Life is more fun with the babysitters

Riley and Jemma had much more fun with Nat and Kris at the beach than boring old mum and dad. Riley got to be a mermaid (he was insistent that he wasn't a merman!) and they built sandcastles which Mum never does with them..(But mum HATES sand with a passion) Riley got his feet wet but that was the extent of that- Jemma not so keen on that either.

The kids are getting tired as we wind up to Christmas- though they are excited as well. Riley has started making presents to leave for Santa- we had to point out it was still over 4 weeks. Riley is a shepherd in the Christmas play so he has varied parts- a shepherd in one, playing the keyboard in the next and being an ant in the last one!

Jemma is developing her language and in particular her skills of cheekiness which although cute, need a little reining in.... She developed a song to match "Dora's lost city" song. This song talks about what is lost and how she is going to the lost city to find it and give it back. Well.... Jemma started singing that she was going to the lost city because Riley had lost his penis and she was going to find it and bring it back.... this from our new 3 year old. Riley got a bit anxious by all this and wanted to reassure us that his penis wasn't lost but we had to teach him that we don't expose ourselves at the dinner table. Oh, to be part of our family :-)

Armistice Day

Jemma loves to sing the national anthem so very appropriate after an election and on Armistice Day.

More in the life of the kids

Time is ticking on and getting closer to Christmas. It will be a busy time with the kids. Riley has a school concert Dec 11, music concert Dec 14, drama play Dec 15 and Jemma has a Christmas party Dec 12 and an undated Christmas kindy concert....

Dad took the kids to the model trains and Riley went on it all by himself for the first time! We were pretty proud. He even bought his own ticket. And then today at the school fair, he allowed himself to get face painted- he is a crocodile. He has been struggling to get to sleep at nights as he gets a bit anxious so he has been putting his worries in a worry box. What we have learned is that he is a great speller- tonight he spelled all by himself "train crash on the computer game". Sorry- just using the opportunity to show off! The good thing is that once he wrote his worry down, he went straight to sleep and the worry fairy comes to collect it.

Jemma has settled a bit again and she is showing a real interest in wanting to dance so will have to add that to the list of 'extra-curricular' activities. She has gotten quite strong at gymnastics and yesterday, she showed her old promise at swimming lessons.. amazing what a lollipop bribe can do! She had lost confidence being in the water without Dad even though she is tall enough but yesterday- was back to her old tricks which was great. She is still wearing a costume every day though!