Making movies

Callum was home sick three days this week, and he and Evan entertained themselves by making movies. First they made a stop motion lego car crash, then a live action movie called "Doodle training" (about a pet balloon's tricks) and finally a stunt movie about how you can use a magnifying glass to start a fire on paper.

Callum's very excited by them, and shows them off to all visitors.

Taxi

This morning, as I had to go to Balmoral for work, and Callum was sick, Declan shared a taxi with me to kindergarten. He was totally thrilled, and said to me "this is the first time I've ever been in a taxi!"

I'm not sure that the experience of going to kindergarten with me was that exciting, but the taxi sure was.

Measurements

As usual on a birthday, we measured the boys. Callum is 116 cm and 20kg. That means he is 53rd percentile for height, 39th for weight and 33rd for body mass index.

Declan is 107 cm and 18.4 kg, which is 70th percentile for height, and 67th for weight and body mass index.

Most importantly, they are both definitely now tall enough to go on the Wild Mouse ride at Luna Park.

Happy Birthday Callum!

In an action packed birthday week, Callum turned six. On his actual birthday, he opened presents from family members, and was especially excited by Declan's present, which was a spy-catcher - a booby trap electronics kit which we set up on the play room door to catch any spies and robbers. He tooked cupcakes to school for his class, and then prepared himself for the big one - the birthday party. Before that though, there was anticipation all Saturday, and uncles with more spy gear on Sunday morning

He had been looking forward to it for months, ever since in a weak moment, Evan mentioned on the invitation that there was a risk of becoming invisible* at the party. He had a science presenter at the party, who held the kids enthralled with tricks involving water and sound, and then let them play with lots of great tricks and toys.

And then he got to open the multitude of science and spy presents from all his friends.

At six, Callum would like to be a spy when he grows up (possibly in Egypt) and loves science, too. His favourite books at the moment are about Emily Eyefinger - about a girl with an eye at the end of her finger. His best friend is Scarlett, who plays toontown with him obsessively (over the internet) but he is at pains to point out that they are not in love, just best friends.
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*In a packing mistake, the magic jellybeans got mixed up with the normal ones, and it was impossible to tell which, if any, of the party bags contained jelly bags which might make you invisible.

White belt

Cal and I had our first Tae Kwon Do lesson on the weekend. He did really well and I think it will be good for him - and he looks great in his white outfit. He came away absolutely fine; I'm stumbling about in a welter of stretched muscles.

Catchphrase

Callum's new exclamation is Oh Man! He says that whenever something goes slightly wrong. Except when he decides to say, "what the!" Declan, on the other hand has taken to using "Even" whereever possible. As we were coming back from a walk, he said, "by the way, we're nearly home, even."

Spit to Manly

Today we did the Spit to Manly walk with Sue and Jack. The boys walked the entire, almost 10km, way without complaint in spite of some heavy rain showers.

They were tired by the end but an ice cram soon revived them.