Willbanks' Down Under: 415 + 311 Weeks

We've had another fairly calm week, with only two difficult Arley instances, and I wasn't even around for one of them. The kids were at Mollymook park with their carer Wes, and Arley got a bit physical with Carmie and he got into trouble. A fifteen minute meltdown ensued. It was probably so bad because I wasn't there to help him through it, and now he doesn't want to play with Wes ever again. We are still going to try though, because playing with Wes is so good for him. We had an OT session today, after having no therapy for five weeks, and our OT says the difference in Arley is huge. She said he is calmer, and played with her instead of next to her, he shared ideas with her and built something with her. This is all a really big step, so I was so happy to hear it. It's not just my imagination that Arley is doing so well. We have noticed a big change in him. His whole body seems calmer. He is going through a really bad phase where he won't share anything with Carmie, and he is really possessive about his belongings, but I think I know how to deal with that, so I'm on it.

On Friday of last week we took the kids and Bella to Collers Beach again (we tried but failed to find more ants for our ant house). We have never seen the tide lower, and it was so beautiful. There were so many rock pools to explore, and we were walking on what is usually the sea bed. We found a ton of fossils (but no ants!) and it was really peaceful. We were the only ones out there.

The weather has finally become really cold, so we have spent a fair bit of time inside. Arley has gotten very into making inventions and concoctions in the kitchen. The kids have been making these disgusting drinks and trying to get us to taste them (no chance), and Arley always wants to make food these days, but he tries very odd things, like melting potatoes to put on cookies...needless to say, that recipe didn't work!

I accidentally knocked Carmie's tooth out one night while I was tickling her, so that is the third tooth to be knocked out of her head. There was tons of blood, and when I was cleaning the tooth I accidentally washed it down the drain. Bad mummy!!

The kids had their two horse riding lessons this week. They are really the highlight of our week. Carmie surprised us all by accidentally cantering over a jump. Milea was yelling, "Trot! Trot! Trot!" but as Carmie got closer to the jump, she ran out of time to slow her canter to a trot, and she soared over the jump. We were all surprised, and laughed with relief when she didn't fall off. Today she asked Milea if she could canter over all her jumps from now on! Of course I didn't get it on video.

I took the kids to Batemans Bay this week, to go to the indoor playhouse, as it was raining. Little did we know the playhouse is closed on Mondays. Arley cried, as that was his reward for completing his writing book (he chose to do the book, and chose his own reward, so I was all for it). We ended up staying down there and seeing the movie Pokemon Detective Pikachu, and then going to the mall. Carmie said the day was even better than going to the playhouse, so it turned out alright in the end. I remember a time when there was no way I would have taken the kids to a movie by myself, let alone all the way to Batemans Bay, and to the mall as well as the movies, all without incident. Things are definitely looking up :)

Carmie at it again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UHWqfIOHHc

Beautiful Collers Beach at low tide