This weekend, we went up the mountains to stay overnight with the Lees, and further today , to Ironfest, in Lithgow. Ironfest is a festival "with a metal edge", and featured the Battle of Lithgow (as it may have happened in the time of Napoleon), and a full jousting tournament. Many people from near and far choose to come dressed up in historic garb - ranging from mediaeval to WWII soldiers - leading to some eye-popping anachronism moments.
It was also, as Callum described it, "howling cold", with the 9 degree temperature further lowered by a serious windchill factor that meant that none of our clothes were warm enough!
Despite that, we all had a great time, with both the boys saying that they'd like to do that every weekend (especially the sleepover part). The jousting (which was as authentic as possible without the aim being serious injury to the opposition) probably won the vote as the best part of Ironfest, possibly because most of the time we were watching the sun was out.
Evan is taking the boys for new winter woolies tomorrow.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
ATYP
The boys have been doing ATYP this week, at the Powerhouse museum. Declan did a course with a space and alien theme, culminating in a show where they all pretended to go on a space trip, and Declan pretended to be a Pokemon alien. In a major change from a year ago (where he got out of doing the show by pretending to have a stomachache for the day) he thought the best part of the whole week was the show.
Callum did a course on acting for the camera, also with a space theme. To help them understand pretending to be aliens, they got to watch a big segment of the Men in Black movie. Notwithstanding all the great choices illustrated by the movie, Callum decided to be Mr Freeze, an alien inspired by the Batman Nintendo game. They actually seemed to be learning a bit more about acting - each of them having to do a scene to camera in which they pretended to be desperately asking for help.
Callum did a course on acting for the camera, also with a space theme. To help them understand pretending to be aliens, they got to watch a big segment of the Men in Black movie. Notwithstanding all the great choices illustrated by the movie, Callum decided to be Mr Freeze, an alien inspired by the Batman Nintendo game. They actually seemed to be learning a bit more about acting - each of them having to do a scene to camera in which they pretended to be desperately asking for help.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
New socks
When we were chivvying Declan to get dressed the other morning, we suddenly noticed that his socks were very small. When we thought about it, we realised it had been a year or two (or three?) since we last bought socks. So Declan helpfully suggested Woolworths (his favourite shops) as the go-to shop for socks, and Evan and Declan bought 8 new pairs.
Callum is very proud of the vaguely military looking ones, and was determined to wear them pulled up almost to knee height visiting Grannie. Declan's favourites appear to be the ones with mysterious chinese writing.
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This post probably fits into the "only interesting to parents" category - apologies to other readers!
Callum is very proud of the vaguely military looking ones, and was determined to wear them pulled up almost to knee height visiting Grannie. Declan's favourites appear to be the ones with mysterious chinese writing.
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This post probably fits into the "only interesting to parents" category - apologies to other readers!
A wet Sunday morning
was what we had today, so when television stopped being available, Callum and Declan decided to make a movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj4cI05BZpQ
Declan was particularly proud of the explosion in the middle - see if you can spot it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj4cI05BZpQ
Declan was particularly proud of the explosion in the middle - see if you can spot it.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter Sunday
Yesterday we went up to the mountains for an Easter feast, and easter egg hunt. As often seems to happen when Callum, Aidan, Tom and Declan are in the same room, there was a lot of light sabre fighting with all the children except Alex joining in, and Zoë revealing a determination that belied her years. The force is strong with that one.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Running training
Yesterday, we went to Darling Harbour to watch the free circus shows that are on over Easter. As we were leaving, we noticed our ferry leaving the acquarium side. We started running, and ran the whole way to the Pyrmont Bay side (500metres). I was very proud of the boys. They both kept up, except for a brief break from Declan for about 50 metres, and we made the ferry just in time.
Friday, April 10, 2009
End of term
Cammeray school, as is traditional, ended the school term yesterday with a disco. It was Declan's first, as the Kindergarteners don't get to go. Declan went to the Yr 1-2 event, and Callum to the 3-6. Declan and Alice (who I picked up while dropping off Milly and Callum for their later event) seemed to have a wonderful time. Callum, on the other hand, came home complaining about how loud the music was (as usual)! I don't think he's ever going to have his own garage band.
Daylight saving
Astonishingly, even after the exhaustion of band camp, Callum still woke up at 5.30 on the Monday morning (6.30 summer time). He explained that his brain took more than one day to adapt, and sure enough, he does seem to be waking up after 6 these days.
Declan, on the other hand, immediately started sleeping to the new time, and this morning, woke around 7!
Declan, on the other hand, immediately started sleeping to the new time, and this morning, woke around 7!
Sunday, April 05, 2009
A huge weekend
This weekend, Callum had band camp. I went along today to be a parent helper for today (watching rehearsals, escorting them to the oval for a run around, and serving lunch), and to watch the concert at the end.
It was an amazing weekend. Around 150 children, in three bands, and then doing a concert at the end of it. Watching Callum's (junior band) rehearsal, I did wonder what the concert would be like, but they all really rose to the occasion and performed four pieces, most of which appeared to be largely in tune, and rhythm. After one term of learning, that's pretty amazing! Callum himself, playing the keyboard, had a pretty key part (the bass line), and really had to concentrate to keep up with the band - in fact all of them had to really focus.
Poor Callum was pretty exhausted by the end of it, and it was a bit of a struggle to force him to sit through the concert of the other two bands.
It's his first time away from home or parents, and although he was very excited, he was also homesick as well, but dealt with it with his usual verve.
It was an amazing weekend. Around 150 children, in three bands, and then doing a concert at the end of it. Watching Callum's (junior band) rehearsal, I did wonder what the concert would be like, but they all really rose to the occasion and performed four pieces, most of which appeared to be largely in tune, and rhythm. After one term of learning, that's pretty amazing! Callum himself, playing the keyboard, had a pretty key part (the bass line), and really had to concentrate to keep up with the band - in fact all of them had to really focus.
Poor Callum was pretty exhausted by the end of it, and it was a bit of a struggle to force him to sit through the concert of the other two bands.
It's his first time away from home or parents, and although he was very excited, he was also homesick as well, but dealt with it with his usual verve.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Away at band camp
Callum is at band camp this weekend. Evan went to stay over on Friday night, as a parent helper [a thankless task involving very little sleep when looking after 10 4th graders who are super excited], so Declan and I had the evening to ourselves.
I picked Declan up from his friend Patrick's house after school, and we got just enough pizza for the two of us delivered. And then after dinner we read books for a while, and played with the pick up sticks game we have.
I didn't even try to make Declan sleep in his own room (after our last experience), but let him sleep in our room. He woke me up at the quite civilized hour of 6.45.
I picked Declan up from his friend Patrick's house after school, and we got just enough pizza for the two of us delivered. And then after dinner we read books for a while, and played with the pick up sticks game we have.
I didn't even try to make Declan sleep in his own room (after our last experience), but let him sleep in our room. He woke me up at the quite civilized hour of 6.45.
Up the Door jamb
Declan's latest hobby is climbing up the door jamb. He decided that we needed to take a picture, so here is a picture and video of him not quite making it:
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