Weekending

It was actually HOT on Saturday wasn't it? This yo-yo weather is doing my head in. Anyhoo, we broke the ice on the wading pool on Saturday afternoon. It brought back memories of last summer and made me realise how much these two have grown. Last summer Little H played mostly around the pool splashing various toys in and out, on Saturday he was totally in and doing his own version of breaststroke!

Macaroons. Oh boy, these were so yum. Made by Will and the boys to give out as Halloween treats - instead gobbled up by us well before any trick or treaters came knocking!

Father/son bonding over Will's iphone - this time involving the downloading of a NASA app. I simply shake my head. Actually, who am I to judge - Miss can't get away from the computer that I am?!

Led by 10yr old cousin Zelda, the boys enjoyed their first trick or treating experience (while I stalked from a distance with my camera). They, and we watching adults, had a ball.

And now to start another week...

this moment

In the tradition of soulemama, here's this weeks moment. No words, just a moment from our week that we'd like to remember...

His own craft space

Little H has his own little craft/drawing table as of a couple of weeks ago. Big brother spends so much time at his craft table that poor Little H couldn't get in there and fulfil his creative urges often enough. We came across this little coffee table at the Salvo's for $18.00, perfect! It is in fantastic condition, nothing particularly lovely about it nor anything too offensive - just a plain old solid timber table, just the right height for a little person's chair. We did some rearranging of the furniture to accommodate their tables side by side as was their request.

This little boy is cracking us up more and more lately. He has this ridiculous walk that he does which he calls his pregnant walk. Waddles around with his hands on his back, tummy pushed out in front, taking big strides almost falling on his bum.

Every time H says chocolate it is prefixed by "iced". You think he's growing up immersed in the cafe culture?! Little D often has an iced chocolate when we go into Campos. (Yes, it's true, I caved and we moved past baby cino's without chocolate sprinkles quite some time ago actually. Still, the kid didn't know what chocolate was until he was almost four. Ahem, can not say the same about child number two.) Anyway, after receiving some chocolate coins in a party bag over the weekend he's been stomping round the house all day demanding "more iced chocolate money. I LIKE it! MORE iced chocolate money!"

Oh and just in case you think he wears the same T-shirt every single day, not so. We have a pile of these Campos shirts in size 2 and size 2 only (after a slightly misguided retail experiment a few years ago. Don't ask). We stuffed Little D into them until he was very close to 4 and right now they are the perfect fit on H. So it's just too easy really. What will you wear today? The Campos T-shirt or the Campos T-shirt?

this moment

In the tradition of soulemama, here's this weeks moment. No words, just a moment from our week that we'd like to remember...

Featherdale

We went along to our first SHEN event today. While we've been heavily involved in our local home-schooling social scene for several months now, this was our first official, booked and paid for in advance "event". Kind of a cool milestone, for me anyhow. (Of course the kids couldn't have cared less how we got to be there, they were busy having a great day). A few of the families there we've come to know recently through the boys gymnastics class, and our regular inner west play group. But there were also plenty of new faces which I find encouraging, makes the circle seem bigger and stronger somehow. You know, like home-schooling is normal!

Often times I leave a zoo or animal sanctuary feeling a little down, but not so today. It is really pleasant here, the animals truly seem content and well cared for and the majority of them quite unrestricted in their movements.

Stamping our maps at various points throughout the park as we visited them quickly became an obsession! See Little H on the left above - he totally cracked me up when he took his lunch and wandered away from D and I to sit between complete strangers, joining in their conversation while munching a hard boiled egg. Obviously feeling very at ease!

And here's what gave me the biggest surprise all day. When, during his presentation, the keeper asked our group if anyone would like to feel a python curl around their neck Little D bounced off his seat for the chance! I guess the snake around his neck isn't so much the surprise - come on, as if curiosity wouldn't get the better of you in the same situation - but that he got up in front of a large group of home-schooling kids of all ages and their adult caretakers without blinking. If you know Little D well, you'd know that this is quite out of character for my sometimes (ahem) reserved child.

While we can (and do) go to the zoo or museum or wherever anytime we feel like it, there was something really lovely about the group vibe today and being able to receive the special attention normally only provided for school groups in such settings. I'm sure today's event will be the first of many.

Weekending

Well what a gorgeous, sunny weekend, with just the right mix of doings and nothings. Here's a little snapshot.

Oh hi there. Long time no see.

I re-aquainted myself with my sewing room. Too long my friend, too long. Of course I ventured upstairs with the intention of making something for my new nephew but (ahem) ended up making something for myself. I shall have to do a sewing post soon...

We took Marvin with us to the warehouse today for our coffee fix (and his fetch-ball fix which is perfect on a Sunday when the parking lot is empty) . Goodness me, it killed me watching how sedate and obliging he was to the boys, slack lead the whole time and sitting promptly when told with a wag of a certain 2 yr old's finger to do so!

Warehouse ladder 'driving'

Driving the ladder. Little H made up a song, the lyrics went something like "driving. We're driving. Going to the plaaaaaay ground. The biiiiiig one. Driving. We're driving. Beep beep!" (Click on the image for a larger size if you want to see the gorgeous expression on Little H's face while singing).

We also did some gardening, re-arranged the furniture, attended a cocktail party (child free all sophisticated-like!) and made fresh spelt pasta. Oh, and I even managed to sneak away for a couple of hours for my Tai Chi class. Can tomorrow be Saturday again please? Wouldn't mind another 2 days of what we just had thanks.

this moment

In the tradition of soulemama, here's this weeks moment. No words, just a moment from our week that we'd like to remember...