The First Two Weeks

Eric has just finished his second week of school, and he couldn't be happier. Each morning he is excited about the day ahead, and eager to see friends and be part of the school community.

He usually wakes at 6:30 or so in the morning, then lies on his Bob the Builder bed to drink a hot chocolate (he still insists on using a bottle!) while watching cartoons. Daddy's already been up for an hour or so, and is often feeding Adam his breakfast, making porridge and starting the washing.

At 7am sharp mummy is woken, when Daddy brings in a hot cup of tea -- which is luxurious, but only slightly makes up for a night punctuated by a hungry baby (usually at 2am, and sometimes also at 6am) and a small boy hopping into bed at midnight.

Once I'm up I get Eric moving: tv off, breakfast and a chat while I fix his lunchbox (homemade cheese-and-bacon scrolls, tiny teddy biscuits, a twiggy stick, half a banana and an apple juice today -- along with 50c for his Friday iceblock), then dress, toothbrushing, bag packed and shoes and socks on.

On the way down to the front gate (with Adam in the pram) we stop to say goodbye to Gran and Papa, and pop in to the office to give Daddy a quick kiss. Often someone will accompany Adam, Eric and I down to the new bright orange 'bus stop', which Gran and Eric painted on this week.

The bus stop is at our front gate -- the drivers are very willing to pick up and drop the littles off right where they live, which is very reassuring. While we wait we chat -- Eric sits on the bench, or climbs the gate or post for a better view of the oncoming bus.

He has fitted into his class beautifully. Geoff and I attended our first "meet the teacher" night early this week, and both teachers noted that he is a happy, enthusiastic little person, who does try to do the right thing. Already he has received two merit certificates, and today won the BAS (believe, achieve, succeed) lottery at assembly. How this works is that the children earn reward notes each time a teacher notices good behavious or excellent class work. They write their names on the back of the little blue note, and pop it into a jar. At the end of the week at assembly several notes are drawn out, and those children can choose a prize (a small plastic recorder, in Eric's case). So the more notes you have in there, the more chances you have to win. A great incentive to work hard and behave!

Yesterday Batman (or Man Bat, I was informed) went to school in Eric's place -- he later told me that the class consisted mainly of superheroes (the brief was "come as your favourite person) -- two wonderwomen, two batmen, a superman and spiderman. There was a guessing competition, an Icee van selling snow drinks, and a gold coin donation to charity.
And that's only the first week -- we have Grandparents' Day coming up, P&C meetings, dragonboat races, sausage sizzles, reading and home readers and more. There have been a few negatives ... a class 'bully' (who, however, seems to have had a run-in with almost every child, and is being monitored very carefully by the very sensible and nice principal), some tired mornings, and a few lost toys (the children play spinning tops at lunch, and the little pieces get mislaid in the excitement), but these things will hopefully all iron out in the next little while.

Hide-and-Seek

Off to School

She Loves Me

Lovely Things (251-270)

#251 A kind, doting, loving, enthusiastic Papa and Father.

#252 A peacefully sleeping baby.

#253 Wanderer butterfly caterpillars munching milkweed pods.

#254 Wildflowers abuzz with bees.

#255 An unexpected showing of snowy storm lilies along the garden path.

#256 A view of the valley on the winding road home from Toytown.

#257 A boy who has to sleep at the very edge of his bed, so that all his toys can have a place under the blankets.

#258 Bunches of fresh herbs from our garden (basil, chives, oregango, parsley -- continental and curly -- thyme and rosemary. All except coriander, which bolts in the heat).

#259 Big, beautiful Moreton Bay fig trees in our school playground.

#260 Beans for dinner!

#261 New recipes that turn out to have a special touch -- like this green lentil and rice salad with chorizo -- served with a salad made entirely of our own produce.

#262 Corners of contrasting colours and textures in the garden.

#263 Paths bordered with shaggy hedges which wind under twisted willow.

#264 Sparkling eyes.
#265 Leaving for a Grower's Meeting with a basket of cucumbers, punnets of cherry tomatoes and a bunch of herbs ...

#266 ... and returning with a young apricot sapling, sunset-tinged frangipani, and a bunch of pungent fresh spring onions ...

#267 I can't admit to a liking for the fierce summer heat that's sent temperatures soaring into the mid 30s ...

#268 ... but I am grateful to have a cool, clear pool to dive into, and a Granny and Papa who welcome us into their air-conditioned house for the worst of the heat ...

#269 ... and it's fun to wash the car while wearing swimmers and delight in getting soaked by the hose ...

#270 and it's exciting to tumble head-over-heels into cool water with a daring somersault!

Little Helper

Now that Eric's at school during the day, I have a new little friend to help me do chores around the house.

He's eager to play his part at the washing line ...

... enthusiastically assists with fluffing up pillows while making the bed ...

... and doesn't mind getting wet while lending a hand with the washing up.

Lucky me to have such a cute little assistant!

20 Lovely Holiday Things (221-250)

#221 Grandmas who are limber enough (and willing) to picnic with little boys in hastily-erected garden cubby houses.

#222 A ride on a neighbour's newly erected flying fox.

#223 Walks with visitors along garden paths edged with pink crepe myrtle.

#224 Picking the first homegrown corn cob.
#225 In among the clouds at the top of a playground pyramid.

#226 A visit to the Powerhouse Museum with the Sydney cousins.

#227 Getting loved on by lady friends!

#228 Early morning baking with Grandma.

#229 Making funny faces in family photos (here are Rory, Uncle Richard, Auntie Fiddy, Cordelia, Silly Face and Auntie Catherine).

#230 The wonderful gifts Uncle Richard brings the children from his holidays -- this time it was a compass and 'survival kit', magnifying glass, maps and silly putty.

#231 A morning on the beach, chasing waves. Just Mummy and Eric.

#232 Walking down the the seaside markets after church, and buying sizzling sausage sandwiches for lunch.

#233 Five minutes to race up and then whoosh down the giant blow-up slide.

#234 The Show arrives at Toytown! So much to see and do: hot chips, fairyfloss, showbags and rides. The pavillion filled with flowers, fruit, vegetables and craft.

#235 A first and second prize for us at the show -- for our beans and cucumbers, respectively.
# 236 A week in the city with cousins and aunties.


#237 The exciting news that we have a new little cousin ... a dear little four-and-a-half year old poppet will be coming to live with Auntie Fiddy and to be her little girl!

#238 A baby sitting serenely in a boat.

#239 Making waffles for breakfast with Amelia and Zoe.

#240 Having Grandma all for ourselves for a whole month!

#241 Making newspaper forts to hide under, while Grandma send scruched up paper bombs raining down.

#242 Indians on the warpath.

#243 Picnics in the summer garden (some of us naked!)

#244 Taking part in the Lego competition at the library -- two hours of intense concentration and all the lego you want to use right there (supplied by the lego factory)!

#245 An wild red indian and a pirate king (brandishing a balloon sword).

#246 Much-loved and adored Rory to swim with.

#247 The thoughful hand-me-down of a tiny skateboard, from a big cousin (Nicky) to a little one (Eric). Fun at the skatepark.

#248 A creek to explore.

#249 The new free waterpark by the river ... little pools, ponds and rivulets perfect for splashing and lying in.

#249 Playing dress-ups and dancing (or kicking) wildly to music videos.

#250 Having the travellers back home again with us, safe and sound.