More images of the day

First day of school

It was delayed by a day due to the storms, but finally - the first day of school. Bronte was very reluctant to get into her uniform, and luckily her teacher identified her as a child who needed a hand hold, but when I picked her up she excitedly said "I wish I could go to school for ever and ever!"

Flood 2013

The Brisbane river at Chelmer - 2 days before the peak

Our local creek: it made it up to just below the 2 metre mark. The people on the other side were stranded for a few days. We lost our power for 32 hours, and some minor dents in the roof from falling branches. We all know in Brisbane how lucky we were this time, and our thoughts are with Bunderberg.

Home-grown version of the floods

Grandads: good for circus tricks and snap

among other things of course

Waiting for the cyclone

No pavlova or lamingtons this Australia day - we were all on cyclone watch.

Fashion shoot at the creek

Yummy dough

A while ago Kristina gave Bronte some yummy dough. With Kristina's schedule, it was just too hard to co-ordinate a time for her to come and do the activity with the kids, so we cracked it open. It says "shape it, bake it, eat it". Well, the order of events was more like "mix it, eat it, spill it". The shapes never got beyond the final picture with Zach - i.e. a sticky mass on the table and floor. No lions here. 

Cupcakes in style

I took the week off work to hang out with my girl before she started school. We saw a movie (Tinkerbell), did lots of drawings, and went to the speciality cupcake shop with Will.

I did it!

Zach is up to that phase of insisting on doing everything himself. This is him dressing himself: "Mum - I did it!"

Catch up with the kindy crew

A swim and BBQ at Audrey's house with all the kindy girls. As usual, Bronte didn't want to be in the group shot, but she certainly is one of the princess gang. 

Brunch

Brunch, and a chance to catch up on Stockholm memories.

Note how Zach has positioned himself onto Nuni. He is going to miss his Aunty big time. 

Invisible girl

The dolphin, the turtle, and the smashed pavlova

 The family farewell to the Swedes at Jenny and Pauls.

chocolate with chocolate freckles please

Hanging with the cousins

Some serious Octonauts watching with X man at the wheel.

Zach has developed a deep love affair for Nuni, and when she gave him a rainbow pencil case - well! Life couldn't be much better.

Farewell to a special friend

Ava has moved back down to Melbourne. Which has made Bronte very sad. She knows we will visit, and Ava will come back up for visits - but it has been a special relationship these two have had for the last couple of years. Finn, on the other hand, is probably happy to get away from Zach for the next little while.

This is what the wood was for

Our new downstairs deck: 41 square metres of rope climbing, swinging, cycling, undercover fun.

The book hog

I was secretly quite pleased that Zach was one of those book hog kids - the one that has to point out excitedly something on every page. This is his new room. Unlike Bronte, who met Zoe on her first day of childcare and remains great friends with her, Zach hasn't clicked with anyone just yet. It will be interesting to see how friendships form over the year. 

Last day of Lady Gowrie

After near 4 years, we say a sad farewell to Bronte's childcare. She has made some wonderful friends here, and her teachers have understood and taught her well.

Thanks to Teena for a wonderful kindy year.

Wood watching

The wood arriving for the new downstairs deck! Decided on Tuesday to have it done - work started Thursday, wood arrived today!

23 months

This month we have been working on gentle hands and gentle teeth (haven't quite got the positive right for NO BITING). With a move up into the next room at childcare, and Xavier in town, Zach has moved down the pecking order, and he has been using what tools he has available to get himself noticed. As per normal, positive attention always works to prevent this unsociable behaviour - but unfortunately, there is no instant fix. But on a very big plus, Zach is now sleeping through the night, and after 5 years, I am finally getting some decent shut-eye.

Pizza Ross style

The book thief

Zach loves books, and he is rapidly working out that bringing a book to an adult to read is a good way to not only get a book read, but also a good way of getting positive attention (i.e. not getting in trouble).  I am not sure why we sat the boys together - Zach does enjoy hassling Finn just a bit too much. 

4 years 8 months

Swimming is indeed the story of the month - from pretty much nothing to underwater and moving forward. She has even been body surfing on the waves, and swimming deep in the river. Bronte is such a mastery kid - she has to believe she can do something before she tries. If you force her before she is ready she gets quite anxious. However, she is also getting good at recognising such feelings, and working through it. For example, I was asking her about going to school, and she said "mum, stop talking about it else I will start to feel scared". A very good heads up for me.

Ava and Z

While Bronte had her swimming lesson, Zach and Ava had some rare time together.

A touch of paint

Funny smile

Learning to swim

We had a week of intensive swim lessons, which really complemented Bronte's new found confidence in the water. Bronte really trusted the instructor - who had her diving to the bottom of the pool, floating solo, and doing big arms by the end of the week. Once Bronte decides she can (and wants) to do something, she is very good at practicing and improving. I think the face in the 3rd photo says a lot.