I fixed the trampoline! The kids can now bounce on it! It was a big effort as I did it myself and I’m clearly not as strong as I’d like to be! I was a bit short with kids whilst i was doing it which i look back now and think how unfair that was. I’ve also been wanting the kids off of their iPads – so I got out 2 new games that i had intended to give them at Christmas. Daniel loved his (Hungry Hippos), but cracked it if he didn’t get the one yellow ball! Alex says he loves his (twister), but is yet to actually play it (and I’m writing this on 30th Nov). We also received in the mail some national geographic activity/sticker books. Alex was upset because i got him the jungle one – it had a spotty big cat on it which I thought was a cheetah but he corrected me immediately and said it was actually a leopard. oops. Daniels was safari themed as he likes giraffes, zebras and rhinos so much.
We’ve had a relationship of extremes – cuddles whilst watching ‘Home’ (Boovs), and fallouts because of his hurting his brother. We’ve been building and exploring minecraft worlds together. I really enjoy this, but feel bad to leave Daniel out so have been a bit limiting with it. The kids have been on the trampoline a lot too. We’ve run some errands and played at parks. Alex likes to play basketball and time himself on obstacle courses that he creates. At home I’ve helped Daniel with some puzzles. Alex is going through a bit of a fearful phase. It turns out he has watched a movie with Vio about monsters and aliens and he won’t go anywhere in the house alone! I’m trying to show empathy, but it can occasionally get annoying when he’s desperate for the toilet and I’m in the middle of something! Or when I leave a room and he frantically calls for me. He’s been sleeping with Vio too as Daddy is stronger than me to protect him! We’ve put down his bunk to help him go back to his room and enable me to lie with him when he needs it. I’m just surprised that he doesn’t feel safe in his own home as in other places he’s running ahead or away or doing things himself. Vio talked to Alex about the aliens. He said even if there were aliens it would take them a long time to get to us. Alex responded with ‘but what if they left a long time ago’.
We went to the city on the train twice this week. The train line has been completed and we got to see the new set up of the stations as we went under the roads – Alex was right the platforms! The first trip was to attend a dinosaur education session at the museum. Alex attended with other HS kids, but Daniel was too young so we spent time in another area of the museum. Alex was (I am told by other parents) very knowledgeable – correctly answering questions about feathers and how lizards walk. He loved examining the fossils. We went through the gardens to the train station and Alex said that the trees were minecraft trees as he recognised an oak tree! We saw a dead possum too.
The second trip was to watch A Sonatina at the Arts Centre. The show was based on a retelling of little red riding hood. Daniel loved it, and from some of the things he said I could tell he understood what was happening. Alex at the time said it was a bit boring, but I think that’s because I reprimanded him for running around the inside of the Arts Centre (and no one else seemed to be bothered by the kids treating the place like a playground!) and it was quite quiet. Once Alex got past the upset, he was curious about how the performers got the chicken to stay on stage. The play was funny, and very creative! We got chips, as we always do, and then headed to the NGV. We went straight to the gardens to find a ‘car wash’ installation. The kids had loads of fun running through the misters. We went in to the kids exhibit to make fashion items and take pictures. I was surprised at Alex’s enthusiasm for the fashion creation – he made a headband and wore it all the way home. Daniel wanted to do the same of course.
We had Emily’s birthday, which was at gymnastics. Alex made her a dinosaur card and I insisted that he write on it, even though he said he couldn’t. But he did a great job. I’m not trying to push writing, so much as I think it’s nice to make a card and appreciate a party or birthday for the person and not just the food and gifts!
We caught up with Alex’s friends at Bonfield park. The kids seemed to have a good time. The equipment didn’t keep them busy for very long so they explored, found bull ants, identified birds, played with balls and frisbee.
Karate – Alex has been looking forward to kickathon and has decided to quit after it instead of waiting until after presentation. He’s talking about possibly doing parkour next year.
Gymnastics – the kids had a great week at gym, and then a play at the park with HS friends.
LA – Alex had LA training and also event day. Alex got a PB in 200m which was his big focus. Daniel enjoyed having a run as well!