359 + 255 Weeks

This past weekend we had a big surprise for Arley.  I had bought tickets to Thomas' Big Day Out up in Thirlmere, just past Bowral.  I told the kids that Lolo and I were taking them up to Bowral for a sleep over at Aunty Georgia's house.  They were so excited to go.  Lolo had to drive as I couldn't because of my ankle, and we made it almost all the way there, just 10 minutes from Georgia's house, before Carmie vomited everywhere, all over the back car seat. It was pretty gnarly.  I'm just not sure about her and long car trips at this point.  :(  Anyway, they had a good time that night, staying up late to play card games with us.  The next morning we told the kids we were taking them on an adventure.  When we got there (to Sodor Station), Arley was pretty excited - Carmie not as much.  We got to ride on an old steam train (Donald), as well as a tram (Toby), and Arley got to pull Thomas' whistle and meet the Fat Controller.  We rode in mini trains and the kids had their faces painted.  Lolo lost Carmie for a good 10 minutes (which was really frightening!!), and Arley was allowed to buy another train to add to his collection.  There were more trains to see, but we were all so pooped that we left for the long trip home, and luckily there was no vomiting!  It was a tiring weekend, but well worth it to see the look on little Arley's face :)

I finally have been able to drive around this week, so we organised a meet up with our homeschool friends at Mollymook park.  It was such a lovely long play, and of course the park was not crowded at all, being a Monday.  It was so great to see the changes in both Carmie and Arley.  Carmie used to be a little removed and was always worried that her friends didn't want to play with her.  Arley used to be quite distant and sometimes a trouble maker, having anxiety.  On Monday they were right in the thick of it, laughing and playing with their friends.  Arley even stood in the sand pit, and Carmie made mud pies, which she always refused to do before.  They were so relaxed and calm, it was lovely to see.  We stayed so long we ended up buying hot chips and we all had lunch there too.  After the park play, I dropped the kids off at Lolo and Dida's so that I could squeeze in a couple of hours of work.

Tuesday was the warmest most beautiful autumn day, so the kids and I took Bella to the beach while poor Jeffrey stayed home and framed a painting for me and did a whole lot of yard work.  Collers Beach was practically empty except for a few other people walking their dogs.  We stayed for ages, because Carmie just did not want to leave.  We found a ton of sea glass, and the kids collected tiny special shells.  Carmie got brave exploring on her own because I just couldn't get certain places because of my bunged up ankle.  Carmie has been desperate to go to the cemetery in Mollymook for months, so I got her to leave the beach by promising her I'd take them to the cemetery.  So off we went to see the graves after our lovely beach exploration.  It was so cute, on the way there, Carmie asked me if I thought Roald Dahl was buried there.  So, the cemetery was a little depressing, but the kids seemed to enjoy it.  Arley said the next time we go, could we bring flowers in case I die!

On Wednesday the kids went to their grandparents for a play while I got some work done.  They watched too much tv, and came home totally jaded.  Arley was aggressive and mean, and they have been banned from all screens for a week.  So today was day one without screens, and it was great!  They had lots of quiet moments, reading together, playing Bingo together.  They also did a little bit of fighting because Arley just loves to antagonise Carmie.  This afternoon we took Carmie to Japanese class, and then a play with the homeschool kids again.  All in all, it was a good, screen-free day.  A good end to a busy week.

On Donald the steam engine

 On Thomas

 Arley and the Fat Controller!

 Getting on Toby the Tram

 Riding at the front of Toby

 Watching the tram driver

 Homeschool play at the park

 At Collers Beach

 Carmie being Miss Independent (with Bella)

 At the cemetery

358 + 254 Weeks

What a week it has been.  This time last week, Jeffrey and I were in Sydney for the Wynne Prize.  We had such a good time.  Being part of the Wynne was such an honour, and truly so exciting.  I still can't believe it happened!  On the Thursday, we went to the artists lunch, and had a preview of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes.  We drank champagne and chatted to a few artsy types, took photos of my painting, and felt pretty special.  The paintings we saw were pretty great too, and I just can't believe that mine was hanging amongst them :)  Anyway, after that we went and napped in our hotel before we cabbed it out to Glebe to meet my brother Sting for dinner.  It was a really nice night and good to see Sting in his neighbourhood.  On the Friday we had all day to ourselves, so we met up with my old friend Brett for a coffee.  So good to see him again.  I couldn't walk around much, as I still had my big boot on with my broken ankle, so we went back to the hotel for another afternoon nap.  That alone was luxurious!  Then at 5:30 we went back to the Art Gallery of NSW to attend the preview (more champagne, more chatting).  The opening reception was at 6:30, and our friends Mark and Di were meeting us, with Mark posing as my dealer.  We were downstairs at the exhibition, wondering when people were going to arrive, and then we wondered upstairs to discover a massive party going on.  We searched through the crowd to find our friends, and then we had to listen to all the speeches and prize giving.  Then all of the party was let downstairs to the exhibition, and the real party got started.  So much fun :)  It was really exciting to be part of it, and I hope it happens again some time!  After an hour or so we left, and Mark and Di, Jeff and I went out to dinner at Wooloomooloo wharf.  It was such a great evening!  We slept well that night, and then travelled back home on the Saturday, and I couldn't wait to see the kids.  I think it is the longest we have ever been away from them.  Arley didn't even cry when I left, which was a miracle - we were all expecting tears.  The kids stayed with their Lolo and Dida, and were spoiled rotten.

Since the Wynne I have actually been contacted by two galleries and have had to choose which one to go with.  It's funny, for years I have been trying to figure out ways of how to get into galleries, and now I actually have a choice?!  I can't believe my luck!  I also have been invited to enter the Tattersalls Landscape Prize, which is an invitation-only prize.  I have to have the painting ready by August.  I have started work on some sketches, and now I just have to find the time to paint...which is proving to be a little difficult :(  I am determined to figure it out though.  I guess I will be working nights again, and painting in snippets here and there...

And now to the kids.  They have been wonderful.  Arley has had a few explosive moments over the last few days, but for the most part he has been pretty happy.  He is doing this awful name-calling at the moment, saying "Carmie is a (fill in the blank - weirdo, creep, spaghetti head, sofa pillow, anything he can think of)".  It is constant, and driving me a little crazy.  We have conquered our screen time problem.  He used to be really difficult to get off the computer or iPad, but we have been working on it and working on it, and now he has dramatically improved.  They get two half hour sessions a day, and they have to play outside for fifteen minutes beforehand, and afterwards he has to jump on the trampoline, and this seems to calm him down.  We have been doing this for a couple of weeks, and now he just gets off the screens no problems.  So, now I have to tackle the name calling as our next thing.  That and him impulsively lashing out and hurting Carmie, which is slowly improving.  

Little Carmie has another tooth coming up on the bottom, and once again she hasn't lost the baby tooth yet.  She finally is sitting down to do some writing practice again (it's been six months!), because our homeschool registration is coming up, and her penmanship is so much better!  See what not writing does? ;)  She has also been riding her bike out in the cul de sac by herself, and we are really starting to see how old she is getting.  Our little girl is growing up!  She is still reading up a storm, and has read over 300 books (novels) in less than two years.  Yes, I'm keeping track for homeschooling purposes.  Carmie is mostly a little angel, with just a little bit of sass.  She had Scouts this week, and it was disco night, but apparently she was the only one who didn't dance.  So, now we are working on dancing throughout our day too, which must be quite a scene and I'm glad no-one can see us!  And yes, I still have a bum ankle!

We have been playing tons of games with the kids, and the great thing is, Arley has caught on to playing more adult games, so they are actually really fun to play!  And now that he doesn't freak out when he loses anymore, we are really enjoying our family game sessions.

Anyway, I found a new website for the kids, and then I happened upon Arley looking at it.  Here is a video of him reading from it :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHiF6nMdA7M

Jeffrey at the artists lunch at the art gallery.

 Me conquering the Art Gallery of NSW!

 And the kids are inspired!

 I hobbled with the kids to the neighbourhood park this day

357 + 253 Weeks

Just a short post this week - first off, we haven't gone anywhere except to the hospital for another X-ray of my ankle (I still don't have an update though, beyond the fact that it is an avulsion fracture of my fibula), and I went dress shopping for the Wynne too.  I am getting very sick of being housebound and hobbling out to the cul de sac to give the kids some outside time beyond the back yard (which is now covered in leaves which I can't rake!)  The kids have been great considering not going anywhere for 10 days now.  We even completely forgot to get Carmie to swimming on Tuesday, but she did at least make it to Scouts tonight.

Arley for the most part had another steady week.  He has been a little off for the last two days, but I expected that, as he is feeling some anxiety about me going to Sydney.  Right now the kids are over at Lolo and Dida's, as Jeffrey and I have a very early start in the morning.  We will be back on Saturday afternoon.  This is the longest I've been away from the kids, and it feels like someone has ripped my insides out!  Ridiculous, I know!  I'm not worried about their safety or happiness, I just feel empty.  Anyway, I am sure when we are up in Sydney, dining out and going to Wynne events, I will feel better.  I'll be Skyping the kids the whole time.  On the way to Lolo and Dida's, Arley told me that he was going to wake up really early so he could come say goodbye and get a cuddle.  That pretty much ripped my heart out!  And when I said goodbye to Carmie, she barely even looked at me, she was too interested in the tv!  She is happy to be spoilt rotten by her grandparents :)

OK, I'm off to get ready!

356 + 252 Weeks

Well, this certainly has been a week filled with drama, both good and bad!!  I found out last week that I am a finalist in the 2018 Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW.  I was very very surprised to be included with the other 45 finalists.  Over 700 people enter each year, and I only entered because a good friend forcefully insisted.  I had no doubt that I wouldn't get in, but I actually did!  The list of finalists was made public today, and yes, I am actually on the list (I secretly thought it was a mistake all week!).  I am on the list with the likes of John Olson, Tim Storrier and Aida Tomescu (one of my favourite artists of all time!).  I still can't quite believe it.  On Thursday of next week, Jeff and I are heading up to Sydney to the artists lunch, and then the following night is the preview and the opening reception.  I was supposed to invite my 'dealer' (I'm way out of my league here!!), so I invited my friend Mark (the forcefully insistent friend), and he and his girlfriend are very chuffed to be joining us.  It is all really exciting!!  Here is the link: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/wynne/2018/29998/

So, to celebrate, I broke my ankle!  Just joking, it wasn't to celebrate.  But on Sunday (after making a good sale!), I left the gallery, and went to the IGA supermarket to get a treat for the kids.  When I left, I stepped down into the gutter, which had a pothole in it that I didn't see, and I twisted my ankle.  The pain was fairly immense.  I called Mum and Geoff (Jeffrey was at home with the kids), and they came and picked me up.  I insisted it was just a sprain, and Mum insisted that I go to hospital.  She won because she was driving.  Luckily, because I have definitely fractured a bone in my ankle.  So now I'm clumping around the house in a big black boot, and I can't drive anywhere.  I find out on Monday how long I have to wear this boot for, but my guess is that I will be looking very fancy in it at the Wynne events next week :(

On a good note, the kids have been wonderful this week!  We have been housebound because of my ankle, and I don't know if this is why, but Arley has been such a lovely boy (for the most part!).  Maybe it's because he doesn't have the stress of going out?  I also removed the zinc drops from his diet.  This protocol that we are on might be starting to work.  And he has had so much of my attention, because all I have really been able to do is sit and play games, or read or draw with them.  Whatever the reason, Arley has been cheery and happy and kind.  Still making mistakes, but apologising afterwards.  It has been four days now.  Hopefully this is his turning point!  And Carmie is my little angel.  She has been very helpful, taking on new chores and even doing some cooking.  This morning the two of them were fighting over Magnatiles, and usually I would intervene and help them.  They fought for about two minutes, and then they worked it out and started trading tiles with each other!  I couldn't believe it!  My motto is now to butt out at all costs!  :)

I have been really lucky in that Mum and Geoff live close by and Mum has been coming over to help me.  She has made our dinners for us, and cleaned our house.  Apart from the pain, it has been lovely to be taken care of!  Today I managed to hobble with the kids to the neighbourhood park, because the kids and I needed to get out.  I was exhausted afterwards, but it was worth it.  And because the school term has started again, all of our activities have also started up.  I am relying on friends and Mum to get the kids places, as Jeffrey has been at work all week.

Anyway, apart from the broken ankle, it's been a fantastic week!

Playing Trouble, our new favourite game :)

 Searching for puddles (before my fractured ankle!)

 Today at the park

"Frogs Holla", my painting for the Wynne