Peace...for a few moments.

The two girls have just run off down the drive way for an hour or so. Off to visit friends just a few doors down. Perks of lots of kids on the street...also when your child is having a hooley the other neighbours may not pick it is yours. Jack is at a holiday programme today and tomorrow. It looks great, and I am sure he will have loads of fun. http://www.activatetherapyservices.co.nz/boost-camp.html.

A quick update of the fun we had yesterday. The kids were a bit scratchy as they settled into sharing and compromising but they got there...actually I went to work in the afternoon so I think they got there. Tim still had hair left when I got home!

The kids Uncle is an amazing artist, Lil has this arty gene and the other two love some good mess making. Last week WHS had buy one canvas get one free so I got some great sized canvases for an awesome price. We started with primary colours and then as we started working Jack and Meg wanted to copy what Lily was doing and make specific colours using the primary colours. So then we got some fresh trays with just two colours, with more than two colours Meg had a tendency to go straight for brown. It was great fun, will be good to repeat it to see what they remember.

Lily's artwork is called "Piha Beach at Sunset". While painting it she mentioned she didn't think Uncle Jonty could paint like that.

 

The finished art works.

 

 

 

We have so many things planned. I have been pinning things: http://pinterest.com/nyree_biesiek/school-holiday-plans-no-tv/ to keep us busy. (I think this should be visible). But it is so nice to just chill and watch the kids play some crazy imaginative games, usually schools. They spend most of the time deciding who is what and what they are meant to be doing exactly. But I guess that is all part of the fun.

 

Off to enjoy the peace...while it lasts.

 





I'm So Excited!!!!

The hols are nearly here. The TV is going again and the fun is about to begin. Even Miss Lily is excited that the TV is going. I am planning a craft table for the spot where the TV usually resides and I need to come up with a distraction plan for the other digital devices. I'm thinking maybe a limit of 20mins a day each. If I time it right and have them all occupied I may even score a coffee in peace! I have a copy of Our Walks from the council and a list of fun things to do. We all need a break after a 12 week term! Keep watching....

These are a few shots taken for Lily's homework.

Nearly Over

We are nearly done, the Dad is in charge for these two afternoons while I work. The TV is back and the tent needs to come down. Loads of cookie dough has been made and ready to roll for lunches. To be honest, I think come Monday I may just say a quiet thank you to the Ministry of Education. Think I need a holiday.

The Ballet

by Lily B.

On Thursday night me and my Mum went to the ballet. The dancers are from Russia. The Dance was called Swan Lake. Before the ballet we went to Arborio at the Library for dinner. My Mum had Pizza and I had fish and chips. Mum said I had to eat with my knife and fork! My Mum did my hair like hers with 12 clips and lots of hairspray. I don't have a favourite part of the ballet, I loved all of it. The Jesters were funny. It felt like a dream. I went to bed after eleven o'clock.

Random Happenings

I can't believe the holidays are nearly over and there is still so much we haven't done! We haven't made it to Pukekura Park yet, it's on the list. We are meeting up with friends in the morning and Lily and I are off on a hot date tomorrow night. Super exciting. I will trap her in a room and get her to write all about it on Friday.

Who goes to the beach and doesn't take the camera?

Me! So the big trip was great. Lots of kid fun, managing to find things to explore that an adult wouldn't think of. Such as the attic, I think if they were a couple of years older it might have been hard to convince them they couldn't sleep up there!!! 

We stayed at this amazing little beach bach: www.bookabach.co.nz/4361, lovely and clean and child friendly. Fully fenced, a park just across the road and the beach a short walk away. We will be visiting this wee place again.

I took lots of photos at the bach, but I forgot the camera when we managed a trip to the beach between the rain showers.

It was loads of fun going away with other children, the kids had a great time, plenty of hide and seek and other random games!

Blown Back from the Beach

We survived the trip. My goodness, the gear required for a night at the beach is the equivalent to 4 nights. So many sets of clothes! We had a great time but I haven't had a chance to sort all the photos (or the washing), so I will leave you with this quick wee series of shots taken this afternoon in an effort to keep a little boy awake. Last year when Jack was at morning kindy, he and I would bake so many afternoons a week to prevent sleep and the induced late night antics of a boy who really needed to drop his day sleep. He is actually a pretty good baker, apparently by the end of the week Lily and Jack want to make a cake "free range style" in the kitchen. I'm thinking with Lily's reading and Jack's measuring skills we could be in for a treat ;o)

and secretly I hired Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the old version, because I know you'll ask) to take to the beach, after reading it to the kids last week. We dragged out the tiny tv from my nursing training days and plugged the dvd player into it. What a hit! I suspect the wee TV will go back to his house tonight, but it has been a lovely afternoon recovering from our beach adventure.