277 + 173 Weeks

So, this week little Arley came down with a cold, and five days later he is battling tonsillitis.  Super fun times.  He is a real pleasure to be around when he is sick.  Actually, I guess he could be worse, he is just super clingy, and screams and cries if I even go to brush my teeth without him.  He seems to be switching between being in very good spirits and being a controlling tantrum-throwing tyrant.  I didn't realise that his cold had developed into tonsillitis until his preschool told me yesterday.  Bad mummy.  He isn't eating a whole lot, but that is not surprising for him, as all he ever wants to eat are crackers.  Seriously, the amount of fights we have with him about why he can't have crackers for breakfast, lunch and dinner, is ridiculous.  And now he has decided he doesn't like my smoothies either, and they were my go-to for cramming in hidden vegetables.  Anyway, I guess I would know if he was really malnourished, although then again, I didn't know he had tonsillitis!  But maybe I can be cut some slack, as I have been sick with his cold too :(

This week Carmie's friend Ness came over for another playdate.  They had fun, as always, and Vanessa is such a sweet heart, and even packs up her messes when you ask her to (a problem we are having with Carmie these days - she thinks if we have touched the toys, or put them there for the kids to play with, then we are the sole people responsible for packing them away too).  The kids also went to Carmie's friend Cassie's birthday party this weekend, and we picked Hannah up from school for a playdate on Wednesday too.  So, lots of socialising this week.  We also did tons of painting and crafts, and had some good family time.  All in all a good week except for me and Arley being sick (again!).

Here is a video of Carmie washing her hands.  Yes, it seems like a very mundane thing to film, but you have to see her, it is so funny.  And this was the short version, sometimes she washes her hands for five full minutes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7c9VMazBcM

Carmie reading about the female reproductive system!

Besties :)

In my studio

Painting with Ness

Letter fun

Making muesli with me.  He since has decided he hates my muesli :(

He has a tea party every single morning.

Photo day at school.  Yes, I had to take them in on a sick day, just my luck.  And can you tell that Carmie dressed herself?!

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276 + 172 Weeks

This weekend the kids and I and their Lolo did an overnight trip to Bowral to see Aunty Georgia and the cousins.  The problem was that poor Carmie was so sick.  She could have stayed home with her dad, but she wanted to come.  She had a horrible sore throat, was crying from the pain in the middle of the night, threw up one morning, had a fever on and off, and didn't eat for three days.  When we got back, Jeff ended up taking her to the hospital to see a doctor, and he just said it was most likely a virus.  She is all better now, but she certainly could have had more fun on her weekend away.  She had a couple of bursts of energy and got outside to play with Arley a few times, but that was it.  Despite Carmie being sick, we had a good time, and will definitely be heading up that way more often.

Little Arley seems to be getting under the weather now, but fingers crossed he will wake up tomorrow morning not sick.  They tell me at school that he has been really good, with only a few minor meltdowns, but nothing they couldn't handle.  For the most part, he has been much better at home too.  He does a fair bit of yelling when he is cross, and he knows how to get under his dad's skin, but also nothing we can't handle.  He is also very cute.  Every single time we kiss him, he wipes the kiss off.  He is talking really well, loves his trains still, loves to paint and read, and follows his sister around everywhere.  Also, it is fairly brilliant that not once in his life has he ever gotten out of bed in the morning on his own - he waits quietly for one of us to go in and get him, whether it's 7am or 8am.    We've never told him he has to stay in bed.  He just does.  You can't beat that!

On Wednesday afternoon we picked up Carmie's little friend Hannah from school, and had her over for a playdate.  When our friend Nat came to pick her up, she brought Hannah's little brother Ali and they all stayed for dinner.  The kids had a blast, even though Arley refused to share any of his million toys.  It is so nice that these kids are growing up together :)

 Petting their old friend Whinny

 She LOVES a workbook!

 Arley & Ali

275 +171 Weeks

OK, the big thing that I have to report from this week is that Arley's behaviour has done a complete turnaround!  He was still pretty bad early on, and then over the weekend I got fed up and told him that if he hurt Carmie, or antagonised her in any way, one more time, then I would take away a train.  Within two minutes he pushed her, so he lost a train.  He also lost the plot, but his tantrum only lasted 10 minutes, so not so bad.  He lost two more trains that day, but since then, none!  He hasn't beat on his sister in four days, which is a record!  He still has an issue about being first at everything (he wants to be the first one in his chair, to put his shoes on, into the car etc etc), and he still can throw a good fit when this doesn't happen, but he seems to be able to control himself a little better.  His naughtiness and bad temper seems to go in waves, and we are definitely on a high right now, but I am truly hoping that his terrible threes are over.  Life has been so much easier!

Carmie's bestie came over for a play date on Friday.  The girls are so cute together, and they are very kind about including Arley.  He felt a little left out during their 'disco dance party' because he couldn't quite keep up, but other than that, all was well.  Having a friend over to play with them is so good, it really frees us up, so we will be doing it more often.

The kids also had a sleep over at their Lolo and Dida's on Saturday night, and Jeff and I went out to dinner.  It was such a nice break, and we felt like real people again.  The next day Jeff was playing guitar at the markets, so my parents brought the kids down to meet us there, and the kids spent about two hours jumping on the bouncy castle.  On Wednesday the kids took the day off school so Jeffrey could take them to the Playschool show that was in town.  Carmie was very excited that Teo was the host, and the kids had such a good time.  Afterwards, we did some gardening, the kids helped Jeff wash the cars, and then we had a playdate with some friends at Mollymook park.  A busy day not at school!

Tomorrow I am taking the kids and Lolo up to Bowral.  Today I was telling the kids our plans, and I said that we were going to pick Lolo up on the way.  Arley said very seriously, "But Mum, we can't pick Lolo up.  She's too heavy."  So, I guess you're staying home Mum!

Post drawing lesson

Besties

Best Dad ever!