So very proud we are.

Then later that day at karate, Henry was singled out to receive a "Respect" award.

In the meantime, tomorrow is Buster's final day at preschool for the year.  He will be performing in an end-of-year concert and graduating from his preschool room.  Next year he joins the school readiness room where they might have a challenge on their hands.  Until then, we are looking forward to just what kind of a "performance" Buster will put on.

The tree is up

 

O' Christmas Tree

 

The mantlepiece

Santa found some reindeer

Cutting the grass

The four year check

Buster has just had his four year check by the health nurse and his immunisations.  The immunisations didn't go so well and gave us a little scare.  Prior to him getting his needles a doctor came in to check his ears and heart and detected a murmour in his heart beat.  He told us this could be normal in young children but sent us off to have an ultrasound just to be sure.  We are still waiting on the official report, but the ultrasound technician said he couldn't see anything abnormal and if there was any cause for concern it would have shown up before now.  So we are breathing a sigh of relief but still want to get the report results for final peace of mind.

After Buster's health assessment with the nurse I couldn't help but compare his results against Henry and Milly at a similar age.  Here is the comparison.

Buster (4 years old):  weight 14.8kg, height 101cm
Henry (3.5 years old):  weight 18.7kg, height 103cm
Milly (3 years old):  weight 16.1kg, height 100cm

Nanoo recently had the kids over for a sleepover and she measured them against a wall.  Henry is now 138cm tall and Milly is 123cm.

Buster has a lot of catching up to do and maybe he will have a growth spurt and maybe he won't.  For now he is still in size 2 shorts and trousers and we are about to break out the size 3 shirts for him to try.  He is our little pocket rocket.

Boo the Thoughtful

The kids have been putting together their Christmas lists.  This has never been an issue for Milly.  She has always been very specific about her needs and wants, and can easily come up with a wish list of items as long as your arm.  In fact, I got a bit excited when she asked if it was alright to put some books on her Christmas list.  Hooray, anything that isn't a toy gets my seal of approval.  So when she found out her list could include items that weren't toys, she madly started writing and the list got longer still.

Henry, on the other hand, either comes up with a list of toys he will never play with but only wants them because he doesn't have them.  Or he comes up with a list of what is essentially the same item, only he has given it different names.  For example, this Christmas he would like an Ipad mini, an Ipad touch, a touchscreen laptop, and a computer).  Remember back in 2008 when all he wanted was a some soup and a truck?  (you can read about it here)

Then we come to Buster. 

Me:  Buster, what would you like for Christmas?
Buster:  A telescope and a telescope.
Me:  Why do you need two telescopes?
Buster:  One for me and one for Henry.
Me:  What else would you like?
Buster:  A pirate sword.
Me:  But you already have a pirate sword.
Buster:  Henry doesn't have one.  I want to give it to him so he can play with me.

Bless.

The Secret Club

Milly has started a club at school with her friends.  It is called The Secret Club.  I asked her what they do in the club and she said they tell each other secrets.  She also made everyone in the club a wristband.  Then I found a little booklet she had put together with the rules of the club and I couldn't help but laugh... very, very loudly.

You need to come on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. 

If you don't want to go on adventure playground you can come on Tuesday.

 

If you want to go when I am talking you might miss playing at the end. 

But if you want to answer a question, put your hand up.

 

Be sensible if you have to leave, but you are still in the club. 

But if you are talking when I am talking you are not in the club.

 

Secret handshake to get in the club and out. 

Clap, knuckle, swoop and bang your knees to get in.

 

Check that everyone is here. 

If they are not coming they are out of the club. 

If they are here give them a tick.