Joshua has a new teacher

Josh has a new teacher this term - Michelle Cowles. We do miss Mrs Whitehead very much, however it is lovely to see Miss Cowles start the term off in her 'own' way. She has introduced a Tick Chart system whereby all the children are awarded ticks for attitude, application to schoolwork etc and when their chart is full, they get a 'treat'.

She has also introduced the SuperStar for a Day ... and guess who was SuperStar today? YES it was Joshua ! Apparently he got chosen by Miss Cowles because he remembered to put his book bag away all week, he remembered to put his glasses on and then away at the end of the day - without being asked ! (And believe me, Josh is not 'strong' on memory!)

So this morning, he 'danced' into school - and sat in the SuperStar chair alongside the teacher and was given little tasks to do to help Miss Cowles for the entire day - wouldn't that make you feel important?

And inbetween homework ...

Yes, in-between sport after school and homework there is always time for a game or two .... Josh has started to really enjoy the game UNO and especially loves it when he beats Daddy - and who said that our little boy is not competitive !! (Thank you Malcolm & Jill for buying this game for Josh - he is loving it, so beware your return from the UK at the end of the year, he may well beat you also!)

And of course, there is no show without Huddy (now shall I spin the arrow or wait???)

Daddy is such a softie

Daddy knows ... Huddy knows ... everyone knows ... that Mr Hudson is NOT allowed on any beds or furniture. But every now and then he gets lifted up onto the bed by Daddy for cuddle-time. And let's not forget Teddy !

Fun time at the Pool

After the sleep-over we took Josh & Georgia to the Swimming Pool for some fun - and fun they had ! Poor Daddy got pulled, pushed, jumped on ... but he loved it !!

Georgia sleeps over ...

Josh decided to invite Georgia for a sleep-over ... then Josh & Georgia told their respective mummy's that it was all organised (they are growing up fast and taking control of their social life !). Georgia arrived with a gift of some hot wheel cars for Josh ( such a lovely thing to do ) and they then decided what they wanted to do ... they were busy - they bounced on the trampoline, played hide and seek and then both of them set up a car track that travelled down the stairs into the hallway and this became a highway for cars and marbles !! Upstairs for dinner (Georgia's choice) and then further games before, finally, going to bed rather late (sorry Sarah!). Dare I admit that as I write this at 9.45pm I can still hear Georgia singing Josh a lullaby (and this is after hoots of laughter and hysteria going on).

Georgia is such a pleasure to have ... whilst she is a real girlie-girl, she also plays incredibly well with boys and she is always happy and lively - we have never heard Josh so animated and chatty and they have both played tremendously together. They are truly a joy to watch and be around.

And finally at 9.55pm !!!

I wanna be a surfer

Hey ... I'm tall .... I'm blond ... I love the water .... I love watching the surfers riding the waves ... just watch this space !!

The sun will come out ... tomorrow!

And it did, it really did - after a week of endless cold southerlies and rain, rain and more rain, today was ... simply gorgeous. Thank you !! It was so lovely we went back down to the beach this evening for fish & chips and watched the sun go down - sometimes it is the simplest of things that give you the most pleasure.

Huddy gets a new friend

Sarah and the girls donated a soft cuddly Teddy to Huddy-bud (his last one was SO loved and licked, there was very little of him left!).

Here he is getting acquainted with Teddy - suffice to say they are now inseparable ... at play and at sleep.

Learning to count - and take photos

A self photo taken by Josh of himself counting !!!

If only ...

If only Josh was as keen on his writing and reading as he is on the computer ... suffice to say the computer is password coded and time on it is limited. Josh is addicted to the computer - I would love to tell you that this picture shows his interest in geography and a globe of the world - but oh no, it is an Indiana Jones shoot-em-up game !

First day back at school - Term 3

Sadly the holidays are over and school is back ... homework is back ... and everyone is tired.

Back-to-School Party

We thought it would be a good idea to 'throw' a back-to-school party the day before Term 3 starts tomorrow. What started out as a party for 24 of Joshua's class extended to his rugby team, other friends from other classes, and all their brothers and sisters ..... so we had a total of 67 children at today's party - madness ruled !

We took a private hire for 2 hours of the Recreation Centre & Tiny Town and let the children 'loose'. They had a ball - dividing their time between riding their bikes, scooters and skate-boards to playing hockey and 'shooting' basketball hoops to climbing all over the inflatable. They came up for air after about an hour and 67 rather hot little people sat down for some sugar disguised in fizzy drinks and party food only to then go back out there for another hour.


It was a fabulous success. We were surprised to have so many parents stay as well and I think the adults enjoyed it as much as the children - and it was especially lovely to see how many Dads got out there and played the games with the kiddies - and it gave the Mums a chance to have a coffee and mingle.


I think there will be 67 rather tired little ones this evening and the party was a great way to 'break the ice' and re-acquaint everyone before school starts again tomorrow. Sadly, for us all, school holidays are over.

Our 2 blond boys

As Josh is getting older, the bond between him and Hudson is getting stronger and today Josh insisted that he take Hudson on the lead when we went for a stroll around the Botanical Gardens - I could hear Josh saying "Huddy you are not allowed to run, you have a sore leg" - bless !

Boys' Games

Boys and their games ... the morning started with Daddy 'squashing' Josh between the base and the mattress of our bed - only for Daddy to then pretend everytime the model camel at the cafe 'lurched' forward it 'bit' him either on the bottom or the tummy and Daddy had no problem mimicking falling or jumping out of the way much to the amusement of others watching !
Oh and let's not forget when Josh is in the car and Daddy is outside and comes up to the window to speak - Josh winds the window down, Daddy put his head in, Josh rolls the window closed and Daddy pretends that his nose is stuck at the top of the window and proceeds to run alongside the moving car with his face plastered on the window - oh please !!

Mummy is a tad worried about the rather silly sense of humour that Joshua is developing - and the example that is being set by Daddy !!

When are you too old ?

When are you too old to have fun ? Never says Mummy .... never says Daddy .... never says Joshua ! Sometimes it is the simplest of things that we do on a sunny afternoon that are the most enjoyable and memorable.

A day with Tomo

After all that Josh & Tomo didn't wake until 7.30am - most civilised !

The boys and I had a gorgeous day together - we went for a bike ride, climbed the rock 'mountain', built a dam at the beach and went fishing. And all this is right on our door step - Seatoun offers so much for a family, lucky us!

And Huddy-bud was there to join in it all !