Oh Dear!

Today Ryan went to swimming and then Coles and Big W with one of his boots and one of Matthew's on his feet! I guess I should be thankful that the were different feet instead of both left ones! This could only happen to Ryan.

I hate daylight savings!

4am this morning! That was when Ben decided it was time to play. So i scooped him up and laid him down on my chest. He is far too big to do this now but I know how much he loves being there and I REALLY wanted him to go back to sleep! So he snuggled in and he finally went back to sleep at 4.45. Only to be woken up by Ryan and 5am! Who woke up and couldn't see Ben so he shouted down the house trying to find where he was. Which woke Matthew up. So at 5.01 this morning we had a house full of bouncing boys and two very groggy, cranky parents! Lets hope they adjust to the time change VERY soon!

Ben

The boys and i walk to and from pre school. Well not always to preschool as this morning it was only 1 degree but usually home from preschool and we now have our routine. Matthew, Ryan and Ben walk out of the gate and then go running through the bushland. Well its unmowed grass and trees. They run out of the gate along the fence and yes you guessed it hand along the fence. Then they run over the pile of bark chip and then through the long grass as far away from the big dogs that bark but where they can still see me. (i stick to the pathway!) Matthew is always first, then comes Ryan with his interesting style of running and finally Benny brings up the rear. Tripping over every stick, tuft of grass or leaf. And its not because he is unco (as is the case of Ryan) but because 19 month olds really shouldn't be capable of running through bushland! And when i ask him if he wants to go in the stroller i get a defensive "NO!" Not only does Ben do things he really shouldn't physically do he does it with an attitude I've never seen in a 19 month old. When we get to the walking path that leads to the bus stop where Ryan and Matthew must wait for me, Ben starts kicking the heels to his boots and swaggering. He, I guess, sneers at me knowing that i will put him in the stroller. His cheeks wobble and if i give him an extra metre or so he grins his cheeky grin. The attitude and cheekiness that surrounds him takes my breath away. My baby is in such a hurry to catch up to his big brothers and i don't think there is anything i can do to stop it!

Matthew's Pre School teacher has come to live with us!

Well that what it feels like! Matthew was giving me instructions yesterday, apparently i had to finish the lounge room, then i could make the playdough then i could play with them with the playdough in the dining room! This was done in a very precise way, with hand gestures a bit like an AFL goal umpire but with open hands instead of one finger. He gestured to each activity and then turned around and gave me the instruction of what he wished to happen. This exact way of giving instruction comes from Debbie, his teacher! He did it perfectly! I wonder, and some of you teachers out there reading this may be able to comment, if teachers are aware of how big an impact they have on the lives of the children that they teach? And it is so funny the things that children pick up. Matthew tends to spend time next door on the weekends with Michelle in her garden and i have noticed that he has picked up some of her mannerisms as well. And why is it that he picks nice things up from these people whilst the only things he has picked up from me are:"Do you want a smack, Ryan?" (I know i hate saying it but it falls out of my mouth before i know it and in the exact same tone as MY mothers!) and "I'm getting cross!" usually spoken to Ryan, Ben, Busta or Barkley in perfect imitation.
So from here on in I guess i just have to pray that Matthew gets nice teacher, like Debbie, to help influence and guide him.

Book Club

Last night was my first meeting of my new book club. It was so good to get out of the house and NOT discuss the book that we had all read and talk about EVERYTHING (and i mean everything!) else under the sun. I am really looking forward to our next one. Who knows what will be discussed then!

April Fools Day

Today is a day when i give great thought to my Grandad. He loved April Fools Day. He would ring us every April 1st and tell us the Sydney Harbour Bridge had fallen down or the sky over Mandurah was green or something equally ridiculous. And usually we would believe him......until we looked at the date! And in my whole life i don't think i ever managed to fool him once! Well, Grandad what joke did you pull on the entire population of heaven? Happy April fools!

Dolphin

Today at swimming, Matthew learnt the dolphin kick! He is on his way to being a butterflyer! He is coming along so well with his swimming. And after an "off" week last week, Ryan has returned to his swimming best, doing his bubbles and floating. The question is am I game enough to try and have all three boys in the water doing lessons at once next term? (And can we afford it?) Would love to post some piccies of the boys doing their swimming (so you don't think I'm just bragging!) but our swim school is a camera free centre!!???!!!