Category: week in review

Quite a few adventures this week. Puff and Mum spent some time together on a couple of occasions. First up, making bread. Puff did a great job with the dough, and was very proud of the end result, looking for ways he could share it with people.

After that, Huff was pretty desperate to make bread with Dad, but Dad talked her into making a delicious (and easy) chocolate cake instead. 

Later in the week, Puff went to his school disco, and had some time with Mum afterwards. The glowing star was Huff’s new favourite toy for the next couple of days.

Huff continues to be very cuddly, sometimes as an expression of her own general outlook on life, other times to try and avoid punishment for something she’s done wrong, and sometimes just to annoy her brother when he’s playing screens.

With some spare time at the moment, Dad was able to go to Kindermusik with Huff, running around crazily with the other kids in the class.

Huff was a bit worn out afterwards, and slept through lunch.

She was very sad to have missed out, but it wasn’t long before there was another cafe, and some more babycinos and brawniest (the current favourite cafe food).

Saturday was our annual pilgrimage to Sculpture by the Sea with another family. We had great fun looking at the sculptures and running around outside, but the kids were persuaded to sit still at least long enough to try out this “junk” throne.

Sunday morning we were up early enough to have breakfast out: Dad took the kids for a drive there, and they behaved themselves reasonably well.

Huff was watching the photos being picked for this week, and asked to have one with her babycino included, so here we are. You can see the mischief in her eyes, but she’s very cute.

Another week where we haven’t taken many photos of the kids. Breakfast on Saturday with Grandragon we let the kids have some screen time while they were waiting for the food to arrive. They’re pretty good at putting the screens down when asked, which is encouraging.

Mum went to a parenting information evening on Saturday night, and is trying a few new approaches to how she interacts with the kids. 

Sunday morning Puff and Dad went on a walking adventure together. On a steep hill, Puff was motivated enough to run ahead. Once we found a cafe, we stopped for breakfast and a game of chess. 

We also called in to see Grandma and Doc, and play some boardgames and make some imaginary tea and coffee to hand around.

Monday and Tuesday continue to be swimming lesson days: Huff would rather bounce on the trampoline than watch her brother’s lessons, though she’s a trooper.

Huff shows a great desire to understand what people like, and organise it for them in the form of small gifts. Dad managed a walk to a cafe with Huff and share some father/daughter time too: at this stage, she’s more interested in kissing him on the cheek than engaging in conversation, but it seems best to keep the lines of communication open.

Dad had some extra time with the kids this week, including some extra adventures on the weekend. We took advantage of the new Slurpee promotion by grabbing a bracelet for each of the kids to go with their sugary treats.

We stopped on the way home from a meeting for some lunch and a play in the playground. The kids liked the vegetables better than the nuggets and chips, which remains a good sign.

Sunday morning we went for a walk before church. Huff is showing more interest in recognising numbers, and we’re trying to stretch her into learning longer numbers: letterboxes are a good combination of proximity and height. Puff – who knows all his numbers was impressive in his restraint: staying quiet and letting Huff figure it out for herself.

Mum and Dad had some time together today, bringing Huff along to share lunch and dessert (her latest achievement was eating an entire Brewnut by herself). This picture captures the combination of tired and happy that characterises her at the moment.

Puff is continuing along with his schoolwork – some weeks homework is a challenge, other weeks it’s much easier to have him get through it: we’re trying to help him learn resilience.

Another big week: some travelling adventures and a visit to Puff’s school where his class was running the school assembly.

We realised at the last minute that Puff needed a black t-shirt for the assembly, so there was a late-night-shopping trip: the size 8 shirt we ended up with was a bit big, but still seemed to do the job.

Huff did pretty well, enjoying the assembly and having a good time with her friend in some of the gaps.

After the assembly, Dad caught the train into the city with Huff; we had babycinos and she took a few photos with Dad’s phone.

We then met Mum for lunch: here she is being very cute with Mum.

On Saturday, Dad took Huff and Puff on a public transport journey. We caught a bus together. Being a Saturday morning, we had the back of the bus to ourselves. Puff was busily counting white cars during the trip.

Huff was more interested in the scenery.

We managed a visit to see Grandma and Doc, and Puff tried his hands at being a mechanic.

Puff’s swimming is coming along nicely. Both kids really enjoy their swimming lessons – it’s amazing how quickly they have surpassed their Dad’s skills in the water.

 

It’s been a big week, finishing with Grandragon’s release from hospital, so we’re expecting a more traditional week of activities next week. This week has looked – especially for Huff – a little more like this:

Dad has made the most of his availability to spend time with the kids – he had the chance to walk Puff to school (and pick him up a few times too). A good opportunity for some chats.

Saturday morning we had a chance to head into Eveleigh markets: Puff had his traditional favourite breakfast – a cinnamon apple crepe. Huff had some fancy yoghurt, and Dad had a rather disappointing Pho soup.

Back at the hospital, Huff and Puff learned to play skip-bo (Huff was more interested in watching the game be played).

Hospital visits have made for some late nights this week, but the kids have been resilient (and certainly haven’t varied their wake-up time).

Dad took the kids out for dinner on Saturday night after leaving hospital for tiny burgers, but they weren’t very interested.

Sunday night it was noodles in a Thai restaurant: much more successful (perhaps starting with some screen time while the food was prepared helped).

Monday was the expected leaving day, so Dad took Puff to school, then took Huff to swimming lessons, then off for a quick snack before visiting Grandragon.

Huff somehow worked out that there were “invisible fairies” in the cupboard next to Grandragon’s bed, and that they could be transported home safely in a rubber glove.

On the way home from the hospital on Monday night, we called into another place for noodles. This too was very popular, despite Huff’s insistence that she was still hungry, then falling asleep, then struggling to wake up at dinner time.

We had lots of feedback from people (especially at the hospital) about how well behaved the kids were, which was encouraging. Thanks to those who offered help during the past two weeks.

It’s been a busy week – the last of the school holidays – with lots of activities, much of them around hospital visits, and the kids have been real troopers throughout. Here they are, early in the week, playing at the physio.

We went down the south coast to visit a couple of cafes. one had a built-in second-hand bookshop, so we added to Puff’s collection of science books, and Huff’s collection of counting and picture books.

After that cafe, we went to another cafe where the kids could stretch out a bit and draw.

Later in the week, Dad took Huff and Puff to a playground: it was just the right time of day to take photos of them.

We also managed to find time to head up the Central Coast – there was some sandcastle viewing, which was the main thing that Huff wanted to do during the holidays. It was dusk, and windy and cold, but they managed to cope pretty well (though Huff was pretty unhappy on the way back with the sand in her shoes… some more life lessons to be learned for her).

We went to a friend’s birthday party on Saturday, and the kids had a great time. Dad and Puff played some kind of chasing game that Dad didn’t entirely understand, but it was fun. Huff was in fine spirits too.

On the way to one of many hospital visits, Dad and Huff picked up a coffee for Grandragon. The staff were keen to offer Huff a babycino and marshmallows while she was waiting, and she was keen to see how the coffee was made.

Sunday morning Puff was up early, so joined Dad on his morning walk. He was a bit distracted by the TV (playing Italian news), and asking a few interesting questions.

Dad encouraged the kids to have a nap in the afternoon, so they could stay up and watch the Grand Final. It was funny hearing Puff cheer for a team for the first 20 minutes, as he came to grips with the way the game worked. Perhaps funnier was Huff asking if we could “watch the same movie another night”. She doesn’t yet have a category for sporting events, it would seem.

In addition to the dog and bird that have made a fairly regular home at our place, we’re currently looking after two guinea pigs. The kids enjoy feeding them and interacting them while Mum cleans out the cages.

Mum has been very creative in coming up with ways that the kids can be entertained in the hospital. Here is the walker, being adapted for “figure eight” rides around the ward.

Puff is back at school now; juggling homework and reading with his usual interests – he’s starting to pick his own books at the library, which looks like it will be a fresh set of challenges.

Huff is learning her numbers – she can recognise most of the digits now, and lets us know when she’s bored of it all and wants a break.

Big thanks to Uncle J for his efforts at looking after the kids on Friday.

We’ve made the most of the school holidays in terms of taking the kids out to parks. Here’s Puff getting his balance back after spinning on a small roundabout.

We had a special outing this week: we went to a bus depot with a group of small kids, and the bus went through a bus wash. The kids were very excited.

Huff and Mum were pretty happy with the bus wash too.

Another highlight for the kids was meeting Grandragon’s new guinea pigs. 

In honour of the bus wash, and a science book character, they’ve been named Bus and Oddblob.

The kids have explored a range of culinary options. Here’s Huff concentrating on a poached egg (they were happy for most of breakfast).

Later in the week, Dad took them out for a different breakfast (Dad did Huff’s hair for this photo).

It’s been good to see the kids getting along this week, despite all the extra time they’ve spent together.

We went to a new cafe in Port Kembla this week, which was part cafe, part second-hand bookshop. Puff spent most of his time there reading a science book, while Huff decided it was time to teach herself to “read” a counting-themed picture book.

Puff asked if we could stop “burning coal” when we use the computer, and use solar power instead. Not sure where that came from, but happy to think about our environmental footprint with him.

A bit of a transitional week this week: Dad wrapped up after a long time at one job, and the kids came in to help tidy up a desk.

Saturday was Aunty I’s birthday – it was a chance for the cousins to play together: here are Puff, Huff, and baby E having a go with blocks.

Sunday, Puff was given a very cool toy: a wooden cube that can be transformed into a robot. There were some challenges getting used to how to fold it, but he’s loved the toy, and played with it for long slabs of time each day.

Mum took Huff and Puff out for gelato and a trip to the park while Dad had some contract work to look into.

On Monday night as a school holiday treat, Mum took Puff to bingo – he had a great time, and even won a prize!

Today was the second day of the school holidays: everyone was a bit tired. We tidied the house, and had a tidying break in the afternoon where we went out for a late lunch. Huff just wanted cuddles with Dad for a while.

See you next week!

Another big week; one of those week where it’s a joy to have the kids around. And a week where Mum spent a lot of the time feeling unwell, but pushed through anyway.

Huff loves taking selfies.

Friday morning Dad was out for a walk with Huff (on the way to meet Mum and Puff at a music class before school). We waited for a while at a building site where a cement mixer was getting ready to pour a slab. She was quite interested in what was going on, and not too stressed about the level of noise.

Mum and Dad were out most of Saturday and of Sunday (at, ironically, a parenting workshop), and on Sunday afternoon we grabbed a book for each of the kids as a “welcome back” present. Mum read Huff’s book to both Huff and Puff. Thanks to Grandragon for looking after the kids so well: they had a lovely time.

Monday night was – somewhat oddly – a fundraiser for Puff’s school at McDonalds. We bravely ate dinner to raise money, and the kids had a lot of fun eating, playing, and having face painting done.

Tuesday was Book Week. Puff finally had a chance to dress as Where’s Wally’s Dog, Woof. Huff went as “Woof’s sister”.

Despite a massive day at school for both of them, and jumping castles, snow cones, fairy floss, and other activity, they still had plenty of energy to run in the park.

Huff manages to miss Dad (“I missed you today Daddy”) after very short absences (the record was while Dad was still in the house, on his way to the front door) in a very sweet way.

Dad and Puff went to the dentist together for Dad’s appointment, then had dinner together: it’s been a good way of understanding what’s going on in his head, and what (if anything) he’s worrying about.

See you next week: school holidays begin Monday!

We’re well and truly into the swing of school activities. Puff had a Father’s Day breakfast at school, so we had bacon and egg rolls for breakfast together. It was good to have a chat to him on the way to school.

After breakfast, we headed in towards the city to have coffee with a friend. Huff had a babycino, and met our friend for the first time.

After school we had a quick trip to the local library. The kids queued very patiently waiting to have their hands stamped.

On Saturday night we had a friend’s birthday party.Puff took the chance to practice his speech with a friend.

On Sunday it was Father’s Day. The kids gave Dad some presents, and then we headed to church – our youth group was cooking more bacon and egg rolls for everyone who came along.

After church Dad and the kids went for a quick walk to 7-11 for slurpees. Everyone was very happy about it?

Puff spent time in the afternoon icing and decorating a cake. He was concentrating very hard the whole time, but the result was very impressive.

On Monday Puff had his inter-school public speaking competition. He did a great job, but was beaten on the day by a couple of other kinder kids.

Huff also had the chance to show off her playground skills – after being a bit hesitant, she was climbing and sliding on everything she could find.