Aunty Teesh would like to share......

The three boys and I were out walking through Nathan's high school, Nudgee College, on Tuesday morning. Nath was pointing out places of interest when he pointed at a building and said, "That is where they do English".
Ben, who was holding my hand at that time, said to me, "That's where you live."
I tried to convince him that this was not my school and that I did not live there when he said, "That's where you live, Aunty Teesh. You live in English".
Priceless. Not bad for the a three year old to realise that I live in London, England.

Last one!

Matthew's Concert

Next it was off to Matthew's Kindy Concert. All three classes sang a few songs then it was into Matthew's classroom for his learning Journey (Basically where you check out his work since the last one!)

I think he might be having a good time!

Enthusiastically doing the actions and singing. It's hard for males!

Now for the video!

This is "Little Peter Rabbit" Check out the actions that go with the song!

Ben's Concert

It has been a full on day of Christmas Concerts! First up was Ben's Playschool One....

Singing little Peter Rabbit....with actions!

Party time! Fairy Bread anyone?

Ryan tucking in

Awwwww!

Jingle Bells.

Ben was VERY nervous about singing Jingle Bells because this morning he could only remember the first line!

Nice!

Chinese Night

A while ago Matthew and I had a discussion about eating utensils. He thought that knives, forks and spoons were the only utensils that people used to eat. As we were having the Dare family and the neighbours over for dinner that night we decided to have food that didn't require a knife and fork to eat it. We discussed all the different cultural foods we could have and decided on Asian. So we feasted on Sushi, fried rice and stir fry. Ben didn't have much luck!

Matthew tried hard.....

Ryan got it......

Poor Eli starved!

Cid is a pro!

So the Rickard went all multi cultural!

Happy Birthday Michelle and Paula

On the weekend we had a BBQ to celebrate Michelle (next door) and Paula's (across the road) birthdays. It was so much fun, we had kids running around the back yard laughing and playing. Cleon had requested I made insect cupcakes but as i was so pressed for time (and had been baking all weekend for a bake sale!) I only managed butterfly cakes. They were still beautiful!

Ryan and Ben really want to try one!

Happy Birthday Ladies!

Christmas Craft

This year I have made all of the children's teachers bon bons for Christmas. I learnt how to make the bon bons at a Stampin Up class that Cid dragged me to. The cards are all hand stamped and the bon bons are made of cardboard rolls.

Aren't they beautiful I filled them with Lint Choccies
And this is the mess I made whilst being beautifully creative!

Random Breath Testing

On Friday on our way to swimming lessons I drove through a RBT roadside thingy. The boys were so excited to see so many police cars and police men. As the officer said Hi I told him that he was making my boys day. He told me he could make it better! He then lent in the window and asked Matthew what his favourite Christmas Carol was. Matthew replied Jingle Bell Rock. The officer then said "Ok Madam can you please sing the first three lines of Jingle Bell rock into this unit!"

Santa's Christmas Workshop

Check out the look of concentration on Ryan's face every time he has to use his rhythm sticks! Hysterical!

Ryan's Christmas Concert

Friday was Ryan's Preschool Christmas Concert. The children have been rehearsing the songs for nearly as long as the decorations have been in the shops! So they were well and truly ready to perform!
The first song they sang was Skitt-a-ma-rink. An old favourite of Ryan's!

Then came singing in the rain. This is the elbows together part.....

Fa....La....Laaaaaaa!

This photo is from Ryan's and Matthews favourite Christmas song, Santa's Christmas Workshop. This is the toes are tapping part!

Rhythm sticks are tricky!

Jingle Bells!

In a one horse open sleigh....Hey!

Ryan presenting me with my Christmas gift

The beautiful portfolio of his years work!

The Invisible Man has friends!

Called the Magic Man and Mr Cool. These guys are permanently attached to one of my children at all times. They are however, interchangeable. For instance the Magic man was apparently hanging on to the back of Matthew's togs when he got out of the pool this afternoon. Ben saw him. Mr Cool was lying in bed with Nathan, Ben and myself yesterday. He was apparently in between Ben and Nathan.
Between the six of them they cause an awful amount of mischief!

Benny's world

Ben is a blokes bloke. When he is older his mates are going to be called Wazza and Shazza. People will probably call him Ricko. How do I know he will be like this? Because already at three he has taken to shortening peoples names. This means he now ONLY calls Matthew..........Maff! And Ryan is Ry and Barkley is Bark. And well he is a bit confused about Eli coz his name has already been shortened!

It's Here! It's Here!

The most anticipated thing in our house since October has been Christmas! So you can image the relief in our house when December 1st FINALLY rolled around!

Straightening out the branches
Singing Christmas Carols

Taking particular care to place each ornament in exactly the right place!

Dressing up for the occasion

Cheese

Guess who?

This is our miniature tree. This year I decided we would put the big tree in the formal lounge where it can be seen through the window and put a little kid friendly one in the family room so the kids can maul it and I wont stress!

We had to consult last years Christmas tree raising ceremony photos to see who had hung the star last year and we found out it was Matthew's turn to do the honours this year. He is still no quite tall enough but it wont be long apparently!

So Daddy helped!

Then it was off to calm to the children down for the next 24 days and reassure them that there is no way possible that Santa will come early. But I would advise them to be on their very, very best behaviour cos it might, maybe possibly, could happen if they were super, super, stupendously well behaved and treated their mother like a goddess for the next few weeks!!

We've got a 7 seater!

We have just bought a Holden Captiva. When we started looking we were just looking for something with 7 seats. Which is why the Captiva is now referred to as the 7 seater. Any SUV drives down the road now and there is a chorus from the back seat "There's a 7 seater!" Any way it is beautiful We currently have Ryan and Ben in the middle row and Matthew in the third row. (Yes we strongly advice the divide and conquer method for long car trips!) So after a few days of driving home from school via Gungahlin (not even remotely ON our way home from school) I suggested to Nath we take it for a proper spin. So we went fro a Sunday drive to Batemans Bay for fish and chips for lunch! It was a perfect day! For just having a stroll!

Or running around with no pants on, like maniacs!

And checking out the seaweed!

Not to mention fresh fish and chips!

We did take a photo of us infront of the new car at the beach but I am too fat in the picture so it wont be seeing the light of the internet!

Grumpy and Nana Bev

We were lucky to have a very brief visit from Grumpy and Nana. They had just enough time for a trip to Questacon. Which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Unfortunately Grumpy's brother and Nana Dawn are unwell. So they just popped down from Sydney for a quick catch up.

Barkley the 4th Rickard son!

What a photo doesn't capture is he actually jumps!

The Moster truck show

The Monster Trucks have been causing havoc in our back yard. One particular day the boys lined ALL of their cars (oh! and planes too) up end to end down the hill of our back yard. The monster trucks then set about demolishing them.............


And look how sweet and innocent my little boys are amid the destruction!

I wished I had actually been quick enough to catch a photo of the line of cars, it was so orderly and precise! Believe it or not!