480 + 376 Weeks

 My parents, or Lolo and Dida to the kids, came up for a visit this week.  They arrived on Saturday and stayed with us on Saturday night, then on Sunday they went to their Air B&B, where they are staying until this Sunday.  It has been so nice having them here!  The kids were so excited for their arrival, and now it's just like life back in Ulladulla, except here!  We have been spending lots of time with them.  Yesterday my brother Sting flew in from Sydney to join the family fun, and the kids are stoked.  We went out to dinner to the Toormina Hotel last night, and it was really fun.  On Tuesday we had lunch at the park at Sapphire Beach along with a play at the park and the beach.  We also had a great day visiting Nambucca Heads - a drink at the golf club, lunch at a restaurant, a big walk along the V wall, and then a play at the park.  The kids had a really great day.

Arley was holding it together really well, which was surprising me because we have really been doing a lot of stuff.  But then two nights ago he had one of his worst meltdowns yet, over the slightest thing.  It was really terrible, and it was fuelled by me and Jeffrey not reacting very well to it.  We didn't keep our cool, because he was calling us horrible names and shouting.  It got really ugly, and ended with Arley in tears and exhausted.  We have established new boundaries, which he probably won't stick to, but we have to try.

On Sunday we all went to the dog beach, but Carmie was really sick.  She had been 'feeling funny' since Thursday - lightheaded, head-achey, a bit nauseous and weak.  On and off.  And then we went to the beach and the markets, and she literally had to sit down every three meters because she felt too weak to walk.  Mum and I got quite worried, so we took her in to casualty at the hospital.  Six and a half hours (!!!), a urine test, a pin prick test and a blood test later, we were told it was most likely a virus but that she is very low in iron.  Not yet anaemic, but low.  It really wasn't the most fun we've ever had, and Carmie was just about the least brave person I've ever seen get a blood test... But, she was on and off the next day, and now she is right as rain again.  Thank goodness.  I have been a little slack giving the kids their iron lately, but I'm on it from now on!

Carmie went to Alithia on her own today.  They are putting on a play next week (Macbeth, of all things!), and she had to go up for the dress rehearsal today.  Mum and I wondered around Bellingen for a few hours, had coffee, and then went to pick her up again. Bellingen is a lovely little town, but it was very hot there today!  I think that is one of the problems with Alithia for Arley.  He can't stand being hot.  Like, really really hates it, and he can't really cool down there.  Next week only Carmie is going on Thursday, and then I think we will be done there for the time being.

This week has been going too fast.  I don't want my parents to leave again.  The good news is that they have spent a lot of time looking around different areas to see where they might want to live when they move here early next year.  It will be really nice to have family around again.  It hasn't been that long without them, but I really feel the loss of their support!

Beach races with Dida

Nambucca

Sapphire Beach

Awww, Carmie and Uncle Sting

479 + 375 Weeks

 This week absolutely flew by.  It was Father's Day here in Australia on Sunday, so the kids woke up and gave Jeffrey their cards and some gifts, and I made him breakfast.  We had made reservations at a nearby pub/restaurant, and it was so good!  Great food and great service, which was a nice surprise.  The kids took their books and enjoyed themselves, and Jeffrey and I actually relaxed over a meal.  It will most likely be our go-to place to eat out, because they even have a play area for kids (that is actually supervised), as well as live music.  Golden!

The kids horse riding lesson on Friday was another bust, but I think we might have figured out a solution.  This whole time I knew Arley was uncomfortable up on the horse because his reigns are different from what he is used to.  To most people that wouldn't be a big deal, but to Arley who is very rigid and inflexible in his thinking, and suffers anxiety, any kind of change is a problem.  I had told the instructor he didn't like the reigns, but this time I cemented it in, and let him know what a truly big deal this is for Arley.  So, next lesson we are trying the reigns that he is used to, and I bet it makes the world of difference.  He might actually try to ride a horse rather than sit there like a lump in the saddle!  The kids are supposed to have  lesson tomorrow, however it has been raining heavily today, so it is too wet, and poor Carmie has come down sick this afternoon.

I hope she is alright.  She said her throat hurts and she is 'feeling funny'.  But she is eating like a horse, so I take that as a good sign!  She is upset because Lolo and Dida are coming on Saturday, and she doesn't want to be sick.  My fingers are crossed for her!

The kids only managed one day at Alithia this week.  They asked for a home day on Tuesday, but they went on Wednesday.  And today rained so much it would have been no fun at all.  Carmie is really enjoying it, but Arley not so much.  It doesn't surprise me, but he is rather painful on an Alithia morning.  I stay up in Bellingen at the library because I just know he is going to call me to come pick him up early.  The mentor on Wednesday said he was very engaged and played well with the other kids, but he still said he hates it!  He really would just rather be with me, is the problem.  Anyway, we're not going to push it, and next term the kids are going to take a break from Alithia and instead meet up with the Nambucca homeschoolers who meet up every Wednesday at different locations, as well as the Coffs Harbour homeschoolers who meet up at tennis on Fridays.  I am fine with that, because I am surprisingly missing the kids so much when they are at Alithia.  I thought I would love the break, and I do, but I think I love being with the kids more! When they spend time up there, I find that we don't have time to do all the things that we love, like baking and playing games, playing outside and exploring beaches.  I am really looking forward to having them all back to myself.

We found a dog park here this week.  It has a fenced off area for dogs, as well as a brilliant play area for kids, with zip lines and climbing frames etc.  Because we went on a weekday there were no other dogs there for Bella to play with, so we will have to go back on a weekend so she can have a tumble with some other dogs.

I think that is all for this week.  Arley has had a few ups and downs, but nothing out of the ordinary.  I'm just hoping Carmie wakes up tomorrow morning feeling like herself again.

Carmie loving on her horse Isla

Ice cream after horse riding

Poor Bella hiding during a thunderstorm

He loves to make 'music'!

Father's Day

At the dog park

On the wrong side of the bridge!

This daredevil: when he got to the top, I had to rescue him!

Face painting at Alithia.  Carmie is a hooded rat (like Nacho)

This snake was in the creek with the kids while they were playing!