Auskick legends

The boys were lucky enough to be asked to play as the half time entertainment at the Blues V Giants AFL game on Saturday. It was Ryan's and Ben's first real game.

 It was also Nathan's first game as coach! So he got to go out in the middle and run around with then boys!

 Matthew was a little concerned that he was going to be playing against the Blues! We reassured him it would be against kids his own size but after watching the game I am pretty sure Matty's team could have beaten the Giants! Seeing how the final score was Blues 186 V Giants 26!

That Matthew and Ryan closest to the ball. But the surprise star of the game was Ben who booted his first goal one minute into the game! After the first bounce the ball got kicked in his direction so he scooped it up, turned around and punted it through the big one! Well done Benny!

We are still green

We have just finished putting in a second veggie patch. We plan on putting one more in. So after Nathan had slaved over making the actual box all weekend it was left to Ben and I to plant it out.  He is such a good little helper...when he wants to be!

 He raked out the dirt and manure.

One veggie patch full of broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, oregano, spinach and cabbage!

Happy Birthday Rye Rye!

Ryan turned 6 on the 20th of February. As usual the day started out early. The boys were on our bed at 6.30 ready for present opening.......Nathan and I not so much! We have decided from now on the boys have to wait until we wake up to get their presents.

 Ryan thanking Ben for his present

 Unwrapping. Oh the suspense!

 Some one loves presents!

 Needless to say Ryan loves his Nintendo DS. He only put it down long enough to go to a friends birthday party!

 And to have some cake with the family friends. Rye requested ladybugs on a number six this year.

And then it was straight back into the DS playing!



Baby Ben

Is no more! :(

It seems like yesterday when he was this.....

 but this kid has always been in a hurry to grow up and catch up to his brothers!

Ben is so lucky because he is starting preschool with his best friends...

 and best girl friends!

What other way would a Rickard spend his birthday!

Than with a chain saw in his hands!

And surrounded by his family and neighbours with chocolate cake!

Valentines Weekend!

Looks like we are having a whole weekend of romance in this household! Nathan's birthday falls the day before Valentines day so this weekend has started with red roses from the farmer's market.  Tonight we are going to dinner and a movie....... just the two of us! Then Sunday, Nathan's birthday will involve all of the neighbours and friends coming over for afternoon tea and birthday cake. Finally Monday will be more presents. (Don't tell Nathan but i got him the most romantic present this year! Jocks! Coz I am sick of folding up holey ones!) You couldn't ask for  a better weekend really!

Barkley's Monument

Since Barkley's death we have been looking for something suitable to place onto his grave. However we couldn't find anything that we liked.....until today! We walked into Magnetmart looking for towel rails when we almost fell over this...

                                                                                 

For those of you who knew Barkley you would have to agree that this is an uncanny likeness of him! So we have put Barkley's collar around his neck and had a plaque engraved with his name and dates and we have something fun and cheeky to remember him with!

Happy Birthday Ella-Rose!

It was nieces and goddaughter's first birthday on Monday so we skyped her to sing her happy birthday. I've noticed over the last couple of calls how much Ella-Rose loves talking to us on Skype! She kept leaning in to give me kisses and waving at me! I could resist taking her photo! How cute is she!

Poppy's flying visit

On Tuesday Poppy had business in Canberra so he flew in the night before to have a very brief visit with the boys. It may have been brief but from the look on Poppy's face I think it was worth it! And Poppy you should wear tractors more often they make you look sooo much younger!

Barkley's sunflowers

I have read this only happens when the soil is exceptionally well fertilised. I choose to believe it is Barkley's way of thanking us for taking his pain away!

Australia Day Medallion

My awesomely amazing husband was awarded an Australia Day Medallion this Australia day! Australia Day medallion are a public service award handed out annually in the different government departments. This year there were two handed out with Nathan being one of the recipients, much to his surprise! I am exceptionally proud of him and am so please that he loves his work and it also getting the rewards for all of his efforts. So proud of you Babe!

Back to school

Around three years ago I wrote a post listing my anxieties about sending Matthew to school. It is funny how much of a difference three years and two boys make! I am no longer worried about my perceived issues of public education. Three years down the road I can see how I still have the greatest influence over my sons but the teachers of the school provide great support. It is really evident to the boys teachers that I am concerned with their behaviour whilst they are in the teachers care. It hasn't happened often but once or twice i have spoken to the teachers or they have brought up a minor issue, which Nathan, the teacher and I have dealt with easily. I have now come to the conclusion that the best way to get the best for your kids education both academically and socially is to be present in the classroom and in the school.
Last year i was able to approach a teacher with a potential issue about Matthew, she went away and watched it for a little bit then we came together and then discussed it with Matthew. I think it is great that the teachers at Miles Franklin are so approachable and that they feel they can discuss my son with me honestly.
The other area that i think makes a difference is being active in the school community. I sit on the board so I am able to have a say in how the school is run. I also am involved in the P & C which again has me actively involved in the school. If nothing else it has my face hanging around the school a lot so that the teachers can see me and I can see what is going on with my children.
Which brings me to my final point. I was really worried about the influence of the other children on my boys. I was worried for Matthew because he can be easily led and I worried for Ryan because I thought he may be a target for bullies. But by me putting in time in the school ground I can see that Matthew may sometimes be led but he knows where that line is and he wont cross it no matter how hard he is pushed. And I  no longer fear that Ryan will be bullied. Not only does the school respond well to these kinds of issues it has been something i have been able to discuss with Rye's teacher and we both came to the conclusion that he is too confident in himself to be a target. 
Additionally, by being in the school I have got to know all of the kids in the classes. I can see the troubled kids and can see that my boys aren't attracted to being friends with the "naughty" kids, that is a huge relief! My final issue will be to ensure that my overconfident over sized youngest son doesn't become the bully! But that will be next years issue!
By far and away the positives of school out weigh the negatives. I am so thankful that all three boys have a thirst to learn. They are enthusiastic and eager. Not only do they enjoy the academic side of school they have blossomed in the social side of school. I would say Matthew knows the name of 95% of all the kids in the school. Both Matthew and Ryan have a huge sense of belonging in their school. It is especially evident in Matthew the way he struts through the school! The boys have great friends there, some days Matthew plays with his friends, some days he plays with Ryan some days he plays football with the year 5's and 6's! Even Ryan who is a little different has found his niche. I even like, and it sounds a little harsh, that the boys have to learn how to get along with different kinds of people. They don't get along with everyone and at times they have had to learn skills to deal with people that they might have differences with, I really feel that by the time they get out into the big bad world they will have had enough experience dealing with difficult, different and even people that they don't like to be able to survive. Because lets face it school is really just a miniature version of what is out there in society!

Julie

The lady above is the lady who I credit with my children's enthusiasm to learn! Julie is the teacher at Noah's Ark playschool where all three boys attended. Julie provided all three boys with the most amazing start to their schooling. Noah's ark was where they learned that learning was fun! Noah's Ark playschool is a play-based pre preschool program. Part of the program includes a social skills program and the remainder includes art and crafts, play, music and story time. Before playschool my kids had never been cared for by anyone other than me! Despite this none of the boys had issues with separation anxiety, they were so happy to spend time with Julie and her helpers.
So today Julie would have started the year with a new class of playschoolers and it will be the first year since Noah's Ark moved to Giralang that she wont have a Rickard in her class! But she will always be remembered fondly by the whole Rickard family! And I will absolutely miss playschool and Julie!

It's not easy being green!

I think we have become......greenies! I happened with out us even really knowing! Years ago we bought a grey water system. That made sense as we had harsh water restrictions and a rather large garden. Then came the vegie patch and fruit trees. The latest change has been from washing detergent to soapnuts. I have bought them from this great little online shop, called Footprint Ecostore and they are fantastic! They wash just as well as laundry detergents but without all the nasties and the water that is going through my grey is even better for my garden!We area also in the process of getting quotes for solar energy. It just so happens that our house is perfectly positioned to get a full day of sunlight. Meaning there is money to be made from my rooftop! And when you are a single income family it just makes perfect sense!
Anyway I just wanted to share some photos of our greeness! 

 Our tomatoes. These have been a bit of a blessing and a curse! For one, three little gnomes eat them before I have a chance to pick them! And then last week I found three monsters throwing green tomatoes at the neighbours house! They were marched over there pronto and made to apologise and clean up the mess!

 These are our pumpkins that the boys planted a week ago!

 Ummm....eggplants! I got a stack of seedlings from floriade but weren't sure what they were. Well we now know they are eggplants! Anyone have any eggplant recipes????

Our apple cucumbers. These cause my heart to flutter every time I eat one! My grandad grew apple cucumbers and they are my favourite. So I cant help but think of Grandad every time I eat one!

Now apparently Cleon snuck into the back yards and threw around some sunflower seeds. These two have popped up on Barkley's grave. It is quite unnerving that one of the storks has 15 heads on it!

Sunflowers have been my favourite flower for a long time. I mostly wear "Sunflowers" perfume. So for this unusual sunflower to pop up on our dogs grave has been a bit weird! We are hopping it is Barkley thanking us for helping take his pain away.

Bad Bad Blogger!!!!!!

But here is the reason why!