tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21279649939807836522024-03-14T12:44:08.525+13:00Life with Luke SkywalkerMelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-6743243932761314172011-05-30T11:13:00.000+12:002011-05-30T11:13:09.127+12:00It's been a big month.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATY9fgY4cQVL5bebpm69WV9RhAJ9PlAzNz7aYwJEmo3e1gNJb-t108xyK9f7tkadggzZX0r9sjknO8BTAbVa8hgufhUFtnK6VTh8TjayX9xOAU4QxnV1OeKUiVy8EEZKuw9-KkelQJeA/s1600/IMG_4939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATY9fgY4cQVL5bebpm69WV9RhAJ9PlAzNz7aYwJEmo3e1gNJb-t108xyK9f7tkadggzZX0r9sjknO8BTAbVa8hgufhUFtnK6VTh8TjayX9xOAU4QxnV1OeKUiVy8EEZKuw9-KkelQJeA/s320/IMG_4939.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Easter went down well with this lot. Mind you, who doesn't like chocolate bunnies? The good news was no chocolate on the carpet this year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4A1bJye_c1FwbkeKBUQkVWmH8VPTqVuUENDoI1JcuVPkvvBERjUQKHJxzHP9Ph26C1aGpcY-YhUb_01eEYEGI2rfmz3vFpATdUW6p0EWyvkYMjE6QTg0-mguBXhEfGzNhe-IbZMgNAXQ/s1600/IMG_4943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4A1bJye_c1FwbkeKBUQkVWmH8VPTqVuUENDoI1JcuVPkvvBERjUQKHJxzHP9Ph26C1aGpcY-YhUb_01eEYEGI2rfmz3vFpATdUW6p0EWyvkYMjE6QTg0-mguBXhEfGzNhe-IbZMgNAXQ/s320/IMG_4943.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Some people even quite like to eat the foil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOo22FLl5PmbvVvVDWR_sj-WINuDSuautxSDPwRwvXAnnGIWMBh0hWY3269mhf4Bi7BNij9gJd1rbeLyyT3IERYAUPreTx7RXHgjJsCCjaOuDeE4exAngeCeFf7fjGayutW6HT3UI5a0o/s1600/IMG_4949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOo22FLl5PmbvVvVDWR_sj-WINuDSuautxSDPwRwvXAnnGIWMBh0hWY3269mhf4Bi7BNij9gJd1rbeLyyT3IERYAUPreTx7RXHgjJsCCjaOuDeE4exAngeCeFf7fjGayutW6HT3UI5a0o/s320/IMG_4949.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Is it bad to let your kids have chocolate for breakfast at Easter? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuKIPnr50XgGAnuVXfEPkuMk3MCENJS7JstkhSlABfsroGLiey0XyqCf4XFQog_bh1qm5V7mf2AUX5xmzb1YU_OENtocBcDQVads-CiM5J52nWfYNrCdlAZSyjaRPxPhGiP77NUIAvs8/s1600/IMG_4961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuKIPnr50XgGAnuVXfEPkuMk3MCENJS7JstkhSlABfsroGLiey0XyqCf4XFQog_bh1qm5V7mf2AUX5xmzb1YU_OENtocBcDQVads-CiM5J52nWfYNrCdlAZSyjaRPxPhGiP77NUIAvs8/s320/IMG_4961.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> If so, it's way too late.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVU9uDQI6lj6nAlPl6zKYFo_0aHN0QnnCBiCVkVQmr2V8Yzk_FhdtFybguuTkZdajKQoXJphqC4ulcml57OUbCAATChLkQZjNn17iINsViC7brGepgw8F54QrIwfZcNGtRiZfeJU9Q_Ew/s1600/IMG_4956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVU9uDQI6lj6nAlPl6zKYFo_0aHN0QnnCBiCVkVQmr2V8Yzk_FhdtFybguuTkZdajKQoXJphqC4ulcml57OUbCAATChLkQZjNn17iINsViC7brGepgw8F54QrIwfZcNGtRiZfeJU9Q_Ew/s320/IMG_4956.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Ben is now at an age when we only get cheesy photos of him, or goofy shots. Not sure which is worse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IKCpTgcItg0ImSUtKt0sHUXr6zvlbXHkH4MNpcwYx2UdUxjor_njIuQ3iM0fTW3MyCUfRlATx8uBwCBmeStTm2Vc_mjiNvVX8TkPTh0ezP8kWmLI_M241MpvzkdO4vM-wTBx3lipfDk/s1600/IMG_4964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IKCpTgcItg0ImSUtKt0sHUXr6zvlbXHkH4MNpcwYx2UdUxjor_njIuQ3iM0fTW3MyCUfRlATx8uBwCBmeStTm2Vc_mjiNvVX8TkPTh0ezP8kWmLI_M241MpvzkdO4vM-wTBx3lipfDk/s320/IMG_4964.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> On the easter egg hunt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQJCiVA01WraJzq3wMYyLNrU_6t6j_qZPFktg8qX4do3E2S8fW3LOAm6LR_26Tr83KE7OuIcl7KaW-6qP3NmcApWv7ADhLTZgCgHMC5v9eZxLAhJLDbLuwQJvuRoI6BaoswJunmkde-0/s1600/IMG_4967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQJCiVA01WraJzq3wMYyLNrU_6t6j_qZPFktg8qX4do3E2S8fW3LOAm6LR_26Tr83KE7OuIcl7KaW-6qP3NmcApWv7ADhLTZgCgHMC5v9eZxLAhJLDbLuwQJvuRoI6BaoswJunmkde-0/s320/IMG_4967.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Some people are better at looking than others.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtCrxWu3F6tgpB9v_mvPd9dxzIRxvK9PSGnqHQlWabOfj0x_bHXLsm79JSl90olchwzMUgcPHeTUvmT_bTfA61edocRhs7tohyphenhyphenIkK57tsWVwzq61ntoD6_zG0W6tgwTATWULFPIC5D9M/s1600/IMG_4968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtCrxWu3F6tgpB9v_mvPd9dxzIRxvK9PSGnqHQlWabOfj0x_bHXLsm79JSl90olchwzMUgcPHeTUvmT_bTfA61edocRhs7tohyphenhyphenIkK57tsWVwzq61ntoD6_zG0W6tgwTATWULFPIC5D9M/s320/IMG_4968.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ8I9Hqjp-LqQRO6fJjVrjMYiL7vkqEZfcWG93FIZbFxqueYU632kXd0yHLkXmRq36-lvkICbf4MT571tfxJ4ecItx571p96mAjKDSTwcfP9yQbJQDWTwLbgU4qiOKkqjJ06KEoJRmQc/s1600/IMG_4979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ8I9Hqjp-LqQRO6fJjVrjMYiL7vkqEZfcWG93FIZbFxqueYU632kXd0yHLkXmRq36-lvkICbf4MT571tfxJ4ecItx571p96mAjKDSTwcfP9yQbJQDWTwLbgU4qiOKkqjJ06KEoJRmQc/s320/IMG_4979.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIEyfbOdHtpImKq0y5K8VvNBY3x43Yw2vhosSFNbP1FnizVqITqshTYMlafAJeQxmbgFTGAIld1nrJM6H1j-dTGzl9e_xxyQba2R4erkSin3PoW5X1iKidZtaJAXn_TVNdRNX_oOBQTE/s1600/IMG_4981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIEyfbOdHtpImKq0y5K8VvNBY3x43Yw2vhosSFNbP1FnizVqITqshTYMlafAJeQxmbgFTGAIld1nrJM6H1j-dTGzl9e_xxyQba2R4erkSin3PoW5X1iKidZtaJAXn_TVNdRNX_oOBQTE/s320/IMG_4981.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPwLiDZZYYkNKWW4_Y3r-M75RJvz_HjmcrdW1Zmon5qCH3KftQ1W5rPSiey-tL-uqkQaJAIyg2P302qJ69ty90nAzh0dFXQId72qqM8v9BTULBA0JBCHHVNLsSeA5IlfE127f-JI1cbE/s1600/IMG_4980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPwLiDZZYYkNKWW4_Y3r-M75RJvz_HjmcrdW1Zmon5qCH3KftQ1W5rPSiey-tL-uqkQaJAIyg2P302qJ69ty90nAzh0dFXQId72qqM8v9BTULBA0JBCHHVNLsSeA5IlfE127f-JI1cbE/s320/IMG_4980.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y9m9OyjKBBbqcfL4jcyDeeOjxc1X9F0CSb5CVNwK8iLdpKKUNVPixKp0xhQJK-Ce7yfn83WPMvwcP_bqTa1zhIOjSCabefTsy5XaRc280cNuMLFXgcLfSckKKgY2rC9ghU7iBGXEQHE/s1600/IMG_4993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y9m9OyjKBBbqcfL4jcyDeeOjxc1X9F0CSb5CVNwK8iLdpKKUNVPixKp0xhQJK-Ce7yfn83WPMvwcP_bqTa1zhIOjSCabefTsy5XaRc280cNuMLFXgcLfSckKKgY2rC9ghU7iBGXEQHE/s320/IMG_4993.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Guess who loves bubbles?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7IOh0g9OmyV9QhZ2jPMe0sPm5ndn13Ow0W-bF-Fa6opL8hpufhGawMzBLnGWMYPRX60zvQ1X4AHLcftsRgoWvQmY8Tyj76EJWFGNHLDfPufkkR7lVvllgJb8RsUfgLUWnGUhCGFQUAo/s1600/IMG_5001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7IOh0g9OmyV9QhZ2jPMe0sPm5ndn13Ow0W-bF-Fa6opL8hpufhGawMzBLnGWMYPRX60zvQ1X4AHLcftsRgoWvQmY8Tyj76EJWFGNHLDfPufkkR7lVvllgJb8RsUfgLUWnGUhCGFQUAo/s320/IMG_5001.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tUGXXjhtyIxHWUUHL09udkluk1x5T_PAyj94MN_A-BCWFZzCvS0ui-tG6-vie57BNWt-Tbpcj4shG0vxcRlUtAZGX9ICrumVmbl3KeH9Muxou07ffXNSvM-Dsn5GoyxIYeId07gyZ30/s1600/IMG_5018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tUGXXjhtyIxHWUUHL09udkluk1x5T_PAyj94MN_A-BCWFZzCvS0ui-tG6-vie57BNWt-Tbpcj4shG0vxcRlUtAZGX9ICrumVmbl3KeH9Muxou07ffXNSvM-Dsn5GoyxIYeId07gyZ30/s320/IMG_5018.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And swings?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXVw-5OqA6CEwU03N4JsKOuG6cOhW2bGid5QsLKNWVnKSDr6L-Q5EdGdhfR-rqdW8lTs7rCfreRMGTXAxtsKyu33cux-X5FL5x0xDMq7a9HFY1ZRdNLARhEtvnmH3DRaoh2QdT9OWzRM/s1600/IMG_5008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXVw-5OqA6CEwU03N4JsKOuG6cOhW2bGid5QsLKNWVnKSDr6L-Q5EdGdhfR-rqdW8lTs7rCfreRMGTXAxtsKyu33cux-X5FL5x0xDMq7a9HFY1ZRdNLARhEtvnmH3DRaoh2QdT9OWzRM/s320/IMG_5008.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdavZdelwyo7pDk3smuHoR9btvAjfKCspJFvLZdZsuUnUe2FMlIP6rDGaCs9-d6pTi4-4_yqaWXKd_zOm6-fjquIgsudKH5xMqdq_n2byrhTXzGfJzPLpfrdWqdBMQKFXKlMF_QxK20Y/s1600/IMG_5055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdavZdelwyo7pDk3smuHoR9btvAjfKCspJFvLZdZsuUnUe2FMlIP6rDGaCs9-d6pTi4-4_yqaWXKd_zOm6-fjquIgsudKH5xMqdq_n2byrhTXzGfJzPLpfrdWqdBMQKFXKlMF_QxK20Y/s320/IMG_5055.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Emily started school. It took a few days, but now she's right in the swing of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfemTf9uqCTq_aoXzVpui9XEojCevm3ytnDQ88mIv-wE9F-5Gsf9bvpT7mm_sHyPA2_KmaXirs4vAYIIhxD1g6AIShIdLsMPaDEj8F3lynH1hfjyHLqSrwpZd7sOQeeVeBi-hB7qixI4/s1600/IMG_5063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfemTf9uqCTq_aoXzVpui9XEojCevm3ytnDQ88mIv-wE9F-5Gsf9bvpT7mm_sHyPA2_KmaXirs4vAYIIhxD1g6AIShIdLsMPaDEj8F3lynH1hfjyHLqSrwpZd7sOQeeVeBi-hB7qixI4/s320/IMG_5063.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiyf1eH4GK9jf4lWCOJDqxv4TtEXbRyMD1VWTg-A2rfBGL21El_576QvkFy-wQOh2r4hoq67ikJ08fbIVlEAdcjg2XEwly1xeDFDB5cy59RVIr-ULG5aLoCDD6bHAYT2kBtuh3QtPxt0/s1600/IMG_5064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiyf1eH4GK9jf4lWCOJDqxv4TtEXbRyMD1VWTg-A2rfBGL21El_576QvkFy-wQOh2r4hoq67ikJ08fbIVlEAdcjg2XEwly1xeDFDB5cy59RVIr-ULG5aLoCDD6bHAYT2kBtuh3QtPxt0/s320/IMG_5064.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> See what I mean about the big brother?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeg55KYEeDB_s9IK8yshD3H1A9aqHsz5t_WEwNNFwBGoFK71-yWlVky9xvMVBauf8C8WWGkrNlRLTwHsilU-Y4xrNH8EU56L-pAElLZ2Pepdt8sB1WYEwbt5Y54LQNSu-5CU_EHxCIkE/s1600/IMG_5070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeg55KYEeDB_s9IK8yshD3H1A9aqHsz5t_WEwNNFwBGoFK71-yWlVky9xvMVBauf8C8WWGkrNlRLTwHsilU-Y4xrNH8EU56L-pAElLZ2Pepdt8sB1WYEwbt5Y54LQNSu-5CU_EHxCIkE/s320/IMG_5070.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> There's no show without Pnch (or Buzz or Woody).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeEuCtxRS-ZPH8FONQ3-tRI44CagG7r_cvJc_y-lvesCc_32lQPtlZ7vqeOEeoPedGrKHZAoaj2ihzH7P7chzk8xCojSfuo-ZuQyAED6-T-73eWlLMhp6VPlECUl6cZrw7dli9rBRXBs/s1600/IMG_5078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeEuCtxRS-ZPH8FONQ3-tRI44CagG7r_cvJc_y-lvesCc_32lQPtlZ7vqeOEeoPedGrKHZAoaj2ihzH7P7chzk8xCojSfuo-ZuQyAED6-T-73eWlLMhp6VPlECUl6cZrw7dli9rBRXBs/s320/IMG_5078.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> There was some mischief...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirstXMsbEIOcmdSS6kxD4o7KnRBS246lWKFftKudQDED98RO9n0G2OU57UVPuflz4m4zmOo-Ouhl6_pHtzur_xQwL4KsVgc_1ev_MK3DHf7NjZEbhyphenhyphenwQ9b5XCzptbaR2pGDxwhaI2jhno/s1600/IMG_5077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirstXMsbEIOcmdSS6kxD4o7KnRBS246lWKFftKudQDED98RO9n0G2OU57UVPuflz4m4zmOo-Ouhl6_pHtzur_xQwL4KsVgc_1ev_MK3DHf7NjZEbhyphenhyphenwQ9b5XCzptbaR2pGDxwhaI2jhno/s320/IMG_5077.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> along with his partner in crime. Weimaraner anyone?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbyKfzqmCDwFjSjxzA_QnrR5Vd4mnYFo3mij2PQ8kYdeiuDWLZZIUQxyEStdjYybC8tQnJKT2XyUMGHwrHhD3enbcJR9tU6l4ZsBN_ebsgbzrvyNi-MVRo8nz7p50d0pS41zwzAP6Qwo/s1600/IMG_5110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbyKfzqmCDwFjSjxzA_QnrR5Vd4mnYFo3mij2PQ8kYdeiuDWLZZIUQxyEStdjYybC8tQnJKT2XyUMGHwrHhD3enbcJR9tU6l4ZsBN_ebsgbzrvyNi-MVRo8nz7p50d0pS41zwzAP6Qwo/s320/IMG_5110.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And we got ourselves into some tricky spots.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRrpzuwWgS0K8HcdhNfvva4E87A3HjAGOLxo_YiZC8maqsreK-EO70vFof3y91dzJvQbKMmeyOuDw5dIId_kuBseim8fYLEIV8-dXpEFz7SiT6ATBHv_Vn1co_28ZmrYAYy-qRrnfYds/s1600/IMG_5123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRrpzuwWgS0K8HcdhNfvva4E87A3HjAGOLxo_YiZC8maqsreK-EO70vFof3y91dzJvQbKMmeyOuDw5dIId_kuBseim8fYLEIV8-dXpEFz7SiT6ATBHv_Vn1co_28ZmrYAYy-qRrnfYds/s320/IMG_5123.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We started kindy. Can't believe he's 3 already.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIuijg_k0c6yPcs-sF1e7b-qjejiehIAlH82dOOvStAVOHJABT8BkRjVCWj0mGJ4oODsDBhQWg7axvfli0_e2XOkddt9VumWum9YDCSb0fCnlg7ZAjgzGeYdKbkHoLYe3d3gCisW1-AY/s1600/IMG_5124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIuijg_k0c6yPcs-sF1e7b-qjejiehIAlH82dOOvStAVOHJABT8BkRjVCWj0mGJ4oODsDBhQWg7axvfli0_e2XOkddt9VumWum9YDCSb0fCnlg7ZAjgzGeYdKbkHoLYe3d3gCisW1-AY/s320/IMG_5124.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6MGWlNIp_Q-qjz_vdwCOD_HO8v8v8bsqWlX9RmI7_2IAoTNmfATfvKwJBDj3EwyX9H1M2Sp1p9y7g5YZv1xDTbyneu4SncLg1i-uJ1yl_AVFRtZepBn-WdCiM9Jxt-AUl9RnjoK4k1I/s1600/IMG_5126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6MGWlNIp_Q-qjz_vdwCOD_HO8v8v8bsqWlX9RmI7_2IAoTNmfATfvKwJBDj3EwyX9H1M2Sp1p9y7g5YZv1xDTbyneu4SncLg1i-uJ1yl_AVFRtZepBn-WdCiM9Jxt-AUl9RnjoK4k1I/s320/IMG_5126.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Luke started as he meant to go on- throwing sand at the teacher on his first day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegEP700CUZILiEyNJu7-LK62qcOkLP20BcAuCwb2CAgjpT0QdJV4WaWcAXoZJXlBwLANIkGj3Gi1ipHr-6WiJptMNzY3ShD0aMCfxRR6hNmKFfgeWyO1GfWFjgkDoN49u0dYsgF-8ikM/s1600/IMG_5129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegEP700CUZILiEyNJu7-LK62qcOkLP20BcAuCwb2CAgjpT0QdJV4WaWcAXoZJXlBwLANIkGj3Gi1ipHr-6WiJptMNzY3ShD0aMCfxRR6hNmKFfgeWyO1GfWFjgkDoN49u0dYsgF-8ikM/s320/IMG_5129.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> There were leaves to be tidied.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQnJ36zLP2lj1ZVTWBN0e1fCidDFZoYWkibwuDJe9wj50GNZJ4bW5v6-YwRcC7es50TXBsF34yE2NrL_Pb9O4BZy0ri808XkjSuym-TwK5OkPJoMMzycdpGQ8rWRkf2IPlYWPnw2Ig-I/s1600/IMG_5133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQnJ36zLP2lj1ZVTWBN0e1fCidDFZoYWkibwuDJe9wj50GNZJ4bW5v6-YwRcC7es50TXBsF34yE2NrL_Pb9O4BZy0ri808XkjSuym-TwK5OkPJoMMzycdpGQ8rWRkf2IPlYWPnw2Ig-I/s320/IMG_5133.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And breakfasts to be eaten.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZD_BV0cCeyoZtndYBto5kKKUjsZjCyMFl5rqe0gLXhnj_mcpZY44g5uWxNpYmydaT_L6ip2L3HIzO2KqRthuhndIop0lJEjHmDDIM8MyhLlFYZYr2yANgAbaPYne7sT9zIEW2ovXp6M/s1600/IMG_5134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZD_BV0cCeyoZtndYBto5kKKUjsZjCyMFl5rqe0gLXhnj_mcpZY44g5uWxNpYmydaT_L6ip2L3HIzO2KqRthuhndIop0lJEjHmDDIM8MyhLlFYZYr2yANgAbaPYne7sT9zIEW2ovXp6M/s320/IMG_5134.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And things to show Daddy at kindy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBT9IAcnoFc4bRBKkArzimqSFiUd45Kx5EYawLWz0w60HfywkMswBZhMJrpqEE1fxRwA1IpSFAaiRC8Tb3fKoAQh9Rq_af7Rl4YCblntZxqoUvBvXgfZPUw8VjGTJAtRMGVibaumIlnJ4/s1600/IMG_5151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBT9IAcnoFc4bRBKkArzimqSFiUd45Kx5EYawLWz0w60HfywkMswBZhMJrpqEE1fxRwA1IpSFAaiRC8Tb3fKoAQh9Rq_af7Rl4YCblntZxqoUvBvXgfZPUw8VjGTJAtRMGVibaumIlnJ4/s320/IMG_5151.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A dog to wash- notice how Daddy somehow managed to get the boy's head wet too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoAL_qCdqiw7CGRQbqpR3CgJmSDSkocnr56vkyvXkUmwH49Wq0n5FzQoSDN2rjxtZgrjXIl_mbYG6xapMhYJJdBhEXDkXJ9cYWabiUTc8kdeZnvbZS6PsYyPyEc7Y_L38pb52HyWuUoU/s1600/IMG_5215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoAL_qCdqiw7CGRQbqpR3CgJmSDSkocnr56vkyvXkUmwH49Wq0n5FzQoSDN2rjxtZgrjXIl_mbYG6xapMhYJJdBhEXDkXJ9cYWabiUTc8kdeZnvbZS6PsYyPyEc7Y_L38pb52HyWuUoU/s320/IMG_5215.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And bed time books to read.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Luke also had his adenoids and tonsils out last week. His ears were cleaned out so the surgeon could see in, but no grommets were needed. He's doing well now, but it was a rough few days. So far we're pleased, his breathing is so much quieter, and he is sleeping so much better. Darth Vader has left the building!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's hoping the next month is less eventful!</div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-89460345745069234662011-04-26T09:13:00.000+12:002011-04-26T09:13:10.672+12:00Now We Are Five<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> Emily's last day of kindergarten was Friday the 15th of April. Her birthday was the next day, the first day of the holidays, so she has a bit of a wait before she starts school. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicO3tTTqRYF2dhKaNXMniRC1_AX9iOJZ7QDqAT6eSR6ioCtBSMEIPnVR81nDM-aP0aTXFn3U2uP2SLphLBpYoPfgEZmHuqh8QZegw8n_fq8ne_BdiRWV0DgMQ67jP_2q3qUqsIAAKws1k/s1600/IMG_4780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicO3tTTqRYF2dhKaNXMniRC1_AX9iOJZ7QDqAT6eSR6ioCtBSMEIPnVR81nDM-aP0aTXFn3U2uP2SLphLBpYoPfgEZmHuqh8QZegw8n_fq8ne_BdiRWV0DgMQ67jP_2q3qUqsIAAKws1k/s320/IMG_4780.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> At Em's kindy they have a wee celebration for the children who are going off to school. (For those of you unfamiliar with the NZ system, Kindergarten here is for preschoolers from about ages 3-5. Ours still has the traditional sessions, with the littlest attending 3 sessions a week from 1.15 to 3.15 pm. The bigger kids attend up to 5 mornings a week, from 8.30am to 12.30pm.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4R4QtFbzhWD6n7eHmXG7QDcZlT_wSs4tK6DBQkztoniHgdInp3jlRJ4b3HSulT1pVJ7IJs0VCUBOFVWao7ldBdMQFGNRYqDKkBLGbeK9AkNAbbqokQgeVZRTkYyYHS3sPjAPlbFyWKuE/s1600/IMG_4792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4R4QtFbzhWD6n7eHmXG7QDcZlT_wSs4tK6DBQkztoniHgdInp3jlRJ4b3HSulT1pVJ7IJs0VCUBOFVWao7ldBdMQFGNRYqDKkBLGbeK9AkNAbbqokQgeVZRTkYyYHS3sPjAPlbFyWKuE/s320/IMG_4792.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> The birthday kid gets to choose their favourite book to share. Em chose Wonky Donkey, and they all sang along to the CD. They also choose their favourite learning story to share, and Em's was called Emily Creates. They make and decorate a playdough 'cake' and blow out the candles, and the child leaving gives the kindy a present if they choose. Em gave the kindy a Slinky Malinki book and some decorations for the kids to use with the hot glue gun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMgPsdSUz2f_XjruSwizyEw4D8LM0QChqb3ToP6G-G7lo7fzFGNhAGoxSHW0p88ZjXY8rWF9etplkTvR1uJd0obmdA4ChKM2Vrf5E0wgyX7zWF79_6semL06RrrSxjL3N2DNFEiBSo8Y/s1600/IMG_4803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMgPsdSUz2f_XjruSwizyEw4D8LM0QChqb3ToP6G-G7lo7fzFGNhAGoxSHW0p88ZjXY8rWF9etplkTvR1uJd0obmdA4ChKM2Vrf5E0wgyX7zWF79_6semL06RrrSxjL3N2DNFEiBSo8Y/s320/IMG_4803.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> Then they sing Happy Birthday, and the birthday girl got to bring her profile books home to keep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrguE1tWsPMHzyGYyizmYB6AWzflzO_GryGb-oW7Dch5ZvEA_y8Ahern9UTpfccA0e3KK523JfnAhNAAYosLqDb0pqWfs2RvGkHCCrvRdYDH0zP-7imuUmHltrezIx-0Aq3a8Z3HUbw4/s1600/IMG_4824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrguE1tWsPMHzyGYyizmYB6AWzflzO_GryGb-oW7Dch5ZvEA_y8Ahern9UTpfccA0e3KK523JfnAhNAAYosLqDb0pqWfs2RvGkHCCrvRdYDH0zP-7imuUmHltrezIx-0Aq3a8Z3HUbw4/s320/IMG_4824.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Saturday morning was the main event. Marked by present opening and some bad behaviour from the child concerned.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU_tS8IWUn7duqNJKDLCwPqM5sCQX8PRooZjR8rPSvPSSydJs6wzTJycrLIU2JGhhYjSbdRsxZ1Gzj7irkUXotKMx0boXV8pzgniE7DN3xn3Drq6ZGYYgEQpkYp5JKyydj5SmKgGI3oE/s1600/IMG_4811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU_tS8IWUn7duqNJKDLCwPqM5sCQX8PRooZjR8rPSvPSSydJs6wzTJycrLIU2JGhhYjSbdRsxZ1Gzj7irkUXotKMx0boXV8pzgniE7DN3xn3Drq6ZGYYgEQpkYp5JKyydj5SmKgGI3oE/s320/IMG_4811.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> The brothers were very generous and even helpful. This did not improve her mood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCKjeQdul7ae5raQn40S8gAXSeMHjfpd-DY1XmXftI-m8HYbn03aGMH3mBvP8Wv0uOU6-pI0gckRFVEB3JsSA4sAkOCSuIT9L0VOBFEXvqcJJ9tkTX8fbrAWBvt717Hjk3GRhMOBNNbc/s1600/IMG_4834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCKjeQdul7ae5raQn40S8gAXSeMHjfpd-DY1XmXftI-m8HYbn03aGMH3mBvP8Wv0uOU6-pI0gckRFVEB3JsSA4sAkOCSuIT9L0VOBFEXvqcJJ9tkTX8fbrAWBvt717Hjk3GRhMOBNNbc/s320/IMG_4834.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> The friends arrived, and there was a lot of pink involved.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3F1lrDlTUzDb5Y2kW1CU1UUdAbBh7Zu47i7szwvH3KLmDY6sZ_-3Nr-VNdE19WdSIZWVXUBc-g1X3Gjkn-ZdQLnzfxgpH2GBO8CZcZivxU-Akp-Na_aYbb92aeL_leSeTP0N0VchqJSQ/s1600/IMG_4835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3F1lrDlTUzDb5Y2kW1CU1UUdAbBh7Zu47i7szwvH3KLmDY6sZ_-3Nr-VNdE19WdSIZWVXUBc-g1X3Gjkn-ZdQLnzfxgpH2GBO8CZcZivxU-Akp-Na_aYbb92aeL_leSeTP0N0VchqJSQ/s320/IMG_4835.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> We were having a tea party, so we decorated cupcakes. I ended up making the icing with 6 little helpers, which wasn't in the plan, but ended safely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpP9XIcGBdG7pQRvoefs-LldiXnB0NuDVtAZoAE_GCRtMdypmFdyH-1IUpStXmvSh-1ci-SDmgkHpdpHHWuk-c-zVJXRATGWQ0G5rK6ZuoXIcBBmLvlb4g4hHUtUUiODEU7eJVbAirnNw/s1600/IMG_4841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpP9XIcGBdG7pQRvoefs-LldiXnB0NuDVtAZoAE_GCRtMdypmFdyH-1IUpStXmvSh-1ci-SDmgkHpdpHHWuk-c-zVJXRATGWQ0G5rK6ZuoXIcBBmLvlb4g4hHUtUUiODEU7eJVbAirnNw/s320/IMG_4841.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> Even the boys were keen to have a go, just not using the pink icing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzhdcNAV_syFI7ZWnjYKYmefETauWZQ6Dc_PIGEaY-bLkf5k67Ssm_8wfDNl-1_0btnySDV-butcSsGkqvCNP_g9SXo7GeDy34Pn-kRnGDXnK42fwqgp2UfR3bcXjdYhLSF17K9xgb1Y/s1600/IMG_4851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzhdcNAV_syFI7ZWnjYKYmefETauWZQ6Dc_PIGEaY-bLkf5k67Ssm_8wfDNl-1_0btnySDV-butcSsGkqvCNP_g9SXo7GeDy34Pn-kRnGDXnK42fwqgp2UfR3bcXjdYhLSF17K9xgb1Y/s320/IMG_4851.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> The food went down a treat, although some little girls had eyes larger than their stomachs, and some food evidently looked good, but was not fit for human consumption!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBhvW2KkTSrvf6vrd-2OKYJzUP6vl_gRRTanMNS1XwzKyeR2xAw8gR-R-iTUldrHDoyPyQ2PSqmdKJ9awjMU_Qg7luZW_vv3NwuehyphenhyphenRBnNtCXSgwOj8cK-FmzgUx5wzQskKgzGdjvlOI/s1600/IMG_4853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBhvW2KkTSrvf6vrd-2OKYJzUP6vl_gRRTanMNS1XwzKyeR2xAw8gR-R-iTUldrHDoyPyQ2PSqmdKJ9awjMU_Qg7luZW_vv3NwuehyphenhyphenRBnNtCXSgwOj8cK-FmzgUx5wzQskKgzGdjvlOI/s320/IMG_4853.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> Emily caused a bit of a ruction by wanting to always sit next to one particular child who was wearing (in Em's opinion) the most beautiful dress. She's deep, my daughter.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6dQU4eFpESWmN-7INLHlXXG0a_lzp0aoQqHsLeAm1I1bcLw-m6vn_b0XdrO3jQfnqsTeFB3Go8fq_ZIrvSIQN6IVh8XYQ3yMfpoPmwL2iQPC-2DhP9z-HCgqMu8bFO7bRKC5LvA6jwI/s1600/IMG_4866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6dQU4eFpESWmN-7INLHlXXG0a_lzp0aoQqHsLeAm1I1bcLw-m6vn_b0XdrO3jQfnqsTeFB3Go8fq_ZIrvSIQN6IVh8XYQ3yMfpoPmwL2iQPC-2DhP9z-HCgqMu8bFO7bRKC5LvA6jwI/s320/IMG_4866.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> Then it was time for the cake. A lovely concoction created by the Daddy, who is obviously in touch with his feminine side ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1oH-sNVCHJCzgH4DC6rPQOKdnfSDbhx-38_LgPS4CQLc_bKxFvAEtZg3OMPjq9HSbKyAwjrdKmsMSf1f0ItNocCZ9zYSLjgwopLYeGvY_nh0W-mWHvpC_C_iWsJbpHv8kbgn3t7NLjc/s1600/IMG_4875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1oH-sNVCHJCzgH4DC6rPQOKdnfSDbhx-38_LgPS4CQLc_bKxFvAEtZg3OMPjq9HSbKyAwjrdKmsMSf1f0ItNocCZ9zYSLjgwopLYeGvY_nh0W-mWHvpC_C_iWsJbpHv8kbgn3t7NLjc/s320/IMG_4875.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTC-NOwA0ydDsIWW3HdEv9lXS6_RuuVM95ulsovMrZLvHHDXNZVageKwe-VMyFNlevrJpzO7S4Nv4Fqkv8emSgeUSeoH0c9-dIYBGdPAnNumTCBAoIDsSMr8pDstL2qIAIxvHRy1FEjY/s1600/IMG_4860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTC-NOwA0ydDsIWW3HdEv9lXS6_RuuVM95ulsovMrZLvHHDXNZVageKwe-VMyFNlevrJpzO7S4Nv4Fqkv8emSgeUSeoH0c9-dIYBGdPAnNumTCBAoIDsSMr8pDstL2qIAIxvHRy1FEjY/s320/IMG_4860.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> Then it was time for the nail polish and other girly activities. Notice the close proximity to THE DRESS.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrK6mNg1d3rEDdktwSOUFVfNdSBXEw5ypNOVSZdRLdNf0LG_IXK5Tm8qqjvtnkSEVY5Nmil53iy1z4Af3wo_GKdjUyP9qiVCmQWDjFPSIprRzEhMIi-NiiHq-MbzNBgGejsj9P9nHCiKc/s1600/IMG_4887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrK6mNg1d3rEDdktwSOUFVfNdSBXEw5ypNOVSZdRLdNf0LG_IXK5Tm8qqjvtnkSEVY5Nmil53iy1z4Af3wo_GKdjUyP9qiVCmQWDjFPSIprRzEhMIi-NiiHq-MbzNBgGejsj9P9nHCiKc/s320/IMG_4887.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Later on the boys had some fun with man stuff.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcRzbcQOIcLEpGkIFq-Y5dAnw0STMfRUE7MrGjQ6G_4CbJ1u08L1kmu55r1iozUz8fNX9Cql8ZpB1yBB-N845tPzIcM5OX7KZFcJXd_glQMHbAIqnPnth3tqagBKZS8f3NC2gfVlLQeU/s1600/IMG_4890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcRzbcQOIcLEpGkIFq-Y5dAnw0STMfRUE7MrGjQ6G_4CbJ1u08L1kmu55r1iozUz8fNX9Cql8ZpB1yBB-N845tPzIcM5OX7KZFcJXd_glQMHbAIqnPnth3tqagBKZS8f3NC2gfVlLQeU/s320/IMG_4890.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The next day we went to The Wiggles concert. Ben did not come, as he had informed me he was too old for that. He was not however too old to covet one of the helium balloons which came home with us.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqWksb0pESMbebMMwQw90wNkdR7eOYZvJQdj8H2nrB4YP_3JozykgT_paxMt9y9KxwxIqjE3-qNlclZNLrjE9pl-0sufGI8bV-P5Q9__guYtTVNKp9_0ZHMP90e3w-rFL2idmfEvx7YE/s1600/IMG_4904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqWksb0pESMbebMMwQw90wNkdR7eOYZvJQdj8H2nrB4YP_3JozykgT_paxMt9y9KxwxIqjE3-qNlclZNLrjE9pl-0sufGI8bV-P5Q9__guYtTVNKp9_0ZHMP90e3w-rFL2idmfEvx7YE/s320/IMG_4904.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNReYDXDoBcs2yt8xEttfT0HPXKNpm7bcaYyX_lwL6xfM7ugZHVvrLiCsLi-cMl3pyO74G1eIULZHHvGTzwseMwYxUT3tcVfnXx6_RRMGTcTAMe-29Knydk12uJuVlKkDQdpRu6pO0L0/s1600/IMG_4911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNReYDXDoBcs2yt8xEttfT0HPXKNpm7bcaYyX_lwL6xfM7ugZHVvrLiCsLi-cMl3pyO74G1eIULZHHvGTzwseMwYxUT3tcVfnXx6_RRMGTcTAMe-29Knydk12uJuVlKkDQdpRu6pO0L0/s320/IMG_4911.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Luke loved it, and Emily, who is usually quite shy and attaches herself to my leg at such events, ended up dancing.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL6islwkjvTdJuNUWTq5BEbHi55e3WSRDZBRH1H1Q_E3M0NIxMibmaheDz3t_hlY4KZ1IhwHCQM-9F6xOaPM9mv14qDY-OQkwYnQw-UCWTqkrsppD8lwog8gnHkMyMuaDHSAz4XBmJ5Y/s1600/IMG_4898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL6islwkjvTdJuNUWTq5BEbHi55e3WSRDZBRH1H1Q_E3M0NIxMibmaheDz3t_hlY4KZ1IhwHCQM-9F6xOaPM9mv14qDY-OQkwYnQw-UCWTqkrsppD8lwog8gnHkMyMuaDHSAz4XBmJ5Y/s320/IMG_4898.JPG" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We even got to meet Murray, the red Wiggle.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So all in all a big weekend. Next stop is school- not sure this mummy is ready for that. I have a week off from being a kindy mum, and then Luke starts afternoons. They're all growing up too fast- which is not what I say when they're up in the night!</div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-26857378553670294852011-04-02T07:39:00.000+13:002011-04-02T07:39:37.538+13:00Where have we been?<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well, it's been a long time. Again. Hopeless.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There's been a lot happening in our lives of course. We are nearly at the end of the first term of the school year. I have had all 3 kids in swimming lessons all term, and have to get in the pool with Luke. Love that- especially when I am the only mum in there because he is just so much shorter. Can't they get a shallower pool?! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAu35RB_BECkeKvbkBIvd1NX1J0uWBKJn50McsLyfP-Gou97QXci-yLtrXqKiY7mguCcEiUeJC9dkmi9jhemgcH6XKlEKB4kbXl9TngzJApLAFbfPj-5wFsUVAyJZM_vY2m4VLJBYtYQ/s1600/IMG_4712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAu35RB_BECkeKvbkBIvd1NX1J0uWBKJn50McsLyfP-Gou97QXci-yLtrXqKiY7mguCcEiUeJC9dkmi9jhemgcH6XKlEKB4kbXl9TngzJApLAFbfPj-5wFsUVAyJZM_vY2m4VLJBYtYQ/s320/IMG_4712.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HzX1ecbDdV7vkUvpeDTFLxB2MfUsUCEH4aA8CWaeXuUgSxBEkBKabRbiq0RdWn9jQjYObg24N0h5fKvImcAw5EggJIGZ0neRbxL-dgKqgF7NhsP-k20ocGFwOSBfuWUwZE6yh0lvHgQ/s1600/IMG_4730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HzX1ecbDdV7vkUvpeDTFLxB2MfUsUCEH4aA8CWaeXuUgSxBEkBKabRbiq0RdWn9jQjYObg24N0h5fKvImcAw5EggJIGZ0neRbxL-dgKqgF7NhsP-k20ocGFwOSBfuWUwZE6yh0lvHgQ/s320/IMG_4730.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Emily has had 3 school visits, and turns 5 in a couple of weeks. She has to wait to start school though, because her birthday is the first day of the holidays. She has had some issues with the uniform too. I can't wait- one less problem in the morning. How can you be 4 and have trouble deciding what to put on every day? Also, how come she is surprised to see that the uniform top is jade green? Ben has been wearing the uniform every week day for 5 terms now, so surely she must have noticed at some point? Apparently not, because the very idea of trying on a top of THAT COLOUR caused a meltdown in the shop the other day.</div><br />
Ben has had Rippa Rugby games for the past five weeks, and now Saturday soccer starts for the winter today. Luke is now not keen on sitting in the buggy for an entire game, (not that he was too keen on that last winter either), so I will have to chase him off the field repeatedly. He loves soccer, and I know he just wants to join in. Ben is also going through a Harry Potter phase, so often has a lightning bolt scar drawn across his forehead.<br />
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Luke is coming on in leaps and bounds. His latest sentence was a very clear "I love you". Although it was preceded by the name "Ella", who is the naughty dog. I'm pretty sure he didn't learn that sentence from her, so she is on half rations for stealing my thunder ;)<br />
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We have missed a couple of therapy sessions due to the Christchurch earthquake. I was teaching that day, and mum had Em and Luke in Christchurch with her, so once we realised the severity of the situation it was a nervous wait for an hour or so until we heard from them as the phone systems were down. They had been shopping and were in a pet shop looking at the fish, and mum said she was worried the tanks were going to fall down on them. Luckily they were on the east side of the city, where the damage was not too bad, and were able to bundle the kids into the car and out of town, straight home. Phew.<br />
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Some of Luke's therapists have lost their homes. Mum's place had very minor damage, but lots of the neighbour's homes are uninhabitable. We had Mum and Chris staying with us the first few nights as there were no services on, and then had my step-sister Kate and her partner Kerry visit, as well as Luke's friend Aidan's family overnight. All have suffered considerable damage to their homes, but luckily were unhurt. So things are beginning to return to normal, but the damage to their houses (in Kate and Kerry's case, a new house is needed) is going to take a long time to sort out, and there is a lot of uncertainty for them.<br />
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Luke is due to start kindy next month. He is entitled to some teacher aide support at Playcentre/kindy from when he turned 3, but this hasn't worked out and has been pretty stressful to sort out. The person organising it hasn't been very organised, so when I started asking last year was told it was too soon. But surprise surprise, when the term began back, two weeks after Luke's 3rd birthday, I still hadn't been contacted. Annoying. Then while I was waiting to hear back about when the meeting with the teacher aide and Playcentre etc was, I was working at a fundraiser for the Playcentre when a woman there announced to us all that she was going to be working at our centre with a little boy called Luke, starting from the Monday. I do not like surprises, and so poor Neil had to deal with that when I got home at 11.45 pm. Hopefully things are sorted now, and so when he starts kindy things will be in place.<br />
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I also became an aunty on my side of the family for the first time, with Samuel being born (my brother's son). Unfortunately they live in the UK so it will be a while before I get to meet him.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Baby Sam</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have also been closely following the journey of a friend I met through UpsideofDowns (not in person yet, but hopefully one day). Bridget often leaves lovely comments on my blog, and tells funny stories about her son Pete. Pete is 7, apparently very naughty- hard to believe as he has the face of an angel- and had DS. Pete has been battling leukaemia for several years, and was in remission at the end of last year. Unfortunately it has returned and he is in the fight of his life. He is one tough cookie, and so is his mum, so please spare them a thought. We have been so lucky with Luke's health so far. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjpzMYH2_9pXl12bGrAIt2gsnZ_FQdeb6cWTwAkBlSvkQatRnZvJb4Bixpfkg8CXWhWXk3yW4mm7tPBEdNFaDvIJ87ErEXk0vg0ACbXumEgmm9TDL3-v-o6kRsOfD2OaGqONVaq1QtQo/s1600/Mel+and+kids+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjpzMYH2_9pXl12bGrAIt2gsnZ_FQdeb6cWTwAkBlSvkQatRnZvJb4Bixpfkg8CXWhWXk3yW4mm7tPBEdNFaDvIJ87ErEXk0vg0ACbXumEgmm9TDL3-v-o6kRsOfD2OaGqONVaq1QtQo/s320/Mel+and+kids+2.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIdmW_7nwwJo0gGz5JrEQTqJ6gT3goxZkzO9PsGpeCkM43yiB2nIgJPEZbi0glkcOuNRzSNHounN4XgT6J73PlYIO9NYZaMgmF1HyI-4bhClyCPriaOzt2BRnfKRrQritdl4diYQ-JKE/s1600/IMG_4620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIdmW_7nwwJo0gGz5JrEQTqJ6gT3goxZkzO9PsGpeCkM43yiB2nIgJPEZbi0glkcOuNRzSNHounN4XgT6J73PlYIO9NYZaMgmF1HyI-4bhClyCPriaOzt2BRnfKRrQritdl4diYQ-JKE/s320/IMG_4620.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see, some things never change!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-6813164890993555002011-01-23T15:25:00.000+13:002011-01-23T15:25:09.557+13:00The Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHUaKpooIsLuaYHMQrZ4PybVBLRgaWjnQ7O1qW78CT56wHcv79DA-FvNl2DBkNM9ZPcEaWsMo_6frIKvCRAXeukqQEahDz7sDTo18BEc1v6I_tsj1z0rjtoOdpKz04U4_jWV0QKreZcQ/s1600/IMG_4314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHUaKpooIsLuaYHMQrZ4PybVBLRgaWjnQ7O1qW78CT56wHcv79DA-FvNl2DBkNM9ZPcEaWsMo_6frIKvCRAXeukqQEahDz7sDTo18BEc1v6I_tsj1z0rjtoOdpKz04U4_jWV0QKreZcQ/s320/IMG_4314.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> What could be better than Elmo wrapping paper?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9PA6NTh6u2T_HMJ31SdvN7HjFJ4iBx1IWTwGpq4pFedCrwlp8QWcergRVoDMwto8uQijOr2RsTBNV7fZMpj_fGbFN8hNGqCDCkHfv8of-myBg83HApOAAKQYvgL4LOm8l-GVdfP2DMc/s1600/IMG_4315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9PA6NTh6u2T_HMJ31SdvN7HjFJ4iBx1IWTwGpq4pFedCrwlp8QWcergRVoDMwto8uQijOr2RsTBNV7fZMpj_fGbFN8hNGqCDCkHfv8of-myBg83HApOAAKQYvgL4LOm8l-GVdfP2DMc/s320/IMG_4315.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A fire engine in Elmo paper, of course!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBFaTMu6v44uA8mAFNIGenAMxp9xcY-pEyqRgbjFUBYeLKjNsX5dZ5yGtMK1QoECVSr3jbtGuEFcXi1q33SduFebF5zI-VCy6V8ppUQnxb1VyohtlwJfDBLecSnW5peUn9lZD3mt0XIA/s1600/IMG_4319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBFaTMu6v44uA8mAFNIGenAMxp9xcY-pEyqRgbjFUBYeLKjNsX5dZ5yGtMK1QoECVSr3jbtGuEFcXi1q33SduFebF5zI-VCy6V8ppUQnxb1VyohtlwJfDBLecSnW5peUn9lZD3mt0XIA/s320/IMG_4319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Yay!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlGh5v1guMUOPTyrbXjscwcQc9f3mBMvG14-XaiwmJpPJoDrgfAu33pblbwvag4G8NyiDPMb8KWGuHMWG6M07XM9SQ25rij8-AvGCveq2L7N4xF5mbG1uhwHn_CPJAh9k8JZfJjuqArQ/s1600/IMG_4324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlGh5v1guMUOPTyrbXjscwcQc9f3mBMvG14-XaiwmJpPJoDrgfAu33pblbwvag4G8NyiDPMb8KWGuHMWG6M07XM9SQ25rij8-AvGCveq2L7N4xF5mbG1uhwHn_CPJAh9k8JZfJjuqArQ/s320/IMG_4324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And a fire station from Mummy and Daddy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2NbHErRRTdkrXA2aIPS2Q1dk_BMfJ2IKb9YxU9eH9mF92nShJrZI7NGZ_Rm_vnHd7QNT8z568OWVUrkyZ1acYI5BAGj8b6LvFYyJGL-0jrxXfCxNmYmksHiqMmtPOoJ6UQhySd3q_m4/s1600/IMG_4335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2NbHErRRTdkrXA2aIPS2Q1dk_BMfJ2IKb9YxU9eH9mF92nShJrZI7NGZ_Rm_vnHd7QNT8z568OWVUrkyZ1acYI5BAGj8b6LvFYyJGL-0jrxXfCxNmYmksHiqMmtPOoJ6UQhySd3q_m4/s320/IMG_4335.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> More pressies- super yay!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-W1iG-1FqtqSxfC8-zJzVZkFWCW0sd0SiaMZDZOE1ayzY_rJOZQzLLaaSAPPksaKt6wbJXYAUk9w07bfO1ZDfCq_6WXlHLqyN4GA_g1JhukvqAENbYLHHsA1k2IRxRbJThfEkZllpOI/s1600/IMG_4338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-W1iG-1FqtqSxfC8-zJzVZkFWCW0sd0SiaMZDZOE1ayzY_rJOZQzLLaaSAPPksaKt6wbJXYAUk9w07bfO1ZDfCq_6WXlHLqyN4GA_g1JhukvqAENbYLHHsA1k2IRxRbJThfEkZllpOI/s320/IMG_4338.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIqCehKbguo9AYZTAPiAdTnckco7eUsE2qM7tmw9EOabZa-S9Rm4adAfAkwZm-smB00icGi6e9QE8C48HlBhzUkeMyRXcTJVS-A0aXgR59OjLPpBXNblW1FX0zUFG_reRECsQnnZcFm0/s1600/IMG_4374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIqCehKbguo9AYZTAPiAdTnckco7eUsE2qM7tmw9EOabZa-S9Rm4adAfAkwZm-smB00icGi6e9QE8C48HlBhzUkeMyRXcTJVS-A0aXgR59OjLPpBXNblW1FX0zUFG_reRECsQnnZcFm0/s320/IMG_4374.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Party time</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaGj6mOyBJntBbcHOVoXW5aG_kKaw8ARBqBrnPVU6e9rB3MqW8d9ZwokVCmV4wN6184l8ts2yXZ5rNkfEdDoaARfUbsifuC560yagXI61ICbVfTRfudVBS3QxChn-OMfH_ZaaKstTvNE/s1600/IMG_4383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaGj6mOyBJntBbcHOVoXW5aG_kKaw8ARBqBrnPVU6e9rB3MqW8d9ZwokVCmV4wN6184l8ts2yXZ5rNkfEdDoaARfUbsifuC560yagXI61ICbVfTRfudVBS3QxChn-OMfH_ZaaKstTvNE/s320/IMG_4383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Checking out the cake Daddy made and iced :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-ZVrh2LAJTP1AHIlxsxMe-ShASXLrdv2i_77w-DdsYyed93ZC36RT6yTW3FliUt_PYEB_z1ahbuL_hbzamFk8kPIvQLdqviVBSz2Kni2TZpOJN0jEOP9LGYIYPxSkYqakmRInLChnHc/s1600/IMG_4384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-ZVrh2LAJTP1AHIlxsxMe-ShASXLrdv2i_77w-DdsYyed93ZC36RT6yTW3FliUt_PYEB_z1ahbuL_hbzamFk8kPIvQLdqviVBSz2Kni2TZpOJN0jEOP9LGYIYPxSkYqakmRInLChnHc/s320/IMG_4384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Aidan steals the show with his cheeky smile.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwgALoSeWh8jVatMzw7sxpiasZp5vQie25S66-9kt0hRDDnTWd3tT0t8_Zbg3aDd-1IMr_z6UorAbO6yo-Ovw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>As you can see, he's a real pro at blowing out the candles. And Aidan is all set for his turn in a couple of months. <br />
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Happy birthday our lovely Luke!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-at-I7kuGKpi1-UUmF7mbwaL2GjnAxAFjsTy758A8LbM2lYj7IwCxH1uYPYpTbLsnIBSwaXOoshA1r-5NnLmQZJBEsGwpr0GsSBQYmvOkjsCwwyMQLygPABQUQdTB4NV5bAoW1aJFlqo/s1600/IMG_4386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-at-I7kuGKpi1-UUmF7mbwaL2GjnAxAFjsTy758A8LbM2lYj7IwCxH1uYPYpTbLsnIBSwaXOoshA1r-5NnLmQZJBEsGwpr0GsSBQYmvOkjsCwwyMQLygPABQUQdTB4NV5bAoW1aJFlqo/s320/IMG_4386.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-63991725756039583902011-01-16T07:50:00.001+13:002011-01-16T07:50:17.056+13:00Toilet Training<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggAnz7w9oq2PGbpoqSUdviRgJY2MELz5lE9vQTsmAwS2zbSB6h-OzbRzLVKjpyNL_6fBt-PcjUJtKgJV2k2knQvO1YGPY0ezFL1Xg7KcJdJGuwgUDvIFAXsfkXsJRsZPbVdWmXKVpBhM/s1600/IMG_3945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggAnz7w9oq2PGbpoqSUdviRgJY2MELz5lE9vQTsmAwS2zbSB6h-OzbRzLVKjpyNL_6fBt-PcjUJtKgJV2k2knQvO1YGPY0ezFL1Xg7KcJdJGuwgUDvIFAXsfkXsJRsZPbVdWmXKVpBhM/s320/IMG_3945.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>We have made a start. Luke has been happy to sit on the toilet for a while now, and occasionally did a wee. But seeing as it's summer, Neil is home on holiday, and Luke is nearly 3 I decided it was time to bite the bullet and go for it.<br />
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We started with putting him on the potty right before he got into the bath. This was mainly because he would often get in and wee right away. But I noticed that if I put him on the potty at any other time of day, he would try to get undressed first. Around that time I read another blog where a gorgeous wee boy was getting naked every time (very cute), as well as a mum of an adult with DS mention that she knows of a couple of adults with DS who do the same- the key for them being to make sure that the door is locked! So I decided on a change of plan. No more weeing in the nude before the bath, and we now just use the toilet. Start as we mean to go on.<br />
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Things have been going pretty well. We have just gone straight to undies and shorts, which means I have to do lots of loads of washing during the day. Today is day 5. So far Luke has progressed from wetting every few minutes (very tempting to go back into pull-ups) to much longer periods of time- up to an hour or so. He has gone from having no idea of when he is going or is wet to holding himself and sometimes coming to show us. Occasionally he has come and taken us to the toilet. He is definitely more aware of what is happening, because his pull-ups are so absorbent that he just had no idea. Having him in undies gives him that feedback.<br />
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We are also working on teaching him how to pull his pants up and down. This means occasionally he takes them off and appears without them, but we are getting there!<br />
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It would be easy to give up, but I am seeing progress, so for now we will keep going.<br />
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Health-wise Luke is well as it is summer, so fewer bugs and things about. He had been getting up anywhere from 5.45 to 6.15am, and that is not so popular when the whole family is on holiday. For Christmas one of his presents was a monkey sleep training clock, which my other kids got for the previous Christmas. He was rapt, and it is working pretty well. When Luke goes to bed we close the monkey's eyes, and the monkey wakes up at the time you set the alarm for. This is either quietly or it plays a jungle theme. Luke loves it and on the mornings he is up before the alarm, one of us goes and lies with him until the monkey wakes up. He definitely knows what's going on and looks at the clock expectantly until the monkey, or 'key' as he calls it, wakes up. Then he's up like a shot!<br />
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We had an appointment with the ENT before Christmas. I had requested an appointment just to check him out last winter as he was always full up and is a bit of a snorer at times. I know this is an issue for our kids. Neil looked at me when I was going on about it, thinking that he wasn't that bad, but I was determined to get to see and ENT, so a little exaggeration wasn't going to hurt. Luke also failed his hearing test earlier in the year, but his ears are full of wax. How anyone can hear properly like that is beyond me. So I finally got my appointment, and went along with Luke and Emily in tow. The doctor (not a talkative one) looked in his throat and ears. I told him about the hearing test (luckily I had taken the letter from the audiologist with me) and then announced he needed tonsils out (huge and blocking 3/4 of his throat), adenoids out (didn't look but could tell they are big by Luke's breathing sounds), and he will clear out his ears and insert grommets if needed. Apparently he has so much wax in there that it would hurt to even put the instrument in properly to look. <br />
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This took all of 5 minutes. I was speechless, which takes some doing. I couldn't even think of any sensible questions to ask. So we are now waiting for an appointment for the op. I am really cross when I think of all the times I have taken him to the GP with a cold and they look in his ears and tell me he's fine or that he has one ear blocked with wax, but they think he's fine. Turns out, he's not. I will be saying something the next time I am in there. Luckily there is one doctor at our practice (not our GP but I can make an appointment to see him instead) who had a sister with a different trisomy, so has an interest in kids with DS who will be a bit better at handling these kind of things. <br />
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Emily's cast comes off on Wednesday, which will be great for her. It's not much of a summer when you can't get around very well and have to wear a cover swimming.<br />
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Luke turns 3 in 3 more sleeps. Can't quite believe it. He will start afternoon kindergarten in Term 2, at the same time as Emily starts school. They are growing up so fast.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-6145855258600655222011-01-14T08:39:00.001+13:002011-01-14T11:49:45.075+13:00Photo Fest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6HrM7HQhGI6YxNdSEZUML9rs0fh2kY6Kl-OQLlWVptIek9T0UWH1mHWXByqaUj2ZbTt-mn-vZ95lvnzeR0jBPmbhiJF-zfV2q1tkurxpYjJnXrPIRwhq6WFhpfxQb0L6sCVex70mv7w/s1600/IMG_4033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6HrM7HQhGI6YxNdSEZUML9rs0fh2kY6Kl-OQLlWVptIek9T0UWH1mHWXByqaUj2ZbTt-mn-vZ95lvnzeR0jBPmbhiJF-zfV2q1tkurxpYjJnXrPIRwhq6WFhpfxQb0L6sCVex70mv7w/s320/IMG_4033.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, what can I say. We have been busy, and I have been slack. So the only thing to do is get back on the horse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In December we went to the local Down Syndrome Association Christmas Party, which was put on by a cricket club for us. I don't know why, but it was a lovely place, and we had fun. There were pony rides and a lolly scramble, a barbecue and tea and scones, and of course Santa and presents.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbRu5HSEyh_WnasnNM7KGMAPXlrY7RtO26kt2FpSzCSaKhtVSkCM8JNOQJ6R3RcbZObXzf-bJD5nPFQ00NT_OfFE9r3j0JiWgnnW-otxC_PS8w5n7_Ik2HLc-TedkkCg64HPq0aJCWfY/s1600/IMG_4045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbRu5HSEyh_WnasnNM7KGMAPXlrY7RtO26kt2FpSzCSaKhtVSkCM8JNOQJ6R3RcbZObXzf-bJD5nPFQ00NT_OfFE9r3j0JiWgnnW-otxC_PS8w5n7_Ik2HLc-TedkkCg64HPq0aJCWfY/s320/IMG_4045.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Emily does not 'do' Santa. Firstly he is a man. Secondly he is a stranger. Thirdly he has a beard. So her rep (Ben) passed the gift on to her. She does 'do' presents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpF682TrLFA_mxfnty1UicOa1CeTz1yRzLcAGoh7d3XC0VzoKJAzWHBQY16BeBXbXYC33rrcDBhLgwWgkKazcCVusnH51tbXrOpiFbzfxPmiG-mCbCOTPOE4O8uAFVS6338aRTodVpGM/s1600/IMG_4047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpF682TrLFA_mxfnty1UicOa1CeTz1yRzLcAGoh7d3XC0VzoKJAzWHBQY16BeBXbXYC33rrcDBhLgwWgkKazcCVusnH51tbXrOpiFbzfxPmiG-mCbCOTPOE4O8uAFVS6338aRTodVpGM/s320/IMG_4047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Luke does 'do' Santa. In a big way. Firstly he is a man. Secondly he is a stranger. Thirdly he has a beard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LkjkqnUgL8poNX1G4Tn0tJji-4A6Wv8Ii5dC4286D-a2BgPqWHbmeqPdTzEP2ngfpxdt2OXcaDkDp5kKVSIelVln0WoPwP-vL240Vncd7z4He6ADx166erwMX9OWd8Yj1TNMlpyjNw0/s1600/IMG_4049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LkjkqnUgL8poNX1G4Tn0tJji-4A6Wv8Ii5dC4286D-a2BgPqWHbmeqPdTzEP2ngfpxdt2OXcaDkDp5kKVSIelVln0WoPwP-vL240Vncd7z4He6ADx166erwMX9OWd8Yj1TNMlpyjNw0/s320/IMG_4049.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Santa kindly gave Luke a whistle. A loud whistle. Luke is good at blowing whistles long and loud. I can't think where that whistle has got to, but yes, it did make it home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdolo-vUUeCGMvwwSDDYbm6NKj9s7d2j5J0IDkPhMaTLhV5qgXhyQPj33b-kF-ad9DaGek8xk1pnOHyzJE62Vx5QyHhYeRUvalvnajfRIg46yOT-ZFan2xgrWe6-VpicSjkaOIzTYVj1A/s1600/IMG_3930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdolo-vUUeCGMvwwSDDYbm6NKj9s7d2j5J0IDkPhMaTLhV5qgXhyQPj33b-kF-ad9DaGek8xk1pnOHyzJE62Vx5QyHhYeRUvalvnajfRIg46yOT-ZFan2xgrWe6-VpicSjkaOIzTYVj1A/s320/IMG_3930.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We also went to the Special Children's Party, against my better judgement. We won't be going again, but Luke had fun. Only fitting that Luke Skywalker had his photo taken with some storm troopers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMHNVjNOzYTwnJlpjlGXhUCb1u3KbuASvru28i4JXczC1ckd-UNic7ELNJPmrKOws5FGO5rp7LVrtvNcG_DBiCXUBLee_W7mCCs1sDhzpq3bWLdWH5sfe6rZ9KXk8evKFWIXyV3Jw8sI/s1600/IMG_3934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMHNVjNOzYTwnJlpjlGXhUCb1u3KbuASvru28i4JXczC1ckd-UNic7ELNJPmrKOws5FGO5rp7LVrtvNcG_DBiCXUBLee_W7mCCs1sDhzpq3bWLdWH5sfe6rZ9KXk8evKFWIXyV3Jw8sI/s320/IMG_3934.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Luke and Aidan with the fire engine. This was about 10 seconds before Aidan went missing. He was found heading for the exit. My thoughts exactly Aidan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5p8opkwhOAtWlDnbSiMnnRWF01GJDjOlGlgSSpGUdmJ0LWcQlN31j450gz9ykCJ8YkHbL6CImLjIIHmnsX4Sv8WmbzWoM74RXIs7ed6qiY0_qL5Pq_hUrWh085Uxuc0hyphenhyphenn1Inm2RbmA/s1600/IMG_3939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5p8opkwhOAtWlDnbSiMnnRWF01GJDjOlGlgSSpGUdmJ0LWcQlN31j450gz9ykCJ8YkHbL6CImLjIIHmnsX4Sv8WmbzWoM74RXIs7ed6qiY0_qL5Pq_hUrWh085Uxuc0hyphenhyphenn1Inm2RbmA/s320/IMG_3939.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Luke and the fireman. Need I say more?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-cFLrw453SbSWfIeMCnyg2AtTZPsryPiI3ykqClX9fOf90ukPyjPEddHut1G50bAZj6vfQ1p2Uh6AEv9RAEII3y_EF2UpW2zY2HSVwITrmKFvVTOK4LAgSafku2dLoTAunAryK9unl4/s1600/IMG_3943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-cFLrw453SbSWfIeMCnyg2AtTZPsryPiI3ykqClX9fOf90ukPyjPEddHut1G50bAZj6vfQ1p2Uh6AEv9RAEII3y_EF2UpW2zY2HSVwITrmKFvVTOK4LAgSafku2dLoTAunAryK9unl4/s320/IMG_3943.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Santa and a couple of fans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL6bw1GdX5WTw8uB2uU91bnadwgiNeqJYRcqYZeajuib880CWnSsmdEmD1UiTAXzl3l4s1Vyl9rd7FFY10EyMmBqBozrKowmj11xsGFLWVpG6PY0-VkM3gXh_d9NhyphenhyphenZ6TFqmxydP1Jvw/s1600/IMG_4085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL6bw1GdX5WTw8uB2uU91bnadwgiNeqJYRcqYZeajuib880CWnSsmdEmD1UiTAXzl3l4s1Vyl9rd7FFY10EyMmBqBozrKowmj11xsGFLWVpG6PY0-VkM3gXh_d9NhyphenhyphenZ6TFqmxydP1Jvw/s320/IMG_4085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Christmas eve. You may notice Luke is eating a Christmas mince pie. We narrowly avoided a riot, as we had more. Luke thought Santa didn't need any more treats, judging by the look of his waistline. The other kids disagreed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0dgr-kLpHSXDQ701EXFQa8ovcbZEwPqvNUvMnf5qwyUWXavkHURwTvCmLm3RamlmtDkDejZJ0i7LVojRC5IhRr55zKDjaOwTsCTw5Xp4igDZMXhl-59-h3Ts3q6pysSPs41g-17MigU/s1600/IMG_4076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0dgr-kLpHSXDQ701EXFQa8ovcbZEwPqvNUvMnf5qwyUWXavkHURwTvCmLm3RamlmtDkDejZJ0i7LVojRC5IhRr55zKDjaOwTsCTw5Xp4igDZMXhl-59-h3Ts3q6pysSPs41g-17MigU/s320/IMG_4076.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYayds3EFBpT4E1EU83QimzhiI0k9QFfRkGvvE0g8G7qTkkbh6YmFIswGxgU2RPFAa2kf6gKYrUNlP2GTNcR6a3V5PNz-4_Cg97DeIVrIsTG3JNqSSkXikTGMzOsdp2MOszQb497gFvI8/s1600/IMG_4110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYayds3EFBpT4E1EU83QimzhiI0k9QFfRkGvvE0g8G7qTkkbh6YmFIswGxgU2RPFAa2kf6gKYrUNlP2GTNcR6a3V5PNz-4_Cg97DeIVrIsTG3JNqSSkXikTGMzOsdp2MOszQb497gFvI8/s320/IMG_4110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Luke has mastered the skill of ripping open presents. This will come in handy on his birthday next week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4VPvvuONPV-w8An5exc6q_4CUe5BT98GZMvJ2chIZO8KeR2VYFNAWF89Dtxr8SnyMvSNdsS2Ayt_mkRsno1AskjUxmg0oSbJIY-mzvvjjDBPHiKZUxuxZkdVJsZmOh2mlQhDKQuUZFo/s1600/IMG_4125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4VPvvuONPV-w8An5exc6q_4CUe5BT98GZMvJ2chIZO8KeR2VYFNAWF89Dtxr8SnyMvSNdsS2Ayt_mkRsno1AskjUxmg0oSbJIY-mzvvjjDBPHiKZUxuxZkdVJsZmOh2mlQhDKQuUZFo/s320/IMG_4125.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> His favourite present.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IoBAtmhwYvqzksfc3BwAT7wcDo5ZQFfqO2qJ4S3aBoOpIGd7PXZ_LFZ0Jn1_R5mWKGjLv2m147h0b4GFQlhjYIWr34q2w4d4ymarhl9-bPWeJYMhJv-GdvKQxN7mRuhu_JMZeysqnag/s1600/IMG_4140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IoBAtmhwYvqzksfc3BwAT7wcDo5ZQFfqO2qJ4S3aBoOpIGd7PXZ_LFZ0Jn1_R5mWKGjLv2m147h0b4GFQlhjYIWr34q2w4d4ymarhl9-bPWeJYMhJv-GdvKQxN7mRuhu_JMZeysqnag/s320/IMG_4140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 4 pairs of Disney princess shoes and a mermaid outfit. What more could a girl want?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKiBDc2I1JonwkKv65UdHKTOI3GBU-D4BqhsGYx7-r5ehyphenhyphen5QDT43EAZfkI3y8FvVBcKWphdQY1be7MjaWeimFVlLGTLSKTB7N44CbOQCNOVauxW-9OxrG4I1ybz6mdGvRw5xCBGKeuqOM/s1600/IMG_4161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKiBDc2I1JonwkKv65UdHKTOI3GBU-D4BqhsGYx7-r5ehyphenhyphen5QDT43EAZfkI3y8FvVBcKWphdQY1be7MjaWeimFVlLGTLSKTB7N44CbOQCNOVauxW-9OxrG4I1ybz6mdGvRw5xCBGKeuqOM/s320/IMG_4161.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A pink scooter of course!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jL8X79fYko1Vol8o1ycIOR66DmlrNc592asORnwr8_qKFTKt5-MG5lU20OJNTbdzbSK_cxKQdW___dxHmLVHPVMYUi8DMAMwbK4Mep5SPEkF0Qo5tmV6NpQg-kphOIou-3NRIvsOVhA/s1600/IMG_4150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jL8X79fYko1Vol8o1ycIOR66DmlrNc592asORnwr8_qKFTKt5-MG5lU20OJNTbdzbSK_cxKQdW___dxHmLVHPVMYUi8DMAMwbK4Mep5SPEkF0Qo5tmV6NpQg-kphOIou-3NRIvsOVhA/s320/IMG_4150.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And a bear with a tutu!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9DAmp1VL_d5WvSGtQgbaf797KrDnipZxXGwcFiAVWjf4yPj2NCkAJN20d5V3CQblex-Forg9tQK9knI2z96nzoVjH3E77skDV-lhyphenhyphen2NKeT2PJzgMtct7ucXTdjiECyR37ba_5UXyrpY/s1600/IMG_4120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9DAmp1VL_d5WvSGtQgbaf797KrDnipZxXGwcFiAVWjf4yPj2NCkAJN20d5V3CQblex-Forg9tQK9knI2z96nzoVjH3E77skDV-lhyphenhyphen2NKeT2PJzgMtct7ucXTdjiECyR37ba_5UXyrpY/s320/IMG_4120.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBU3fZAuLQW8yK2uCSFctSVuvVn0InBtaNly_6PAAHPlo9akjX-6E4Eel2BuKltrjO-6cbI50aA_bcL-ZeBiop20oztEoH5uDAIU1FqVL6Q7Uqg_DozIQNAoTifbeEp5yrueaV9IuDGE/s1600/IMG_4174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBU3fZAuLQW8yK2uCSFctSVuvVn0InBtaNly_6PAAHPlo9akjX-6E4Eel2BuKltrjO-6cbI50aA_bcL-ZeBiop20oztEoH5uDAIU1FqVL6Q7Uqg_DozIQNAoTifbeEp5yrueaV9IuDGE/s320/IMG_4174.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Just because he's cute.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRx2vEzxwmv8gUd3-086DZj0IcqJ-nt-HjavUlkTLVREj-YCjsud_bPhJ53yBuO_LZAlbsZPhm2CcnFldiRXxcGe-3FSe9BlEW1IUszVpo6iFm4gq_ZLz4bs-sulfC0hd28dfQhp2cdPs/s1600/IMG_4175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRx2vEzxwmv8gUd3-086DZj0IcqJ-nt-HjavUlkTLVREj-YCjsud_bPhJ53yBuO_LZAlbsZPhm2CcnFldiRXxcGe-3FSe9BlEW1IUszVpo6iFm4gq_ZLz4bs-sulfC0hd28dfQhp2cdPs/s320/IMG_4175.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And cheeky!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuQh6OHACfTduDEZ2NXWg1bD6nAoTj-IyGntOH1r7ShZPGuCMJilNSZdL8sO9Of6VEESQxIHvOBalCNVlQc4SUKUnRPWyeDyTc2C6qoDh8o2bHjlpmNx09p_qOSbW_e5KM36p8Um5Z_s/s1600/IMG_4182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuQh6OHACfTduDEZ2NXWg1bD6nAoTj-IyGntOH1r7ShZPGuCMJilNSZdL8sO9Of6VEESQxIHvOBalCNVlQc4SUKUnRPWyeDyTc2C6qoDh8o2bHjlpmNx09p_qOSbW_e5KM36p8Um5Z_s/s320/IMG_4182.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Guess who broke her leg on the 30th? On the new million-dollar trampoline that is 'The world's only safe trampoline'. Which replaced the old unsafe trampoline, with a record number of zero serious injuries in the 5 years we have owned it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKT1PtzKFpvBGeXqFig9VKcHTTQsOXbDkP6gkpWhULED4234k_aYsHyf_Kwea9MUQIE9E0npa8l5zlNrqM46NL7M0yQitjAel0x9f6nLKC_nDSkNucLg-RmccOjR_We2LqeN_iTbGQPTQ/s1600/IMG_4185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKT1PtzKFpvBGeXqFig9VKcHTTQsOXbDkP6gkpWhULED4234k_aYsHyf_Kwea9MUQIE9E0npa8l5zlNrqM46NL7M0yQitjAel0x9f6nLKC_nDSkNucLg-RmccOjR_We2LqeN_iTbGQPTQ/s320/IMG_4185.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Guess who likes candy canes?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JHYzny48Gh1zJCvwsZPekWj0NI1VlKzFO8-rhqog5ub9fjR6M4zfqXJsTY8wIzwO6c26IIkg1OJG9N316iT5XhP4bQ_kenU4fjZDflZfMGe5aI1cOKQefqjIRZn0oRoLB9asdjcLK5A/s1600/IMG_4218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JHYzny48Gh1zJCvwsZPekWj0NI1VlKzFO8-rhqog5ub9fjR6M4zfqXJsTY8wIzwO6c26IIkg1OJG9N316iT5XhP4bQ_kenU4fjZDflZfMGe5aI1cOKQefqjIRZn0oRoLB9asdjcLK5A/s320/IMG_4218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We went swimming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaR2Fglww56yoqeHi_b7bgNXYruL6-mBAsSdQ1s9hR0-QuRpoo2HPLEZZ-IjYQJIa6FAwNmE8HDkC9_Vl1uJWrn9tIY9vEY4Jf1go2pcPRU19tMIAgxTVFQ34mKoPKZX8vPH9ombEfTRI/s1600/IMG_4222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaR2Fglww56yoqeHi_b7bgNXYruL6-mBAsSdQ1s9hR0-QuRpoo2HPLEZZ-IjYQJIa6FAwNmE8HDkC9_Vl1uJWrn9tIY9vEY4Jf1go2pcPRU19tMIAgxTVFQ34mKoPKZX8vPH9ombEfTRI/s320/IMG_4222.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduV9JG1-2jRcd5J9ZcMbgmdr6Qz7cJtYMxuwlKGLU8AdjZyTyzfZO9TZcmqz8pwna3Hd6PGCvLnf5ny6ar2hyphenhyphenkhsGmyWk1aeydBo_f9Q_Lj57sCr4avFZY3mVWRjTnO0LwZAeg3uJCD8/s1600/IMG_4230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduV9JG1-2jRcd5J9ZcMbgmdr6Qz7cJtYMxuwlKGLU8AdjZyTyzfZO9TZcmqz8pwna3Hd6PGCvLnf5ny6ar2hyphenhyphenkhsGmyWk1aeydBo_f9Q_Lj57sCr4avFZY3mVWRjTnO0LwZAeg3uJCD8/s320/IMG_4230.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Luke learned exactly how deep the water can be to safely sit down in. The hard way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNd3RxbYOcZFwLjpil3j-BUknYsigGGULDD5YOB3IBsrEvevTtMHyfgiWXvdr7vyekTGoXUxDngZu_bfkSRM9Zi9txzWPvD9dFEjtg1gWSLaJi72wzXac7NpPGKK0mZlHK-_t1bp9Xgt8/s1600/IMG_4234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNd3RxbYOcZFwLjpil3j-BUknYsigGGULDD5YOB3IBsrEvevTtMHyfgiWXvdr7vyekTGoXUxDngZu_bfkSRM9Zi9txzWPvD9dFEjtg1gWSLaJi72wzXac7NpPGKK0mZlHK-_t1bp9Xgt8/s320/IMG_4234.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxw9UZcM1XbOTiofkpyaynyjvTeoIqVYozdJZs1JC1bviAOwoAbfV8aH6XzTNEG6GPoALncTkCzxN21zXNRxyrDiK983Y-169Q5sxSx1DBqUwajnfqWsN_6bvT1jVZyBkCFMK_QGg-f4I/s1600/IMG_4240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxw9UZcM1XbOTiofkpyaynyjvTeoIqVYozdJZs1JC1bviAOwoAbfV8aH6XzTNEG6GPoALncTkCzxN21zXNRxyrDiK983Y-169Q5sxSx1DBqUwajnfqWsN_6bvT1jVZyBkCFMK_QGg-f4I/s320/IMG_4240.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumTqKPNl3jdaN7jxSwj5gPOWbDlLJZS7dS3sTrkLP031d-ZYW27gzKLAU0uuZJfDe_jxQiLyHa_hFtgj8aMtV3flY6768Nsddc7cQYg04qaFtLAsD6YgynEgJdiPajiICLbpCdN8Iyl4/s1600/IMG_4220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumTqKPNl3jdaN7jxSwj5gPOWbDlLJZS7dS3sTrkLP031d-ZYW27gzKLAU0uuZJfDe_jxQiLyHa_hFtgj8aMtV3flY6768Nsddc7cQYg04qaFtLAsD6YgynEgJdiPajiICLbpCdN8Iyl4/s320/IMG_4220.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center">Emily modelling the latest beach chic.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Coming soon: health update and toilet training progress. Not for the faint hearted. </div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-8254467295796257592010-11-20T15:40:00.001+13:002010-11-20T20:21:45.016+13:00New Bike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Luke has been keen on having a go on the trike outside with the kids, but has no idea what to do with the pedals. He can stick his feet on them, but the idea of pushing with one foot, then the other is crazy as far as he's concerned. Which means I have to push him. Fun.<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwipFYtVighDtky59xoJwbvjktBYijBiuoyb73fzmwcwCGI_w_88K14kjLd7QAGmnUSbdDiQZzPnYeqvqgraw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So on <a href="http://www.upsideofdown.co.nz/">Upside of Down</a> ( NZ online community for parents of children with special needs, and in particular DS) recently, there has been an ongoing discussion about our kids and bikes, and what is successful and what has not. One mum had seen one of these bikes and raved about how well her daughter did on it, even though she is not yet walking. There are lots of two wheeled runner bikes on the market, but apparently (don't quote me on it!) this is the only one with three wheels, is the lowest to the ground to begin with, and converts into a 2 wheel running bike, as well as having the ability to adjust the seat height by moving turning the bike frame up the other way, as well as moving the seat up and down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was a little sceptical at first, as they are quite a lot more expensive than the standard two-wheel type, but seeing as several parents raved about them I took Luke into the shop in Christchurch to have a look. He can ride a ride-on, but has never really steered it properly. He tended to lift the front to steer, and not turn the wheel. So I put him on it in the shop, and he was away! Mum and I told him to turn the handle bars to turn a corner, and I couldn't believe it when he did!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpKilPOZ_vRqDXXYKj9-q3c78FH9iWWLR5XjQ-uaupvG5NF7RPhG0_uxXZ8gIhoXi-IhTovHmAl1w15qRwINySpgumnGRoCAZ3JdIrzmfvYmLqIHZsdOaohvYMO48sqlAM4L2t4UJezk/s1600/IMG_3923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpKilPOZ_vRqDXXYKj9-q3c78FH9iWWLR5XjQ-uaupvG5NF7RPhG0_uxXZ8gIhoXi-IhTovHmAl1w15qRwINySpgumnGRoCAZ3JdIrzmfvYmLqIHZsdOaohvYMO48sqlAM4L2t4UJezk/s320/IMG_3923.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So this is the result. It was going to be for Christmas, but seeing as I have no self-control, plus the weather has been so lovely, he has had it for 3 weeks already, and he absolutely LOVES it. So do the others, but they get kicked off it by me!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfXsmd9JBgbG72uX2Ip0VLaaCiIkPvFDlMmTIdn241RG2iDa0psTf0tMW0Yj55k6wmcj8HNj7U3unEBpfBL8aDzgNHScAcb3Tq5MIS7-rBzTouI-ETrlx_NGbuKD5hxdiuJtwdEJkBgM/s1600/IMG_3925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfXsmd9JBgbG72uX2Ip0VLaaCiIkPvFDlMmTIdn241RG2iDa0psTf0tMW0Yj55k6wmcj8HNj7U3unEBpfBL8aDzgNHScAcb3Tq5MIS7-rBzTouI-ETrlx_NGbuKD5hxdiuJtwdEJkBgM/s320/IMG_3925.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVg24SavAX_DuhwlSL-S4c718lYdCxR-7K1foe7M0tuL48AxH8VukVmg3WBwYGZatugyemOUbi3YI96r186Sset_f3ZfvrBB_BolVg01GDPiwKr88yJlxt47F8rdABus9XmlM_ONfQxU/s1600/IMG_3924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVg24SavAX_DuhwlSL-S4c718lYdCxR-7K1foe7M0tuL48AxH8VukVmg3WBwYGZatugyemOUbi3YI96r186Sset_f3ZfvrBB_BolVg01GDPiwKr88yJlxt47F8rdABus9XmlM_ONfQxU/s320/IMG_3924.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzz99eYFIdXKwPpTmLfubXYqQOLYOOyG1Pm9OminbpWIeEdriHFwws4Xs66lIoc69AuYK0J_n4-tEqz2LptQw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-3242674385591299722010-11-20T08:22:00.001+13:002010-11-20T10:22:46.227+13:00Ben<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoj9EOGh82EMAOGgdGjY92ejMJZIzgyfxp9PJOKyJbBCryZIZe00W4YNX8wYV8Wwt1-peDPDMkakhwHJhs7W0yJRpvzejBW-wxoleu9Qp2JZoyh74K_clPIICHBRYF5Abz_1N8fXIdWQ/s1600/IMG_3865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoj9EOGh82EMAOGgdGjY92ejMJZIzgyfxp9PJOKyJbBCryZIZe00W4YNX8wYV8Wwt1-peDPDMkakhwHJhs7W0yJRpvzejBW-wxoleu9Qp2JZoyh74K_clPIICHBRYF5Abz_1N8fXIdWQ/s320/IMG_3865.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This is Ben with the sculpture he and Neil made for Country Day at school. For those of you who are not familiar with Country Days, Ben goes to a little school in the country where most of the parents are farming, so on Country Day the kids bring in their pet lambs and calves, as well as dogs, cats, goats, ponies and other pets for competitions such as the fastest drinker, leading and calling, and the best pet costume. There are also entries for baking, floral displays, the iconic 'sand-saucer' and 'aqua jars'. Ben and Neil created Dumbledore from milk bottles, as the theme of the day this year was 'Milk'. They won first place. Ben is being Harry Potter, in case you aren't sure!<br />
<br />
This week Ben's class were having a spelling test. All was quiet. The teacher called out the next word, 'cemetery'. Children were diligently writing their attempts down, when my son calls out "If you can't spell 'cemetery', can you write 'graveyard'?"<br />
The teacher tells me she was in stitches. That's Ben for you!Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-64261309321348357852010-11-13T10:33:00.000+13:002010-11-13T10:33:33.579+13:00My Boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzAV_7Yba2AkQ7qoQzncjFTxAkOjoGSi_oSP_IkmShDhWFDo2RU7vSdvHq34YgzfeEEBWflb-QiDwoID_mx5Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>There are lots of things, some good, some not so good, that you can learn from an older brother.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-50535458088148526142010-10-15T17:35:00.000+13:002010-10-15T17:35:25.896+13:00Spring Holidays and Back to School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw5Zhh8jGN76YQ1O54ompAON9kM8ALaQpY_wBq9ZzdBD7fbrufeeQShtiEd8T3yQDsAm-YY5G15yie4BsoqNw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>We have just finished the first week of the last term of the school year, after two weeks of spring holidays. We had the most amazing, settled, warm weather, which was just lovely and not what we were expecting! We spent lots of time in the garden and around home, and also had a visit from Grandad who lives in Australia, and Uncle David and Aunty Nic, who live in the UK.<br />
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Luke has decided to have a growth spurt, as well as getting into a fair bit of mischief around home. As you can see in the video, he has worked out how the hose works, and loves to squirt the dog, his siblings, and his mother, especially in the backside as she tries to turn the tap off ;)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii35YB365qGK5Dkp9IFtFwe-Zn68pjetMsYUTJTeON811zq7iJfA3pqBBke1cFEjoha1C3oNZsieF-vNiv4dNkCIycRZatJUD8lRCv28oTXPh3324EwbsdQzAnO4-l9ilB6vtDdgsvhA8/s1600/IMG_3837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii35YB365qGK5Dkp9IFtFwe-Zn68pjetMsYUTJTeON811zq7iJfA3pqBBke1cFEjoha1C3oNZsieF-vNiv4dNkCIycRZatJUD8lRCv28oTXPh3324EwbsdQzAnO4-l9ilB6vtDdgsvhA8/s320/IMG_3837.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He is pretty pleased with himself!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgVrXWT2IlXoY98zEW89ogTDghAn4X6CFIwp8lc4r123SECQgYq8rEX0pF7DQIWX9G8OyAyq0fPGPy-Seng5NvPV2GGi3qfgi2kFpZ9-V8Pdb1lpoEgcx4z88rbryNDHKaDOkahDrp0s/s1600/IMG_3846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgVrXWT2IlXoY98zEW89ogTDghAn4X6CFIwp8lc4r123SECQgYq8rEX0pF7DQIWX9G8OyAyq0fPGPy-Seng5NvPV2GGi3qfgi2kFpZ9-V8Pdb1lpoEgcx4z88rbryNDHKaDOkahDrp0s/s320/IMG_3846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Luke also embraces his feminine side when playing with Emily. He's getting good at tucking the baby in for her buggy ride...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7qhejCRvALOmrRh4muySCSRJfmYElJEsvYt442R5-Si6O1-cqcRte1UgU3zJWrEM07Z2vd7aOjbjChWK6UZIsrR2cxi8BB58MloZwfc_1x-Cl8u_ofZTTzZe1QuEB9jj6EB4nwnbPaY/s1600/IMG_3850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7qhejCRvALOmrRh4muySCSRJfmYElJEsvYt442R5-Si6O1-cqcRte1UgU3zJWrEM07Z2vd7aOjbjChWK6UZIsrR2cxi8BB58MloZwfc_1x-Cl8u_ofZTTzZe1QuEB9jj6EB4nwnbPaY/s320/IMG_3850.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">...and following his big sister around...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsQDhB1UUNn5ii6NjxCcfNG5LFDQXIXQ84jDPFyhIhh5YH7vc69adur7Z8MGqVtmKPGTNsOXDYL5cQ4rmh-QxP3a-AZP9gvBG9Lz6FVs5jsmPybc3sNW6lLTMVxMagPoaySueC2uT6Vk/s1600/IMG_3852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsQDhB1UUNn5ii6NjxCcfNG5LFDQXIXQ84jDPFyhIhh5YH7vc69adur7Z8MGqVtmKPGTNsOXDYL5cQ4rmh-QxP3a-AZP9gvBG9Lz6FVs5jsmPybc3sNW6lLTMVxMagPoaySueC2uT6Vk/s320/IMG_3852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> ...but 'buggy wars' are a purely Luke invention- and I'm not sure Em approves!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aOc4P8_TZ5_4Z0w7efdkh5tggGAG1vkDY1r1LDoN8ErA7sNNf3GNCiucK72KdHUqCEWq_MQzwvLnDeUTCO_rM1xg6RKa6rWcFoYqdA-vLgdEOSjep8B0ybZgAQ50j1rPza764ezs3ZE/s1600/IMG_3833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aOc4P8_TZ5_4Z0w7efdkh5tggGAG1vkDY1r1LDoN8ErA7sNNf3GNCiucK72KdHUqCEWq_MQzwvLnDeUTCO_rM1xg6RKa6rWcFoYqdA-vLgdEOSjep8B0ybZgAQ50j1rPza764ezs3ZE/s320/IMG_3833.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We started swimming lessons this week, as he insists on getting into the bath clothed all the time. Don't worry, the plug is well out of reach. He liked all the bits in the lesson where he didn't have to do as he was told, whinged and complained through all the bits where he did have to follow instructions (and I thought all children with DS were soooo happy!) and was generally stared at by all the other mothers. He also managed to pull the halter neck of my togs undone, luckily I realised before I gave an x-rated swimming performance in the toddlers' pool. I came home feeling a bit deflated, and realised that I find it hard going to new situations- I never remember in time that we are a little different and find it tricky to be stared at. No-one said anything though, and I can't decide if that is better or worse than having people make stupid comments or asking the same old questions. Having a child with DS is just like having a child without it at this point in time, except with the others, no-one stared constantly! But maybe they were just staring at my tog malfunction...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmN3xfCHl9MQ_SGyVUfYww9MGmxsOt7nrOPA33vkENq_NSR1UqGoYSna1DAcP-UTZsWvMmUz0yg8UYjMrcCH0R0CkPZRzL_ay9RA25nwYjDOdcRmFMwNBS3YD97ufYjOeLg7fv1saUmPU/s1600/IMG_3829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmN3xfCHl9MQ_SGyVUfYww9MGmxsOt7nrOPA33vkENq_NSR1UqGoYSna1DAcP-UTZsWvMmUz0yg8UYjMrcCH0R0CkPZRzL_ay9RA25nwYjDOdcRmFMwNBS3YD97ufYjOeLg7fv1saUmPU/s320/IMG_3829.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Here is Luke after another bath. This time with Ben after swimming. He loved the sound his boots made full of water, and proudly squelched around the lawn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQF8yR0fZ5nT2XSr46OtdlADOOX41m2R5X00L7wPggHpczeMI88RTXLMre7tnIQD6VXImdyl3b2CC9kMz73iLlFs2-einqsxOthMroGpGDcUoHZzl_9cvMZOEr80P07FYZNuX2Xdq4t4/s1600/IMG_3827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQF8yR0fZ5nT2XSr46OtdlADOOX41m2R5X00L7wPggHpczeMI88RTXLMre7tnIQD6VXImdyl3b2CC9kMz73iLlFs2-einqsxOthMroGpGDcUoHZzl_9cvMZOEr80P07FYZNuX2Xdq4t4/s320/IMG_3827.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Then he and Ben stood in dog poo. Ben proceded to wipe it all over the patio, so I took him down to the hose to wash it off. (At this point I didn't realise Luke had it on his shoes.) Then I went to clean the water off the new carpet and found Luke inside with it all over his shoes, and poo prints all round the new lounge carpet. So I was on my hands and knees, with the three kids locked out, crying and banging on the glass, wanting to come in as I scraped poo off the carpet. Fun. And ironic considering it was poo from the same dog whose vomit necessitated the new carpet in the first place. Loving her right now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaKVO2KfPwUzYU1nPRW-Lrw77ONKWI0LVkWo3TRyg-hwC_dVt__vCDEE-73710ksgavvn1dBtvj5BAZXWIW6mbqmTxxsh9p1mmyTAxjPyQrhpoWNVbdzRCFU0bUuhK5eB8lmt7XRsumI/s1600/IMG_3740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaKVO2KfPwUzYU1nPRW-Lrw77ONKWI0LVkWo3TRyg-hwC_dVt__vCDEE-73710ksgavvn1dBtvj5BAZXWIW6mbqmTxxsh9p1mmyTAxjPyQrhpoWNVbdzRCFU0bUuhK5eB8lmt7XRsumI/s320/IMG_3740.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Anyway, here are some of the things I like about spring. This is the first flower on the magnolia I planted last spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9MLbJ5XsnlQTBX6lQWWpGtYXVfUrv8wI8Jbch5jh8Ry7FjU8Lb1GtWi9yOuPR2aQx0DbYlstvOSu0VDwvhU-RCoZGY3PLyJXDAnZbOj_dgguzy4FN-6wXmDNr-YDYOaRXmbfZCvYse0/s1600/IMG_3749_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9MLbJ5XsnlQTBX6lQWWpGtYXVfUrv8wI8Jbch5jh8Ry7FjU8Lb1GtWi9yOuPR2aQx0DbYlstvOSu0VDwvhU-RCoZGY3PLyJXDAnZbOj_dgguzy4FN-6wXmDNr-YDYOaRXmbfZCvYse0/s320/IMG_3749_1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And the daffodils and tulips I also planted last spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiew2jez7q4xUtHb-BPDiuwZfbLV4ZgLGxG08FMJPFnVN5JaOfXvxBjkdi-DRxE8_HB_OTCxeGjWpPxpiCnczN4oKC6GF4foRpxMeiGveTzVnTcTboS9xk2B7-wLDR-BopyXcQ2uNn_6n8/s1600/IMG_3743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiew2jez7q4xUtHb-BPDiuwZfbLV4ZgLGxG08FMJPFnVN5JaOfXvxBjkdi-DRxE8_HB_OTCxeGjWpPxpiCnczN4oKC6GF4foRpxMeiGveTzVnTcTboS9xk2B7-wLDR-BopyXcQ2uNn_6n8/s320/IMG_3743.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9iLg-bwTji4fVotcn_L2YEyJnLzMav2ei1l5xRljYlwa8H2KK_bPIyqhrHfd4aIaX06pO4RoQZfv6UJJSTICO5UoAOjXZAfEZEUf7WbGDYiZmVAgLs0wOEyJ62CEPx8P-j65YPRkeA4/s1600/IMG_3734_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9iLg-bwTji4fVotcn_L2YEyJnLzMav2ei1l5xRljYlwa8H2KK_bPIyqhrHfd4aIaX06pO4RoQZfv6UJJSTICO5UoAOjXZAfEZEUf7WbGDYiZmVAgLs0wOEyJ62CEPx8P-j65YPRkeA4/s320/IMG_3734_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We also found a nest in our wood shed, which now has 4 large baby birds in it. One of which Ben 'helped' out yesterday, so I had to go and find it and return it to its nest last night, in the dusk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2lr-z6kKer0x92HKE93cT2AaA1D2Mm9tYUWxXUOSJrEXZgTMVu7KUKA-pGw8rKqppOrOhcvUbYMAJRzFrWvbn8Z2PvCM780h-YM9YEtgXvb-ucs_88ddoUEaQgzefByc433J3ztKQ38/s1600/IMG_3789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2lr-z6kKer0x92HKE93cT2AaA1D2Mm9tYUWxXUOSJrEXZgTMVu7KUKA-pGw8rKqppOrOhcvUbYMAJRzFrWvbn8Z2PvCM780h-YM9YEtgXvb-ucs_88ddoUEaQgzefByc433J3ztKQ38/s320/IMG_3789.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had the concrete guys and truck to concrete around our magnolia at the back of the garden, which we have been meaning to get done for the past 21 months we have been living here.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2keQ0V3g8ank5Ms9j75zbVUdXJGWmKfVXC1FK1h6Ig7HcnAl9bCui1Gy57_Ki-TS9qI_FZd-48eYOAyGHqYqBjtj8tH9lDkZFY4o77s6K7VGPBuER4DJXXmbzWv-Fqnu7kTzX6gTEMKQ/s1600/IMG_3776_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2keQ0V3g8ank5Ms9j75zbVUdXJGWmKfVXC1FK1h6Ig7HcnAl9bCui1Gy57_Ki-TS9qI_FZd-48eYOAyGHqYqBjtj8tH9lDkZFY4o77s6K7VGPBuER4DJXXmbzWv-Fqnu7kTzX6gTEMKQ/s320/IMG_3776_1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Luke and Neil mowed the lawn. Neil has a thing about the lawn. Luke does not.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQZg_v6w8-_xWqeCarj05uTOmn7vBqFSaXGSKgBf7lgGx_ouOKW3NdeTjNEyg_ym1U6uXerkOKUVC-aRZuWW_CedPGjpcPRFyHaVbCD7X2V1Oo8_wSoldGuoD_rRZokCaMUunZ6kNtzA/s1600/IMG_3778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQZg_v6w8-_xWqeCarj05uTOmn7vBqFSaXGSKgBf7lgGx_ouOKW3NdeTjNEyg_ym1U6uXerkOKUVC-aRZuWW_CedPGjpcPRFyHaVbCD7X2V1Oo8_wSoldGuoD_rRZokCaMUunZ6kNtzA/s320/IMG_3778.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Dad and his helper.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">So lovely to think that last summer Luke wasn't walking, and now he's running everywhere and just as capable as other kids his age- once he started there was no stopping him.</div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-15515477909922115022010-09-27T10:09:00.000+13:002010-09-27T10:09:49.376+13:00Spring has Sprung!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> Last Monday we went on a trip with Playcentre to a local garden which is open for viewing, and for weddings in case any of you are interested ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C7UFdtGuVWo5WN4GKRX5bDC7qNp8KS6lYeWQ-akJyvdjIzLM4P-ILvWaACF5LP7iN4ZVp-JQDzRsK2FfS8ZjlZ-HQrlp9wtsDBjDwumY_l_sGRhTR-1A3luSTnEIyBUeUuT-20tn11I/s1600/IMG_3692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C7UFdtGuVWo5WN4GKRX5bDC7qNp8KS6lYeWQ-akJyvdjIzLM4P-ILvWaACF5LP7iN4ZVp-JQDzRsK2FfS8ZjlZ-HQrlp9wtsDBjDwumY_l_sGRhTR-1A3luSTnEIyBUeUuT-20tn11I/s320/IMG_3692.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This church was moved here from its original site, which was out in the country near Neil's school. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mGpVuMweQjv2eyuXUE3cHMSxNMKLeMfAInXVb0cfP_p3Tt-8APdDxdDevwEeJKA5AmTmljA9av6cpd6en5NWV-aOxxn5EfBICuhCam_02Y1dajgb54HedM8vnJ2OCLGQ5-r47vZYvj4/s1600/IMG_3693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mGpVuMweQjv2eyuXUE3cHMSxNMKLeMfAInXVb0cfP_p3Tt-8APdDxdDevwEeJKA5AmTmljA9av6cpd6en5NWV-aOxxn5EfBICuhCam_02Y1dajgb54HedM8vnJ2OCLGQ5-r47vZYvj4/s320/IMG_3693.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> Emily and Luke testing out the pews.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZXlvbgc80Tl_sMuFQRQStpkTth59H_cqMhP-Pj1o4G3746OK3iGn0kZ5t67PIElj56Fw4517vD_Udd6mu4roxvEXcyrBzjt9iGC9Z_8NQzrkQuoKc-uDiyly8UN2FW0HWzKhshDMISA/s1600/IMG_3694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZXlvbgc80Tl_sMuFQRQStpkTth59H_cqMhP-Pj1o4G3746OK3iGn0kZ5t67PIElj56Fw4517vD_Udd6mu4roxvEXcyrBzjt9iGC9Z_8NQzrkQuoKc-uDiyly8UN2FW0HWzKhshDMISA/s320/IMG_3694.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Luke's new pastime is running...away.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIIIGLXxU9M9JJdQ0UJ9eEaEH2tDb955KZAd9wi94c63U1Y0r4tj36zFMlGTKVWMnMy2fi4-1eB1StzL3TLgkUqasJ3naekEnYZEmsxWqd8YRypkKvcJg3eF4jsTTuIXJNaxD6_uwL6A/s1600/IMG_3703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIIIGLXxU9M9JJdQ0UJ9eEaEH2tDb955KZAd9wi94c63U1Y0r4tj36zFMlGTKVWMnMy2fi4-1eB1StzL3TLgkUqasJ3naekEnYZEmsxWqd8YRypkKvcJg3eF4jsTTuIXJNaxD6_uwL6A/s320/IMG_3703.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The main event- the daffodils. I love them!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHU18IRNGf27TTbHkn2xpQWX7A7YWLZJcWv0ZCxRvWy-rvBubp2Krl4JkNqdsDvUj-xzpk8P58c8-t7wfZkNsNoiiFaDxzvZ9IQPcEklVaZPWOzA_6KnO7nASK5KC5W-3IxvgQtWtkWz4/s1600/IMG_3706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHU18IRNGf27TTbHkn2xpQWX7A7YWLZJcWv0ZCxRvWy-rvBubp2Krl4JkNqdsDvUj-xzpk8P58c8-t7wfZkNsNoiiFaDxzvZ9IQPcEklVaZPWOzA_6KnO7nASK5KC5W-3IxvgQtWtkWz4/s320/IMG_3706.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Emily was not keen on posing for the camera and Luke refused to get out of the buggy.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftW7icglFNxnDSylsuYGiBFqgz0sUeOJpTw2eEMVX4SwKwfNQGNfq9WcQkOr8-28VaEWCBWNkIU72txxWLtotfKduYGxxkdRktjbTWuxETzCNmi0xQW9b16OFn-kZxlNA0Y0ZAdkg0Ho/s1600/IMG_3707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftW7icglFNxnDSylsuYGiBFqgz0sUeOJpTw2eEMVX4SwKwfNQGNfq9WcQkOr8-28VaEWCBWNkIU72txxWLtotfKduYGxxkdRktjbTWuxETzCNmi0xQW9b16OFn-kZxlNA0Y0ZAdkg0Ho/s320/IMG_3707.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQeDVV6Ivb7Nn7lkE69FS4m7HTDkMhc8kPtzGfpR5b467HhKImG08rhyphenhyphenENdNAyUB9t-S-pIXq-FijbvfNnzxT-gyMJcz7qn8lcIVXgxbWSGWwv4HFxix1D6Fw8T85liv8zIHMsYkUmXQ/s1600/IMG_3714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQeDVV6Ivb7Nn7lkE69FS4m7HTDkMhc8kPtzGfpR5b467HhKImG08rhyphenhyphenENdNAyUB9t-S-pIXq-FijbvfNnzxT-gyMJcz7qn8lcIVXgxbWSGWwv4HFxix1D6Fw8T85liv8zIHMsYkUmXQ/s320/IMG_3714.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We also got to feed some Highland Cattle, which Luke LOVED.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5J-eAopEOvzLrNdjyDm_2slTG64qhkzomi1Y-UanirwUCSe3KRTcCv88QPnBqGZDerMO48q9O3BPsM6eUMU13nypMSz1FebIKmVCyMTcrwb8i2xWSKLVPg5Ic19cKPoev9mK2KCUY-s0/s1600/IMG_3724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5J-eAopEOvzLrNdjyDm_2slTG64qhkzomi1Y-UanirwUCSe3KRTcCv88QPnBqGZDerMO48q9O3BPsM6eUMU13nypMSz1FebIKmVCyMTcrwb8i2xWSKLVPg5Ic19cKPoev9mK2KCUY-s0/s320/IMG_3724.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> He would still be there if he had his way.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlEFXlKfyYIxFJuRvIr64hQIjdLg_3-3Kp-wAZAsUVKu2wKgZAfAJDUgnYeTSMjHlpBaiMKHGJB4dXNBEQA-lRiHhrQXAmeE300jbNz8sM0pAOPzMU3Ar4ibkgJDKYWPKp95QB0CApU4/s1600/IMG_3725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlEFXlKfyYIxFJuRvIr64hQIjdLg_3-3Kp-wAZAsUVKu2wKgZAfAJDUgnYeTSMjHlpBaiMKHGJB4dXNBEQA-lRiHhrQXAmeE300jbNz8sM0pAOPzMU3Ar4ibkgJDKYWPKp95QB0CApU4/s320/IMG_3725.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeMKQ6B1zPqeXs0Y_q78TZNzKQac9t8_GXdqgyOl3S9pZ27L3qe0jyg-a0tLpBvMGN5qoSj9QkfB2h1tHbdrAM4VZL7IJ6NJaCYahee55Kufts9otDG5m26i7RzHXUlPnucD-mNzzbPk/s1600/IMG_3730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeMKQ6B1zPqeXs0Y_q78TZNzKQac9t8_GXdqgyOl3S9pZ27L3qe0jyg-a0tLpBvMGN5qoSj9QkfB2h1tHbdrAM4VZL7IJ6NJaCYahee55Kufts9otDG5m26i7RzHXUlPnucD-mNzzbPk/s320/IMG_3730.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">He was also pretty keen on the owner's vintage car collection. Again had to be dragged away...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">On the medical front, his thyroid and coeliacs retests came back normal, and he does not have the coeliacs gene. I don't know how that changes the risk that seems to increase with DS, but less than 10% of people with coeliacs don't have the gene, so it's definitely in our favour. Not that it's the end of the world if he did have it, just that three kids are difficult to feed sometimes already...</div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-81979337616616701292010-09-12T18:09:00.000+12:002010-09-12T18:09:10.736+12:00Eyes in the Back of My Head<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxVf46XDbTgTeEm2rib3hXUtQyOYmtQC40U4WmL9bZ8Wh1mRpo1fLS7q8pF3939HuEPCtVLk7FKTsEVnBLlhg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>I was running the bath tonight, and I left the bathroom to get the kids' pjs ready. I lock the door from the outside, so a certain someone doesn't fall into the bath. I came back and unlocked the door, and this is what I found.<br />
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On the positives, he now has good wrist rotation- evidenced by his ability to turn the lock, and good finger strength. It's not easy to open the lock from the outside.<br />
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SO no more leaving the bathroom while I run the bath.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlW8gngd3eFjs_A4FPt-tHObQZghwwZLIu1bshEacheBC4DSxurmEs5XweVnFN3VViem0sZmMpeoIo6eOBbpRZmAXn6dE6kHxG5VePieWgkwicno_zI-nZ_iWkV27lospxGw9-qkLZm8/s1600/IMG_3659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlW8gngd3eFjs_A4FPt-tHObQZghwwZLIu1bshEacheBC4DSxurmEs5XweVnFN3VViem0sZmMpeoIo6eOBbpRZmAXn6dE6kHxG5VePieWgkwicno_zI-nZ_iWkV27lospxGw9-qkLZm8/s320/IMG_3659.JPG" /></a></div>Poor Ben is not well, with a sore throat and temp since Friday. I think it is tonsillitis, but the Dr did not, and after some pressure from me he took a swab. No results yet, but if he is still unwell tomorrow we will be going back. He was having an iceblock to help soothe his throat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnt04-lPXAgbJra0NNPjG1uuNRBSkjhmn2dywNwcmbCr9TCvvhOuSZ19Cb3xTTm8XFLmI_uuJs1cC223c2j7Fz3UttynZM9Q-Xux3u7ft0Scra40V8Vg03NlO99QpICu_HhzIAIW5Yf2s/s1600/IMG_3657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnt04-lPXAgbJra0NNPjG1uuNRBSkjhmn2dywNwcmbCr9TCvvhOuSZ19Cb3xTTm8XFLmI_uuJs1cC223c2j7Fz3UttynZM9Q-Xux3u7ft0Scra40V8Vg03NlO99QpICu_HhzIAIW5Yf2s/s320/IMG_3657.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This little brother copies everything his big brother does. Luke is not keen on cold foods like icecream, and has only occasionally tasted the odd bite, and wouldn't even consider an iceblock until he saw Ben having one last night. Then he was at the freezer opening the door and helping himself! He did really well and ate almost the entire thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpnLWj_vPbCpzXNDr3fhLfkCoMTZGaL9N_F3jE-Ze8nV3P7YkYM3XmJPa81qG3gb9o0DZSFz4TiTyFIZUcNBS_LN7EyZm5YbEF4zgugn2uGPsgJ4FxdhCbXLt78X_uYN9kWGpBYMuvJo/s1600/IMG_3655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpnLWj_vPbCpzXNDr3fhLfkCoMTZGaL9N_F3jE-Ze8nV3P7YkYM3XmJPa81qG3gb9o0DZSFz4TiTyFIZUcNBS_LN7EyZm5YbEF4zgugn2uGPsgJ4FxdhCbXLt78X_uYN9kWGpBYMuvJo/s320/IMG_3655.JPG" /></a></div>As you can see, he has the perfect tongue for licking an iceblock!Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-90683333042724401262010-09-05T07:43:00.000+12:002010-09-05T07:43:53.487+12:00Please Help Our Friends the Bearsley Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz6iInWJd8MQwUmbGtSnkXmg4uuDclqSCi-8YNaQmWIBHd6S9ta-GJz3yp4AUFG_Q_hSfm1z5oXsJd93yFq' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Our friends the Bearsley family need your help. They are in a competition to win a new kitchen, and need you to vote for them. They are part of the DS community- their third child Jono (3) has DS as well as multiple other medical problems, including heart surgery as a young baby, coeliacs disease, drinking issues, and bouts of pneumonia and bronchialitis.<br />
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Their kitchen is plain dangerous especially with 4 young children in it, so please follow this link and <a href="http://www.classichits.co.nz/Competitions/CompDetails.aspx?id=16264">vote</a>. They are #8.<br />
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Thanks so much.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-73052875106424096292010-09-04T17:13:00.000+12:002010-09-04T17:13:11.649+12:00The Shaky IslesWe were woken at 4.35am by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake. I heard it coming and jumped up and got Luke out of bed, and stood with him in Emily's doorway. I could see she was ok, and she woke up and came to us. Neil was slightly slower- "What's going on?"- and grabbed Ben down from his bed (he sleeps in a mezzanine bunk thing) and came to the doorway too. <br />
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The earthquake seemed to go on forever and was very rocky and it made a loud rumbling noise, like a truck. The big kids were pretty scared, and Luke was just grumpy that we'd woken him up! We all jumped into our bed once it was over- next time we get a new bed, it needs to be bigger ;) Luke was grizzling and carrying on, so after the first few aftershocks I put him back to bed. The others were still scared and the aftershocks kept coming for the rest of the night. In fact we have just had another as I sit here, and it's 5pm. I felt bad putting Luke to bed but he was perfectly safe and I am just on the other side of the wall from him. I thought about how it would look if anything happened to any of us and the 4 of us were together and the little one with DS was not- would look a bit suspicious, but that's not the case at all. He is the one I went for first because he is the littlest.<br />
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Anyway we have not had any damage, but my step-sister and her partner's house has been damaged, with the concrete floor buckling and the walls having big cracks through them. The lines in the centre of their street are now wiggly I've been told and there are cracks in the road and driveway. We live an hour away from Christchurch, so luckily we have less damage than they do. Mum and Chris had no power all morning, and as it snowed there yesterday it was pretty cold. The sun came out today though, so that warmed everyone up.<br />
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You can see some of the damage here if you haven't already: <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4094986/Army-wanted-in-quake-hit-Canterbury">http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4094986/Army-wanted-in-quake-hit-Canterbury</a><br />
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We haven't had much sleep since the earthquake hit, so there are some very tired kids and parents here- think it'll be an early night for us all.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-32895086775836909052010-09-03T10:10:00.000+12:002010-09-03T10:10:34.728+12:00The Tooth Fairy Pays Her First Visit<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Ben has had slightly wiggly teeth for a while now, but being a bit of a wimp like his uncle (not naming any names David!) hadn't really had much of a go at getting any out. The Dental Nurse gave him a check up at school just a couple of weeks ago, which he passed no trouble. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I discovered his next tooth had appeared behind the front bottom baby teeth. Nice. I have a shark for a son. So the front baby tooth must go, I told Ben. I had a go myself but no joy. We decided to wait for Dad to get home with the pliers and promptly forgot all about it.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The next day Mum came to look after the kids while I went to work. Except they were all sick, so I stayed home and she helped me out. In the afternoon I went to the supermarket alone (bliss!) and got a text from Mum. The tooth had come out and there was a need for tooth fairy funds!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The story goes like this:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Ben has a book called <a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/search?searchTerm=Goodnight+and+Thanks+for+the+Teeth">Goodnight and Thanks for the Teeth</a> which contains a list of prices the Tooth Fairy pays for different types of teeth, taking condition into account. For example a clean incisor is worth $2, where a dirty one is only worth $1.50. There is also a list of conditions of removal, for example money off if the tooth is lost in a skateboarding accident, or extra money if it comes out by being attached with a length of cotton to the door. Ben, being the shrewd businessman that he is, but also not brave, decided that the $2 was sufficient and the ways to get more looked too painful for him. So he got a tissue, gave the tooth a tug, and out it came.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1Czot2rqbibQkDwO1U_EDSeXXDr3pMOlZubQ8mLAnODIh24FDo7mNfeH3ja9WGh9zOpvYt4e71LdApVWqIS4Qo3LZuGZbwNzq5msGyxBEhuWg3RREN74jgjW0dh_a5MukoY7xLNLcuE/s1600/IMG_3551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1Czot2rqbibQkDwO1U_EDSeXXDr3pMOlZubQ8mLAnODIh24FDo7mNfeH3ja9WGh9zOpvYt4e71LdApVWqIS4Qo3LZuGZbwNzq5msGyxBEhuWg3RREN74jgjW0dh_a5MukoY7xLNLcuE/s320/IMG_3551.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So here he is minus his first tooth. You can see the new one in behind, so no real gap.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZxJTb8mQgUZwv88nUQNvyRfq-6h8_37XMmpSQZpZ-RFPx36Rfw_4pgIb8GFohleVDUn3Hsq-zt9ZawqM20oUU-G1krzBbjcMZAtB3UUhTzwoZ1uisUKZ8ybtuzjBtbJS1LRF7lRIDqI/s1600/IMG_3553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZxJTb8mQgUZwv88nUQNvyRfq-6h8_37XMmpSQZpZ-RFPx36Rfw_4pgIb8GFohleVDUn3Hsq-zt9ZawqM20oUU-G1krzBbjcMZAtB3UUhTzwoZ1uisUKZ8ybtuzjBtbJS1LRF7lRIDqI/s320/IMG_3553.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So the tooth went under the pillow that night, and in the morning it was gone and a $2 coin in its place. He came running into our room all excited, because he saw a tooth on the floor and thought the Tooth Fairy had dropped it by accident. Turned out to be a shell! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">He rang Nana to tell her the good news, and told her all about how he'd seen the Tooth Fairy flying around his room because he was only pretending to be asleep, and how her wings were shiny and see-through.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">He has imagination, that's for sure ;)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-85560577556353101202010-08-15T20:09:00.001+12:002010-08-15T21:13:04.892+12:00Long Time, No Update, and New Tricks<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It has been a long and cold winter, and we have had to spend lots of time inside as it has been much wetter than usual. There have been lots of new games to teach Luke, and he is literally fought over- both of the big kids want him to play with them, and definitely not the other. So Luke has been trained as a Knight's Apprentice...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBF70O_8PHFZ5Zv8FolpWoa3DB0MlnsC1y28c66X9IyuaNSa22k8wvw5Y7oxW2aIsUhJZlEvX0Ogo3H1bKP1SeSj9oReIh3F_-2YihLtLOgYR6K5yhLYH2QLoqnn3OxQStNHrSYYGPg4/s1600/IMG_3454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBF70O_8PHFZ5Zv8FolpWoa3DB0MlnsC1y28c66X9IyuaNSa22k8wvw5Y7oxW2aIsUhJZlEvX0Ogo3H1bKP1SeSj9oReIh3F_-2YihLtLOgYR6K5yhLYH2QLoqnn3OxQStNHrSYYGPg4/s320/IMG_3454.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...if you look carefully you can see the knight attacking his sister with a sword in the background. Her crime was to suggest she could join in, being a princess with fairy wings. But this castle has no room for princesses, apparently.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw3wd2iTEHnY4z4JeL5kP3jqSt83kaBaeZW04iX_QI4hwNMrVcZ-3kZ89y5r0DCVWAdfpzOkOe2d8hkloj4bg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here he is with proof that males can multi-task. (If drumming on the dog's water bowl and throwing her a ball count...) We are in the process of getting a whole new houseful of carpet due to that dog. I felt sorry for her on the coldest night of the year and let her stay inside, even though her kennel is insulated and she has an electric blanket. She repaid me by vomiting on the carpet in 3 places, which burned the colour of her dinner into the wool. Lovely. I am REALLY looking forward to having everything ready to be moved out to get the new carpet in. Should be hardly any work at all.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Neil spend this afternoon putting deadbolts on the doors. Luke can now (well he could until the dead bolts were attached) unlock and open the sliding doors onto the lawn and sneak out. He doesn't care if it is wet or cold or muddy. He just wants out! He's an outside kind of boy.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Rd7vAFFCLCEIgsf5cig12G3FwTxpJ8L7WayyHKla7YYxJBTKguUFsZu4R3Pwms4kg2atBtldqWAhwsRrUyuMBEHMb4P6n2Zg5BWyUKYqNBioCSXMH1Ir4sVfiPeKe-eCo2AlcSFfhYY/s1600/IMG_3438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Rd7vAFFCLCEIgsf5cig12G3FwTxpJ8L7WayyHKla7YYxJBTKguUFsZu4R3Pwms4kg2atBtldqWAhwsRrUyuMBEHMb4P6n2Zg5BWyUKYqNBioCSXMH1Ir4sVfiPeKe-eCo2AlcSFfhYY/s320/IMG_3438.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">He's also a climb into the bath and turn the tap on kind of boy. Clothes are no impediment. The problem is that the big kids need to access the bathroom to wash their hands etc, and the only way to keep him out is to lock it from the outside. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB10K860I_uwm78mrlNS8m-iis4v8dp58yuGXB-cHDrzAZit1PsSfmv6lh5jZoNdNc-J8Ace7TsiF3mrZxNCY35sXdU-j6UBmANXC05N1eer_wH6_N_3s2awvlrSmhXRz6xkPV5TLHWxE/s1600/IMG_3407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB10K860I_uwm78mrlNS8m-iis4v8dp58yuGXB-cHDrzAZit1PsSfmv6lh5jZoNdNc-J8Ace7TsiF3mrZxNCY35sXdU-j6UBmANXC05N1eer_wH6_N_3s2awvlrSmhXRz6xkPV5TLHWxE/s320/IMG_3407.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This does not make him mummy's favourite!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TrkNbixjK8O4YAYYSfF_oeKOtN3L1RN98wHVgRB8q1N1fsASsU7_Ixuh2X83VPsXGrtJYXKVqgn6A8kKx-jzry3mqMnEyR9vrXSnKAFe1IKKvg6_FwCZ4Ahr-YkYt_A0uD5ZBzqWbx0/s1600/IMG_3455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TrkNbixjK8O4YAYYSfF_oeKOtN3L1RN98wHVgRB8q1N1fsASsU7_Ixuh2X83VPsXGrtJYXKVqgn6A8kKx-jzry3mqMnEyR9vrXSnKAFe1IKKvg6_FwCZ4Ahr-YkYt_A0uD5ZBzqWbx0/s320/IMG_3455.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Luke has also given up his day sleep. He has lasted longer than any of the others, who have waited until their mother was very pregnant with the next baby and DESPERATE for a rest during the day to stop having theirs. Luke does not have this excuse, so he has waited a little longer, but now only sleeps if he falls asleep on the way home from Em's kindy or Ben's school. Or if he has been worn out fighting in the crusades and falls asleep in the arms of a beautiful maiden ;)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13iAD_grKDwO_VBmUpG3VsItZMRfbcjBhfhzjjD-N1NtZeoai34N_6JhOVP3kiuKc_n5GybsejQ0dAEvulWHjEiLCQDAmYTTlyQaAYLidV5a_kw4S2AUbid4wbjf30TEHdAhB0J8N_IU/s1600/IMG_3459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13iAD_grKDwO_VBmUpG3VsItZMRfbcjBhfhzjjD-N1NtZeoai34N_6JhOVP3kiuKc_n5GybsejQ0dAEvulWHjEiLCQDAmYTTlyQaAYLidV5a_kw4S2AUbid4wbjf30TEHdAhB0J8N_IU/s320/IMG_3459.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">She's such a mother hen.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_BrIEXwr46h9qJtmXVkUteI3Nn_7XnUjAz7GkyGc7jeX8wzD9IVAmsgFOcyf6o2mbSpNA9JP_vfLL8jwpm7qrs_LKYfOrcAV5n8coHHc-1Vq_eRMDafeicWREPRuYuoHulcHuHAETQc/s1600/IMG_3461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_BrIEXwr46h9qJtmXVkUteI3Nn_7XnUjAz7GkyGc7jeX8wzD9IVAmsgFOcyf6o2mbSpNA9JP_vfLL8jwpm7qrs_LKYfOrcAV5n8coHHc-1Vq_eRMDafeicWREPRuYuoHulcHuHAETQc/s320/IMG_3461.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">She even tucked him in and gave him a toy.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVB4fA70ZTwRkaTLPCgXqOXHvlz31HYn-ytAEvo-dfD1lZZ895NA4w_MWryjqsYt70fRn7TgeCOto8WNkPxZ50w2JFesW9_dPHAjocXkf0k_lOC1dlzX6dbCT1FHhNgRZgDl2CQQ-yGI8/s1600/IMG_3448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVB4fA70ZTwRkaTLPCgXqOXHvlz31HYn-ytAEvo-dfD1lZZ895NA4w_MWryjqsYt70fRn7TgeCOto8WNkPxZ50w2JFesW9_dPHAjocXkf0k_lOC1dlzX6dbCT1FHhNgRZgDl2CQQ-yGI8/s320/IMG_3448.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">More hijinks on the couch</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7t1m8znNORlQRKcX1xrWoW7ysWY1QV7mNNcTCULV5_BvL8UGxSJfi1fYUZd9Pz0Nldeb2SjhgO5oVAM1w9H3pz7_EB38XJ8TOFVWbsFnKck9CUqEH5OmwVkPf2j9lIxkQvanpuM6K5Q/s1600/IMG_3442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7t1m8znNORlQRKcX1xrWoW7ysWY1QV7mNNcTCULV5_BvL8UGxSJfi1fYUZd9Pz0Nldeb2SjhgO5oVAM1w9H3pz7_EB38XJ8TOFVWbsFnKck9CUqEH5OmwVkPf2j9lIxkQvanpuM6K5Q/s320/IMG_3442.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYvKoZXMBA1YLBO2O8AjHGCfsEPj91ms7lVLLCvfaLJqoY5E6qEj6pVABAIgewxvz-whHGcsBwNsTn9LgI_ckoXN60i4P7OHYaPzegleXwn5WeVdtEfmSxO9kHHKa4UvNAtPzPk6PyvQ/s1600/IMG_3392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYvKoZXMBA1YLBO2O8AjHGCfsEPj91ms7lVLLCvfaLJqoY5E6qEj6pVABAIgewxvz-whHGcsBwNsTn9LgI_ckoXN60i4P7OHYaPzegleXwn5WeVdtEfmSxO9kHHKa4UvNAtPzPk6PyvQ/s320/IMG_3392.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Worn out again. I can't even move him into bed once he's out any more, he just wakes up.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfMpBS0POvSO-_LU6PaU9byh8n8oObJlalZdkwjzlQodJ7azvPvubpmDyxeN_DqY023isJ5wCJo24goTJylUGDTm5F9_BcmVDQpEoNERyM3NO_oMhiG8EdtzFsfgSNKRJ56aOQuxXZP0/s1600/IMG_3453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfMpBS0POvSO-_LU6PaU9byh8n8oObJlalZdkwjzlQodJ7azvPvubpmDyxeN_DqY023isJ5wCJo24goTJylUGDTm5F9_BcmVDQpEoNERyM3NO_oMhiG8EdtzFsfgSNKRJ56aOQuxXZP0/s320/IMG_3453.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Em wanted her face painted as a red cat. She loved it, but couldn't understand why Luke cried and hid whenever he saw her!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJnglM9h6TXVIx3-rmbO-9BRkELCdeqTBk8DFoiLpXQJUiCQtuA1GN_fYeKsCn90MNGuEYdo505S5yB5tgum9BSo40c1nt4dea_uwd3-5DPH1tqliqdCfvoxtFFhiHTWlQnvSAuDY6Ks/s1600/IMG_3387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJnglM9h6TXVIx3-rmbO-9BRkELCdeqTBk8DFoiLpXQJUiCQtuA1GN_fYeKsCn90MNGuEYdo505S5yB5tgum9BSo40c1nt4dea_uwd3-5DPH1tqliqdCfvoxtFFhiHTWlQnvSAuDY6Ks/s320/IMG_3387.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Who wants to push a doll around when you have a living one?</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We are off for repeat bloods this week. The last ones were a bit iffy, so hopefully things have come right. Luke's thyroid was hyperactive, which is not often seen in children with DS and the opposite of the sub-clinical hypo-thyroidism he had nearly 2 years ago. Since then his thyroid has been fine. And the some of the coeliacs markers were quite high. I am hoping those have come down- I know there are many worse things that could happen, but I could still so without it. At least there is no gluten in sand!...</div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-69076500906101788392010-07-17T11:55:00.000+12:002010-07-17T11:55:24.873+12:00Shaking those Maracas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyuC9OaYH4ZlREvEuZ-PgLmjzqkHIRkdirCsRZuVQDeOiAz-6MZe-K41pd-Kd-eHfEuVrfJigPfaGqAwIZKCw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>This is Luke watching a dvd put out by his music therapist. He loves shaking his maracas ;)<br />
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If you are interested in the dvd, you can get them at <a href="http://www.juliewyliemusic.com/">Julie Wylie Music</a> and if you mention the Champion Centre (which is where Luke attends therapy) $5 from the dvd is donated to the Champion Centre.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-64855219620665303222010-07-16T16:27:00.000+12:002010-07-16T16:27:50.141+12:00Dunedin Holiday continued...<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadgRZbj4z24CZXz4kYzFDUAVl6LOpzcdEA5Y1eKDgsXN1Z3dWnxXzo7Kudx_G_Qo04Z_gvCZIZ8E23nFjOEQoT602EFU20aSQNN_lHAWHxCTi8nupzm9C3bmUjnLekuHYySm6sFoN4Pk/s320/IMG_3343.JPG" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here we are on a winter day at St Clair beach. Someone is not too keen on sandy hands...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPURsrhdEySTZBFwPDAJEw84RXm4piNMS_Q70TcPvTlj-xmuqNScGJYpabx96EDSSv8-0JQ0HvnOyt5HbcBumkZYsJky_9qckWvmeYtAeYoPQDz0ATx_Fta2T_ZHUcaBjjBMLJ1o_07fo/s1600/IMG_3333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPURsrhdEySTZBFwPDAJEw84RXm4piNMS_Q70TcPvTlj-xmuqNScGJYpabx96EDSSv8-0JQ0HvnOyt5HbcBumkZYsJky_9qckWvmeYtAeYoPQDz0ATx_Fta2T_ZHUcaBjjBMLJ1o_07fo/s320/IMG_3333.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">...but she is keen on posing for the camera!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiP-HvhTI0Ukn_AbP1aoKoLjgHMlX6mZfjFDvmHA4f0e0-j4Z_KCvjBpq9FZ0jtt1tPSMecZWeny5QxOsbOTmK5M8vjchd1FXY1oJeUd-WYPXNWtnaplaC6GHJdWModEFZSlXlXhXkGqY/s1600/IMG_3345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiP-HvhTI0Ukn_AbP1aoKoLjgHMlX6mZfjFDvmHA4f0e0-j4Z_KCvjBpq9FZ0jtt1tPSMecZWeny5QxOsbOTmK5M8vjchd1FXY1oJeUd-WYPXNWtnaplaC6GHJdWModEFZSlXlXhXkGqY/s320/IMG_3345.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcCUAgA_nFBM3P3q0lcJ3z4W1OGmMn9DcJ4QYY916OUwhvZLslUvN_6k_U-SxcrKPKW4IgzMphuQzsw0eqdMTHJE8FjDHMMA6DIe2u1dmoQ63diAkMX30QaQ_P402Zlh6vvFoTc4VKrI/s1600/IMG_3351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcCUAgA_nFBM3P3q0lcJ3z4W1OGmMn9DcJ4QYY916OUwhvZLslUvN_6k_U-SxcrKPKW4IgzMphuQzsw0eqdMTHJE8FjDHMMA6DIe2u1dmoQ63diAkMX30QaQ_P402Zlh6vvFoTc4VKrI/s320/IMG_3351.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASlEw31tbEu8uxrkpxTxLbTQNeA_1Q3B_uMyOUh4lNZwPO_saSnVH0FgRdJrJMX1t5gZLaJsBgbNpg7ara0IKBnfos42059Z0PIlZJg4X-61eUACkCVdu9Gpw434Sc6UXDbU2DyvgedE/s1600/IMG_3357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASlEw31tbEu8uxrkpxTxLbTQNeA_1Q3B_uMyOUh4lNZwPO_saSnVH0FgRdJrJMX1t5gZLaJsBgbNpg7ara0IKBnfos42059Z0PIlZJg4X-61eUACkCVdu9Gpw434Sc6UXDbU2DyvgedE/s320/IMG_3357.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Then on to the Cadbury Chocolate Factory...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YIe1uPhP1FQ9c0b7KE5OrWsMJdWneMkzvdMW6Fa1IK4_BykItdTo7_6FjGTaEyHRPIkodDugpLPe-sAyUkg7dR7P8-M6KB_zRtX-p4KVXfjio3aldxKEdKFVuzE5nUPVcdB0kZy_PDM/s1600/IMG_3367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YIe1uPhP1FQ9c0b7KE5OrWsMJdWneMkzvdMW6Fa1IK4_BykItdTo7_6FjGTaEyHRPIkodDugpLPe-sAyUkg7dR7P8-M6KB_zRtX-p4KVXfjio3aldxKEdKFVuzE5nUPVcdB0kZy_PDM/s320/IMG_3367.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">...where we went on a tour and the kids sulked and squabbled over who had the most chocolate in their loot bags...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLLEnFFb-Z4TWh4og8SDk2o4oHtqGipyKkCaHSjIdUHxGYF5XvpnqU58PCjG4to1rmdDDc6AbFJTs861RphwQdkgFw3g62Oj8EOvGQHC288Sf6hBlez-WkMB0O6nhtimxz0AQ5ldC-oI/s1600/IMG_3368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLLEnFFb-Z4TWh4og8SDk2o4oHtqGipyKkCaHSjIdUHxGYF5XvpnqU58PCjG4to1rmdDDc6AbFJTs861RphwQdkgFw3g62Oj8EOvGQHC288Sf6hBlez-WkMB0O6nhtimxz0AQ5ldC-oI/s320/IMG_3368.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">...and Luke did a sicky spill all down Neil's shoulder and onto the floor!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL_k4Zi8-HYJM_cEL_p1uVYFZzwjr0LgCniZrftuMc1HEPWl1oAXws_DTfVW9bK4pha39X_3H0yHlMdsx3FUKug2sLQSkLezSnCBlxteH0tlT1Dx5ZmnvElH8qE1qMDry8odZvcPmHzw/s1600/IMG_3372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL_k4Zi8-HYJM_cEL_p1uVYFZzwjr0LgCniZrftuMc1HEPWl1oAXws_DTfVW9bK4pha39X_3H0yHlMdsx3FUKug2sLQSkLezSnCBlxteH0tlT1Dx5ZmnvElH8qE1qMDry8odZvcPmHzw/s320/IMG_3372.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So it was not as much fun as it should have been but we still came away with LOTS of chocolate :)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqYzNwdwkF323oOD2LWgkW0bpksobm1dl2I6ekTdmQn0V5lA9ysrg8kARwh8jVCjvD5NmXz4a1r-sLsRzDmQ5x0o7t2Pi2cMneRSEQory2bjjI4QMx9eOscPbH4w_o4SVYZGYTvf8epM/s1600/IMG_3374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqYzNwdwkF323oOD2LWgkW0bpksobm1dl2I6ekTdmQn0V5lA9ysrg8kARwh8jVCjvD5NmXz4a1r-sLsRzDmQ5x0o7t2Pi2cMneRSEQory2bjjI4QMx9eOscPbH4w_o4SVYZGYTvf8epM/s320/IMG_3374.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Ben with a vintage van which will be out on duty this week for the Chocolate Festival.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyUjKsnq4jAEvoM2-cIiFrVnPdmNbcCQd3AARGElvF1OG7eYlLywTt6JEMj_BOc-TQDr4E_6b5VDvFpcLp99YyrgsEiAhGei2ERAW75B_uRty0-OB7jjQKBrXM18n32avx0vxLFUM0BE/s1600/IMG_3377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyUjKsnq4jAEvoM2-cIiFrVnPdmNbcCQd3AARGElvF1OG7eYlLywTt6JEMj_BOc-TQDr4E_6b5VDvFpcLp99YyrgsEiAhGei2ERAW75B_uRty0-OB7jjQKBrXM18n32avx0vxLFUM0BE/s320/IMG_3377.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The two littlies all rugged up in the cold!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxdJkTyPB8l4PlOJAg0flidEvYvipTbAqP9km7E8NCoQ_IrsGi_SZpBz6hscHi0Oc808JfLwPMSqacho3anDsHcnyA_agP6xcvtI_RITV1_uiFE4q8pYn426x2pyMX7zcpSaMr3BLNjA/s1600/IMG_3383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxdJkTyPB8l4PlOJAg0flidEvYvipTbAqP9km7E8NCoQ_IrsGi_SZpBz6hscHi0Oc808JfLwPMSqacho3anDsHcnyA_agP6xcvtI_RITV1_uiFE4q8pYn426x2pyMX7zcpSaMr3BLNjA/s320/IMG_3383.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The steepest street in the world. View from the top...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6SFZ1y7kIVdiMCcugxbZQB61Bhg7y2-IMNcj3zUKE31H-MurP70xeRuN-WBmYg6dBPM1jvNL7bn5DmWySs6TsOsyAXEKDcaQNwHG8WmhmYrf7jaYWxJe-8A8d0vNe4519yUK8mYML-s/s1600/IMG_3380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6SFZ1y7kIVdiMCcugxbZQB61Bhg7y2-IMNcj3zUKE31H-MurP70xeRuN-WBmYg6dBPM1jvNL7bn5DmWySs6TsOsyAXEKDcaQNwHG8WmhmYrf7jaYWxJe-8A8d0vNe4519yUK8mYML-s/s320/IMG_3380.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> We took the car up as I couldn't face dragging the kids up! I was worried that the car wouldn't make it- it didn't seem right- but of course we did. </div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-28698848196973676342010-07-12T16:48:00.001+12:002010-07-12T17:00:05.557+12:00Dunedin Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzCLjAJ4aHcRYiaaD7uZbur30x04a8dE2_QWg8mrYTIYX2vWIJ77Gnu4d-bXG_ubuYFnbJYu1itEqBmtC_Fwg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a boy who only started walking 12 weeks ago. It is hard to believe! He loved this foot keyboard and we had to drag him away. Too much fun!</div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-37328950277198048712010-07-10T07:27:00.000+12:002010-07-10T07:27:48.102+12:00Dunedin Holiday<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Last Saturday I packed up the kids and the car (easier said than done) and took the kids to Dunedin for a holiday. Neil had been in Queenstown for the NZ Primary Principals Federation conference, so he got to have a peaceful bus trip and met us there.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzt8Tf4E3yaYGN0_nVhU6ublcH8evvvbSTilO-caIJEZ4pA-58SrHMgnoQgFLwwjwMpWEqtzwANRFFAaxQcBGu22d3Tox2lp9vyna3OQdeYVFtpTMgpVnevuTEjXTAsLf9OptybNegU8E/s1600/IMG_3379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzt8Tf4E3yaYGN0_nVhU6ublcH8evvvbSTilO-caIJEZ4pA-58SrHMgnoQgFLwwjwMpWEqtzwANRFFAaxQcBGu22d3Tox2lp9vyna3OQdeYVFtpTMgpVnevuTEjXTAsLf9OptybNegU8E/s320/IMG_3379.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MRhjQ-4LjkcGaEFjBuNcNwX_gkTjCpPAUdfj1HfBLwfNkYr2PPyz4epWvh21Jn5afDEiN3bjZktuXKg7K8YqS3VPa5QKll2ZkLqEoy9H91PU_-4D7zywTgE8aa1ktc98UG7gaRQGcTk/s1600/IMG_3378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MRhjQ-4LjkcGaEFjBuNcNwX_gkTjCpPAUdfj1HfBLwfNkYr2PPyz4epWvh21Jn5afDEiN3bjZktuXKg7K8YqS3VPa5QKll2ZkLqEoy9H91PU_-4D7zywTgE8aa1ktc98UG7gaRQGcTk/s320/IMG_3378.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We stopped after about an hour to visit Aunty Robin, now known as Great Aunty Robin, hehe. Then we carried on for just over another hour, where we stopped at the beach to check out the Moeraki Boulders.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VKRKt0e16zcUFhKlKzea-oaUV2tbqhqx9x9HUKBdu6Woe1_DNkZMQxLvG-CLac9phsbfh3Ke_WJe9DI6J_BNp3drs-2KUDeLJbcBhLfj2DqCaxZqXaQsGKL9UhMNLB0D5wCZq4PS9Jo/s1600/IMG_3240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VKRKt0e16zcUFhKlKzea-oaUV2tbqhqx9x9HUKBdu6Woe1_DNkZMQxLvG-CLac9phsbfh3Ke_WJe9DI6J_BNp3drs-2KUDeLJbcBhLfj2DqCaxZqXaQsGKL9UhMNLB0D5wCZq4PS9Jo/s320/IMG_3240.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">My kids love collecting things from the beach. Emily is an especially good magpie. She would bring home armfuls of stuff every time if I let her.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1glZNi7j5B-BuG2FWpBj7Cb3aIWMBIilkARp1AJSrZCorPC6jNOgnuADmz6fNWtfy4AiwvNATma91KppPvb-Z-AjS53GM3nA6FxpTJS985_iRdGEFrxP5tApMT3qnwsY1CF7nZULU-Hg/s1600/IMG_3243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1glZNi7j5B-BuG2FWpBj7Cb3aIWMBIilkARp1AJSrZCorPC6jNOgnuADmz6fNWtfy4AiwvNATma91KppPvb-Z-AjS53GM3nA6FxpTJS985_iRdGEFrxP5tApMT3qnwsY1CF7nZULU-Hg/s320/IMG_3243.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Luke spends most of his time heading for the water. He is such a lemming! All the kids were keen on the idea of a swim, which is lovely in theory, but not in the middle of winter on a 10 degree day!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcwIHECnx3sCqr5ee3XbHNXH-zaazd08EXjUii3zRqJpA1cXTvnQEV1b1WPS_nXQHR3Agkky8_nXJGS4eNBDUcPTZi2Y89OSJIjJ5I5kGtZ6F0TWwQ0ARie2JdE9N0cPRGkmEhbMFQXg/s1600/IMG_3248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcwIHECnx3sCqr5ee3XbHNXH-zaazd08EXjUii3zRqJpA1cXTvnQEV1b1WPS_nXQHR3Agkky8_nXJGS4eNBDUcPTZi2Y89OSJIjJ5I5kGtZ6F0TWwQ0ARie2JdE9N0cPRGkmEhbMFQXg/s320/IMG_3248.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Ben wanted me to take this photo to show his dad the seaweed. Don't ask me why.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V8UXr4lblf2uq5GFoxXM7L6i1OSGpp7brxetKi35JJBY2ug4v82UyE3BOq_ED62dx42G-9BMmBHANiDLJIIM5S5BiMUa-T4MrIFeMhrll2_FPqqL_bRS_pqkhnpg6-q2d6Cns2HgS1s/s1600/IMG_3252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V8UXr4lblf2uq5GFoxXM7L6i1OSGpp7brxetKi35JJBY2ug4v82UyE3BOq_ED62dx42G-9BMmBHANiDLJIIM5S5BiMUa-T4MrIFeMhrll2_FPqqL_bRS_pqkhnpg6-q2d6Cns2HgS1s/s320/IMG_3252.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy families (wasn't so sweet a few minutes previously after an hour in the car...)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW6LklDM1UKUEMCr-SeS79WpCIorcrTRpuOXASqkVjY5dgEE3x21z8QNL6Til9UGV4QPNZwJBWR03sy2V-6vikH9zm9PgTPu_CcLk8_W_w_wX-m2dYsIUifEsCodoEf5-VadkryyKuzY/s1600/IMG_3272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW6LklDM1UKUEMCr-SeS79WpCIorcrTRpuOXASqkVjY5dgEE3x21z8QNL6Til9UGV4QPNZwJBWR03sy2V-6vikH9zm9PgTPu_CcLk8_W_w_wX-m2dYsIUifEsCodoEf5-VadkryyKuzY/s320/IMG_3272.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">On the famous boulder. I even made the cut, kind of...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Next stop, Dunedin.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_2QtVr7b9rXflTAIRU8xYIJ9zhLtddxDfj0MvEd6peJYbrqo0S2guu4EC-egOh1jCV4QsSJoujb7EX9uvct0CXH0tigAfxILRzDxYvP6yep1os55VYur1bq6_TJqmw_9KUwP7N4Y4cw/s1600/IMG_3282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_2QtVr7b9rXflTAIRU8xYIJ9zhLtddxDfj0MvEd6peJYbrqo0S2guu4EC-egOh1jCV4QsSJoujb7EX9uvct0CXH0tigAfxILRzDxYvP6yep1os55VYur1bq6_TJqmw_9KUwP7N4Y4cw/s320/IMG_3282.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here we are in the butterfly house at the museum. The kids loved it, although Ben was a bit miffed that a butterfly didn't land on him. It would help to stay still for a few seconds if you ask me! Luke wasn't that keen on the butterflies to begin with, and may have attempted to swat them, but he loved the fish and tortoises at the bottom. He wanted to have a swim with them, but his mother wasn't as keen on the idea. Party pooper.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUX_F75kwuom5ajlPyRvIiQlOm9M_UY43qVpy3DQ4KaJuAviHKRg6f0L2-aVWoI-UCK_xhZy9K368YUA71l5S0qBGb0lQF2FMjFXlVq8DFbbe3ZZoeJhaTo_gIaLEWkLjcHotZ-ZX1Tc/s1600/IMG_3287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUX_F75kwuom5ajlPyRvIiQlOm9M_UY43qVpy3DQ4KaJuAviHKRg6f0L2-aVWoI-UCK_xhZy9K368YUA71l5S0qBGb0lQF2FMjFXlVq8DFbbe3ZZoeJhaTo_gIaLEWkLjcHotZ-ZX1Tc/s320/IMG_3287.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">There was also a kids science area there, which we loved. Luke's favourite was the keyboard he could walk on. I had to drag him away.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-23001984621236726962010-06-26T07:41:00.000+12:002010-06-26T07:41:53.794+12:00The Bandit Hat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">A couple of weeks ago Fantastic Mr Fox came out on DVD and, seeing as I am a big fan of Roald Dahl and Ben and I loved it when we saw it at the movies, we got it. This has unleashed a new obsession in Ben. For those of you who have boys, you will understand the obsession well. Ben has had many in his 6 1/2 years, including Lego, Star Wars,and all things Army. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUBnhWn6WMCbB-LpSMw9Ri_aOXKyNnDpXZaB0G4eMUHWePZKBFzcCDADfeHn3CnL3p-JsM6dRHE9xQM-grR_lM-50qRBx8o9K_Fmvmxq_kMHEciS39xwIk4HNiVnqaT9qWFWlVmQwWlo/s1600/00026086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUBnhWn6WMCbB-LpSMw9Ri_aOXKyNnDpXZaB0G4eMUHWePZKBFzcCDADfeHn3CnL3p-JsM6dRHE9xQM-grR_lM-50qRBx8o9K_Fmvmxq_kMHEciS39xwIk4HNiVnqaT9qWFWlVmQwWlo/s320/00026086.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This is probably his favourite scene from the movie. Notice the 'bandit hats'. Because Ben did. And he wanted one. REALLY wanted one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So being the kind mother that I am, I said I would knit him one. And so the fun began. I searched the internet for a pattern. Couldn't be too difficult, could it?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The first hitch was that Ben was quite specific. It had to be a 3 hole bandit hat. Not one where you could see the face, like this vintage WW1 pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigX6HC6_Til8st8fHVI4vuJ6VWBLq1lCNYKdvh0lCpWhEKgQpj6vNMS9amFRcd6-2xtICS9yw4OpvEqp2fEukXVECKeY_6QC6X1j4USv6YCYnsmkaZSAcEJVpDAr5WSdr7ItWjmps82Zo/s1600/14634_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigX6HC6_Til8st8fHVI4vuJ6VWBLq1lCNYKdvh0lCpWhEKgQpj6vNMS9amFRcd6-2xtICS9yw4OpvEqp2fEukXVECKeY_6QC6X1j4USv6YCYnsmkaZSAcEJVpDAr5WSdr7ItWjmps82Zo/s320/14634_blog.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Seeing as Ben is not the best listener in the world, I liked the idea of the ear flaps. Ben did not.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kxajSFBrVSTx1E7v-eScea5D9IvkuoVZh0Mcp-0YLa5Xp3fLDWlaMQj5dFrodAUxKxeAJoPYMfz7_kmhXM_vXVRpi1neIiOCcQEX1D9joFRXDW5YrbKTHK3bLh34h7F347OQgTM5x68/s1600/14621_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kxajSFBrVSTx1E7v-eScea5D9IvkuoVZh0Mcp-0YLa5Xp3fLDWlaMQj5dFrodAUxKxeAJoPYMfz7_kmhXM_vXVRpi1neIiOCcQEX1D9joFRXDW5YrbKTHK3bLh34h7F347OQgTM5x68/s320/14621_blog.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we went from funny to...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRH1r5gmxJfpZSczR09ekMEbKfc0s0gOyTGSU2XCF2vGNQ_mgoZaxZx-nZ4oxTX2kNbVcK2Gc_b9e9WNxSusuQdSrMeuznYK779VOtQIVoq4moAa5LY6FvtuMZhSbzFqfcLmYrDYMqf_I/s1600/14624_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRH1r5gmxJfpZSczR09ekMEbKfc0s0gOyTGSU2XCF2vGNQ_mgoZaxZx-nZ4oxTX2kNbVcK2Gc_b9e9WNxSusuQdSrMeuznYK779VOtQIVoq4moAa5LY6FvtuMZhSbzFqfcLmYrDYMqf_I/s320/14624_blog.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">...crazy to...</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_ZAKr82X1seOusYvcEkfmyD0canY4dZKQqUxZ_NbTxqwwN8yjnz7g1xhif2xrMith1GkDKKmEcLfp7E9MQCv0xj04Bah_Wcac47_19Cn-53lFO9oeck4RJNMECDNVYkrgkbhyphenhyphenMUYBRg/s1600/14629_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_ZAKr82X1seOusYvcEkfmyD0canY4dZKQqUxZ_NbTxqwwN8yjnz7g1xhif2xrMith1GkDKKmEcLfp7E9MQCv0xj04Bah_Wcac47_19Cn-53lFO9oeck4RJNMECDNVYkrgkbhyphenhyphenMUYBRg/s320/14629_blog.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">...I don't even know what to say about these! But they were all wrong.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">In the end we compromised on a two-whole model, and here is the finished product, modelled by Ben.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nUZ-1Mnk7kpp2JNeULyiE2PMR4H29PYIkFEhSrmXBfrZICMpwpkScdwi5YYtrO0TY64FPtpECeAo-5_voKF_0H1FI_Eyc5dB7JCAzvjtRTD6CgvHrZrRX_o60JWFmOlcpOZ8W02C0nA/s1600/IMG_3176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nUZ-1Mnk7kpp2JNeULyiE2PMR4H29PYIkFEhSrmXBfrZICMpwpkScdwi5YYtrO0TY64FPtpECeAo-5_voKF_0H1FI_Eyc5dB7JCAzvjtRTD6CgvHrZrRX_o60JWFmOlcpOZ8W02C0nA/s320/IMG_3176.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">One bandit hat for the bandit in our house. The things mothers do for their children! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I might add that to get it finished there was continual nagging, and I even sat in the car in the dark driving home last Sunday and knitted in the dark! </div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-17794407660262909212010-06-13T15:05:00.001+12:002010-06-13T15:05:40.499+12:00Snow!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeERS8NmDhJhiUfLjT0z8CH-LbOES_RrcL56BA40H2hYSW9_HQBk9IN7HO3sBKfxDm4Wks_nwUriDJq6ASRECBqrv8F-8oRO583H5spPFnoNdKeqBVBH-5ZoEa6fA1Kkir5Rida7zEE-Q/s1600/IMG_3047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeERS8NmDhJhiUfLjT0z8CH-LbOES_RrcL56BA40H2hYSW9_HQBk9IN7HO3sBKfxDm4Wks_nwUriDJq6ASRECBqrv8F-8oRO583H5spPFnoNdKeqBVBH-5ZoEa6fA1Kkir5Rida7zEE-Q/s320/IMG_3047.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItmJyiddIfN4Uw5b85pzCyu_tTwCrg99sg2JoKpekXoAcvfp3dHLqlZnIMPXVU0SwonpSZXpbedtx1wIuqcMNdCuJ1Kp88_OKZRzYwN_ezR1pCeA5NlndKNDWp7l8NWC52ZSBF_A2n6o/s1600/IMG_3049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItmJyiddIfN4Uw5b85pzCyu_tTwCrg99sg2JoKpekXoAcvfp3dHLqlZnIMPXVU0SwonpSZXpbedtx1wIuqcMNdCuJ1Kp88_OKZRzYwN_ezR1pCeA5NlndKNDWp7l8NWC52ZSBF_A2n6o/s320/IMG_3049.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It snowed today, which is the first time Luke has seen the snow. It only snows here every couple of years, and today it was enough to settle and let the kids have some fun. Now the sun is out and it is almost all gone.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">As usual Luke headed for the sandpit.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAAQX6wNeT0O0y_LbELh7zdSGipL75rk0Bm86PHEYEc4d4SfZi_dGx5ydkUCKSU0KWmOZq_1NAgGHU9iap5vI0cisG47HsbpnGVfE4-f5hvWHAKRLx51fcaD2-2CROwswItgGTTz9wzw/s1600/IMG_3045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAAQX6wNeT0O0y_LbELh7zdSGipL75rk0Bm86PHEYEc4d4SfZi_dGx5ydkUCKSU0KWmOZq_1NAgGHU9iap5vI0cisG47HsbpnGVfE4-f5hvWHAKRLx51fcaD2-2CROwswItgGTTz9wzw/s320/IMG_3045.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75Vq7CT64agzAgSqSztPTacldhHizTmVJ5JdMMhyYJ8-132bdriib9UXuZBApE9gf2-3k1s_AKkw37u8Ka6ts89UihYYZDvc7IgaWuXkIVESu4Km3qUdTNGkiMqyMgnVGBC1BigPfDJY/s1600/IMG_3055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75Vq7CT64agzAgSqSztPTacldhHizTmVJ5JdMMhyYJ8-132bdriib9UXuZBApE9gf2-3k1s_AKkw37u8Ka6ts89UihYYZDvc7IgaWuXkIVESu4Km3qUdTNGkiMqyMgnVGBC1BigPfDJY/s320/IMG_3055.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He was pretty keen on throwing snowballs like his big brother. I had the job of making them for him.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs3al6b0xbp0V5YuWjKAypxWPVAWmRZ3VooMRbU0jxRCDB_fYi8Ew5eqHCcUULbIAzuxRKuOUvfFuB3fPEd7iQ779ah2lVN6q8_qbrHeWeulfw1WFs03YW-pnFDQPxt9PF-O3kP9cMoM/s1600/IMG_3056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs3al6b0xbp0V5YuWjKAypxWPVAWmRZ3VooMRbU0jxRCDB_fYi8Ew5eqHCcUULbIAzuxRKuOUvfFuB3fPEd7iQ779ah2lVN6q8_qbrHeWeulfw1WFs03YW-pnFDQPxt9PF-O3kP9cMoM/s320/IMG_3056.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPeLEtR8cPJoW8CfkjCXbczzd1INk44GoZqx4AOFmkvxjSj_HGmYRbHJAhvy1cvrCDfFsasz6QY8MywQjAGQgGnSaQWpPjmBF0fSTZeaBoHeCyvjYZ8Uyv0n-fwE8mjn4cjmhuj3zSpI/s1600/IMG_3060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPeLEtR8cPJoW8CfkjCXbczzd1INk44GoZqx4AOFmkvxjSj_HGmYRbHJAhvy1cvrCDfFsasz6QY8MywQjAGQgGnSaQWpPjmBF0fSTZeaBoHeCyvjYZ8Uyv0n-fwE8mjn4cjmhuj3zSpI/s320/IMG_3060.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ben is getting to be far too good a shot for me!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63x1c2poWcGNHmO5oJun6Cu2Ouztn95k3YZTDPitJh2kd3oVJl-0NdVvFqNTrzK2WqfAhfi52NKxm0bdC8RucMQx5trfqKAU51S3UNohUJHU1fSFJiOazWNVDkubojGsKUWk0XVSm_Gc/s1600/IMG_3063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63x1c2poWcGNHmO5oJun6Cu2Ouztn95k3YZTDPitJh2kd3oVJl-0NdVvFqNTrzK2WqfAhfi52NKxm0bdC8RucMQx5trfqKAU51S3UNohUJHU1fSFJiOazWNVDkubojGsKUWk0XVSm_Gc/s320/IMG_3063.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Making snow angels</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHh1bvP4j0xBUF8Y8Zbd4D651G3O4lPldSRKcW21IZ_iVMut2pEYbE-qp7vn_lTgvOTS2jTG0g7Ybi9yEunumhxZl9zM3dxxdjLGXZjyUdLVXTAjA5BtNLh6ORFJUxchojCQilyLNW0Pw/s1600/IMG_3069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHh1bvP4j0xBUF8Y8Zbd4D651G3O4lPldSRKcW21IZ_iVMut2pEYbE-qp7vn_lTgvOTS2jTG0g7Ybi9yEunumhxZl9zM3dxxdjLGXZjyUdLVXTAjA5BtNLh6ORFJUxchojCQilyLNW0Pw/s320/IMG_3069.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Pink snow angels</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7MteB-f-wQerXE85XrVdIH7bd6H4ucxSnp5uSH6ejgLJvBtSbzsxcqpD1eHaZ1KJj9iFRyC3-97DgeByL0-Irn5qHnk3IPc4nyY81GO3jEObg10Q49fMiBP5Pi4GiaeJM9Dxg9DmqxA/s1600/IMG_3077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7MteB-f-wQerXE85XrVdIH7bd6H4ucxSnp5uSH6ejgLJvBtSbzsxcqpD1eHaZ1KJj9iFRyC3-97DgeByL0-Irn5qHnk3IPc4nyY81GO3jEObg10Q49fMiBP5Pi4GiaeJM9Dxg9DmqxA/s320/IMG_3077.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">Pink poppets aren't too good in the cold.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcs16Sts8zy890gjxQIOORWMUQ61szLjtslBgS-_11JBw9h9UdnIEFFgvYWd5lf7N__m1b5YUd4hzXAmUbsGKQmW5j_QjjS8lxSXF7b_E8I2jzjNRogHkXYondP6Ra1kUWpX4i6MjqkM/s1600/IMG_3076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcs16Sts8zy890gjxQIOORWMUQ61szLjtslBgS-_11JBw9h9UdnIEFFgvYWd5lf7N__m1b5YUd4hzXAmUbsGKQmW5j_QjjS8lxSXF7b_E8I2jzjNRogHkXYondP6Ra1kUWpX4i6MjqkM/s320/IMG_3076.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">The grumpy fairy on her way inside :)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-80480143991449281022010-06-06T21:37:00.000+12:002010-06-06T21:37:06.842+12:00Attitude tvIn March I posted about Attitude tv, which had done a really cool episode on the Special Olympics, but my link to TVNZ would only work if you were in New Zealand. Well I have now found it on youtube, so here is Special Olympics: The Mission <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfdBsYmN_Jo&feature=player_embedded">Part One</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-abXmmt0R2M&feature=related">Part Two</a>. The first is about 5 mins and the second 6ish, and well worth the watch. Enjoy :)Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-69713266028642642732010-06-06T08:11:00.000+12:002010-06-06T08:11:38.844+12:00The First Girls' Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My friend Trina and I took our girls on our first ever (and hopefully there are many to come) Girls' Weekend last weekend. The main event was Disney on Ice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4yicaLwOjtiQvlxPC9STfe3io4UZuTcJvCPf2XMe7Y2tNoo3GysWfB8B4IencMdubxgIZbwkIZ_4yYgVuw1TgYSFkmHcs4hyKhyphenhyphenoUYDiWk8zUR_pzbGfoEEvkK-kuFAnajxrah0kUJo/s1600/IMG_2937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4yicaLwOjtiQvlxPC9STfe3io4UZuTcJvCPf2XMe7Y2tNoo3GysWfB8B4IencMdubxgIZbwkIZ_4yYgVuw1TgYSFkmHcs4hyKhyphenhyphenoUYDiWk8zUR_pzbGfoEEvkK-kuFAnajxrah0kUJo/s320/IMG_2937.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center">This is my cousin Brigid with Emily.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTCNxSAPCGttPAF4KhQGTe9nk9RHYBagLppey_apNNt09lO77gIRlcJyQ8VjvIqOof0_NO8RAcqtSQT3SYZdmLJ3C154jOk4JF9UDnTzbvYzWoWEiK9eMjUZ1P-5wJKAHtk7TU5EAXT8/s1600/IMG_2941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTCNxSAPCGttPAF4KhQGTe9nk9RHYBagLppey_apNNt09lO77gIRlcJyQ8VjvIqOof0_NO8RAcqtSQT3SYZdmLJ3C154jOk4JF9UDnTzbvYzWoWEiK9eMjUZ1P-5wJKAHtk7TU5EAXT8/s320/IMG_2941.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She was enraptured.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUyKvfnolnoFLfiHWB6mAY6trKr6BTbnX5bb1RLaE5Tm1MhU_z6E4MqhrAeaN-_Dx1pvsr9smy7LlzrwPhX4SlRrecjv47aY4giZAaj6z5Xk8WJkQ9k49o2SE8vbgm6kbIDLH3sYE3DM/s1600/IMG_2942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUyKvfnolnoFLfiHWB6mAY6trKr6BTbnX5bb1RLaE5Tm1MhU_z6E4MqhrAeaN-_Dx1pvsr9smy7LlzrwPhX4SlRrecjv47aY4giZAaj6z5Xk8WJkQ9k49o2SE8vbgm6kbIDLH3sYE3DM/s320/IMG_2942.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">So was Kate. Notice the compulsory fairy dresses.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2lwV-6yOdwFHpUlu8iX6i1D3ikCqJQAPjuwqDNUkCA3OSvkeFdbSJP7P-CTlkUeW4IyUJfvMtYh_CjYhVQm4vz0l3SOgMnhgIAAHseSJBJ3fTT2NyVKUP2b0tlqhXqirnKGPGQqQ5c4/s1600/IMG_2940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2lwV-6yOdwFHpUlu8iX6i1D3ikCqJQAPjuwqDNUkCA3OSvkeFdbSJP7P-CTlkUeW4IyUJfvMtYh_CjYhVQm4vz0l3SOgMnhgIAAHseSJBJ3fTT2NyVKUP2b0tlqhXqirnKGPGQqQ5c4/s320/IMG_2940.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLFm_ohOfaUHsHZos1-241OpOYhJUoZQBb2DKfAI7ZwM_M0VlTBgKgi2pZcq2-LMuZX5hlEz4PV1P6n_LAdAthgd_AQ8ov8GF3z1HuimHmEy91knWTYOMwi7Lm7WUqUO5ljAhmQWbHi0/s1600/IMG_3003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLFm_ohOfaUHsHZos1-241OpOYhJUoZQBb2DKfAI7ZwM_M0VlTBgKgi2pZcq2-LMuZX5hlEz4PV1P6n_LAdAthgd_AQ8ov8GF3z1HuimHmEy91knWTYOMwi7Lm7WUqUO5ljAhmQWbHi0/s320/IMG_3003.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">Then a spot of girly shopping :)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">We had a great time. Thanks for coming girls!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">On a Luke note, there have been lots of new skills he has developed lately. Like putting the phone in the toilet. And opening his bedroom door to come out at night. And turning the oven off when I am in the middle of cooking. Good thing he's so cute.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHP_RkmHvOXrmzHfgukfpR9t15SRSiEWfyivz8qhpO-6ottrl57p1kyvvEfAEyaQXFlg5zNhfo34C8IDPj8K7eM-huySuiFuDy85M5jrUlxolS-khb-26XGwRj8ucQocHiE6YTsjlp53M/s1600/IMG_2917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHP_RkmHvOXrmzHfgukfpR9t15SRSiEWfyivz8qhpO-6ottrl57p1kyvvEfAEyaQXFlg5zNhfo34C8IDPj8K7eM-huySuiFuDy85M5jrUlxolS-khb-26XGwRj8ucQocHiE6YTsjlp53M/s320/IMG_2917.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The boys brushing their teeth, which is one of Luke's all-time favourite things to do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWzqEH0lVRNAVyiuF86T4ohjc-taZ6cLyB6NqME_IrWBe05Xy6xQw9-sA_CMBfCQjGa1-4cR_Z2SPfxmY0Gp30paPBfO8xBtOOnrvQitTJ2wdvgKg48Q31ORN7J1aCJMUzJflMaUhL6U/s1600/IMG_2922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWzqEH0lVRNAVyiuF86T4ohjc-taZ6cLyB6NqME_IrWBe05Xy6xQw9-sA_CMBfCQjGa1-4cR_Z2SPfxmY0Gp30paPBfO8xBtOOnrvQitTJ2wdvgKg48Q31ORN7J1aCJMUzJflMaUhL6U/s320/IMG_2922.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">Shame he's using his sister's toothbrush.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFOcyruBvSwJVqU0DOLoTWuWZNbdQUOEenpzA8yvzBxKcnrbUJeSVWa4QF4Ab4MIjJWeRsifShLiDKq3U4z7gETIYus4ZwAk7vtSyrzavIJbDpJodh5twv_yo5Ss0-qZleBLZbriKUeA/s1600/IMG_2915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFOcyruBvSwJVqU0DOLoTWuWZNbdQUOEenpzA8yvzBxKcnrbUJeSVWa4QF4Ab4MIjJWeRsifShLiDKq3U4z7gETIYus4ZwAk7vtSyrzavIJbDpJodh5twv_yo5Ss0-qZleBLZbriKUeA/s320/IMG_2915.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Luckily I keep her busy in the kitchen, so she'll never know...</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">On a therapy note, we are very excited that Luke's wee mate Aidan is moving into our new clinic starting the next time we go, so we are looking forward to that. We were there on Thursday, and Luke had a fabulous session, so all is well in that dept. He can kick a ball, and we are working on hitting a ball with a bat and making his base when walking narrower. He can sort some shapes and is matching colours and we are working on his forearm rotation, but as he uses this successfully to turn on the hose and flood the lawn, and to turn the oven off and on, I think he is getting there! His speech is coming along nicely too. He is beginning to use simple sentences, which although not that clear, include things like "I'm in the box". He also has a very clear "NO!" and understands 'stop'. I thought he didn't get it, and was busy saying and signing stop when he tries to run away when I am getting him dressed and he pays no attention, but he turned around, put up his hand and said it to me. There is a difference between 'getting' something and choosing to do it!!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127964993980783652.post-21238650376509902102010-05-14T16:26:00.005+12:002010-05-15T07:45:45.596+12:00Lightsabers at the ready!<OBJECT id=BLOG_video-381b9b80e2fc8a40 class=BLOG_video_class width=320 height=266 contentId="381b9b80e2fc8a40"></OBJECT>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066280828048359936noreply@blogger.com4