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