National Maritime Museum

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Small Beginnings

 Lucas looks super cool in his baseball uniform. He's slowly getting over his fear of being looked at when batting! He is enjoying it, though I had to be firm that there's no quitting until the end of the season. ;)

Riley was super happy with his finds today. We have two chickens. One healthy (result on the left) and one very very ill (result on the right). It was a triumph today though as I've been given them a special diet for their condition (my very first nutrition clients!) and this is a massive improvement. The sick one will probably die, so I prepared the boys for that... and no we didn't eat the little one.

So much excitement for one day! We've been enjoying the raspberries everyday (my favourite!!) and he is very particular about sharing them out fairly.

End Nov mash up

Riley and his super neat handwriting (when he wants to) :)

Crazy hair at a party 

 Helping me out with photographs for my Workplace Health and Safety Assessment. This one is obvious, biohazard with infectious conditions!

Passing skills on to the next generation of insect admirers.

JACKPOT!!! We got Mum's bananas this year! Woohoo! Hanging proudly near the front door.

 Trying to avoid a photo with his cool sunnies on. On the way to the school annual performance - it was BRILLIANT!!!

Not trying to avoid a photo :)
The best bit about the show was the finale. They dimmed the lights and replayed the music for the kids to exit. .. but they still heard the music and they kept singing!! So all that was left were the kindies singing over and over with the actions - loving the limelight, finally over nerves and sharing what they'd been learning all year!  They literally had to go on stage and pull them off! haha

Such a sweetie pie. I wake up to, "What's your favourite breakfast Mum?" . xxxxx

Looney Secret Garden

The day before we went to the Aquarium we took the kids to Milsons Point for a wander in the Secret Garden and a ride over to Luna Park (just looking - it was a Sunday!).

The history of the garden is pretty boring... I have... to be honest, only a tiny amount of interest in Aussie artists, movies, tv shows etc... snore. BUT we taught the kids anyway.
If  they looked carefully they found characters in the bushes and lots more! We also found a lovely family of funnel web holes..... eek!

 Butterfly and bell found.

Sydney Aquarium

A week or so ago we took the boys off school for the day. They'd been having a pretty rough trot at school, especially Riley, who, try as he might, keeps getting in trouble!
So we decided a day out might be the cure - and it was :)

 Sleepy sword fish

 "Look! A school of fish!"

Lovely carpet shark.

We all coloured in a kind of fish, then it was scanned in and swam about on the wall. :)
They even behaved like the type of fish we coloured in, fast in a school, or slow and solo.

Just can't get enough :)

We printed the photos and they both took a presentation folder and told all about their amazing day for news. We donated some sea creature rings to the rewards box for each class too. Sometimes all you need is a bit of extra family time and something completely different.

Lucas' Special Day

Both looking very proud :)  This is obviously the before shot (they're still dry!) at Lucas' Baptism.

It was such a lovely service and it was great to have people there that really meant something to Lucas and could all take part in the program (whether it was conducting music, talk or doing a solo song).

A couple of families from school came, one Anglican and one Islamic family. My Muslim friend said she really enjoyed learning more about Jesus as her children didn't really know much about him. So that was nice. The three of us mums from school felt a lot closer that. We all want safe, good examples for our kids and we hope our kids will stay friends and respect each other's differences like their Mums do.  :)

Lucas was a wonderful example to friends and family. He was a bit nervous before, but felt really happy inside afterwards.

Since then, he told all about his baptism for news at school. Then the following free choice day, he took his brand new set of scriptures in to show them. I had no idea until afterwards - he seemed to have some pretty good feedback from his class! :) hehe

End of holidays.. Lucas is 8!

To mark the (almost) end of the school holidays we all went to the Reptile park with Nanny and my brother Alex's kids.

Riley went nuts over every lizard and bird he saw. Lucas loved everything!
I know it doesn't look all that unusual to have a picture with dogs, but these are wild Dingo puppies. They've been well fed, and as babies get - were very sleepy.

The first of the birthday cakes. This was a pre-birthday cake made by Nanny and I think will last us a good while!  They love it (carrot cake with cream cheese frosting).


Today was the day! We were all up early ready for the present giving before Church.

 Very happy with his chess set, playing "Riley rules" at the moment :) Thank you Gramps and Farmor

 The super duper long skateboard made a brief appearance in the church car park! His big buddy (14-ish) has one too and Lucas feels pretty cool now.

I'm so super proud of this lad! He's so kind, helpful, sensitive, creative, active and curious.
He's braver now he's 8 - you can see it can't you!

Next week is the boys bbq, then the week after he has chosen to be baptised. It's a very important time for us all as it's a personal decision to follow the example of Christ and try our best from day to day to share his love.
I can't imagine a life without knowing that we are all known individually and deeply loved by our maker. That we have a purpose, incredible potential for good and that family is the center of His plan.