Teamwork

Callum and Declan are sitting next to me jointly playing a computer game. It's lovely to listen to. Declan said, "that was great teamwork Callum. That's how you get results, by playing as a team". And then Callum just said, "Brilliant! That's brilliant, brother. When you put your mind to it, you're brilliant".

Last day of the holidays

Today is the last day of the school holidays. So this morning we went to Darling Harbour to do this monorail treasure hunt. It was surprisingly good, with some interesting stops around the Sydney streets to look for clues. And Callum and Declan cooperated reasonably well doing it, as well. The boys found the maritime museum section very easy, but the Paddy's market bit was a bit trickier. Now we're having a lazy afternoon watching a kids spy movie.

Lazy day

Today was the last week day of the school holidays, and Evan Callum and Declan had a very relaxing day, by all accounts. They caught the train to Wollstonecraft, and walked back here via Berry's Island (rock climbing around the shore) and Waverton (video shop, where they hired some Home Alone videos). Then they spent the rest of the afternoon watching the videos. It's probably just as well that Declan is playing soccer tomorrow. There's a bit of excess energy that needs burning off.

Tall

It's been coming a while, but I've suddenly noticed how much Callum and Declan (particularly Declan) have outgrown their pyjamas. We bought them last winter, and they both seem to have a good 10cm of bare ankle from where the bottom of the pyjamas should be.

Declan had his hair cut on Thursday as well, and is suddenly looking very grown up.

Worry

I went to Melbourne today for work. As I was leaving (the boys were up, Evan wasn't), I told them where I was going. Declan was worried. "There's swine flu in Melbourne, Jennifer. Will you be OK?" I told him that I didn't think I would be anywhere near anyone who was actually sick (true) - not telling him that there is just as much swine flu in Sydney as Melbourne at the moment (in fact someone I work with has had it).

Sickness update

Declan had a horrible night last night, vomiting three times. In a new development, he didn't wake up anyone else in the house, instead, tidily vomiting into the bucket beside his bed. We were very proud of him (only a parent would say that!!)

This morning he slept for four hours, and now seems pretty OK, which is a relief, as they have robotics all day tomorrow.

You are so mean!!!!!

The text of a note that Declan has just written about five times for Callum. Callum, indignant, took two copies to show Evan. Evan disappointed Callum by saying, "very neat writing, Declan!"

Sickness AGAIN

We went up to the mountains to celebrate Chris and Jodies' birthdays yesterday. Declan did seem a little out of sorts, most notably by refusing to be hugged by Zoe as she left.

Last night he was awake a lot of the night, and today he has spent the whole day hugging a bucket on the couch (only one actual vomit, luckily). Evan also had a touch of the same disease, so Callum was bouncing around the house while both of them would have preferred a little less noise, and a little more quiet.

I managed to spend the morning working at home, which helped (as Callum had someone to talk at).

Lazy Saturday

After a very successful visit to the Powerhouse yesterday, the boys decided between them that it was only fair to have another trip to Darling Harbour with me today. We caught the ferry across, visited the bungy trampolining, and then played hide and seek in the Chinese Gardens. A visit to Kinokinuya on the way back home and our day was just about perfect.

Lee visit

On Sunday and Monday night this week Aidan and Chris came to visit, so that Aidan could go to Gerric with Declan. All three boys seemed to enjoy themselves, with a visit to Wizzy world on Monday afternoon, and lots of playing of the Wii.

Aidan didn't sleep in Callum and Declan's room, to their disappointment, but some relief from the adults - probably meant more sleep for all concerned than might have happened otherwise.

Trip to Canberra

We're just back from three days in Canberra, which were very enjoyable, and not nearly as cold as we feared. As well as the usual trips to Questacon we spent a morning in the Australian War Memorial, and the afternoon bike riding around the lake - with tag along wheels for both boys - which was lots of fun.

At Questacon, we had gee'd the boys up to do the Free Fall - hang from a bar 6.7 metres above the ground, to fall (totally safely) onto a slide which nicely slows you down. Both of them balked at the first attempt (not helped by a woman ahead of them also balking). On the second time, Declan had a go, and loved it, but Callum balked twice more, and then again a few hours later when he tried again.

Declan went on to keep going around and around until the queue got too long - in the end he did it 7 times. Callum, on the other hand, was very upset with himself, getting himself in tears each time because he was too scared once he looked down.

Fighting

On Friday evening, Grandma tempted fate by commenting to me that Callum and Declan weren't fighting as much as they used to. Murphy came and fought back with a vengeance on Sunday, as they spent what felt like the whole day niggling and arguing with each other - mostly keeping their voices slightly below the point at which we would lose patience and send them both to the stairs for a bit of peace.

The only (small) upside was that because they couldn't agree on what to watch on TV, the TV stayed off the whole day.

I think it is because Declan is now reading obsessively each night - and then not getting enough sleep, so he is not willing to let Callum get away with as much as usual. I suspect we're going to have to police his reading light.

Marbascular Fantastica

For some reason (possibly grandparental influence) this afternoon Callum and Declan got out the marble run and had a play with it. Callum was particularly keen to show off his marbascular fantastica and came (very politely) every 3 minutes or so to the dinner table to see if we were finished and could watch in it action.

We were very impressed with his italianate showmanship.