Tent City

This year in the Rickard household a reward chart is in action. If at the end of 2 weeks the boys have completed their daily chores Daddy will take them to...........Tent City! Ben worked tirelessly so he could go to tent city. He wasn't too sure what happened at tent city but he was just absolutely certain it was fun. So much fun there was no chance he was going to miss it. When we took him to the tent aisle at Kmart and told him this was tent city he was thrilled! We then took them all to INTENCITY, where they all had a ball!

Funnily enough Ben has requested next time he want to go straight to the fun tent city not the one with all the tents!

Benny Loves Popcorn

On the holidays we took the boys to see the Chipmunks. The highlight for Ben wasn't the movie it was the bucket of popcorn. His hand was in it the entire movie! Every time the bucket was passed in front of him he dug a handful out. It even continued after the movie finished..... I was concerned he would request the bucket be taken to bed with him! (the photos aren't great as they were taken on Nathan's phone!) Matthew stuffing his face much to Ben disgust.

Ben running away with the bucket so no one else could get it.

Still more stuffing of faces!

The kid could sleep anywhere!

Just before Christmas Courtney and Neal came to visit us on their way to Bega. I was excited about their visit but the excitement was too much for poor Ben, who fell asleep over the side of my recliner and onto the lounge!


Far too much pre-christmas parting for him, apparently!

A Valentines Surprise!

Nathan has bought me a surprise gift for Valentines Day. It arrived in the mail on Wednesday. I had the parcel half opened before I realised it was for him (after all who sends him stuff!). Then i had a moral dilemma. It was obviously the gift he ordered for me, he NEVER buys gifts without consulting me first (mainly because he knows I cant handle the suspense!) So do I continue opening the parcel and find out or do I wait for the surprise? Well for the first time in my life I decided to wait! By Friday I was telling Nathan I was finding the suspense difficult. I told him every time I walked past the wardrobe the gift was calling my name. He then laughed at me and pulled the box out from under the bed and shook it teasing me. On Saturday morning I told myself as I made the bed I would just open the box under the bed and have a quick peak! But then scolded myself for my lack of self control. Finally, I went to the kitchen to find the box sitting on the kitchen bench (Nathan had taken the boys to the Mall). Without even making a conscious decision I had the lid off the box to find......... a note saying "It's not here! Love you!"
Bastard!

Amputated

Today was the first time in 6 and a half year that I had all three of my boys at some kind of schooling all at the same time. It feels like you are hopping around minus your arms and one leg. It feels like you have left your purse somewhere that you cant remember with thousands of dollars in it. It kind of feels really bad except you know in your heart of hearts that they will be fine. As I have been told a few times over the last few days I have done a fine job (so far) of raising independent, happy individuals. And for just a minute I wished I hadn't done such a good job!

A Nursery Rhyme

This little piggy went to Year 1.

This little piggy was very excited to go back to Kindy......

This little piggy went to playschool

This little piggy went all the way to Melbourne to collect an award!

And this little piggy went wee wee wee all the way to KoKo Black where she ate her weight in chocolate!

Like this chocolate Martini

Thank you to my gorgeous girls for looking out for me on this really rough day! I don't know what I would do with out you!

(And.......I'm sorry about this photo Cid but you should have just smiled for me!)

*Photo has been removed as it has been printed out and placed on Cid's fridge!*

Ryan's first day at school

On a "normal" day in the Rickard household, screeching at Ryan to get dressed and put his shoes on is all too common. This morning it was still dark the first time Ryan asked if he could get dressed into his uniform! He was dressed and out the door at 8.30am! A whole half hour early!

He is a bit concerned that he is like a turtle with his back pack on. Apparently it is a bit heavy!

Year 1's don't start til tomorrow so today the kindy kids rule the school.

Very proud parents!

Needless to say he settled in very quickly! He didn't even give a backwards glance as I left!