Christmas Boys

Bananas

Finally the little grove of banana trees nestled beside the barn is bearing fruit -- two big bunches of tiny ladyfinger bananas are hanging heavily down.



We'll also cut off the banana flower and eat that in a stirfry -- it's meant to be a delicacy in Thailand, so it will be fun to try.

The Best Buddy in the World

Eric's school has a program which matches the kindy kids up with a year 5 or 6 "buddy". Each week the two meet up in class, and play games or do craft.
Eric was lucky to get paired with Liam, who's one of the nicest boys I've ever met. He's unfailingly kind, good natured, gentle and sweet.



Since Christmas also marks the end of the school year, we made sure Liam got something special. A gift voucher for the local bookshop (he's a keen reader), and a handmade card, with a smiley face on the front.

"Dear Liam. thank you for being the best buddy in the world. I hope you have a great Christmas. From Eric."

One of the nicest things about this friendship became clearer to me when I chatted to Liam's mum. Their family moved to our little town in March, and Liam left a school where he had been quite unhappy and shy.

But in the last year he has blossomed into a confident, happy, charming and popular young man. In fact, at the end of the school year he was voted in as Vice Captain for next year!

His mum shared that having Eric as a buddy had given Liam a sense of responsibility, and encouraged him to come to school in the first few days, when he didn't feel confident about his new environment. So both boys have benefitted from this friendship ... which will continue as strong as ever next year.

Look What's Coming to My House?

A kitchenAID mixer in pale blue 'Ice'!

Isn't she beautiful? I have a bad reputation with mixers (I've broken two Kenwood Chefs in my adult lifetime, a feat which is meant to be nearly impossible), so was forbidden to buy another expensive mixer. Instead, I've been trundling along with a $15 hand mixer from Kmart.

But I didn't buy this lovely. I won her!!!! Simply by making a recipe for white christmas (which I covered in chocolate and made into mini puddings) and posting a picture up on a facebook site.

What fun I'm going to have with my new mixer!

Gold Day

At the end of each year, Eric's school holds a 'Gold Day', which is a special treat for the children who have been awarded a gold merit certificate for their year's work (they first receive two bronzes, then a silver, then the gold). Almost all the kids in the school are eligible -- you have to be really naughty to miss out!
So last Thursday my boy set off to school wearing swimmers, and carrying a towel in his bag. They were set for a visit to the park, a walk to the lighthouse, and a play and swim on the beach.
When I fetched him from school in the afternoon he greeted me excitedly with the news: "I nearly drowned!" He seemed quite proud of the fact, and even showed me his hat, which was still soaking wet (luckily I'd packed an extra set of clothes). It seems the waves were a bit wild, and a big set came in and took a couple of the kindy kids down with it. I was told the headmistress was running wildly along the sand, shouting "Get them out! Get them out!". She's from an inland country town originally, so missed the warning signs.
So the rest of the day was spent on the sand and in the park, and my boy came home exhausted, and thrilled that he had such a tale to tell.
And I'm not worried ... after all, it was a real adventure, wasn't it?

The Beach on the Way Home

We'd been to see the big boys drum and march at their end-of-year naval cadet's display.

Aren't they handsome? (There's Oliver at the front on the far right, looking very serious).

On the way home, the golden curve of the beach unfolded beside us.

No swimmers, no towels ... but we kicked off shoes and folded up trousers, and decided to stop.

It was only Adam's second time at the beach, and his first time in the waves. Thank goodness Geoff was there to hold him ... baby loved it all, and had no fear at all of the water. In fact, given a chance, he'd be out with the surfers!

We gave up trying to keep dry, and Eric jumped right in and swam in his shorts.


It was a glorious hour ... I wonder why we don't just interrupt the humdrum bits of life and do this more often.

A Glowing Report

"Eric is a friendly, enthusiastic student who has had an excellent first year at school. Eric always approaches his learning with diligence and is keen to share his knowledge and ideas with the class. He has demonstrated a high level of skill across all subjects and should be proud of his results. Eric is a kind and well liked member of the class and has been a delight to teach this year."

Well done, our darling school boy.

Yes, I Gave Them Cabbages ...

Eric has been so happy at school this year, and a great deal of the credit for that goes to his two wonderful teachers, Mrs Worthy and Mrs Kunkler. Both have been so kind, generous and attentive towards him ... how can you ever thank them for doing such an important job so well?
Mrs Worthy is a gardener -- we've been swapping cuttings and slips for much of this term, so her gift was easy. A huge bunch of cottage flowers, half-a-dozen eggs from our chickens, three homegrown pot plants, a cabbage from the garden, and a pin angel for the Christmas tree, which Eric and I made last weekend.



Mrs Kunkler has small children, so I baked a gingerbread house and put together in a basket all the things needed to decorate it, together with instructions and a cake board. Hopefully she'll have as much fun putting together the house as we usually do. (We're due to make ours when the cousins arrive next week.)

Granny's Birthday

Special gifts -- chosen and paid for by someone little -- are unwrapped (in this case by the giver -- not the recipient)...


... duly admired ...



... and discussed at length.


Cards that have been carefully coloured in (by a child who hates to do this) ...



... are read and treasured. (To Grany, Happy birthday. I love you because you are nis (nice) and you are in my family. from Eric).

Even the littlest like to show their love ...

Then there's a roast for dinner, and cupcakes that the boys helped to decorate with marshmallow flowers ...

We're so lucky to be together, and to have such a special lady in our lives!

This is Love

I caught them just chatting on the verandah, holding hands ...

Nearly Over

It's nearly the end of the school year, and they seem to be packing as many lovely things into the final days as possible.
Last week we were invited to attend the children's Christmas assembly -- Eric has quite a cheer squad with all the grandparents there as well as Geoff, Adam and I.

The children were darling and sang beautifully -- the kindy item featured "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". My sweetheart is a serious little person when performing -- such an earnest expression!

Next was Presentation Day -- all the kindy kids received an award for 'a wonderful kindergarten year'.





They're right ... it has been a wonderful year.

Old and New Traditions

This year our decorations are a little different. The little "fiddle fingers" in our midst would make short work of a tree. Instead, we filled a vase with twisted willow branches from the garden, and draped it with a hundered handmade beaded stars.



In the morning light they shine like rainbow-coloured dewdrops.



But there is a tree at Granny and Papa's, so Eric didn't miss out on the fun of decorating.

My Kitchen Helper

And he washed the floor at the same time as doing the dishes -- there was soapy water everywhere!