273 + 169 Weeks

It has been a week of ups and downs, due to one very small member of my family.  I think you all know who I'm talking about.  He has just been SO naughty.  We decided to crack down this weekend, and we told him that every time he did anything naughty, he would have to go to his room.  For months I have been cuddling him and trying to connect with him when he is naughty, trying to understand what he wants, to stop the behaviour.  But he was just getting worse.  So we decided no holds barred.  I have to admit, I am still compelled to join him in his time outs when I can.   Anyway, Sunday was my birthday, and by 8 o'clock that morning, Arley had been in time out 4 times.  By the afternoon, I was sobbing in the middle of the kitchen floor, surrounded by about 200 scattered frozen blueberries (don't ask), and Arley was locked in his bedroom for about the 15th time, pounding down his door and screaming.  So, not the best birthday.  However, since then he has actually become better behaved, although he still is rough with poor Carmie, who is just such a sweetheart, and only wails, "Why is he so mean to me??"  We have four days off with the kids as of tomorrow, so we will see how Arley goes.  The thing is, when he is cute, he is just SO cute.

This past week ArtFest has been going on.  There are lots of activities around town, and the kids have loved it.  Carmie went to a circus school lesson and had a blast.  I think we will sign her up next year for circus school.  Also, there were lots of arts and crafts down at the public school, so we took the kids down there, and they loved it.  They could have stayed all day.  We also went to a story time at Milton Library, and the kids made lanterns.  Carmie is such an eager little thing, you'll see her at the story time in the pictures below.  We have also had a few trips to the park, and the kids happily spent an afternoon in my art studio painting and drawing.

Tonight my gallery had an opening as part of the ArtFest art walk.  Last week Jeff and I patched and painted walls, and this morning we hung my new series of landscapes.  They were received really well, so I am super happy.  And Jeff taught himself how to frame, and he framed all of the paintings in the last two days.  Such a superstar.  

Anyway, fingers crossed that Arley is nice to his mummy this week!!

At her circus class

 Art at KidsFest

 Busy beavers in my art studio

 At our neighbourhood park

 Playdoh mountain

 Carmie all up in their grill at story time :)

 My gallery just before the opening tonight

272 + 168 Weeks

It has been a very big birthday week this week, with lots of family time.  It was Dida's (Geoff's) 70th birthday this week, so Georgia had a big family weekend in Bowral to celebrate.  The kids were so excited to go for a weekend away, and they loved it.  They were also amazingly good, and we had no real dramas, and lots of fun.  Carmie got to practise riding her bike, and Arley got riding the scooter down, which he was really chuffed about.  The kids' Uncle Sting came down from Sydney, along with his girlfriend Jess, and the kids' Uncle Jay came all the way from China for a visit.  We didn't get out into the town of Bowral at all, so next time we will have to stay longer.  Arley saw a park on the way that he is desperate to go to.  On the way home, Arley decided to play "Spotto a red car!".  Every time he sees a red car, he yells it out.  The problem was, we were driving behind Mum and Geoff in their red car, and the way home from Bowral is a very very winding road.  After every turn, Arley shouted, "Spotto a red car!".  He must have yelled it 70 times.  We were going crazy!!

We went to another family birthday dinner at the farm for Dida's actual birthday, and we had a lovely dinner.  And then yesterday we went back to the farm to have another birthday dinner for me (three days early), so that I could celebrate with Jay before he goes back to China.  It was a delicious meal, and all went well until we wanted the kids to get a photo with their Uncle Jay.  Carmie was SO naughty, saying she was too shy, and whimpering etc etc.  I got pretty cross.  However, we did go over there this morning and we got a few snaps before we had to say goodbye.  She was very sorry for her naughtiness, and made Jay a card.  Carmie rarely misbehaves, so I think even she was taken aback.

Arley though is another story.  Since we got back from Bowral, he has been a terror again.  He is really good at school (which I can't complain about!), but at home, ugh.  He is actually controlling all of us with his behaviour, so I've got to try new tactics.  I have something up my sleeve, so we will see if things change.  Either way, he won't be three forever!

In Bowral, tree climbing

Carmie & Aunty Georgia

Rescue week at swimming.  He's nothing if not cute.

Take 1

Take 2

271 + 167 Weeks

We had a lovely week.  The big deal from this week is that Carmie learned to ride her bike without training wheels.  She is so proud of herself, and she is desperate to go back to the farm to ride her bike (on the tennis court, which is the safest place).  We spent about an hour one afternoon with me running next to her and holding on to her seat, and then about half an hour the next day doing the same, and then she was off.  It was very exciting :)

The kids also went to Hannah's brother Alasdair's birthday lunch, and had a great time.  We had fun in the backyard, and we took the kids to Narrawallee Inlet for a play at the park and a little hike to the point.  They soon found the little beach, and would have spent all day there, except that I hadn't packed us any lunch, so we had to leave due to hunger.  Next time I will pack morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner too.  Arley was perfectly content to throw rocks and shells into the water, while Carmie waded in the inlet.  And next time I'll bring a book too :)

Jeffrey and I also went to a concert, the Neil Diamond Experience.  It was so much fun, fake Neil Diamond was amazing.  And the kids and a sleepover at Lolo and Dida's house, so the next morning Jeff and I had a sleep-in and a very leisurely breakfast.  It was a nice break.

Arley has been a little better behaved lately.  We still get lots of, "No, I don't want to!!" and "Leave me alone!" and "No Daddy, I don't like you!" and foot stomping etc, but he is a little easier to calm this week, and we have had some funny dinners, mostly because every time we start a dinner conversation, Arley answers our questions with "Poo poo".  After you hear that answer SO many times, it actually becomes a little funny.

Here is a video of Carmie riding her bike:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm9Fd1P3zyo

Carmie and Alasdair

Cool in her new hat

Carmie reads to Arley every morning now

Backyard fun

At Narrawallee

Fake Neil

Bike riding superstar