Re-schooling

All three boys were presenting their learning at school today. I was up their early in the day to see Alexander and the other grade 5's performing their skits and shows.

I was back up in the afternoon for the twins presentation - or flat stanley expo. They all had to sit behind their country poster and answer parent questions. What was lovely was to see how much work had been done by the kids. Benji did Russia and Spence chose Spain. I had printed out pictures for them but none seem to appear on their posters so I don't know where they came from! They were all so proud to be able to show off what they'd learnt and I was pleased that I could be there. Poppy also called in for a visit and was proud to come to the expo too.

The day was capped off by an impromptu dinner with some school mates at a local japanese restaurant. Exactly what I needed.

Bear

This lovely package arrived in the mail today from LeAnimale. It is a bear which is my birth token.

Birth Totem for August 22 - September 21

Bear

Personality traits: Productive, practical, introspective, humble

I loved the look of it when I saw it on Etsy and knew I needed to have it. I have had trouble being productive, and it will serve as inspiration. 

The boys all had playdates today, and they were all lovely. It is what I needed and what they all needed. I farmed out two and one was here with a mate and it was just lovely to sit back and watch them play. So innocent, involved and natural. 

A bit of shopping

Im responsible for the costumes for the school dance concert and thankfully there aren't too many to make this year, but I thought I'd pop over to my favourite spot to see it there was any suitable fabric. I was off to Glen Huntly Road. Darn Cheap fabrics was the first stop and I picked up some basic drill and some fabric for a birthday gift. Either side are two little shops that can't go past without a visit. Shu Mart has a range of school shoes all year round, as well as some little bargains now and then. I picked up both of these pairs for $10 each. I love a wedge and with summer coming these will be great. 

Studio Fashion is on the other side and this is where almost all of my jumpers come from. This one was full price at $45 (!) but I love the contrast. The front and sleeves are cotton knit and the back has an inverted pleat in the double georgette. Great dressy casual. 

PLANNING

The bell has rung and I'm in the corner catching my breath. Not that I've gone 18 rounds with the boys, but I've been screaming like a banshee - not a proud moment - and now they are all off safely to school I can calm down and rehash. Over the weekend I learned that adolescent boys actually have different peripheral vision (may not be true, I just took their word) and now I am wondering if they also have a different vision of how things may happen.

Yesterday I had Xandy home from school for two reasons. The first were these awful lumps on his ears which I thought may have been hand foot and mouth which is apparently going around. The other reason, as he really wasn't that sick, was because he hadn't done his project which was due. Our previous week was nothing but manic and we really were not home, so I didn't feel I could blame him. Little did I know he had had it for significantly longer than I was told. So he stayed home and did it all day yesterday. We did also go to the doctor and she diagnosed the ear thing as chilblains.

With assignment all finished, and a non contagious disorder (apparently a stupidity induced, but we'll get to that) he was certainly off to school today. Unsurprisingly he wouldn't wake up. I suspect this was due to the hidden iPad that I confiscated at 11pm! Already I was not giving any sympathy. What totally set me off was he couldn't find his school jumper, and really didn't look very hard. You know that annoying look where they move their head from side to side and glance around a room and if the said item doesn't jump and hit them in the face, they can't find it? That look? Yeah, well I wasn't in the mood for it and sent him to school without a jumper. Seems his emergency jumper is also in hiding. Along with most of the other items in his room - ugh.

Back to the chilblains - he reckons he got these last time he went to school without his jumper (tshirt and shorts, it is winter here) and got really cold. I am angry for two reasons. One - can't he see that he got sick because he lost his jumper and two,  he only has to have a handful of things and can't even seem to manage that! Geez - the kid is only 10, what hope have I got when he enters puberty???

So, rather than fix it and take back all the responsibility myself and do everything for them, I am pushing back. Now if homework isn't done - TOO BAD i say. Your PROBLEM. Forgot your swimmers - miss SWIMMING. Lost a notice - YOU MISS OUT. All sounds a bit harsh I know, but I am trying to help them learn. I am also setting up some prompts on our notice boards to try to trigger them to forward think. What do I need tomorrow. Pack the bag the night before. What homework do I have this week. What is my weekly schedule. Lets see how we go......

Happy Anniversary

Thirteen years ago we married and in some way it seems like only yesterday we were on St Kilda beach for this photo - in other ways it is a lifetime ago.
This morning I was woken to exchange presents - which I had none, whoopsies. I was in the post euphoric weekend hangover, with one kids staying home because of a little illness but more importantly he hadn't even started a project which was due today. My gift was a gift of love. Not that kind - well maybe that intention. I got a voucher to get waxed. I had to open it early because it was all booked for 10am that morning. Ugh.

Just for the record, a wax is not an enjoyable experience, and having been given this as a gift from him once before, one would imagine he wouldn't go down this track again. He is probably thinking I needed to get the hint, but frankly it makes me run a mile the other way. I may become a feminist and grow the hair under my arms so long I can french braid it.

Look, a lot of this rant is really about my own attitudes and feelings at the moment. Dealing with the depths of grief and not feeling very good about myself. I know there was good intentions behind this, and not purely the smutty place where I imagine, but I was the one who had to endure it. Maybe I should have booked him in for a back sac and crack to share the joy?

The big one

Once I was done sewing a refashioned snow white costume for a (male) friend we could begin our massive day. Off to the footy presentations and then all back in the car heading for Cranbourne for the Grand Final of the Rep basketball team. I was a bit frantic as I was taking over the team manager role for the week - so I had to make sure we paid for the team sheet and didn't do anything to get disqualified.

The coach managed to get there just before the game started and we were a bit rocked by information that we couldn't play zone - or variations of it - but the others could. Not really sure what was going on there, but if it was the other teams' intention to scare us, it certainly worked. 

The boys played well but not their best. Initially in the lead, the opposition were tactically strong and worked us over. We got to within one point in the last 2 minutes, but I reckon when the boys put up about 15 attempts and none would go in, they all knew it was over. They lost by 6 points and were obviously devastated.

 WE recovered for the medal ceremony and then off to celebrate/commiserate together.

 This was the best bit of the day. These boys were literally scraped together to form a team. There were never any expectations of them, and they overcame every obstacle thrown their way in order to get to the grand final. Really a great effort and a great group of people.

 These crazy cats even decided it was warm enough for a post game swim! (It really wasn't and the pool was not heated)

 WE got to sit back and enjoy the celebrations with a glass of sparkles while the boys played touch footy and mucked around together. 

Winners

Two winners in the house today. The first was a grand finalist win.

 The kids played hard and it was a tough but really fair game and they won!! The girls have played in 14 finals between them and this is their first ever win. The smiles on all their faces tell the story.

 One of the nicest bits of the entire game was at the end when both teams joined their hands in the circle for the refs and each team. It is not every day you see this kind of display of sportsmanship but it should certainly be encouraged.

We hung around the stadium most of the day and supported our mates in their finals. All the others lost - sad face. Then we were off to our club presentation.

Spencer won coaches award for this team. He told me he would win another trophy and low and behold he did!

We finished off the evening at a friends house for a bbq dinner. There were a group of people we don't really know, but it was really lovely to be in their company - out being part of the community.