Another beach visit

Yesterday we went to Greenwich Baths again, this time with the Vincent Gaynors. The moment we got there Declan went up to a boy around his age building sandcastles and started helping, while Callum found his own spot on the beach to dig. But he soon branched out into his favourite beach activity, delivering sand to the ramp near the shop, and then had a great time chasing Declan and Claire around the beach.

They are both very comfortable in the water these days, with Callum actually getting out of his depth a few times and swimming back in without panicking, which I was quite impressed by.

Star Wars fanatics

On Saturday, we all went up to the mountains to see Jodie and Chris' renovation and celebrate Angela's birthday. Aidan was ecstatic to see that Callum and Declan had brought their light sabres, and they (plus Tommy with a cardboard roll) spent what seemed like hours in Aidan's room playing light sabre games.

Then Chris put on the original Star Wars movie, which Callum and Declan had not yet seen, and that held them occupied for another couple of hours. I can trace this Star Wars obsession exactly from when they got the Star Wars game (which occupies any spare time at home unless we drag them away) but its a bit startling, as they've been surrounded by Star Wars obsessed small boys for a few years without previously succumbing.

Hanging out

We've been having a lazy Sydney holiday so far. On Boxing day, we went to Greenwich Baths for what ended up being most of the day with Sue and Jack. Callum introduced Jack to his game (from the previous Greenwich Baths). "We have a mission to take this rare mineral, sand, on our surfboards, without getting it wet to the other end of the beach." They all spent lots of time digging in the sand, playing in the waves, and learning to play softball with Jack's new bat and ball set.

Then on Thursday it was off to the Powerhouse museum with the Vincent Gaynors. Declan and Claire made a team building in Zoe's house before we managed to persuade them to walk back to the ferry (lots of suggestions of the monorail each step of the way from both of them).

And then yesterday was the laziest day yet, with the most exciting activity a visit to Woolworths to replenish our breakfast cereal collection. The highlight, though, was a quick visit to the pool after dinner where we persuaded both boys to pencil jump into the deep end (which at North Sydney Pool is very deep). Callum probably got 1.5m deep some times.

Merry Christmas everyone

Christmas Day yesterday was a feast of food and presents, as always. Callum and Declan were the recipients of most of the presents, as each person present wanted to make sure they had enough.

When I asked them their favourite presents, they subdivided into categories - Callum's favourite present from Santa was a lightsaber, and his favourite present from a person was the box of magic tricks. Declan's favourite from Santa was a toy R2D2, and he keeps changing his mind about his favourite present from a person - current favourite is the dinosaur archeological dig.

But in fact, they spent most of the afternoon playing the Lego Star Wars computer game which they got, so I think that was the most popular.

Anticipation

Although the Advent calendars aren't as exciting this year as last year (we couldn't find any with chocolate), Callum and Declan are still very excited about Christmas. We have managed to persuade them to go to bed quite early (as they haven't had enough sleep lately) but I fear that they will be waking well before the 6 am that they've been told is their earliest limit.

Grandparental visit

On Friday night, a very excited Callum and Declan visited their grandparents in Kirrawee. They had been planning for it for weeks, remembering all the things they loved about Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Their absolute favourite part was the doorbell game, where they rang the doorbell, and then retreated away from the front door and into the laundry, to sneak up behind whichever grandparent was foolish enough to answer the door. The game lost its appeal for Grandma and Grandpa well before Callum and Declan tired of it.

Other very enjoyable parts of the visit included sleeping in Uncle Bob's bed (Callum) and playing with a magic trick made by Uncle Bob, and helping Grandma make a gingerbread house.

When we told Callum that we had slept until 8 that morning (in the absence of someone to wake us up) he (mock) fainted in surprise.

Partying

Today Declan and I went to my work Christmas Party. After a slow start, he ended up having a great time. The clown made him and another boy a balloon sword each, and they spent the whole time chasing each other around the floor and pretending to play star wars.

When Santa came, he shook Declan's hand, and then gave him a present, which Declan was very thrilled by.

Christmas party

Today we had the proxy cousin Christmas Party at the Vincent Gaynor's new place. Ideally suited, as it has a long hall for the big kids (Callum, Aidan, Tom, Declan, Claire) to run up and down and chase each other while the parents (mostly) sat and chatted.

Now we've all eaten too much, and Callum and Declan are actually tired enough from all that chasing to have gone to bed very early (although Callum is now, once again, asking what he should dream about).

Budding actors

Callum and Declan both did ATYP on Saturday mornings this last term. This weekend was their performance, and they both had a great time. Callum's was about Christmas morning, and my favourite part was the beginning, where his role was to wake up, look at his watch, and say, "three o'clock, not time to get up". He also pretended to be a christmas present, the tub for the Christmas tree, and a bowl of carrots for the Christmas lunch.

Declan was a fairy (or possibly a goblin) in a preschool interpretation of a Midsummer nights dream. He did a fairy march, and then turned his mother into a donkey using fairy dust.

It's been a very civilized way of spending Saturday mornings - Callum has his class from 9 - 10.30 (with no parent accompaniment required), and Declan and I go into his class at 9.30, having had a cup of coffee in the Sydney Dance Company cafe for half an hour. We're hoping to do it again next year.

Yellow tip

It was grading day at Tae Kwon Do today. Cal succesfully completed the requirements to get a yellow tip on his white belt.

A-night

Cal received an award for academic excellent at school's award night during the week. Strangely enough so did two other members of his soccer team - I have no idea what, if anything, that signifies.

Piano practice

Callum and Declan are now both learning piano, and doing piano practice for about 5 minutes 3 or so times a week.

Callum, to my surprise, really enjoys it, going to the piano with alacrity whenever we suggest he might need to do some practice. He is now up to using five fingers on his right hand, and three on his left, and using both hands occasionally.

Declan loves the piano, but finds the discipline of actually following a piece of music a bit annoying. So he has to be enticed to do his two pieces (two fingers on each hand, not simultaneously) with the promise of a bit of free play with his mother (I play some vaguely jazzy chords, or as much as my deficient sense of rhythm will allow, and he improvises whatever he feels like with the string sound setting).

Star Wars continues

Callum and Declan are now completely obsessed by the Star Wars computer game. It is a two player game (which is excellent) so they sit side by side working their own bits of the keyboard. They will play at any opportunity, and generally have to be chased off to go to bed. Most of the time, Callum is in charge, so you hear shouts of, "use the force, Declan!" at odd moments.

Shopping

Declan has lately been very keen on clothes shopping - for me. So yesterday while Callum and Evan were out at Tae Kwon Do, we went out and bought me a dress. He has very definite tastes, wanting patterns (preferably flowers) and soft material. And he drags me into shops that he thinks he likes the look of.

Oddly enough, he's not especially fussy about which of his own clothes he wears.

Dec's reading

Declan's reading has suddenly jumped in the last few weeks. The number of letter-reversals has dropped off dramatically and he can sight-read a range of words that's growing apace.

Cal's School Pennant

Callum received a School Pennant this morning. He was pleased as punch.

What shall I dream about?

Every night now, when he goes to bed, Callum asks us what he should dream about. And he's quite picky about the answers, too. Tonight, when Evan suggested Tae Kwon Do, he said, "I'm too tired to dream about that."

Biggles

I manage to wean Callum and Declan away from their Star Wars game to play Monopoly before bedtime this evening. Biggles was most interested and decided a couple of times to settle down on the Board before deliberately walking across.

Because we were just playing near Biggles' corner, Callum and Declan decided to tease Biggles with his toy mice (a present from Marta). That's the first time I've seen them play with Biggles, as opposed to stroking him, so it was nice to see Biggles respond by stalking them and pouncing on them. Exhausted by all that activity, he's now asleep on the couch in traditional cat fashion.

Giddy up

It's fading, but I thought I should record that whenever Declan is trying to run as fast as possible, he does so by chanting to himself, "giddy up, giddy up, giddy up horsey."

Apparently it makes him run faster.