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!