Christmas in Sydney

We managed to get ourselves into our new apartment and unpacked in time to have everyone available over for Christmas. We had Granny, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Bob (visiting from Spain) and Uncles Martin and Kevin.

Callum and Declan had not been expecting much (as the new Macbook laptops they got in San Francisco were supposed to be their Christmas present) but we weakened and gave them a Kinect, which excited them lots, and which proved to be the perfect entertainment for all uncles present (and those watching). Santa also brought them both nerf guns, which they had a great time with up and down the balcony.

They had both been saving up their requests for stuff that was too much to carry, with the result that they made out like bandits from all the assorted relatives who were only too happy to oblige with lego and other toys.

Sydney put on a perfect day for us, not too hot, and a fabulous view of the azure harbour.

Bawley Point

Before Christmas, we had a lovely time down at Bawley Point with a floating combination of the Gaynor Vincents, Langdon Linigens and the Lees.

Callum and Declan had a wonderful time reconnecting with all their proxy cousins (although they tell me they prefer the term "friends" for Aidan, Tom, Claire, Emma, Zoe and Alex). Our house was gaming central, with the kitchen table devoted to, usually, four Mac laptops playing Portal 2, minecraft and various other games at any one time.

The surf was a bit too strong and full of bluebottles for fun swimming, so we went down to the lagoon most days for swimming and boat battles. The trampoline in our backyard got a great workout, and lots of fun was had by all.

Back home

Now that we are back home, I'm reviving this blog. Sadly, our activities aren't as exciting as they were on our other blog but its definitely worth recording them.

Measurement

As is customary on their birthdays, we measured the boys on Declan's birthday. We didn't ha working scales, so it is just heights this time. Declan is 129.5 cm and Callum is 136.5 cm. That makes Declan 59th percentile in height and Callum is 48th percentile in height.

About the same as usual, then!


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Location:Azille, France

Twins

Today Callum and Declan accidentally wore exactly the same clothes; an ATYP t-shirt, matching board shorts and their Indiana Jones hats. So on our walk around the high spots of the Cinque Terre, everyone we met thought they were twins, especially as their hats hid the hair colour differences.

I imagine that if they were actually twins, they would hate dressing alike, but as it was, they didn't seem at all bothered. The trouble with clotures buying for a trip like this is that you do end up buying the same gear for both of them; if you find something good it is much easier to buy two then try and find something equally good but different.

It reminds me of our time in the snow when I had to use their gait to tell them apart because everything else was smothered under a matching ski jacket.


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Separate bedrooms

The boys have shaded a bedroom since Declan first started sleeping in a bed. So longer than either of them can remember. And Declan has never slept in a room by myself; whenever Callum is away he politely but firmly insists on parental company.

So we were gobsmacked when we arrived in our Berlin apartment, and the boys greeted the news that there was a third bedroom with a spirited discussion as to which bedroom they each got. We didn't think it would last, but they were both very pleased with their nights' sleep, and they are definitely staying separate for the rest of the week.

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Full fledged backpackers

Yesterday, as we'd had a fairly easy day so far, catching a taxi to the train, and then two trains, we decided to walk from the train to our hotel.

I was very proud of Callum and Declan as they carried both their main backpacks and their day packs all 1.8km to the hotel. As I told them, that is better than many adult backpackers can manage. They certainly deserved the ice-cream we bought them shortly after checking out our room.

It makes an impressive contrast with our first effort in Singapore, where they were ready to collapse after about 500m.

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Location:סלאח א דין,Acre,Israel

Dolls house

The boys' room has a dolls house in it, which our host explained was just for girls. The boys said scornfully (looking at how pink it was), "we KNOW".

But after dinner last night, they took the dolls hours and made it into a fort that kept the grown ups out of their room.

When we were being shown around our new flat yesterday, our host paused as he heard noises from the boys' bedroom. They were playing scissors paper rock to choose who got which bed. He attempted to intervene, suggesting that Callum, as the older boy, should get the bigger bed. Quite rightly, they ignored him and went on to do best of three.

This morning, of course, they went back to their old ways and had a big fight about something inconsequential.


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Location:Conflict resolution

Exercise

We had a huge walk today, Evan and I estimated around 10 - 15 km. When we got back, we had a lovely swim in the heated pool, and then the boys and I decided to check out the gym.

I couldn't believe it when both Callum and Declan demanded more time on the treadmill. They are insatiable! Or perhaps theynhave just inherited the family obsession with gadgets.


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School of the road

When we were wandering around Petra early afternoon, we commented to the boys that they should do some schoolwork once we got back to the hotel.

Callum, who is getting wiser in the ways of parental manipulation, told us that he had already learned a huge amount today about the Nabateans, and the history of the area, so maybe further school wasn't necessary.

They came back and wrote a story each, even though I was tempted to give them a reprieve for excellent rationalization.




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One of the nice things about being on an extended holiday is that we have no need to get up at any particular time. In Munich, we've finally got over our jet lag, and everyone is getting up slowly.

Declan is regularly sleeping until 8, and even Callum woke up at 7.45 the day after New Year's Day.

The trick this morning, on a day when we are moving on, is to work out how to get everyone showered and dressed in time to get out of the house at a reasonable hour. Amazingly, we made it out at 8.40, in time to catch an earlier train than we expected!



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Location:Sleeping