292 +188 Weeks

This week we got in plenty of time with Pop, the kids' grandfather from the States.  We all met up with my parents at the Husky Pub, and had a lovely family day.  The kids got in some good playing at the park before lunch, and then afterwards we went to another park so that Carmie could climb the giant tower and scare her Lolo half to death.  I can't believe how high those towers are, but I have to think they are safe otherwise they wouldn't make them for kids to climb on.  Right?  Carmie climbed up three times and was surprisingly agile (if anyone is around Carmie long enough, they know her as the kid who will drop anything put into her hand).  She was very proud of herself, we were proud of her, and her Lolo was pissed!!

We also had a lunch out with Pop at Ulladulla Harbour one day, and had him over for dinner on his last night here.  On Saturday night Jeff played guitar at a wine bar here called Harvest Bar, so Ron and I went to see him play, which was actually a first for both of us!  It was such a nice night, with great music (if I don't say so myself!), and nice to have some grown-up time away from the kids.  We spent Monday up at the farm so everyone could watch the Super Bowl (I opted out, it's just not my thing!).  Pop left to start his homeward journey on Tuesday, and we are all pretty sad that he has gone home so soon, but I think he is welcoming the peace and quiet right about now!  The kids were pretty full-on this week, Arley in particular, as usual.  We keep pretty busy, but for a few days it rained heavily, and then the kids go a little stir crazy from being trapped inside.  Carmie will pick up a book or play alone, but Arley just goes a little berserk.  We got him to Kinder Gym, and he was one of the oldest kids there, and also one of the naughtiest!  I had to take him outside while he was throwing a tantrum because I wouldn't let him push into a girl on the climbing frame.  After threatening him with time in the car, he went back inside and was so well-behaved, I was so relieved. We will definitely be going back, as he really needs some practice in taking turns!  He is going through a phase at the moment when he always wants to be first at everything.  It was driving him crazy having to go behind the other kids, and he just couldn't understand the concept of no-one being first if you are all doing the activities round robin in a circle!  And he was the only kid who refused to take off his shoes!  He is definitely a work in progress!

Carmie went to a jazz dance class with her bestie Ness.  We were hoping that she would love it and want to sign up to go every week, but it just wasn't to be.  I'm not sure if she just felt out of her element, but she didn't like it and doesn't want to go back :(

Yesterday we had the kids' friend Hannah over after she was finished with school.  They transformed into three wildlings and ran around the house like lunatics.  They ended with a dance party in Carmie's room, and Arley cried when Hannah had to leave.

Today I took the kids to story time at the library.  They read books to the kids and then had them make crafts relevant to the books they just read.  The kids loved it.  We spent probably two hours in the library before having lunch in the cafe, where we read some more.  I am so thankful that they both love their books :)

Here is a video of Carmie reading to Arley this morning.  She was trying to make him feel better, because he had a tummy ache:

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

And here is a video of Arley completing the Hundred Board, which he is still obsessed with:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLXVFW9jItM

A play at the park before lunch at Huskisson.

 Carmie at the top of the tower :)

 After lunch in Ulladulla

 Picking tomatoes at the farm.

 Pop's last night

This is the face I get when I have Arley brush his teeth.  Sometimes he is too cute.

 In town, trying to pass the time on a rainy day.

 Carmie's first and only dance class

 At kinder gym :)

 Wildlings!

 This morning at the library.

291 + 187 Weeks

We have had a great week!  Jeff's dad (Pop) is here from the States.  It has been three years since he has seen the kids - too long if you ask me :)  When we first picked Pop up from the train station and brought him to his apartment in Mollymook, Arley was SO naughty.  To give him some credit, he just had been sitting in the car for an hour and a half being really good, so I guess he had to get the naughty out some time!  Anyway, it has been lovely to see Pop again.  We are making the most of his time.  On his first full day here we took him to the Bogey Hole (which is right next to where he is staying) at Mollymook Beach.  The kids climbed every rock they could so they could jump into the water to make a splash.  It was a really hot day, so good to be at the beach.  That evening we all had a pizza and chips dinner at the beach park there, along with my parents.  We have all had lunch at the farm with my parents, and we have also had Pop over for dinner a few times.  The kids were quite shy around him, until last night, when they threw that to the wind.  They ran around like little maniacs when he came over, so excited to see him, and then after dinner, I put Arley to bed and Pop and Jeff and Carmie played Rat-a-Tat-Cat.  It was a really nice bonding moment, and Carmie asked me tonight if Pop could come over every day to play it with her :)

Arley was really naughty for a few days, and one morning after about an hour and a half of continuous naughtiness, I snapped and told him I had to leave for a break.  Jeff was home, so I left Arley sitting at the breakfast counter and walked straight out the front door and down the road for a breather.  It was the best thing I ever did!  Apparently he absolutely lost the plot (he of course didn't know when I was coming back), but when I got back he gave me a big hug, and he has been so much better ever since.  He is still naughty, but he has been allowing me to pull him up on it, so he doesn't get out of hand.  Hopefully he stays this way, because I was really having a hard time!

So, school holidays are done and all the kids have gone back to school.  Carmie would have been starting kindergarten today, but instead we took our dog Bella to Dolphin Point and had the entire beach to ourselves.  So nice!  The kids had so much fun, I had to threaten them with never ever coming back unless they got in the car, because they just wouldn't leave!  This morning I took the kids to a playgroup, which Carmie wasn't too thrilled about, as all the kids were quite a bit younger, but Arley enjoyed himself.  I think we will try to find at least one good playgroup around here so that Arley can have some kids to play with.  Carmie has a few good friends, but Arley just tags along with her.

We have also been doing a lot of fun things around the house.  Carmie is hooked on this computer game called Slither, although she has been pretty good monitoring her time with it.  She has also been doing tons of reading, of course, and is spouting amazing facts to me from her favourite book about animals.  Arley has done some painting with me up in the studio, he has learned to use scissors (he had absolutely no trouble, I couldn't believe it), Carmie has practiced her writing, and Arley has become really interested in doing their hundreds board, which he asks to do almost every day.  We also made pompoms and practiced hula hooping, which is Carmie's newest craze.  It was pretty funny when Jeff tried to do it too :)

Anyway, here is a video of Carmie reading her favourite book:

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

Taking care of her brother :)

 At the Bogey Hole

 Dinner with grandparents.  Arley refused to sit for the photo!

 Doing his hundreds board with Dad.

 He still has a tea party almost every day!

 Reading books on the trampoline

 Carmie and her Pop

 Hard at work

 At the playgroup this morning

 Arley is so lucky that Bella is such a gentle dog!

 At Dolphin Point

 Her favourite book

290 + 186 Weeks

OK, so every time I think Arley is getting easier to be around, he throws me for a doozy.  He has been on and off naughty all week, but today he took it to a whole new level.  He was horrible.  He screams and hits and snatches toys and throws tantrums.  I think it is a combination of frustration and power struggle.  I had him running around the cul-de-sac with Carmie, to get some energy out, and of course he screamed and tantrummed about not winning the race, even though they weren't racing.  I took them to the park to climb and swing.  Tonight we had him go jump on the trampoline to get his energy out.  Thankfully today our neighbours took pity on us and had him and Carmie over to play with their little girl (apparently she is a good match for Arley - they say he keeps her in line!)  But today has been a LONGGGGGGGGG day.  He is asleep in bed now, thank goodness.

I just hope he gets it out of his system, because Pop (Jeff's dad) is arriving from the States tomorrow! He hasn't seen the kids since they were 3 and a half, and six months.  I am hoping Arley is on his best behaviour, but I am doubtful!

Other than this, we have had a good week.  My cousin and aunt came down from Sydney this weekend, with 6 kids, Carmie's and Arley's second cousins.  It was SO nice for them to have other kids to play with.  The kids ranged in ages from 2 to 10.  Carmie and Arley spent the day at the farm with them all while I was in the gallery, and then I went over for dinner and to pick them up.  After dinner I went upstairs to round them up, and they had tucked themselves up into bed with their cousins to watch a movie, and refused to come home with me.  So, they had an impromptu sleep over, and got more playing in the next morning.  Dida had to drive the kids around in the farm truck - 8 kids!  Craziness :)

The kids also went to a party at the library.  They were part of the Summer Reading Club, so they went to the wrap-up party yesterday.  They had tons of fun, making masks, playing with balloons and bubbles, eating cake, and Carmie definitely dressed the part (see photos below).  We also made it out to the beach at Manyana, and to the inlet at Dolphin Point as well.  The beaches weren't too crowded, but we are looking forward to school going back next week so we can have them all to ourselves again :)  The kids also went bowling for the first time.  We met Carmie's friend Ness there.  Arley has asked to go again every day since, so it was definitely a hit.  Afterwards, the kids did the holiday craft session offered at the Dunn Lewis Centre.  Carmie was insatiable, and kept doing activity after activity, while Arley did a few, until he found a piano to bang on and drive everyone crazy :)

All in all, a really busy week!

Making pancakes for breakfast

 We let Carmie in on a big secret: that she actually has four monkeys, not one.  She couldn't believe her luck!

 On the farm truck - yes, I went for a ride too!

 Couldn't drag them home!

 Cousins

All dressed for the library party

 Bella getting her belly swept

 Ready to go out for a walk