Medicine Ball

Declan and I went shopping for new shoes and socks for him today (his feet are growing like topsy at the moment). We were at Rebel Sport, and he insisted that we check out the medicine ball section, as his teacher, Ms Carnegie has been telling them how wonderful they are.

He decided to buy one with his own money, and spent an extra $10 so that he could have the one that came with a page of exercises, and in the colour he liked.

Lazy at home

We're having a very lazy Easter this year, hanging around at home and not doing very much. So today we had a round of Zombicide, followed by a bike ride across the bridge, some experimentation with the exercise equipment, topped off by introducing the boys to Big Bang Theory, with some apple crumble.

Callum and Declan have a balancing competition at Observatory Hill

Meditation update

I don't want to jinx this post but calling it sleeping update... as a long time parental blogger I know that blogging about your child sleeping better is a recipe for disaster. BUT

After Callum and I tried meditation the other evening, Evan also closed the big doors to the front of the house as we went to bed. The combination, plus possibly some psychological effects, has improved Callum's sleeping a lot (the other morning he slept to 6.45!!)

It's getting worse again, so we've had a top up meditation tonight, and we'll see if that works.

Bus adventures

Callum and Declan are both totally comfortable with catching the bus to school and home. They both have a variety of leaving times, so they both need to be flexible with which bus it is they catch.

So this Monday, after homework club (and hour after school on Mondays), Callum decided to catch a bus he hadn't caught before - the 247, reasoning that if it went to the city, it probably went down Miller St on the way, and he could get off at the corner with Falcon St.

So when, after the main Neutral Bay stop, the bus turned onto the freeway and went straight to the city, he was a bit perturbed. He kept his head, though, and checked the 131500 app on his phone, and was able to ask someone to direct him to Stand G at Wynyard once he got to the city (which he knew was the right stand for his bus home).

At which point he texted Evan to let him know he might be late (he hadn't wanted to worry him before).

And today's update: on the way home from sport Callum and his friends used four buses - they are really getting quite into their bus routes! A 247, another 247 when the first one stopped, a 230 to the corner of Miller and Falcon and (very lazily) a 144 up the hill past our house.

Meditation

Callum hasn't been sleeping as well as he would like. We have no real explanation (except that his lack of sleep started close to the beginning of term, so his new school could be a reason).

So this evening, before bed, Callum and I tried a meditation podcast, to see if it would help. Callum was sceptical, but I was very relaxed afterwards. 

A letter from camp

One of the things that Declan had to pack for camp was a stamped, self addressed envelope. So today we got a letter from him (despite him having been home from camp for five days - the traditional postcard form holidays).

I am having a great time! I hit a bullsey in archery! Went to the top of the giant swing. See you tommorow!

It's the first letter that Declan has ever written to us.

 

Handball

Callum came home talking about how he had been playing handball at lunchtime with some of his classmates (Sam, Ben and Freddie). It emerged that he was playing in exactly the same spot as Evan used to play when he was at Mosman High. So far that seems to be one of the few similarities in school experiences; high schools are much cooler places than they used to be.

Callum also discovered a few more people who are catching the same bus home as him; Ben and Sam live in Lane Cove, so stay on the bus after Callum has left.

School camp redux

Declan went to School Camp this week, on Milson Island (same place as Callum's) but for three days rather than two. He seems to have got the more spartan sleeping option, but even more cool activities (giant swing, kayaking, archery, fencing....)

Declan had been quite worried that he would embarrass himself by being homesick (he was more worried about the embarrassment than the homesickness) but he seems to have been fine, helped by being in the same cabin as his good friend Nic.

Of course he did come home exhausted (and denying it) and has yet to unpack his bags.

Finally finished Lord of the Rings

For what has felt like a few years (but is probably only three or four months) Declan has been reading the Lord of the Rings. He has been loving it, which is why he is savouring every bit, but everyone else in the family has been getting quite frustrated at all the books we keep recommending that he can't read until he finishes it.

He finally finished it a couple of weeks ago, finished The Hobbit in about three days, and now he is gulping down other books at a great rate. His teacher has given him a book list of things she thinks the class might like, and he's having a great time working his way through it. He read Storm Boy in about an hour, but decided that the Three Musketeers was a bit too tough. He's currently working his way through Eragon.

Mosman update

Callum, by going up to Year 9 for maths, has stuffed up his timetable a bit. The worst part is that he is missing the majority of his english classes (and catching up on the homework in his spare time).

Once again, the school is on to it, and has arranged for Callum to spend some of his spare time with one of the other Year 7 English classes (the drama stream, as it happens) so he is now attending two english classes in any given week (three periods in one and two in the other).

He says it is a bit confusing, but not unmanageable.

Getting ready for camp

Declan is off to school camp for three days on Monday morning. He has been starting to pack this afternoon, and after carefully reading the packing list, put aside some toilet paper. I asked him why, and he told me he needed to take "toiletries". After Callum assured him that toilet paper would be provided, he has got his toothbrush ready and packed.

Movie Night

We've been having movies on a Saturday night for a while, as we try and educate the boys in the classics (once Evan and I can agree on what they are!).

Tonight we went back to something modern, and watched the Hunger Games, which Declan had read (and could practically recite) and Evan and Callum had not. It was funny to watch Declan, as he was desperate to comment on every directorial choice from the book, as well as give away the plot, but mostly managed to restrain himself.

I suspect Callum may even read the book now he has realised it's not that much more violent than many other things he has read.

Festival of Donald

In a departure from usual practice for this blog, we are celebrating the festival of Donald. Grandpa turned 80 last weekend (3/3/33) and we hosted a birthday party for him.

Callum and Declan had a joint task of welcoming the guests (especially the ones who were looking uncertain when they saw that the address appeared to be a church), which they did charmingly. Declan, in particular, loved giving tours of the house, and made some of our guests very jealous showing them the 3d printer.

They both retreated to their room for a while to read, when the conversation got a bit boring, but emerged for speeches and cake.

The festival continued last night as, with Uncle Bob and Granny Marta in the country, we all went out for Chinese to continue the festival and give Uncle Bob conflicting advice on his upcoming parenthood.