Back to school

The boys went back to school this week - happily in their usual accepting way. Today they got assigned their new classes. Callum, as expected, is in 4C. Declan in 1H, with a nice chunk of his better friends from KM.

Science obsession runs in the family

Last week when visiting Jennifer's parents we were going through some fascinating old letters and descriptions of her family. One particular aside in a history of the Spencer family going back to the early 1700s was that the family was "descended from Isaac Newton's mother". The timing makes descent from one of Isaac Newton's half-brothers or sisters quite plausible.

Nearly the end of the holidays

Callum and Declan go back to school on Wednesday, so the holidays are nearly over. We had a few things we wanted to do with them, which we've mostly done, at least a bit. We wanted to take them to a surf beach, so that they understood that you could have waves bigger than Greenwich Baths. Jibbon Beach in Bundeena fit the bill, and they both got a glimmering of an idea of what bodysurfing is all about.

We wanted to get them out on their bikes - this was pretty light on, but we've just gone over to Webb St to ride up and down. Declan is getting the hang of riding in a straight line (with training wheels), but Callum's training wheels are so rusty that they keep unbalancing, which makes it hard for him to keep his own balance.

And I wanted to start them learning to type - they've been doing a three minute lesson per day, and are both now typing at around 8 words per minute with whatever keys they are up to. I think with this one, I was underestimating how hard it is to learn to type. But we're going to keep going with it, and I feel pretty confident that they're not going to have any bad habits to unlearn when they start typing for real.

But we also wanted them to have a nice, relaxing, holiday, and I think that's worked. They've spent time with friends, gone to the movies, played lots of computer games, and generally had a good time. This morning they spent about an hour and a half playing downstairs without either parent, and without any fighting.

Doors

Yesterday the whole family went for a sleepover with the Lang grandparents - on the way to Bundeena. The boys, once again, had enormous fun with the numerous doors in the house - they love being able to depart in one direction, and sneak up on any handy unsuspecting adult from the opposite direction.

I was reminded that a much younger Calllum used to be obsessed with opening and closing doors - he still us, but for different, nefarious purposes.

Hot

Today we visited the Langdon Linigen beachhouse in Bundeena, with the Lees. It was a lovely day, despite being ridiculously hot (43!). In the morning we went to Jibbon beach, which was choppy enough that Callum and Declan managed some very shallow bodysurfing - getting used to the out of control feeling that happens when you let a wave carry you around.

And in the afternoon we took our inflatable dinghys to Port Hacking, and some half hearted (because of the heat) battles ensued.

Fear

As we arrived at the building for Callum's course yesterday Angus ran out to greet us. I went in with him and Callum and got into a conversation with Angus' mother, assuming Declan was with us.

After about five minutes Callum came and got me and pointed out that Declan was still outside the front door, huddled and crying (insert parental guilt here). Declan, it turned out, was scared to come in - and I mean scared. He was shivering and crying and huddled. He was "scared of all the new people". Nothing would induce him to enter.

We've never seen anything like that from him before. And later he happily went in when we picked Cal and Angus up. I'm really hoping it was just 'one of those moments'.

Favourites

Yesterday was the second course in two weeks that Cal had done with Dianne. Last week, she asked where Declan was and I explained that he was too young to do the course. "Oh don't worry about that", she exclaimed "I'd always have Declan, he's not your average fish."

Yesterday she quietly let Cal, Angus and Declan take home the protective helmets they had been wearing for the course (Declan joined in for the last ten minutes) when everyone else returned theirs and had a few quiet words about how much she enjoyed teaching them.

Medieval warfare then walking the dog

Callum did a Medieval Warfare afternoon with Angus in Crows Nest. It was tacght by Dianne who does their after-school science class and was absolutely brillaint. They all made catapaults out of a brick, some PVC tubing, rubber bands and a spoon and then shot little rubber balls acros the room and chalk fortificaitons.

In the afternoon Angus stayed with us for a sleepover. The boys all built a huge train track, ably assisted after the first hour by Milly and Alice. Then we all went and walked the Cant's dog while counting how many wees it did in the course of the wlk (12 for posterity). Finally dinner at the Italian restaurant and computer games until bedtime.

The science joker

Cal went off to his Forensics for Fun course at UNSW this morning. When we arrived he told his teacher the joke he'd worked out in the car:
Q: What do you call a cat who solves crimes?
A: A fur-ensic scientist.

Diving in the deep end

We went to the pool yesterday evening and Callum went diving mad - repeatedly diving in from the side. He's actually getting pretty good at it - or at least getting the idea and giving it a good go, which is all I really want to see.

He also did a full lap of the pool in a nice freestyle at the end. Finally, all those lessons are begining to pay off!

Artemis Fowl

Callum has become addicted to a new series of books - Artemis Fowl. He's a 12 year old private eye/spy/ James Bond type who has adventures foiling the nefarious deeds of the fairies. Evan and I are pleased to have managed to get him to read something approaching fantasy; he's generally scorned it as not true (despite being addicted to the exploits of 9 year old spies who single handedly save the world once a week).

Mini media mogul

Declan did 'Mini Media Moguls' at the UNSW over the last two days (with Isabelle as it turned out). He seemed to enjoy the course greatly although there haven't been a great many details forthcoming.

I'm packed

Callum went off to a sleep-over at Angus' house last night. He left mid-afternoon but was fully packed (into the favourite Granny Marta Star Wars suitcase) by 7am and desperate to have a shower so he could put his pyjamas in there too as soon as possible.

Declan was sad after Cal left but cheered up and had what was possibly the best Grandpa afternoon ever. The read, drew and cooked together (cooking was not, for history, a great culinary success story). Dec did sleep in Jennifer and my bedroom last night though - he wasn't happy with the idea of being alone.

The best day ever

This evening, after dinner, we went for a walk, as the southerly had come through after a boiling hot day. Biggles followed us all the way down to Sawmillers and back home (although he was a bit uncertain about the pedestrian bridge across the water). Declan declared that Biggles coming with us made it the best day ever, "the whole family is going for a walk for the first time ever!".

Pronunciation

Tonight, Declan was reading a book to me - Giraffes can't dance. I asked him how he pronounced dance (which he had just pronounced dance, rather than daahnce). He thought about it, and then told me, "I'm not a grown up yet, Jennifer. When I'm a grown up I'll decide".

While reading the book, interestingly, dance was always with a short a, but dancing, was always with a long a (daahncing). I haven't asked him to pronounce plastic yet.

Circus

Yesterday I took Callum and Declan to the Grande Cirque, with a couple of Callum's friends (and their mothers). Callum and Declan had a wonderful time, in their different ways. Callum loved watching the mechanics of all the harnesses and trapezes, pointing out to me when someone had a safety rope off, but realising and quickly understanding that when it was slack the performer wasn't getting any benefit from it.

Declan had not expected to like it, as there were no animals (I hadn't realised he knew enough about circuses to expect them), but he had a great time. He really enjoyed comparing and contrasting what was going on on stage with the different pictures in the program, and the part when large balls were bounced over the audience's heads. And they were both astonished by the contortionist - Callum announcing that she had no spine, and Declan that she was made of jelly.

And Callum gave it the ultimate accolade - telling Evan when we got home that he should have come!

Practical joker

Yesterday at dinner, Evan was putting pepper on his dinner, when he suddenly noticed that it was salt coming out rather than pepper. Callum's face was a picture. He had carefully chosen a moment when he would be undisturbed a few days ago, with the full intention of fooling whoever used the pepper and salt next (knowing it would be Evan).

He was very proud of his ability two do the switch, and then keep the secret. Even after Evan complainede how horrible his dinner tasted.

Sleepover

The Singhis (Alex and Lucinda) are down from Brisbane for the family to pack the house up ready to go back to Brisbane for the forseeable future.

In the meantime, though, we've seen quite a lot of them. Tonight they are here for a sleepover, which happened as a surprise to Callum and Declan - Evan turned up to the end of ATYP this afternoon with them both in tow.

It was lovely to see their faces - both Callum and Declan were absolutely thrilled to see their friends - even more so when they found out it was for a sleepover. In the car on the way home it was hard for Evan and I to chat, as there was too much talking going on in the back seats.

It's lovely to see them all together - there is rarely any disagreement, just lots of fun playing various obscure games.

They're definitely all going to miss each other this coming year.

MacGyver

One of the things Santa Claus brought the boys was a new DVD - the second series of MacGyver (80s vintage TV series about a spy type person who always gets out of tricky situations by improvising inventions with the bits and pieces that are to hand).

So it is a high treat for Callum and Declan to watch a new episode. Tonight was even better - pizza at the Italian restaurant first. And both boys even took a book to read with them (a first for Declan). A perfect end to a holiday day.

Waking up

Declan came into our room this morning at 7.25, very pleased with himself. He was pleased with himself because he'd slept until 7.23. I realised that all that praise I've given him when he sleeps in has had some effect. It doesn't change how much he sleeps, just his emotions on waking.

Callum, as usual, woke before 6 and got up on the dot of 6. His body clock is like that. But he's very good at creeping downstairs these days, so nobody else in the house woke up.

Measurement

We always try to measure the boys on New Years Day. This year, it's taken us to the 4th to get around to it.

Callum is 122 cm tall - he's grown heaps since last measurement (although we didn't record it on the blog). He's 22.4 kilos. That makes him around the 35th percentile for all measurements - height, weight and BMI.

Declan is 114 cm tall, and 20.85 kilos. He's around the 60th percentile for all his measurements.

Star Wars

Without thinking it through very carefully, we decided today to go to the Powerhouse to have a look at the Star Wars exhibition with Callum's friend Angus. The trip over was nice - a ferry ride, and then a walk through Darling Harbour with a stop at a bubble busker (who made a bubble big enough for each boy to get his head into in turn) and at the bungy jumping (jumping up and down on a trampoline attached to a bungy cord enabling up to 5 metres of jumping).

But the Powerhouse had a queue that was 20 minutes long for members, and an hour and a half for non members. Fortunately, once we were in it wasn't ridiculously crowded, and the boys had a good time - mainly in the playground, but also at the Star Wars exhibition itself. A monorail ride back to the ferry completed the experience.

I fear the rest of Sydney is starting to wake up to what a great place Sydney can be over Christmas and New Year.

Happy New Year!

For the third year running we went along to North Sydney Pool for New Year's Eve, for a swim and then watching the 9pm fireworks. The boys had a wonderful time as the mountain folk came down and stayed with us, and Sue and Jack were there as well. The fireworks were spectacular, and we had a ringside seat.

For midnight, everyone tried to stay up, but Emma crashed on the way back from the pool, and Callum gave up around 11pm. Declan was very pleased with himself, watching all the way through the midnight fireworks, and appreciating every one.

This morning they're paying for the lack of sleep - the morning tea picnic down in Watts Park was marked by more whinging and sitting than average.

Happy New Year to all our readers, and hope 2009 brings you a great year.