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.