Sophie has turned 5 and Alicia and I attended her party. The family still lives in Qatar and sounds like they are having a ball but they managed to get back to Australia for Christmas and it was good to catch up. Alicia and Sophie went straight back to where they left off. It was really lovely to see.
If you are in doubt Grandma's do swim. Its not too often mum gets into the pool completely with swimming togs but here she is frolicking with the kids. They get really excited when she goes in the pool and then start hanging off her and jumping around her. It can get pretty full on and they generally don't have mercy. The boat seems to be the calming effect. If you are in there, then there isn't that much tom foolery. Normally she is seen clothed, dangling Keira into the pool which is starting to get more difficult because Keira wants in fully.
Cameron turned 4 early March. Yes, they are growing up, big time. Leanne and Steve had a barbeque. It was a great get together. Stephanie showed her younger side and went on the trampoline with the kids. She was bouncing just as good as the rest of them. Its funny how you have motion sickness when you get older, but as a kid, you could jump all day. I can't stay too long on the trampoline. We didn't make it to Cameron's superhero birthday but it sounded like a really good day.
No, they don't get younger, they only get older. Chelsea turned 9 and we had a pool party to celebrate. It has been mega hot here for almost 2 weeks. Even grandma had a dip in the pool. The icecream cake, almost didn't make it because we were too busy getting photos. I hope Chelsea had a good day, we wish her a Happy Birthday.
A lot has happened in the Coulter household in the last few weeks. Keira turned 1. So Leanne had a lovely birthday party with all the family, including a wading pool which we certainly needed. The older kids had a ball in and out of the pool. Keira loved all her presents and seemed very content to just 'hang' out.
We had visitors from Darwin on their way to Wagga. It was nice to catch up because we haven't seen them since Melissa and Jo's wedding. Harleigh was born this year in May and has turned out to be a very happy little chappy. It won't be long before he is crawling. He wants too and with a passion.
We had a nice BBQ to celebrate Ryan's birthday. The kids had a great time and a get together is always very cool. Isn't he growing up.
We had a lovely Sunday morning down at Henley Square. Fona and Phoenix were over for the weekend and Fona organised a picnic. Great day, great people, great time spent. The kids literally run a muck and had a great time harassing the birds, checking out the ocean and generally being kids. We saw some people we know but hadn't seen for ages and their kids are getting bigger and the families are growing. Its nice to keep in touch and find out whats been happening.
Well we did it. We finally went to the movies as a family. That includes Alicia of course. She will now be formally known as the Wriggler but on the whole wasn't too bad at all. She was definitely okay for the first hour and then she squirmed quite a bit. Sitting on me, laying on me, sitting on the step, sitting on the next step, sitting on the ground watching between two chairs. At one point she pointed out to me that, "She wasn't having fun." One of the best things......there was only 6 people watching the film and that includes us 4! We couldn't have asked for a better turn out. Not sure if we will do it again in a hurry but it was something different and now Alicia can say that she has been to the movies.
Alicia's kindergym kicked in with the Olympics theme and so did their swimming club. It was good to see that both clubs had created medals. Kindergym had a podium with the Olympics mascots stuck on a door and the swimming club even had the National Anthem to play when the kids stood on the podium. They felt special. Ewan even had a lot of activities at school that dealt with the Olympics. He did a poster of the Olympics for his talk and he knew all about the Opening ceremony and what events he likes.
Its not often that I get photos of the kids at swimming, but it was the last day of term, last term and they are allowed to muck around a little. Ewan especially has a really good time.
I forgot all about these incidents until the other day when she reignited them. There I was in the car with the kids in the back, and I was waiting for an older gentlemen to cross the street. Being as polite as I am, I waited for him instead of the other way round. Next minute, for the back left hand corner someone yells, "Come on love!" Well the only one, sitting there of course is Miss Alicia. This is not the first time she has opened up with this statement. BUT.....who does this sound like to you. Yes, Brad. This is one of Brads sayings, but doesn't exactly sound the same when being verbally projected by a 3 year old. What can I say, they repeat everything. The other incident involves listening to the CD's and Triple J in particular. Brad again! He listens to Triple J and crap music in the car and because the kids are mainly in his car, especially to and from child care/school, they unfortunately get used to his taste of music. Anyway, Alicia starts singing this song, which I can't understand and doesn't sound familiar to me. Finally I start understanding the words and there she is singing the chorus of a song and it goes like this, "I kill her, yes I kill her". Believe it or not, there is a song with this chorus and Alicia has picked it up, hence Brad is no longer allowed to play that particular song in his car when he has the kids. He certainly was on a role.
This is where we found Alicia. Just a small insight into what she gets up to most days. Check out the floor surrounding her, absolute mayhem. Poor Ewan even got roped into this one. I'm still not sure how she managed to fit most of the double sized quilt along with herself and pillows into the basket.
This wasn't the most pleasant thing to experience. Ewan went in for a sub-mucous dipthermy which is not a very full on procedure but recovery from surgery is. We were at the hospital for 7am and the surgery was scheduled for about 8am but unfortunately the back up generated wasn't working and they won't operate without it. So after waiting for ETSA to fix it, Ewan didn't go into surgery until almost 1pm. He didn't come out of recovery very well. Actually he was hysterical, crying and moaning etc. I couldn't even calm him down that well and the nurses just left me to my own devices but unfortunately we know my history with fainting and that is where I was headed. Finally some nurses showed up and Ewan had calmed down a little. I called Brad and he was on his way in. Once Ewan slept for a little bit and the packing came out of his nose, he felt much more comfortable and recovered quite well. Typical. He caused me grief and he recovered much better than I did. Its all over now and we go back for a check up in a couple of weeks. I'm not convinced it worked but the doctor will let us know.
Brad went motorbiking with the boys a couple of weekends ago. He was staying over night at Swan Reach on Seans property and decided he should take the swag. He brought it inside for an airing and it was lost to Alicia using it as her bed whilst watching dvd's inside. Brad still has to explain the swag is used for outside sleeping. Not that the princess will ever be doing that.
Now, the incident happened a couple of weeks ago, so I can't even remember why Brad had to give me flowers but, he asked for something to be done. Whilst the kids were present, I said to Brad, "Only if you bring me flowers". Now of course I wasn't gonna get flowers but I was hopeful (stupid me). Anyway, we all arrived home together and Brad asked if I had accomplished my task and I said, yes. I then asked where my flowers were. Ewan says, "Yeah dad, where are mums flowers?" Next thing I know, there is whispering behind my back. I ignore it because nothing good can come from whispering. Then in walks Ewan and Alicia with sour sobs in their hands. Anyone, who is anyone, realises that sour sobs are a form of WEED. Good one ya Brad. Anyway, I look excited and proceed to get a vase to put the sour sobs in. Everyone is a winner, apparently. Ewan was really cuffed, he picked some more the next day. Morale of the story, if you want flowers, be really specific.
There is usually a theme for the last day of term at Kindergym. The theme was pjamas. You can imagine Alicia's excitement at having to wear pjamas out. She loves pjamas, will and has worn them all day. The problem we have most of the time, is keeping her day clothes on. If we go out and then come home, before Brad and I know what has happened, she has put her pj's on.
Why is this horse my friend. Because it runs for a reasonable length of time and it only cost $1.00. Only $1.00, can you believe it. Usually these rides are at least $2.00 and usually they don't do anything. This one at least rocks back and forth, almost like a horse action. Yes, we like this ride. We also like the rides that incorporate both kids at once. Merry-go-rounds spring to mind. Whoever thought of these rides, will be making a fortune.
