318 + 214 Weeks

Our weeks are so busy.  I'm finding it really hard to keep up with housework and gardening, because there is always so much to do with the kids.  I have come to the conclusion that for the next few years, our house just isn't going to be super clean, and our garden is going to have some weeds in it.  Getting the kids to help just makes everything take longer at this point, so I don't think we are there yet!  We have been doing lots of activities together in the home, as they are turning into little homebodies.  That's not to say that they didn't get out though.  We made it to Collers Beach for a picnic with Bella, and then Lolo showed up for some beach time too.  We also got to the library this week - Carmie could literally stay there for hours.  They have these giant beanbags to lie in, and she just surrounds herself with books and doesn't move.  We also went up to Nowra for another OT session for Arley, followed by a play at the park there.  This week we are working on emotions, to try to show Arley that we all get angry and there are different ways of managing it.  We also have different activities for him to do, and have bought some equipment for him to use.  Arley has really gotten into pretend play, and it is so nice to hear him playing with his trains and cars, having conversations with them.  He has also learned how to play 20 questions, which we play at the dinner table at night.  He always would just say to us on his turn, "My animal has four legs.  It's a zebra." But he has actually played properly with us for the last three nights running, so something is starting to click.  He has been having longer periods of calm and sweet behaviour, but then his meltdowns are still huge.  Carmie has a crazy amount of patience with him, and she often helps him out when he is upset.  I do wish I could give her more of my attention some times, but I also think that she would never be satisfied with the amount of time I give her.  She thinks she doesn't spend enough time with me as it is (twelve hours a day isn't enough?)  Imagine if she were in school!

Today we met up with our homeschool crew, down at Ulladulla Harbour.  It was a great place to meet, because there is grass and beach, and a tree to climb, clay to dig up and sculpt with, boulders to climb, and a jetty to explore.  There were great big stingrays swimming around under the jetty, it was really cool to see.  The kids had a blast - we love our friends and really look forward to our Thursday meet ups.  It is really nice to have a group of like-minded lovely people to hang out with :)

 Writing a disgusting menu for our monster cafe :)

 Blocks with a mirror book

 At Collers Beach

 Play after OT

 Arley doing his angry face.  I have actually caught him practising this in the mirror.

 Playing with the homies.

 Trying yo reach his pal Winter.

317 + 213 Weeks

We had the most unbelievable weather this past weekend!  Carmie went off to bush school on the Saturday.  Friends picked her up in the morning and took her up to Jervis Bay, and she spent the day up there.  She absolutely loved it, and is now well and truly hooked on going to bush school every time it's on.  While she was there, I took Arley down to Mollymook beach so he could play with his cars in the sand.  On Sunday, the weather was even better, like a warm spring day.  We had a  picnic on Collers Beach, so we could take Bella for a run around.  She is getting quite porky, and needs more exercise (kinda like her mum!).  It was the most beautiful day, and while it was quite stressful rounding up the kids to get out of the house (you wouldn't think this would be so hard with just the two of them, but OH MY GOD, sometimes it is a nightmare!!), it was totally worth it.

Sadly the weather didn't stay that way, and my Dad and stepmum, the kids' Oma and Oma, came down for a visit, and it was rainy and miserable the first day.  They came over for dinner, and then on the Tuesday we got some sunshine, so we took the kids to the duck park at Burrill.  We fed bread to the ducks, and the kids had a play before we went to a cafe for coffee.  That night we met them at the Golfy for an early dinner.  This is the only place we feel safe to take the kids for dinner, because you never know with Arley!  And he wasn't on his best behaviour, but not his worst either.  Once we got the kids on their iPads, us grown ups had a lovely meal :)

I took Carmie up to Arley's OT session as well this week.  Arley's OT is happy for me to bring Carmie so she can help with their interacting.  They loved the session - the equipment there is so fun for them, and Carmie is so excited that she is allowed to join us.  After the session I took the kids to a lovely park up there, and we had a picnic lunch and they had a really good climb.  We have to travel quite far for these sessions, so we will definitely be making a day of it from now on.

Today we opted out of our homeschool crew play date for a quiet day at home, but Carmie ended up spending the afternoon at Lolo and Dida's while Arley and I ran around doing errands.  Taking one kid to do errands is SO much easier than two - there is no squabbling!  And Arley had a couple of rough days this week - hoping next week is a little better :)

And now I'm going to go put my feet up!

Relaxing after bush school

These two have a love/hate relationship

 The most beautiful winter day ever!

 At the duck park with Oma and Opa

 Dinner at the Golfy

 And two from last week

316 + 212 Weeks

The kids have had a lovely week, full of friends, visits with the grandparents, and a few doctors appointments for Arley.  We had to go up to Nowra and see his paediatrician, while Carmie went to her friends Winter and Yenje's house so they could have a major Minecraft session to teach Carmie how to play.  Carmie loves it, of course.  She went back to their house on Wednesday while Arley and I went to his OT session.  Arley's session was really good, and we have some homework to do this week, but he seems to be in a good place, when he's not too overwhelmed.  Carmie and her friends had another big Minecraft session, and we discovered that too much screen time really does her head in!

The weather has been really amazing for winter.  On Tuesday the kids even got their swimmers on to have fun with the hose.  Our neighbours' little girl Gemma is six months younger than Arley, and they adore each other.  Whenever Gemma hears us outside, she races out her front door calling for Arley.  It is quite handy having her next door, because she keeps him occupied and they never fight!  Today we met some homeschool friends and went on a nature walk down at Narrawallee.  It is an absolutely  beautiful walk, but it wasn't as peaceful as I had envisioned, with our kids being very rowdy and Arley shouting at everyone!  I think we definitely work better in small groups!

Arley and Gemma, neighbour besties...they like to climb into their boat, and steal the fishing net, and this time, the boat key!  Scallywags!

 Climbing the giant fig tree

 Carmie's homeschool buddies teaching her the Minecraft ropes

 The most beautiful winter day!  Watering the plants, in their swimmers, shoes and goggles :)

 Arley, chilling in his outdoor box bedroom

On our nature walk