Communication

The Nintendo DS has a wireless feature which means you can communicate with other Nintendo DS users - either by drawing and writing, or by typing in words.

After we showed the boys how to use it, they spent the next 10 minutes sending each other messages saying "I hate you", with Declan struggling to keep up as he can't type as fast as Callum, before they lost interest and went back to their respective games. It could be a long school holidays.

Swimming pool tour

As well as visiting Dubbo Zoo, we also had a swimming pool tour of western NSW. Starting with the Langdon Linigens, where we spent some time gathered around the paddling tour (which is looking much smaller with three boys in it than it did a few years ago).

Then continuing to the Fairmont resort, which has a nice pool complex, including a hot spa bath which (unusually) children are allowed in.

Then after a visit to Dubbo, the swimming highlight was the Bathurst Olympic Swimming pool, which has recently been upgraded to include a kids pool with its very own whirlpool. About a 3 metre diameter whirlpool, created by water jets, a metre deep, which sweeps everything in it around, and around, and around. It was pretty hard to drag Callum and Declan away once they'd discovered it, despite the scariness for the watching parent (who could only see half of the whirlpool at any time, while Callum and Declan were delighting in hanging onto the side, and resisting the whirlpool current as much as possible).

Zoofari

We're just back from a trip west, to Dubbo Zoo, where we stayed in the "Zoofari Lodge" for a night. This involved three different animal tours, and the privilege of, as Callum has been reciting ever since, "feeding a giraffe, stroking a wombat, and feeding a black rhino". Both Callum and Declan loved the whole zoo experience, plus riding tag along bikes (three wheels, with the child on a smaller, tag along bit of bike, behind the parent) around the zoo.

Declan was a bit nervous about feeding the giraffe, refusing to do it at first, and only agreeing after much prodding. He showed a similar reluctance with the bike riding, but got completely into it after 100 metres, begging to get back on as soon as we stopped to look at an animal, and yelling "woo-hoo!!" every time we went down a hill.

Callum also loved the bike riding, being particularly proud of his ability to pedal when Evan needed extra power, and overtaking an electric car.

We stayed in a "tent" - a permanent canvas structure with a bathroom, which made us all keener to actually experience some real camping some time. Lots of fun.

Merry Christmas

Christmas this year saw both boys increasingly excited as the day drew nearer. Evan had made them a special advent calendar (which had various prizes associated with each day - my favourite - a hug from each parent - the boys' favourite - choose your own DVD from the DVD rental shop), so they were very well aware of when the big day would dawn.

All three grandparents spent the night, so that they could watch the stockings being opened in the morning. And in honour of Uncle Andrew, who came for a morning visit, they got to open all their presents before, rather than after lunch.

Most favourite present, by a country mile, was the Nintendo DS we got them, with Callum playing a puzzle game, and Declan playing Ben 10 for hours all afternoon. Neither of them seem to have go the hang of the eating part of Christmas, still preferring to grab a bread roll and continue playing with whichever present takes their fancy.

The Langdon Linigens came for a play later in the afternoon, giving the boys some much needed light sabre exercising - they were all going a bit stir crazy from so much time inside.

Sleepover

Yesterday, in what is becoming a tradition (this is the third year), Callum and Declan went for a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's house. This year proved that they are still very taken with the doorbell game, despite being a year older (ring the doorbell, and then sneak into the house through another door), but the dinner bell game (ring the dinner bell as much as possible) is starting to pall.

They made a Gingerbread house each, which they are very proud of, and were still in a state of high excitement with the novelty of it all when we came down to fetch them at lunchtime today.

Another treasure hunt

This morning the boys created another treasure hunt for Evan, with the reward being his birthday present at the end. They were very excited about it, with Declan asking permission several times to tiptoe into our room to see whether Evan was awake yet.

There were five clues, with the trickiest being a Detour - a choice between two tasks:

Wii it - play a sporting game on the Wii
Read it - read Callum and Declan a small book.

Running

This evening, when we decided it was time for bed, both boys resisted. We gave them a choice - bed, or running five laps of the block (Victoria St and Mitchell St). To our amazement, they both accepted the challenge. Declan gave up, a bit puffed, after one lap, but Callum stuck it out, and after the third lap, I told him he could do a bigger fourth lap all the way down to the Spanish shop, and that would be enough.

He was quite chuffed with himself (and red in the face) when we got back. I've been trying to work out how far that was - I suspect 2 - 2.5 km, so a reasonable run.

Treasure Hunt

We went to Granny's house for a pre-Christmas lunch with Martin and Kevin and Granny Marta (and Granny, of course) today. The boys, as usual, refused to eat any of the rich and yummy food provided, instead snacking on bread and things that were in a Santa sack Granny provided.

After eating their fill of gold coins, they created a treasure hunt for us - hiding (they thought) six coins - one for each adult. After Martin and I found four, and fruitlessly searched for a while, they admitted that they had probably eaten two more than they thought.

A night

Tonight the boys got their awards for academic excellence at A night. They were both very excited to be there (although Callum was finding it hard to decide whether shedding another tooth was more of a reason for excitement).

Declan, in particular, after being to the rehearsal this morning, seemed to have suddenly realised it was a big deal, and couldn't stop smiling.

Grandma and Grandpa came to watch, which pleased both the boys, and got to listen to Callum at full volume on the way back home in the car (Callum adds volume and talking speed, as well as complete irrelevence in his conversation, when he is excited).

2nd tooth out

Callum pulled his own second tooth out during assembly today. Thanks to the double row of teeth he now looks completely normal and has no gaps.

Accelerated outcome

After having met with the Learning Support Team the outcome is as expected: Callum will start next year in Year 4.

Accelerating update

Well the only people immediately involved not wildly enthusiastic about Callum jumping to Year 4 next year appear to be Jennifer and me.

I spoke with his teacher on Friday and she was not just positive about the idea but the very thought literally made her day - it's hard to convey how happy it made her. We spoke with Callum on Saturday and he was very clear he wanted to do it in spite of us pointing out the negatives. We've spoken with him each day since and he remains very positive; and he's spoken with his teacher and they've exchanged enthusiasm. The Principal took me aside yesterday to reiterate that she thought it was the right course of action.

The remaining step is a meeting with the Learning Support Team this afternoon. We're not expecting them to present any problems, but we feel it's important to make sure the process is done completely correctly and to have a few guarantees about what will happen minuted.

I must say that while I'm happy Callum is so enthusiastic, this is a very, very stressful decision for his parents. It's one of those moments which you'll only really know if you did the right thing in retrospect, but which involves a clear, fork-in-the-road type decision.

Belts

The boys did their Taekwondo grading yesterday and seemed to pass without trouble (you don't get immediate feedback). That will make Declan a green-tip and Callum a blue-tip. For both it's going to get harder from here as there's increasing amounts to remember and get right, but they've done very well to progress this far this quickly.

Christmas tree

We put our Christmas tree up this evening. It lacks some "Vogue" style because almost all the decorations are at the eye-height of someone about 1.2m tall.

There was much excitement from the kids; and much warm glow from the parent end of things.

Acceleration rears its head again

I met with the School Principal yesterday to have a chat about teachers for next year and having Cal do the OC class test early to open up some options.

Her view was that we should move Cal to Year 4 next year. It would mean he could stay with the same teacher and with a familiar group as the years 3s from his current class would be there.

It's a very difficult decision and one that requires a lot of thought.

Depression

Callum's best friend all year has been Alex. They get on like a house on fire and spend a great deal of time together. What makes the relationship even better, from a parent viewpoint, is that Declan is really good friends with Alex's younger sister Lucinda.

Unfortunately they move to Brisbane on the weekend. Callum is clearly unhappy. In fact he's in something of a state of denial; he keeps referring to next year when Alex is back.

I feel so sorry for Cal.

Christmas Concert

Declan had his Christmas concert today (three classes of kindergarten, all performing in unison on stage - kindergarten teachers do an amazing job). He played a banksia man. I couldn't go, so Evan videoed the whole thing, and replayed it for both of us this evening. I think Declan enjoyed watching himself almost as much as performing, and gave me commentary on all the characters throughout the event.

The banksia men were the bad tempered ones who spoiled the party (the Cockatoo's Christmas party) and Declan had a great scowl on his face throughout his part.

He told me that he had wanted to be a fairy, but couldn't, because we didn't have the full fairy costume available in our house, just the wings.

I do find it interesting that he doesn't appear to have noticed that the fairies and the banksia men were the only parts that were for girls and boys only (other parts included koalas, wombats, cockatoos, magpies and santa claus). Maybe my brainwashing (boys can be fairies too) is working!

Tooth gone

For what feels like months, Callum's lower two front teeth have been loose. He's been very reluctant to do anything about it for fear of blood (he hasn't seemed too worried about pain). So tonight, Evan got his permission to try and pull it out. "You can try five times, Evan. After that it's not coming out". On the second attempt, the tooth came out, with very little blood (although Callum immediately went to check in the mirror, and spent the next half hour exploring the space with his tongue).

So he's now joined the ranks of the losers of baby teeth, and we've got to decide tonight how much the tooth fairy pays in this house.

Speech

This term, Callum's speech was about the Titanic. He got very into it, and created gestures for pretty much every part of the speech When the iceberg hit, he nearly fell over. When they were playing soccer with chunks of ice, he played soccer. And he scratched his head when the children were wondering whether their father had made it to the lifeboats.

Anyway, we discovered today that a week ago, his teacher had told him last week that they were having a mini speak-off in class between Callum and his friend Angus, to decide which of them is going to the main speak-offs (two children per class to choose the best speaker for the year). Callum has been desperately keen to make it to the speak-offs since Kindergarten. And now that he's the closest he's ever been, why didn't he tell us? "I forgot". He did the speech again tonight, for practice, and its still pretty good, so we'll see how he goes this week.

Update: Sadly Callum's teacher is away on leave, so the substitute just went with Angus for the speak-offs - presumably because he's been in it a few times before. I don't think Callum is too disappointed, he probably had a 50/50 chance, but its a shame he didn't get to go for it.

Water fighting

Tom Linigen's birthday party was officially a Star Wars party (with many attendees, including Callum and Declan, bringing their own light sabers) but unofficially it was clearly a water fighting party. All attendees were handed a water pistol (theirs to keep!) on arrival, and a few selected adults got water pump action shotguns.

Later activities included water bombing the deathstar. A good time was had by all.

Speed limiters

We went up to the mountains today for Tom Linigen's early birthday party. The boys have a new game in the car - watch the speed limit signs and beep every time the car goes faster than the speed limit. It gets a bit wearing when they are both doing it, and the car is going at 81 in an 80 zone...

Star Wars Heaven

This evening we went to the opening of the Powerhouse Museum's new Star Wars Exhibition. It is a huge blockbuster, with a great combination of real props (Millenium Falcon as you went in) and fun science experiments that are vaguely related to Star Wars (Callum programmed an R2D2 lookalike to go forward, turn a corner and go forward again).

The boys were as excited as I've seen them for a while. They dressed up in their Tae Kwon Do uniforms (to approximate Jedi Knights), and argued intensely about all the dressed up characters who were wandering around ("that was Boba Fett", "no it was Jango", "look, there's an imperial trooper!"), danced to the band, and had fish and chips from the Chewbacca Fish and Chips stall. As well as looking and marvelling at all the different props that were on display.

Callum had his picture taken (possibly for a newspaper!) having a light saber battle with Darth Vader, but Declan refused through shyness.

Because we were one of the first 100 bookings, we got a free light saber, which Evan has claimed for himself.

A-Night Awards

I am so thrilled. We just got a letter saying that both boys have been selected to recieve an award for academic excellence at the A-Night Ceremony the week after next.

I've got a stain

Declan and Callum were in full flight running down the hill from Greenwood, as they always are, when Declan suddenly stopped, made a face, and then a pronouncement, "I've got a stain". Fortunately we'd had this discussion once before, so instead of a bewildered, "what?"I was able to say, "you've got a stitch, have you? Try breathing deeply and walking for a while".

I have no idea where he got the word from. Possibly because it rhymes with pain? And he knew it was some weird word starting with "st"? Anyway, it seems quite embedded in his vocabulary. After walking some 100 metres, he said, "It's not working. I've still got a stain."

High dudgeon up the stairs

This evening the boys were getting more than usually narky with each other as bed time approach. After Callum shouted at Declan one too many times, I sent them to bed.

As Callum made his way up the stairs, Grandpa commented that he hadn't realised it was possible to flounce without petticoats before.

Anticipation

We're going to the opening night of the Star Wars exhibition at the Powerhouse next Wednesday, and Callum is in a fever of anticipation. Evan showed him the map of the exhibition yesterday (which looks much bigger than the average Powerhouse exhibit, with a Vader pizza bar, among other things). Today Callum has arranged with Alex (from school, not sure if Alex has agreed to this) exactly where they will meet. He dragged Declan upstairs to plan their costumes and lightsabers.

And I've just noticed that he has put labels on each piece of equipment to reflect the characters they are dressing up as. Alex gets a water pistol labelled as Citizen (Alex). Callum has the double pink noodle (double handed red light saber) - Darth Maul (Callum). And I think Declan has gone to sleep with his light saber.

Band

Band starts at Cammeray in Year 3. Callum and most of his friends are very enthusiastic about the prospect. Last week we went to the introduction evening which included performaces by two of the School bands. We were relieved that when the band leader tested the kids for suitable instruments she suggested the keyboard (which if it comes to pass removes the need for double lessons or a choice). However you have to choose a fall back position from the first choice, Callum chose percussion. Which was sort of strange because he spent much of the performance with his hands over his ears because of the noise.

Declan readers

Declan was re-tested for reading at the end of last week. He's now on a combination of level 30 readers and chapter books from Year 1. I must say I like it around this stage because the readers are actually interesting to read with them - did you know tigers' teeth can grow to 9cm long?

Callum a seahorse

Callum is doing swimming with the school every day for two weeks along with all the rest of year 2. He's a seahorse which appears to be the mid-range swimmers.

What I find interesting is that the lessons seem to be be about swimming, in the swimming laps sense. When I was a kid in the UK they had this great program called Personal Survival which taught just that. It taught us how to tread water, how to remove our clothes in the water (even how to make a flotation device out of your pyjamas). At the higher level it also taught how to help others. It was a fantastic program and I think it's a shame they don't do something similar here.

Bad parenting

OK It's bad; I accept that.

The boys have been playing a game called Gary's Mod. In theory its a shared environment where you can build stuff. But because it's based on a first-person-shooter games engine you can shoot stuff and blow it up too. No prizes for guessing what the boys would rather do.

And that lead to the line which I think will live for a while in our household "Callum would you please stop killing your brother!"

TV experiments

Most Saturday nights we have a bit of a TV fest, watching both The Amazing Race (videoed) and Mythbusters (live). Today that inspired two experiments - from Amazing Race's visit to an Indian laundry where everything was done by hand, Declan was inspired to make his own miniature handwashing machine, using a cereal bowl , textas to create dirt and a paper towel for the clothes. He pronounced the result Plausible.

And we all decided to test various ways of beating our burglar alarm. The most successful of which, just as on Mythbusters, was holding up a sheet in front of you as you walked through the house. Who knew?

Reading for pleasure

We just went into town to the Kinokinuya bookshop. Each family member ended up with a book to read. Declan's was a book about caterpillers, butterflies and moths (his current favourite topic). He's sitting on the couch reading it to himself, occasionally reading out his favourite bits to me.

For a family where reading is the major recreational activity, it's lovely to watch.

Youth of today

Uncle Martin came to visit on the weekend and the boys were thrilled to see him. They each had something to show him, but were most excited to play games with him on the Wii. Martin was keen to try out the Star Wars lightsabre game, but after being thrashed repeatedly by Declan, he was very relieved to play them both at Wii Tennis, where the honours were about even.

I was relieved too, but mainly because I experienced the same thrashing the last time I tried a duel with Declan on the Star Wars game.

Cheyenne Mountain and Marilyn Monroe

Callum's been reading a book of obscure facts in his classroom in his spare time. It's labelled "secret do not open" which of course attracted his attention. So this evening at dinner, we had a long conversation about Cheyenne Mountain, its secret military base, and all the clever ways in which it is protected from a nuclear strike. Callum is going to copy them all for his company when it is built in a secret site in Western Australia.

And then we had quite a detailed conversation about the death of Marilyn Monroe, how she was killed (according to Callum) in a locked room, after several mysterious telephone conversations, and with sleeping pills by her bed, and not found by her housekeeper until many hours after her death. John F Kennedy wasn't mentioned, which I was quite relieved about.

Unusual to have those two topics in one dinner conversation.

Star of the Week

Declan's class has a "star of the week" each week. The Star has a number of privileges, including leading the class line into and out of class, sitting on a chair instead of the floor when the teacher is talking to them, and wearing a badge proclaiming their status.

But the reason that Declan is floating on air this weekend at being chosen the star is that they get to take Gertie the Gorilla home with them, and write up a story with pictures about what Gertie has been up to on the weekend. Gertie has been everywhere with Declan. He even took Gertie to bed with him last night.

Today Gertie went to Zoe's birthday party, and had his picture taken with the birthday cake, pretending to eat a slice of birthday cake, and with a very bemused Zoe, who clearly had no idea why Declan thrust a gorilla at her momentarily.

Level testing

Cal's teacher took me aside yesterday and explained that she'd been giving him year 4 maths tests to check he was OK to do year 5 next year and to see if there were any gaps. In her words, he 'aced' the tests and 'it would be criminal to do anything other than have him do year 5 for maths next year'.

She also said that in her view we were going to have to consider accelerating him another year soon - an issue we agreed we'd deal with some other time.

Cal's lucky to have Nada Carapina as a teacher. She's incredibly conscientious and concerned about the kids in her charge. If only he could have her next year as well.

Fighting

Callum and Declan have had a destructive pattern for a while. Callum will goad Declan with words (not insults, exactly, just pushing his buttons). Declan will retaliate by hitting Callum. Callum will get righteously indignant and tell on Callum. And then we will have to try and make peace.

It's very tricky. Nothing Callum says is individually objectionable. But he's clearly trying to upset Declan. And Declan's hitting is prima facie, worse. But, still, Callum started it.

So we make them both sit on (separate) stairs until they can go back to whatever they were doing without fighting.

Spelling

Evan and the boys have come up with a new innovative way to do Callum's spelling homework.

The method used to be that Callum had to "look, cover, write" the week's spelling words once a day. He didn't consciously cheat, but he didn't get 100% very often at the Friday test either.

So the new method is that every Monday, Callum has to type his spelling words into the computer, and print them out. Then on the drive to school, Declan reads them out (good practice for him!) and Callum spells them, with both Declan and Evan telling Callum if he's right. Callum doesn't like the pressure, but his spelling has improved...

As an aside, they have a good system for choosing the words for the week. They have a pre-test on Mondays, and only have to learn the ones they get wrong. And the words get harder and harder to make sure they've got something to learn each week! Callum had "psychology" this week - not sure how well Declan went on reading that one on the first attempt in the car...

Swimming

Last week, at their swimming lesson, the boys had a substitute teacher. A fresh set of eyes (or suggestions) has made an enormous difference to Callum. She pointed out to Callum that when you are swimming freestyle, both arms should always keep moving, and always be at 180 degrees to each other.

Suddenly, he has figured out how to breathe without having to almost stop and tread water each time. So this morning, he almost kept up with the women swimming their laps in the next lane. He suddenly looks like a real freestyler.

The Burglar's Breakfast

The other night, when he wasn't tired, Declan decided to read his new book, the Burglar's Breakfast to himself. He called down with a progress report, "I've read three chapters!" but it wasn't until the next morning that he unveiled the full glory... He had read the whole book.

He was very very chuffed with himself, and has been telling us at intervals, for the last two days, how he read the whole book. And it had eight chapters! And he's been making sure that the whole of the family reads it, too. Because he's convinced it's the funniest book ever written.

Seeing Sculptures

Two weeks ago, we tried to go to Sculpture by the Sea with the mountain folk and the Vincent Gaynors. We spent two and a half hours driving to Bondi, driving around Bondi trying to find a place to park, and then driving back to the Vincent Gaynors for a play, without actually seeing any sculptures.

We're keen, so this morning, we decided to try again. This time, we left the house at 7.15am. We spent two and a quarter hours driving to Bondi, wandering around the sculptures, and choosing our favourites, and then driving home again.

The moral of the story... never try and park in Bondi on a Sunday afternoon.

We had a really good time. The sculpture that Declan liked the most was the bird sculpture. It had very flappy wings, flapping slowly in the wind. When you looked at it, it looked like it had sunglasses.

But I actually thought the boys were most excited when we found a parking space.

Inventing words

We've been reading a book about Shakespeare. Today's chapter pointed out how many words Shakespeare had invented in his plays, and listed a few. The boys were very impressed, but more impressed with themselves when I pointed out that they had invented their own word - "bednight" (for bednight story).

That was pretty good, but then Declan remembered that he had invented another one - "thumbtoe" - which he still uses occasionally.

Paying

Most Wednesdays, we go out to our local italian restaurant for dinner. Callum and Declan generally share a pasta (tortellini gorgonzola, ordered by Declan tonight), and Evan and I have whatever we feel like.

Tonight, Callum reached a new stage in grown-up-ness, because he did the paying. Normally he comes with me and we hand over my credit card together, but this time he did it all on his own. Went and asked for the bill, came back with a bill for my credit card, delivered it up and then brought back the slip for me to sign. He also put in his own tip (into the little jar).

He was quite proud of himself, and skipped most of the way home.

Speech

This term Declan has to do his first speech for school. One to two minutes on "my favourite animal". He chose wombats (because they are learning about them at school at the moment, so not too much research) and yesterday morning he started work.

Before we got up, he did a google image search on wombats, found a picture which he printed out, and then glued to an index card. Then he wrote the first part of his speech on the same card:

wombats
wombats hav very sharp claws. The mother digs with her pouch fasinge backwards. they hav burows.

Sleeping in

It's been cold the last couple of days, (it was only 9 this morning, which is quite wintry). It makes absolutely no difference to Callum (who gets out of bed at 6 on the dot to play Lego Star Wars) but Declan has been sleeping to nearly 7. I can see that he's one day going to be the teenager that you can't get out of bed in the morning (even if it's hard to imagine, now).

Callum on the other hand... probably will turn into the Winston Churchill type who sleeps three hours a night.

Bednight stories

We're reading a book about some kids who have time travelling adventures at bedtime at the moment. The current one is about going to one of Shakespeare's plays at the Globe. Declan is very proud of his Shakespeare knowledge, and immediately went to get our Dorling Kindersley book about Shakespeare to get extra local colour.

I first read him that book about a year ago when we were doing ATYP together. Interestingly, though, he's completely forgotten that class (in which he pretended to be a goblin from a Midsummer Night's Dream) and just remembers the facts about Shakespeare and his theatre.

Wii Fit

We've bought a Wii Fit, which the boys are enjoying. Although like every other game, Callum hates losing (or on the Wii Fit not succeeding). He's become the master of the tightrope game, which involves balancing carefully while pretending to walk across a tightrope (derrr..). But when it gets harder, and you have to jump over things, and he falls off.... he's not happy.

It's very funny watching them doing the running. The idea is that you jog on the spot, holding the remote in your hand or in your pocket, so the Wii can pick up you are running. Callum has realised this, and occasionaly stops completely, just swinging his hand. That's usually only after he's exhausted himself into a frenzy by running as fast as possible, though.

Declan's favourite game is the ski jump, in which he took an early family lead (and is still close to the top of the leaderboard, even though Evan figured out the trick to it).

School Magazine

Callum and some of his classmates have decided to start a school magazine. So far there has been a lot of planning. Callum is going to have a page called "Callum's code page". His friend Alex will have "Alex's aeroplanes". Angus will have "Angus' automobiles". And Juliette is going to be in charge of the pictures.

Callum views it purely as a money making scheme. "We're going to sell it in the canteen, and half the money will go to Cammeray Public School, and we'll get to keep the other half". He was astonished that not everyone wanted to join in. "They don't seem to want to make some money!"

But he now seems quite keen to make it a long term proposition. He's decided that his current team will have to each take on apprentices, so that when they all go on to highschool, there will be someone to continue the school magazine at Cammeray Public School.

Dental visit

I took the boys to the dentist this afternoon, just to check on Cal's loose tooth and to be sure Declan didn't have the hole he thought he had.

Dec has a small chip on one tooth which he was interpreting as a hole. The dentist said there was nothing to worry about.

Cal's tooth is fine. The dentist pointed out the one beside it is also loose and the two top teeth are looking like they're about to start. All good and we'd expect more marked developments over the coming weeks and months. She was happy with everything but warned us to watch when his major molars started coming in as that's where we'd see any impact from the various hospitalisations over the last years. She also encouraged Cal to push his loose tooth about while reading and watching TV to try to help it come out.

Tropical Holiday

We're just back from a lovely week in Palm Cove, in Far North Queensland. We went up there because two years ago we'd had a great time as there were lots of things for two boys obsessed with animals and mechanical things to do. This time, by contrast, we had a much more relaxing time, spending lots of time in the hotel pool.

Callum learned to snorkel, and spent much of the week declaring that snorkelling was his new hobby. We'd taught him (and attempted with mixed success to teach Declan) in preparation for a trip out to the reef, where Callum did have a wonderful time snorkelling with a noodle for floation assistance (although for the accompanying parent, he's just scratched the surface of what you can see). Declan, once there, was too scared to do it in the open ocean, even with accompanying parent, and his own noodle, but had a wonderful time spotting things in the glass bottom boat trip.

We also went to the Crocodile farm, and the Cairns Zoo (with some more crocodiles), so it wasn't a week with no excursions.

Highlights of the week included milkshakes in the swim up bar of the hotel pool, pizza in our very own terrace at the hotel, the beachside playground, where the play equipment forced cooperation by the way in which sand had to be loaded at the bottom to be hauled up to the top, and lots and lots of games of Killer Bunnies for the whole family.

We didn't take the computer, which worked out really well, with Callum reading his Alex Rider books fairly constantly, and Declan having a great time writing postcards (which may require a bit of translation for the recipients).

The only downside was that everyone seemed to wake up earlier and earlier all week - perhaps in unconscious preparation for our last day when Virgin Blue switched flights on us, making our civilized 11.30 am flight into a horrendous 5am departure.

Unsurprisingly, Declan was asleep on the couch by 6.30 this evening.

Spring has sprung

This evening the boys went down to the plaza under the harbour bridge for an hour or so of chasing their remote control cars with Jack. And then I joined them after work for fish and chips on the grass next to the bridge.

So we sat, as the sun went down, watching the lights of the city and the bridge gradually overwhelm the setting sun, while scoffing our fish and chips. All three boys scarpered off to the playground to let Sue and Evan and I enjoy some adult conversation, which included some reflection of how Sydney can really be a wonderful place to spend some time on a warm Spring day.

Cockatoo Island

Today we went to Cockatoo Island with the Vincent Gaynors, Langdon Linigens, and the Lees. It was a boiling hot day (over 30 degrees) so there was a lot of seeking out of shade. Although the island is a haven of enormous industrial machinery, the most popular artifact by far was a cannon near the wharf. I suspect it is a ring-in - given the island was used as a naval shipyard in a post cannon era, I can't imagine what it was doing there.

Callum, who doesn't much like the heat, enjoyed playing I-spy with Claire while they were both flopped down in the shade resting. It was perfect - Callum prefers to choose the words, while Claire prefers to guess.

Declan's favourite part of the day, though, was when he got to show his friends Aidan and Tom the new Star Wars Wii game that we acquired this week.

Morning

The boys are under strict instructions that they are not allowed to get out of bed before 6 am. For various reasons (sharemarkets, hayfever) I've been waking up very early lately, so I've found out a few things.

Callum often wakes up well before 6 (this morning it was 5ish) and turns the light on and reads until 6. He gets quite upset if I actually get up before 6, since he's not allowed to. And he actually gets out of bed at 5.59, so that he can "maximise his fun time" by not wasting the first minute after six by walking downstairs.

This morning, he heard me downstairs and came down with his lightsaber at the ready - just in case the person downstairs was an intruder. Luckily it was me. He reluctantly accepted that I was allowed downstairs because my sneezing would have woken Evan up otherwise, and then showed me how he was conquering another planet as part of his plan to conquer the universe in his Spore game.

More belts

I came home this evening to be greeted with the news that both Callum and Declan earned their next Tae Kwon Do belts today. Callum is now a green belt, and Declan a yellow. They've been going to a children's class on Wednesdays, where the grading was done, which was both easier and harder for them (than the previous adult grading).

Easier, because it was part of the normal class, and not so formal (with only one grader in attendance, their normal teacher). Harder, because they didn't have any adults to watch. Callum had to do his pattern totally on his own in front of the whole class (instead of part of a group of 4 - 2 adults and 2 children as happened last time), and Declan was the leader as his fellow yellow belter lost his place in the pattern.

Jedi Mind Control

Declan announced this evening that he wasn't ticklish any more. He proceeded to demonstrate this very effectively, too, by not laughing while I tickled him. I was impressed, and told him that he had worked out Jedi mind control (we were watching Callum and Evan play the new Star Wars Wii game at the time). Declan was scornful, "Jedi knights aren't real, Jennifer".

But Callum still wanted to know how Declan was doing it. "It's easy. I just don't laugh", explained Declan. But I took him unawares by tickling him on his feet. He laughed hysterically and explained that he hadn't got his feet under control yet.

It hit me!

Callum and Declan went to bed late last night, so when we went to the Vincent Gaynors this afternoon they were in a fractious mood, melting down easily.

Never more so than when Callum emerged from the play equipment in the nearby playground (new and very very nice) complaining that the roof had hit him three times on the head.

Cooking

This morning I made scones with Declan, something I hadn't done for a while. His grandmother has been, though. It was interesting how much better a cook he is now. Pretty much all I had to do was get the ingredients out, and help him measure them - he did most of the rest of the work, having a wonderful time rubbing the butter into the flour.

In a year or two, I suspect he'd be able to do the whole thing himself. He even wrote down a list of ingredients (albeit without the necessary measurements).

The scones were pretty good, and taken to the Vincent Gaynors this afternoon for eating.

Meeting with the School

Because of Callum's acceleration and Declan's IQ test the boys are classified as 'special needs' by the school and we meet formally with the learning support team (teacher, school counsellor and deputy principal) twice a year. These meetings have proven to be very useful in that it gives a formal, minuted opportunity to understand what's going on and why.

Both boys are tracking well. Declan's teacher feels his reading has shot forward in the last couple of months and he recently tested very highly and, importantly, that it 'has no gaps' while some of the kids who were ahead of him are now having to go back and fill in gaps in their ability to sound out or recognise words. His writing is good (my comment: a hundred times better than Cal's at this stage). His maths is excellent (he's now completed half of the year 2 outcomes on Mathletics).

The teacher's only more negative comment is that he's often hard to motivate. Part of it is he's compliant, when he's done something he doesn't kick up a fuss he just waits for the next thing; part of it is that he thrives on extrinsic motivation, he likes having someone praise him or set him a special goal. The teacher's comment was that this wasn't a problem, but it something that his teachers will need to recognise and work around next year. (Jennifer and I've recognised this for a while, but have singularly failed to change it.)

We agreed that he's progressing well, that the school would try to keep him clustered with the small group of GATTS kids as they move to year one, and we'd meet early in the New Year to assess whether anything else needed to be done.

Callum is also doing well - he's exceeding all of the outcomes and expectations. His English is still extremely good, his comprehension excellent and his writing has been becoming neater recently (!). His teacher pointed out that his maths is just way beyond expectations and we agreed he would start next year going up to a Year 5 class for maths.

His teacher pointed out that it was sometimes hard to know how much Callum is capable of because when he finishes something he quietly waits for the next thing (although, in contrast to Declan, he happily attacks any task on his own motivation.)

Impossible not to walk away pleased with the comments about the kids, but also knowing that the School recognises them and is so prepared to accommodate them.

Seven years old

Callum turned seven on Saturday. He was very blase about the experience. We had Grannie, Grandma, Grandpa, Marta, my cousin David and my Aunt Tiny over for dinner on Saturday night, along with Callum's best friend Alex and his sister Lucinda (who is luckily a friend of Declan's). Although the house was full it was a very enjoyable evening.

At seven, he is obsessed with computer games, but "reading is my life". He is reading the Hardy Boys detective series, and a spy set of stories about a boy spy called Alex Rider. He has one wobbly tooth, and blonde curly hair. We gave him the Spore computer game on Saturday morning, which has played obsessively for the rest of the weekend, with a short time off to have his party today. The party was a slot car party - at a place with a huge six car track set up specially for exactly that kind of party.

Should be accompanied by evil laugh

The scene. Callum at his computer playing Rise of Nations, Declan playing on the Wii with me helping.

DECLAN: Yeah! We got that one, let's do the next level.
EVAN: Sorry son, I have to go and make dinner. Callum would you help Dec out for a while?
CALLUM: [with a sigh] Can a boy not just focus on world domination?

Positive maths

Cal's now doing Year 5 maths on Mathletics. Luckily we're meeting with the School next week to discuss his progress, so we'll have a chance to discuss how to fit what he's doing into some more coherent structure.

Loose tooth

Callum finally has a tooth coming out. One of the middle ones on the bottom. He's totoally blase about the whole thing, in spite of Jennifer's enthusiasm!

Fathers Day treasure hunt

The boys bought presents for Evan in the Fathers' day stall on Friday, which they were very much enjoying being secretive about all Saturday.

So this morning, while Evan was still asleep, they created a treasure hunt, with three or four different clues leading Evan to where the presents were hidden.

Callum was literally jumping up and down with excitement for most of the 10 minutes it took - it was lovely to watch. While Declan got to be the one who gave away the clues by being so excited he couldn't help it.

World conqueror

Today Callum discovered a new part of our Rise of Nations computer game - the Conquer the World option. He was beyond thrilled when, just before bed this evening, he conquered his final nation to become the Conqueror of the World! He had spent most of the afternoon glued to the computer, carefully working out his tactical plays so that he could beat all the other nations.

Bow to the new Emperor Callum.

Favourite things

When Grandma and Grandpa came over for a school tour this week, Grandma asked Declan if he could write down a list of his favourite things for her.

Here it is (with original spelling)

IndianA jones
LeGo
STAR WARS
Fiating gaims
making stuf
coucing
my dog and blangcee
my catrpier
letrs
nunbrs
school
green wood

Little things that make me smile

Callum sitting watching television with his laboratory safety goggles on.

Declan refusing to let go when he hugs us.

Callum asking Declan to help him get through stages of their current computer game.

Both boys continuing to try when getting things wrong on Mathletics.

Our daily tally of cyclists we see on the ay to school (the record is 16).

Update on upset

A few weeks ago Cal came home upset about something that had happened in the playground. We assumed he'd been bullied in some way. It turned out to be far more complicated than that.

Last year and early this year Angus was Cal's best friend. However over the last few months Alex has become Cal's best friend and Angus is jealous. We've tried to deal with this gently a few times but Cal's singular focus makes it difficult.

Anyway on the day in question Angus had got upset at Alex and Callum playing on a bench and Callum and Angus had refused to allow him to join them on the bench. Things escalated until Callum and Angus were both upset. So Callum had been unprepared to discuss it not so much because he was embarrassed at what had been done to him (as we thought) but because he was embarrassed about what he'd done.

Anyway things have improved a bit, but the fundamental 'problem' remains unchanged: and will do as it's really up to him who he plays with.

The important things

Callum will seriously inform you when you talk about books that: "Computers are my hobby, reading is my life".

Declan's reading

Over the last week Declan has leapt forward again with his reading, he's jumped over multiple reader levels at school and is generally much more confident at home. He's even begun reading in bed at night by himself - a Magic Schoolbus book last night.

Certificate of Appreciation

Declan got his first Certificate of Appreciation from the school this week. These get sent through the mail once a student has accumulated 50 points from various sources.

Kinder bunnies

We've recently been playing two related card games - Kinderbunnies and Killerbunnies - Killerbunnies is the more advanced version.

It's hard to describe, but involves trying to stop each other, by many different methods, from collecting bunnies and carrots (special types of cards in the game). The boys enjoy it, but not so much when anything does anything "mean" to them. Playing as a parent is a careful balancing act between giving "meanness" to the boys (as a normal player of the game), and deciding just how much to give before the resulting tears and tantrum wasn't worth it.

On balance, it works well, particularly when Callum and Declan decide to gang up on the parents, which is lots of fun for all concerned.

Bookshop

Last night Callum and Declan had a sleepover at Griffin and Isabel's place. They were so excited they packed for themselves (after some gentle discouragement for Declan who wanted to take every toy in the house with him). Half an hour before we were due to go, they were both walking around the house with their backpacks on, and shoes on - it was a great event. As we were leaving them they were both pretty distracted, but condescended to be kissed goodbye.

Anyway, the point of my post is that this morning we had decided to go to Kinokinuya, which is one of our favourite bookshops in the world. Jane and Griffin and Isabel decided to come with us (Peter being still asleep) and we had a wonderful time.

The adults took turns to keep an eye on the four children in the childrens' section while we browsed - at one point (when it was my turn) I was happily sitting with them (reading my own book) in the picture window while Griffin read aloud exciting natural history facts from an encyclopaedia they'd found nearby.

After purchasing books, we went to a nearby cafe for restorative caffeine and milkshake, and they all four sat happily reading their purchases while occasionally chatting to the grownups.

It's lovely to see all four of them together - they interact wonderfully, and Griffin is very protective of our two, particularly Declan, at all times.

Fainting

For some time now, Declan has used the phrased, "I fainted!" to convey complete amazement. I was having a conversation with him the other day, and realised that he had no idea what it meant. Now I've explained it to him (using Callum's scary experience as an example), he's started putting it into action.

Last night at dinner, I mentioned that I had seen the dad of one of his classmates at work yesterday. Declan slumped back in his chair, closed his eyes, and did a great impression of a fainting boy. When he sat up again, I asked him what just happened. He said that he had fainted in amazement.

Using my imagination

Callum has been playing a computer game at school a bit this week (no I don't know how it fits into the curriculum!) It involves being a miner and finding gold in mines and other places.

This evening when we were talking about the day, Callum told us excitedly that he had found three new gold mines! Evan and I both exclaimed over the amount of time he was spending playing with computers.

He said, in a very superior tone, "No, I was using my imagination!". It turns out that he and his friends decided that the drain covers were gold mines and made up a game that involved finding them in the playground.

Good work cards

Declan got two good work cards today, and Callum got one. Declan's were for various classroom efforts, but Callum's were for being brave in the gym (he did a "forward roll" and "muscle hold" off the single bar). We gave Declan a special treat for getting two good work cards, and Callum pointed out plaintively that, "it's very rare for me to get a good work card in the gym, Jennifer", so I gave him a special treat as well.

Writing

Declan's class has just started writing stories (instead of writing about their weekends). Declan was very taken with it this morning, and wrote a long (derivative) story about a sparkly fairy, her room in a palace and the evil goblins.

It was the most I've seen him get into a writing task and his teacher was impressed. But I was also impressed with her for deciphering his spelling! He was very keen to get the words down, so even words he knew how to spell, he just went with his best phonetic guess. The fairy's (faree) name was roobee, and she lived in a pallis.

Getting better

Declan went back to school today, as he's mostly better. He's still coughing (and on antibiotics) but back to his usual self. He told me he was very pleased to be back at school, and that both Nicholas's (who sit at his table) were very excited to see him as well.

Evan is unfortunately now the sickest in the family.

Upset

When I picked up Callum from school today he said he'd had a bad day and didn't want to talk about it. He's resisted all probing ever since; both Evan and I have had a go. I ran into his teacher while picking him up, and she told me that she'd been teasing Callum because he split his lunch over himself. He was upset to be reminded of that, but said that something else happened as well.

We've narrowed it down to something happening to him in the playground at lunchtime, but I doubt if he's going to tell us.

Medical update

Callum seems pretty much better today, so he went to school. Evan and Declan very much weren't, so I stayed home from work and took them both to the doctor. Evan's got (as we thought) flu, which should be over soon. Declan's flu has transitioned to bronchitis, and the doctor said he won't be back at school until Thursday at the earliest.

He spent another two hours this afternoon napping, and was a long way from his normal self all day.

He perked up a bit after dinner with the combination of some antibiotics, and a worksheet from school that his teacher gave me for him (when I picked up Callum).

I don't want to talk about it

Callum had a veru bad day at school today. Two bad things happened. First he spilt some yoghurt while eating lunch. Ms Carapina, his teacher, joked that she'd have to feed him like a baby if he did it again and the class laughed. He was not happy.

The second and even more upsetting event occurred out in the playground. Callum won't discuss it in spite of our efforts.

It's these moments when you're helpless as a parent.

Declan is sick

Declan has bronchitis - diagnosed in record time by the doctor after one listen to his chest. He's on antibiotics and will be off school for a couple of days.

Declan is sick

Declan continued to sound unwell this morning and so we took him to the Doctor (he had the appointment immediately after my own). The doctor took one quick listen to Declan's chest and exclaimed, "He is sick isn't he?". Dec has bronchitis and is now on antibiotics and will be off school for a few more days.

(Cal seems to have reovered fully. I have a bad case of the flu.)

Cushion fight

This afternoon, as the current two invalids (Evan and Declan) took an afternoon nap, Callum and I amused ourselves with a cushion fight. We sat in the chairs at opposite sides of the couch and took turns throwing cushions at each other. Callum was in hysterics through most of it - particularly any time I managed to hit him. Possibly he's been inside a little bit too much this weekend... hard to tell.

Olympics

Callum and Declan are not particularly excited by the Olympics (at least watching it - I think they quite like the concept). But tonight I happened to turn the TV on just as Australia was in the process of winning a gold medal. Callum got very excited when they won, and then they both very much enjoyed singing along with the national anthem at the medal ceremony.

Callum has a project to do for school which involves reading an article about the Olympics each day and summarising it - I realise on doing it with him how little he really understands about sport and how it all works - he's getting the races, but team sports like basketball are a bit beyond him. I'm sure its very education for them both.

Intercom

Evan was sick with the flu today, and so upstairs in bed for most of the days. After lunch, when he was feeling a bit better, Evan remembered that our phone has an intercom setting, and so had a lot of fun with Callum . He would call, and Callum would answer, and Evan would ask for orange juice, or a biscuit, or a coffee.

Callum took great delight in acting as Evan's waiter, asking Evan each time what his new order was, and clearing away the dirty plates.

Not sure how long the great service is likely to last.

Sick still

Callum went back to school today having missed Friday, Monday and Tuesday. It tired him out so much that he was asleep by 7.30 (he's often still reading at 9) having woken up at 7 this morning instead of his usual 6.

Declan went to school today, but spent about half an hour in sick bay because of excessive coughing, and I doubt if he will be at school tomorrow, as he faded very badly this evening.

Lazy weekend

Callum has had a horrible cold all weekend (including Friday - he didn't go to school) and so we've all had quite a relaxing weekend. After a day in on Saturday watching some Olympics and some Thunderbirds, with a few computer games mixed in, we went over to the Cants for dinner. Callum promptly fell asleep on the couch while the other children played Club Penguin.

And today, everyone had a relaxing morning followed by a party for Jack Binney at Wizzy world - Callum spending the majority of the time reading quietly with the grownups.

Declan's a bit stir crazy by now, but it's been good for them both to laze around the house for a change.

Reading

Declan's reading is continuing to improve. Tonight at bedtime he read me The Gingerbread Man (simple early reader edition) mostly fluently and with expression. It was nice to see him taking in the story too, as he read. He particularly enjoyed anticipating what came next as soon as the fox came into the picture, but just darkly hinting at the possibilities, rather than spoiling the end for me.

Visiting

Yesterday we went to visit the Gaynor Vincents and their new baby Alex. We were very lucky to actually see him awake (since by all reports he tends to save his awake time for the middle of the night so far). Callum and Declan barely noticed the new baby, instead being very excited to play with the XBox Kung Fu Panda game that Paul thoughtfully brought out for the gaggle of children who had come for baby viewing.

Zac Power

Yesterday, when we went to the bookshop, we discovered, to our amazement, that there were four new Zac Power books! (Callum clarifies that it's really just one whole mega mission). Last night Callum read all four before going to sleep. He couldn't stopped until he'd finished, and he was sucked in by the "to be continued" which was at the end of the first three.

Luckily the last one said "The End" otherwise Callum would still be reading this morning!

Paper boys

The boys are gracing the front page of today's Mosman Daily: http://www.mosmandaily.com.au/ and http://www.mosmandaily.com.au/images/2008/07/30/crosswalk.jpg.

Callum's project

For the first time Callum had a major project that stretched over several months: it was handed in today. It fell into two parts.

The first was to write a biography of an Olympian. Callum created a little book on one of the Australian Tae Kwon-do team. It wasn't a bad effort but did reflect the only less-positive comment from last term's report: that he doesn't always take pride in his work. Jennifer and I decided he had to take responsibility for it and after having pushed him into some minor tidying-up left it as it was.

The second part was to make a model of the sport. For this the boy who's current motto is "books and computers are my life" decided on programming a game. Both boys have done some programming with me using a fantstic programming environment called Scratch. Scratch is incredibly intuitive and designed from the ground-up to be accessible to kids (although it's fun for adults too!). So Cal only needed minimal help to put together what you'll see if you follow this link.

Self-image

We have a couple of things where the boys need to make little avatars to represents themselves on screen. In Mathletics the major reward for completing things is the capacity to buy new clothes, hairstyles etc. On the Wii you can create a Mii, or more than one. And then, of course, there is Club Penguin, Toontown and Indiana Jones which also allow creation but less directly tied to the real individiual.

It's fascinated me to watch the process of picking a look in action. First, both boys like being girls; not exclusively, but certainly very happily. Callum tends to stay closer to reality though; he likes to create characters that look good. Declan loves strange clothes, coloured hair and generally strange names for his characters. I fear this may say something about their personalities and more concerningly about their fashion choices in later years.

There is hope, though. We were all watching The Aamazing Race recently when a couple had to get a tattoo as part of the race. Jennifer and I were at pains to explain how this worked and the fact it would never come off. I think the boys went off to bed having firmly placed tattoos in their personal pantheon of 'bad things' on a level only slightly below that held by smoking.

Mathletes

Both boys finished their year-level in Mathletics this week. Because we wanted to be sure of their competency before moving them up, they've each also completed half of the next year-level. So Dec is now working through Year 1 and Callum is doing year 4.

Declan's reading

In the last week Declan's reading has shot forward. It's been pretty good compared to most of his classmates, but we've never been able to grasp why a child who has been able to play i-spy so effectively for such a long time hasn't been able to consistently recognise the same word twice on a page.

Suddenly this week he's reading books 3-4 levels above those he was reading two weeks ago and reading them surprisingly fluently and with expression.

It's either 'just one of those things' or due to encouragement over the last couple of weeks to read three letters at a time when sounding out words instead of one at a time. I honestly don't know, but I'm happy wither way.

Sports carnival

The boys had their sports Carnival today. Much enthusiasm at the beginning and much exhaustion by the end.

Both very very happy to have come seventh in their main foot race (their reaction was lovely to see). Dec came second in his egg-and-spoon race; Callum came third in his.

Wasting energy

Today we went to Cockatoo Island, which is hosting the lion's share of the Sydney Biennale. It is a fantastic site - lots of old rusty machinery to look at and figure out (reasonably safely fenced off, where necessary) with huge indoor and outdoor spaces to run around in.

We didn't get that much out of the Biennale itself (although there were a couple of installations that caught everyone's imaginations, notably the huge hall full of sails, which was fantastic for hide and seek), but had a great time wandering around the island, and will definitely go back.

Although both boys had a great time, Callum is still very bitter. He was in charge of the map, but Evan overruled him at one point to take us through the longer of two tunnels through the middle of the island. Callum could see very clearly on the map just how much longer we had to walk, and has been complaining about the energy he wasted at 10 minute intervals ever since.

Go Australia!

Yesterday we went and saw the Australian (men's) Olympic soccer team play NZ at North Sydney Oval. Very civilized - walking up to the oval, sitting on the grass in the sun, and best of all, watching Australia beat NZ 3-2. The women had also won earlier, but we only saw the end of their match - didn't think the boys would sit through two full length soccer matches.

Declan loved waving a flag, and insisted that we buy Australian flags to take with us. Callum spent most of the second half draped over a fence with Griffin cheering madly. Declan and Callum were both shocked when I explained to them that their Grandpa would be cheering for NZ if he had been there - but eventually they understood. Declan also spent a fair bit of time drawing pictures in Isabel's sketchbook which Jane had thoughtfully brought with her for them both.

It was a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon - North Sydney Oval is a lovely ground.

Distraction

I remembered today why I shouldn't be surprised that Callum's maths report was better than his english. As we were waiting for the tae kwon do grading to finish (you have to wait while each level is tested, and the lower levels don't have to do much compared with the higher), Callum complained of boredom.

Evan, inspired, started asking him to find the square roots of things. All boredom vanished, as he tried to puzzle out first 81, then 121, then (a very tricky one as its more than the times tables) 225. He was stumped at 400, interestingly enough.

Wii

The boys were on a promise that when they both completed a difficult task they would get a Wii. They got the Wii on Thursday and have been largely glued to it ever since.

The perfect wii-moment came yesterdya. They were doing the boxing game and both got so hot they took off their shirts. So there they are, bare-chested boxing on a computer game.

Grades

It's been a bit of a testing and results couple of days for the boys.

First they got their reports. Both did very well indeed. Declan's kindy report doesn't involve as amuch detailed information as Callum's year 2 report, but both were extremly positive. Callum's was truly so.

Then, today, they did their taekwondo grading. Jennifer and I were extremely proud of the way they focussed and tried; and both have moved up a grade - Declan is now a Yellow-tip and Callum a Green-tip.

Have to say Declan was etraordinaily cute doing his grading amongst a group of adults - especially when the teacher pointed out that he was the only person doing the kiyup (the shout you do as you complete a punch).

Belts

Today was the Tae Kwon Do grading, and we all went for our belts. Declan is now a yellow tip, I am a yellow belt, Callum a green tip, and Evan a green belt.

Callum and Declan both did really well remembering their patterns and doing what they were asked by the graders - especially Declan because it was his first time.

Callum had to do some sparring to get his belt, and we were pleased to see him actually trying a few tae kwon do moves, rather than randomly kicking and punching. One of his fellow (now) green tips is about the same size as him, which made the whole thing very cute to watch.

End of term

It's the last day of term 2 today, and I'm not sure if the boys could have lasted another day. They've been waking up really early lately (5.30 yesterday) and as a consequence have been really ratty in the evenings. They're both really enjoying school, but it'll be good for them to have a bit of a break.

They both got reports from the first half of the year - both very complimentary (Callum's especially so). Interestingly they are both better at maths than literacy, which surprised me somewhat (although doing well in both).

Work life balance

Declan and I were chatting about occupations last night, and Declan said that he really didn't want to do any work when he grew up. I asked him where he was going to get his money from, and this was clearly a new concept to him - that he would have to work for money.

He eventually decided that he would work three days a week only, and that would be sufficient for his needs.

Waiting room

Evan went to the dentist in the city this week, and had to take Callum with him, as he wasn't feeling quite well. When I got there, 45 minutes into the appointment, Callum was happily sitting in the waiting room, most of the way through his Roald Dahl omnibus.

It's quite handy, sometimes, having a voracious reader.

Absent minded

We were having dinner the other night and Callum was musing over a way of making something invisible. After coming up with a couple of ideas he found one he liked. He then calmly explained that he'd just bitten his finger while working it out.

Maybe you had to be there...

Houses

Recently we went through our periodic angst about possibly moving house to Cammeray, when we found a very nice house near the school. Callum and Declan were both definitely against the idea, which surprised us. Callum because, "I like living in Glen Ayr" (which is the name of our house). Declan because, " that house is very brown" (it was, in a very trendy way).

And the Cants up the road (Jane, Peter, Griffin, Isabel) have finally moved back in having finished their renovations. Both boys were very taken with Isabel's new room, as it has a secret cupboard! Inside Isabel's wardrobe is another door which takes you to attic storage.

We're now trying to figure out what these fragments of house commentary mean for what, if anything we should do to this place, now we've decided we're staying for a while.

This message will self destruct

Callum has to give a speech each term at school. This term the topic was what he wanted to be when he grew up. No prizes will be given to anyone guessing: inventor. The only problem was that he couldn;t say very much because it's all SECRET!

He did more practice than normal with this one and the teacher seemed to like it, commenting (as reported by Cal) that his eye-contact was excellent and he spoke in a very clear voice.

Merger of great companies

Over dinner Declan delcared he would be an inventor when he grew up or maybe a designer. There was some discussion about who should work for whose company. Then it became apparent they could each have their own company and connect them via a teleport machine. Declan's face just lit up and there followed much enthusiastic inventing.

(They came up with a variation on Cal's aero-car which has jets which use carbon dioxide for fuel thus cleaning the atmosphere while it flies.)

Virtual worlds

Callum is very into Club Penguin and his two best friends are too. This has lead to them having a Club Penguin Club where they discuss, well you can work it out, at School and arrange meetings and tasks for when they are at home.

It does seem to work well and allow some interaction when they are in their various homes. However given none of them can type well, the interaction is far more effective when they phone each other up or visit each other's houses. So they can't quite lose themselves online yet.

Marshmallow Gun

Callum's friend Angus has come over this afternoon for a play. Because it's a rainy, grey day, Evan has found an activity for them - making a marshmallow gun. Take lots of bits of PVC pipe, put them together, pop a marshmallow into it, and then blow into one end, so that the marshmallow will come out of the other end.

Even better is when you attach the gun to a bicycle pump, and get the marshmallow to go over the back gate! Hopefully the possums will eat it.

Sleepover

Callum and Declan went for a sleepover at Milly and Alice's house last night (who are also in Yr2 and K at Cammeray, and live around the corner). Declan had spent pretty much the whole afternoon in a state of incandescant excitement at the prospect.

The highlight was a Nintendo Wii, which was new for Milly and Alice that day, and may well lead to a bit of purchasing pressure from the boys once they realise that we could actually buy one here also.

Slapped cheeks

With the aid of Dr Google, Evan and I have diagnosed Declan with Slapped Cheek disease. He started on Sunday with bright red cheeks, then last night he pointed out to us a rash on one of his ankles, and now this evening he's got a "characteristic lacy rash" on both arms, legs, and starting on his torso.

He's completely fine otherwise. The symptoms (again according to Dr Google) seem to be less than the common cold, apart from the rash. So we've just been trying to explain viruses to Declan ("why does the virus make my face red?") with limited success, and letting him go to school regardless.

Indiana Jones

We've been gradually going through more and more of an Indiana Jones phase in this house. This week it just got a whole lot bigger. On Friday, Evan gave the boys the Indiana Jones lego game (Declan was sick home from school as he had been vomiting, and Evan let Callum stay home as well with a claimed headache), and today we all went to the new movie, after watching one of the old ones on DVD last night.

The lego game has given them a whole new insight into the series - Callum's main point of conversation is that "girls have more agility than boys, they can jump higher" - mainly because that's what the main female lego character does.

Birthday weekend

For my birthday this weekend, we went up to the mountains and stayed in Leura. It was a surprise, which Callum and Declan did very well in keeping a secret (although their faces did give away that something was up!)

We stayed at the Fairmont resort, which is a large complex. The boys have said that we will always have to stay there when we go to the mountains in future - the swimming pool was the clincher.

When Declan and Callum were sitting in their pyjamas having their room service fish and chips in front of the movie Ratatouille, having just had a swim, and a game of pinball, Callum said happily, "this is the life!" We left them contentedly finishing off their dinner with a babysitter while we went and had a nice grownup dinner of our own.

Then today we went back down the mountains via the Langdon Linigens, to admire their new goalposts, and let the children run around with every possible form of ball sport while we had lunch.

Spit to Manly

Today we did the Spit to Manly walk. It started out and ended a beautiful sunny day, but just a couple of kilometres from Manly we got a small downpour.

The boys did very well. There was a small phase in the middle where Callum, in particular, kept asking how much further there was, but the administration of some chocolate fixed that.

It was quite funny watching their faces last night when we suggested we might do the walk this morning. Declan was unreservedly keen, but Callum's face went through several expressions of not being particularly keen, realising that objecting wouldn't make any difference, and then composing his face to looking enthusiastic for our walk in the morning. It's good to see he's learning how to react, even if he's still pretty transparent.

Star Wars meets Indiana Jones

As part of the loot from his birthday party, Declan got sets of Indiana Jones and Star Wars Lego. The boys decided tonight to make a stop motion movie from them. Rough plot - Indiana Jones and his father drive up to a checkpoint in their motorbike with sidecar. Knock over the checkpoint, and the hospital patient waiting there. Suddenly, a spaceship lands. R2D2 gets out to help everyone. Indiana Jones takes his place in the spaceship and it takes off.

There are a few hanging unresolved plot elements remaining from this movie (which only lasts 30 seconds), but I'm sure they will be resolved in future episodes.

Invention Book

There was consternation this evening, as Callum realised he had mislaid his invention book. This is the book (an A5 notebook) that he writes down and draws all his inventions as they occur to him. We talked through where it might be. In his secret place under the bed? No, he'd looked there, and taken everything out, and it was missing! Could he remember the last invention he put into it? Aha! Hypnogoggles, he remembered! and then he remembered putting it into a drawer near the lego to hide it from spies.

But then, disaster! It wasn't there either. Still nowhere to be found.

Finally, Evan sifted through all the accreted junk by Callum's computer. Triumph! An invention book, which Callum clutched to his chest while falling asleep.

Parties

A belated report on our party weekend last weekend.

Saturday was Jennifer's 40th, at a bowling club. The boys (after a shaky start) had a great time playing lawn bowls. They mostly understood it, but with occasional moments when they decided to run away with the jack instead of playing. Callum was very impressed with the cake - not the part that the adults were impressed with (a sculpture of a stylized pregnant Jennifer), but with the cake being in the shape of a 40.

The Lees stayed overnight, which Callum and Declan were very excited about - with Aidan sharing their room. And then Sunday afternoon was Declan's star wars party. A space knight (a distant cousin of the Skywalkers, for copyright reasons) turned up to play lots of star wars games with all of Declan's friends, or as he renamed them, the Jedi club. Declan (and his friends, from the looks of it) had a great time, and Declan was thrilled getting lots of presents.

On Sunday evening we were all quite exhausted.

Battleships

Tonight we managed to have a non computer TV evening by playing Board games (possibly inspired by the McManus-Bateys). First all four of us played Blokus (which we'd forgotten how to play tactically after six months hiatus) and then the boys settled down to play Battleships on their own.

They can't quite manage it yet, Declan needs a bit of reassurance that he understands the coordinate system. So after a few almost meltdowns, I went over to sit with Declan and give him hints. But it was almost a full game, Callum against Declan. By the end, when we had a couple of ships each to find, they started giving each other hints - quite hilarious to listen to.

They mostly involved trying to hint where "the swimming was nice". The trouble was, Callum suggested the swimming was nice where he didn't have a ship, whereas Declan's more nuanced hint was "the swimming is nice in row B, but then I got hit by a torpedo" (meaning that his submarine was in that row).

Providentially, I suspect, Callum accidentally knocked over his board before either of them won, and I packed them off to bed to dream about their almost victory.

New pen

During Declan's birthday festivities, Granny produced a pen she had found somewhere (probably lifeline). It is a folding pen, which is labelled Callum. It is now Callum's favourite thing, and is attached to his belt loop at all times. With the smallest provocation, he will whip it out and show you all its features, particularly noting how useful it is if he needs to write on something at waist height.

Tired

We went out on Saturday night for an evening of Board games with the McManus Batey family. We were having such fun (the grown-ups, particularly), that we didn't actually get home until about 9.30. The boys rose at their usual hour this morning, and have been fairly short tempered all day.

But this afternoon we went to the Ian Thorpe swimming pool (next to the Powerhouse) and had a fun time exploring it. It's got a mammoth inflatable slide in the Olympic pool (so big that you have to prove you can swim 10 metres unassisted before you're allowed on) and two smaller pools which are lovely and warm (one including various exciting fountain and bubble effects). Highly recommended, even though Declan did need a fair bit of help to climb up the slide.

The combination of lack of sleep and swimming meant that the boys were asleep by about 7.30.

Happy Birthday Declan

It was Declan's 5th birthday today, and he was very excited. He's been looking forward to it for months. At 6 am, he and Callum bounded into our room so he could open presents - a star wars dress up from us, and an air/water pistol from Callum. He took cupcakes to school for the class to share at morning tea, and told me that next week he will get a Birthday certificate at assembly!!

And this afternoon the grandparents came over and he was showered with lego star wars gear. The best present, though, was a star wars activity book which Granny found somewhere that Callum and Declan did together for much of the evening.

Right now, if it isn't already clear, he is obsessed with Star Wars. Trains are a bit passe, as are the Thunderbirds. He is friends with all the children at his table at school and loves playing tip and spies with them in the playground at lunchtime. And although he is sometimes shy with strange adults (like waiters and shop assistants) he seems to go into every new playground with the knack of finding someone roughly his own age to play with.

Declan's reading

Declan's reading is coming along in leaps and bounds. He was re-tested at school this week and has moved up to level 6. His teacher had some very complimentary things to say as well.

As I write this the boys are sitting on the couch reading with Callum helping Declan with the bigger words.

Harry Potter

Last night we decided to introduce the boys to the world of Harry Potter, by watching the movie. Callum had already read the first book, and as a result wasn't keen on the movie. "I don't like Harry Potter, it's not real. Magic is old fashioned. I prefer spies". We convinced him, though (mainly through not providing an alternative), and he really seemed to love it. Declan was quite scared through the scary bits (especially the chess game at the end), but they were both quoting bits of it this morning.

It will be interesting to see if Callum decides to try the books again.

Train reprise

On Friday, when the grandparents came, Grandma spent a bit of time with Callum and Declan making train tracks (which they haven't done for a while). As a result, the floor of the landing upstairs, their bedroom, the playroom and our wardrobe is now covered in train tracks.

Callum spent some time explaining the system to me this morning, "the train comes along this track, and then goes around this turntable, so it can leave it's tender behind. Then it goes across this ski-jump, as a test, and then it goes down the snowboarding route [which is the small ramp next to the stairs, all the way down to the ground floor]". I'm not quite sure why, but they have decided that snowboarding is the next big recreational activity for the trains of the Island of Sodor.

This morning they were also watching the Thomas the Tank Engine movie for the first time in a long time.

Exhausted

After two weeks of school holidays in which the boys (particularly Callum) regularly refused to go to sleep until 9 or even 10 (that was Callum reading under the bed clothes), both boys were fast asleep at 8 tonight. Callum's book thumping to the floor from his listless fingers at 7.55 was a giant clue.

Not sure how Evan finaly managed to tire them out - I think it was the resumption of the swimming lessons. School tomorrow, which I think they are both looking forward to.

Old technology

We have one of our early mobile phones in the dressup box - a Nokia that was the height of technological cool when Evan first got it eons ago (in tech-years, at least). Declan was playing with it. I asked him who he was phoning. "It's not a phone, Jennifer, it's a walkie-talkie!... reporting to Echo Base...reporting to Echo Base..."

Mad doctor

Yesterday we went for lunch at the Gaynor Vincent's place, with the Linigen Langdons also. It's a great place for children to have a run in doors, as there is a nice wide hallway which runs the (considerable) length of the house without any stairs.

All five children (with poor Zoe tending to trail a bit, but not seeming to mind) made up a game which involved Callum being a doctor who was trying to immunise them all, and the rest of them running shrieking away from him any time he got near them.

ATYP

This week the boys have been doing ATYP - just in the mornings. This morning they had their end of week "show" which was less of a show than normal, since it was only four mornings of classes. The teacher led them through some of the various imaginative playing they had been doing, "pretend to be a rocket. Now you've landed on the planet bounce. Now get back in your rocket. Now you've landed on the planet sophisticated".

They also had to pretend to be things in a very weird kitchen - things you wouldn't normally see in a kitchen - Callum chose to be a TV (which I found amusing, as I'm sure they're quite common these days) and Declan chose to be a lightning conductor.

Callum, as always, loved it, but Declan was quite nervous about the idea of a show, and actually said he didn't want to go this morning. But during the "show" itself, he was fine.

Sharing

Declan worked out how to spell 'finish' by himself and so I gave him a special treat. For us a 'special treat' is generally a few mini M&Ms, and so he received four or five. He contemplated them for a moment and then utterly without prompting went and gave half of them to Callum.

I'm so proud of him.

Folk Songs

About a year ago, my parents gave me the present of an old record I loved as a child - Australian Folk Songs, by Alex Hood - on CD. In the past month or so, we've been playing it for the boys after they've gone to bed.

Tonight, Declan, unprompted, asked whether he could have the music on, and specifically mentioned his favourite by singing the first verse - the Queensland Drover (happens to be my favourite as well).

I suspect that, once upon a time, knowing the words to Australian folk songs would have been a useful life skill (particularly if you could also play the guitar). Now, I suspect, it is a small obscure piece of knowledge, shared with few (but it gives me a warm feeling to share it with Declan).

Looking after Declan

The boys are doing ATYP this week, and, for a rarity, are in the same class. They were both very pleased when they found this out, particularly Declan, and it's paid off.

They both explained to us this afternoon that a boy had been bullying Declan just before the class started (and Declan's friend Patrick) and Callum had told the boy to leave them alone, had protected Declan, and then gone to find the teacher. Although Declan was clearly a bit shaken by the experience (of having his face pushed into a crashmat), it was good that Callum was there to look after him, and good for them both to work as a team.

Recording for posterity

During our trip to Questacon Canberra, we saw a stage show about Newtonian physics (Boom Crash Boing!). Callum was thrilled to be invited on stage as a volunteer. He got to drop a ball, demonstrating potential energy turning into kinetic energy, and go and fetch a banana for the presenter (after first very convincingly going bananas, after being asked to do so by Sven the presenting crash test dummy).

When Callum looked at his watch on stage during a bit of exposition from the presenter (an explanation of kinetic energy), I was worried he was bored. He wasn't. It turned out that he was checking the exact time so that he could record the exact time of the thrilling moment in his Canberra diary.

Canberra visit

It being school holidays, we decided a little bit of a holiday was in order, and we spent the weekend in Canberra. We drove down on Friday afternoon (after a compulsory stop at the Lolly Swagman in Berrima), and then had two nights at a serviced apartment in Kingston before driving back this afternoon.

Highlights: Questacon (of course!) for Callum - the inventions gallery (with its demonstration safe), and the newtonian physics show at Questacon for Evan. For Declan and me, a visit to the National Gallery's Turner to Monet exhibition was lovely. Not so much because the show was great (it was a bit of a mixed bag - some fantastic paintings, and quite a few paintings that appered there to make up the numbers), but for me, because both boys were reasonably willing to spend a bit of time there, and for Declan because he got a spirograph pen with his own pocket money from the gift shop.

Lowlights: a lack of sleep, because Callum failed utterly to sleep on Friday night (for no obvious reason), and Declan spent much of Saturday night vomiting.

I was, like,

Declan is turning into a Valley Girl (or whatever the modern equivalent is). Whenever he is describing a situation to us, and his own actions, he will say, "I was, like, running fast, and, like, he was catching up to me"

I assume he's picked it up from school, because I don't think anyone in the house talks that way (although I may have missed it!)

Spelling

I was reading tonight to Declan, about the growing human body. We got to a little section about children starting school, and how they start to learn to read and write. I said to Declan, "you're learning to read, aren't you?". He replied, "yes, but I don't write very well." When I started to protest, he cut in, "I can spell 'poo', though!"

Capitalism

This evening, after dinner, Declan decided to make fans with me. I had to help him a fair bit through the paper folding part of the excercise, but once that was finished he took each fan off to bind one end with black tape.

"Jennifer, I think we should sell these fans to people. We can tell them that they are special because they have special black tape on them. We'll take them out into the streets and say, ''Fans for sale! Only 9 dollars! with special black tape!'""

I don't know if that is related to an earlier conversation I had with him in which I explained that I had to go to work tomorrow (even though it is school holidays) because that's how we got money to buy things.

School holidays

Today was the last day of school term. Declan celebrated tonight, just before bed, by writing a note for both his and Callum's bed. "no school tomorrow". Callum went one better, and wrote himself a more detailed note, which he bluetacked where he was sure to see it in the morning - "no school from 11.04.08 to 01.05.08". He was a bit disappointed when I pointed out to him that he was going back to school on the 29th.

They both seem to be enjoying school this year - Callum, I think more than last year (although that impression is always gained eliptically, rather than him telling me anything), but they're both ready for a holiday, too.

Noses turned up

In a "I can't be bothered cooking" moment tonight, I ordered Thai from our local, Stir Crazy. It's one of the better Thai takeaways around, and as I said to the boys, of course you should like it! Noodles - very similar to pasta - with chicken and tofu, and not much spice (we had Pad Thai). Also, spring rolls, and money bags, which are basically fried pastry wrapped around corn and peas.

Callum very patiently explained to me that, "not everyone has the same tastebuds, Jennifer, and I really don't like it."

I'm going to have to find another Thai restaurant I like, with a completely different name, so that they don't realise.

Excursion

Yesterday, Callum went on an excursion to Bondi Beach. Evan got to go with him. Callum says,
"We made a museum at the beach out of lots of things, even cigarette butts! Then we made a giant blue-ring octopus out of sand. We pushed our feet in the sand and then dragged them along to make the octopus.

Evan and our guide stood far apart to mark out how long some whales were. The hump-back whale was as big as 20 of my biggest steps. The blue whale was as big as 44 of my biggest steps."

Where is the Green Sheep?

Tonight, after reading Declan his bednight story, I left him with the book Where is the Green Sheep? because he wanted some more stories. I told him to try reading it.

Ten minutes later he called me back upstairs, wanting to read it to me. He was very proud of himself. While six months ago he could recite it by looking at the pictures, this time he could read nearly all the words (although he was still a little inclined to guess at the adjectives from the pictures). He put on expression for his favourite parts (yawning and pretending to be sleepy for the bed sheep, for example), and commenting to me on how he'd worked out some of the words through a combination of sounding out the words and looking at the pictures.

It was lovely to see him reading aloud voluntarily.

Brackets

Over dinner tonight, Callum (as he often does) decided to set Declan an arithmetic question. This time it was about brackets. "Declan, what's (20-10)+(30-20)+(40-30)?". Declan, quite reasonably, refused to answer, but it's interesting to find out, even peripherally, what Callum is learning at school these days.

Just by the by, Declan's arithmetic is now around the stage where he can generally do adding and subtracting if all the numbers involved are under 10, and has some success with multiplication and division in the same range.

April Fool!

Evan explained April Fools Day to Callum and Declan for the first time this year. They were very taken with it, particularly Callum. Callum took the opportunity to:

• pour water all over Evan
• Throw cushions down the stairs at me
• Ring Grandma to tell her he saw a NZ spy at Greenwood
• Ring Grannie to tell her that our grandfather clock had disappeared.

I'm not sure if either grandmother really understood what was going on, even after Callum exclaimed, "April Fool!" but he sure had a good time.

Rise of Nations

We've started playing a new computer game lately - Rise of Nations. It's a diplomacy type game - very realistic - where your aim is to shepherd your nation through the various ages all the way to the information age, at the same time as taking over your enemy's territory.

Although it is somewhat warlike, it's interesting to see which bits the boys like. Callum loves making Wonders - such as pyramids, terracotta warriors (and in more modern times) the Eiffel Tower. He also takes charge of research at the library, into commerce, civics, etc.

Declan, on the other hand, is in charge of exploration, and, once the fighting starts, the military (particularly the navy).

I get to sit and help Declan (and get frustrated when he just wants to build ships and shoot things, instead of exploring the way I want him to!)

Big brother helping out

My friend Nadine was in the playground at recess yesterday and told me this story.

Someone pushed Declan over and he slightly cut his hand. Nadine was there to say it was OK and she helped him wash the blood off under the bubbler. Apparently Callum noticed there was a problem and rushed over to check declan was OK. He then insisted on trying to find Dec's teacher and, when that failed, got his own teacher to check Dec's hand. Finally he told the boy who had pushed Declan over that he had done the wrong thing and shouldn't push people in the future (which might just have been Callum seeing someone else muscling in on what he considers his perogative - only he gets to push Declan around).

It was great to hear that Cal is looking out for Declan in the playground.

Declan Book Award

Declan recieved a book award at Assembly yesterday for his work in phonics.

I saw his teacher at pick-up and she said he was doing really well and, more gratifyingly, was the stand-out in actually focussing and trying to read the words phonically.

He was, quite rightly, very proud of his award.

Writing fiend

Declan has lately decided he is very keen on writing. He's taken to writing long screeds about things as messages to people. The only problem is that he can't really spell (and isn't willing to take the risk of being wrong, either). So I have to tell him each letter as he goes.

So this evening, he wrote a card to his friend Dan, "Dear Dan, I will give you whatever you want for your birthday." On another card, he wrote, "Dear Dan Please write what you want for your bithday". He plans to give them both, plus a third card for the return message to Dan on Tuesday.

He's a delight to watch. He sits at his blue table with his pencil, sticking his tongue out for concentration as he writes the letters, and then yells out to me, "What's the next letter, Jennifer?"

Manipulation

Last weekend, when we dropped in on Kinokinuya, Evan bought, ostensibly for himself, a book called Murderous Maths. He told Callum in no uncertain terms that he was not allowed even to touch it, let alone read it. The result (of course) being that Callum has spent the week glued to the book, putting a mischievous look on his face every time Evan or me notices him reading it.

I'm not sure if he's learned anything particularly new, but he's certainly had a great time playing with the numbers in the book.

Mountain celebration

We went up to the mountains today to celebrate Emma's second birthday. She, impressively, could tell you that she was turning two, and that there were two candles on her cake.

The four boys together had a great time being sent on missions by Evan - to touch various grownups in order, to hide, etc. etc. Then, after birthday cake, they got to watch Chris' steam engine to a full loop of the track - which they were happy to stand out in the rain to do. Although I think these days Zoe is probably the most excited of the gang at seeing an actual steam train... the others have been spoilt too much by various train shows.

Easter plans

The boys have been planning for easter for days now. In fact, yesterday, they actually used the phrase, "only two sleeps until easter". I don't think I've ever heard them count sleeps before.

Declan made Callum promise to wake Declan up in the morning so that they can hunt for easter eggs together. Callum has gone to bed with an envelope on his covers, entitled "open on easter". Inside are instructions for what to do easter morning, mainly that he needs to take his torch downstairs to search for easter eggs.

They've also been planning about how they can reach some places where eggs were found last year, quite high up - complex plans involving making sure there are cubes and stools nearby ready for quick access.

Ambition

Declan has decided that he is going to be an artist when he grows up. He will work Monday to Friday, and then on Saturday and Sunday he will have holidays. He'll start when he's 20.

He suggested to Callum that he draw the pictures that Callum will need for his company. Callum was interested, but cool. In Callum's words, "I will be relaxing in my deckchair as the droids to all the work in my company, Declan." I think the implication was that his droids would decide whether they needed pictures from a notable artist like Declan.

Lego

Yesterday we wandered into the city for a bit of window shopping - including HobbyCo, which has some excellent Lego. Callum and Declan both decided on their favourite sets - Star Wars for Declan, and Indiana Jones for Callum, and then entered negotiations for how they could get it.

We told them that they could maybe ask for it for their birthday, or else save up for it.

Later, Declan suggested to me that his birthday party invitation should have a list of all the different bits of Lego he would like. I suggested that that wasn't especially polite, but he couldn't quite see why such an eminently sensible transaction shouldn't happen.

Sweeping

This evening, as the grownups were finishing dinner in the backyard (Grandma and Grandpa were visiting), Declan decided to sweep the backyard, finishing the job that Grandma had started earlier. He got the broom out, and did a very thorough job of getting rid of all the tree detritus that had spread over the backyard from the previous few days.

He was very proud of himself.

Taking Notes

Callum's got a new habit. He has a pen, and some notecards by his bed, in case he needs to write anything down during the night (from his reading).

Two nights ago, he wrote a reminder to himself to look on page 163 of his science book, where there are instructions for making life out of the atmosphere. He's going to send some droids to Mars, where there is an atmosphere, and create life there.

Last night the notes were more mundane - cryptic notes and a diagram for how to make a machine to mint coins.

Four way punching

Declan is getting better at doing four way punching - which is the first "pattern" needed in tae kwon do. He still gets distracted quite easily at the lesson, but this week could be forgiven, as it was quite an exhausting lesson, involving lots of running around, kicking things, and general exercise.

He's by far the most flexible person in the family, able to sit with his feet touching each other and knees touching the floor - head on his knees for good measure (apparently this is known as butterfly position).

Skin update

Since we got back from Italy, Callum's skin has seemed worse than when we went. That period also coincides with Biggles the cat, so we've been a bit disturbed that he is allergic to Biggles (who he loves).

But when he got yet another infected patch, Evan took him back to the doctor, who sent a bit off for testing. It turns out he has picked up an obscure marine bacteria, which is well known to be found off the shores of Italy. It can be nasty if you are immuno-compromised (which he clearly isn't, as his only symptoms are patches of infected skin) and there is a special type of antibiotic which should clear it up.

Inventions

Callum has an invention book, that he writes in every time he thinks of a new invention. Last night, when his grandparents were over, he was enticed to show the whole book to Grandma. She had seen the book before, but hadn't had the benefit of his commentary and explanations. I think it was good for him, as she's inclined to quiz him on exactly how he's going to make various things work, which often gets him thinking a lot harder about some of his wild and whacky ideas.

Often, though, his answer when asked a tricky question of exactly how something will work, is that his inventing droids will figure that out for him.

Fish and Chips

On Wednesday afternoon, Tom and Dan came around for a play. Evan took all the boys to the playground under the harbour bridge for a play, and then handed them over to me when I got home from work while he went to Council. We went and got fish and chips, and sat eating them on the grass while watching the ferries go back and forth.

And then after dinner, they spent a very enjoyable half hour playing with two remote controlled cars - alternating controlling them, and running around like lunatics chasing them.

I was a bit apprehensive at wrangling four small boys on my own in a public place, but they were all very good - they're definitely growing up now they're all schoolboys!