Luna

We seem to have survived the first week back at school. A huge one for Ruby - starting high school - but she seems to have thrived in the new environment and hopefully there's no looking back now. Business as usual for Archie but plans ramping up to hold his birthday party for 17 six and seven year olds at an establishment so aptly called "Monkey Mania". The planning alone has him in high spirits next week is keeping him in high spirits. I practised making him a dinosaur cake yesterday and lucky I did. Why is it so hard to make it look like the picture in the book? I am sure they are leaving out vital information. Something like "Must use professional food colourants available only at industrial outlets on the outskirt of town" or "Just outsource the cake!" Lets hope the actual party effort is an improvement.

Yesterday, Archie gave Ruby some advice. Fashion type advice for her first day at high school next week. I can't be sure but I think she took it on board. Like any twelve year old girl Ruby can be very particular about what she wears and I try not to intervene. I did insist on our week down the coast however that she choose a hat and we found a really nice one she was happy to wear, even with a small nautical motif embroidered on the side. Driving home yesterday I suggested she might even wear it at school (we live near the only public school in the state that has no school uniform or dress code) to protect from the heat. No? Bad idea. I offer to embroider some black felt skulls over the nautical motif for a more morbid take on summer. No again. Then Archie, listening in, offers up his advice "You could get one with a monkey or dinosaur on it" he suggests. "They are very pop'lar wight now". which made Ruby smile. Which means, like I say, that she must be tak...

Archie has just turned Seven and is all into his Dad at the moment, not so much me. He just puts up with my hugs and cuddles at most. He only wants Dad to read him stories. Last night I went in to to say goodnight after his Dad had finished reading and turned out the light. I crept in. "Goodnight Archie", I said softly and hopefully, giving the little bundle a quick cuddle. He growled and out from underneath the sheets came his cross little voice, "Oh look! See this is why I can't get to sleep at night!". Which reminds me of a bit of a shameful incident a couple of weeks back. I'd counselled myself that I couldn't keep forcing hugs on Archie and would find a different way to love him until he was ready to appreciate his mum again. As I walked up the hall I decided I would not feel rejected but instead sit at his bedside and explain that much to his relief I would not be forcing cuddles on him anymore but would still be loving him and when he was read...

It's over a year ago now Ruby and I found this crusty old wardrobe at St Vinnies and decided it was exactly what we were looking for. Okay, it's getting close to two years ago this Easter and the eggs have already begun arriving in the shops. Anyway - here it is...and I LOVE it. It was a smart decision to leave it in the Magic Garage. I doubt I could have done anything like the job the elves did, let alone even finishing the job at all. Let me just say that the photos don't do it justice at all. It's made Ruby's bedroom comolete. BEFORE:

Good news. Archie seems to be enjoying singing time at school. A lovely surprise when he starts singing a song from school, if a little incompletely, at the dinner table in a soft sweet voice. Something about a bit of algae making friends with a bear, lyrics only Ruby decodes. "Do you realise he's singing about a bear that eats his new friend?" she warned me. And yes, if I'm hearing right the Bear does "grow Bulgy" and the "Bulge is Algae" but does it matter? He's singing. He's participating is the point. Not so long ago I took my mum to an assembly where Archie had one of the main non speaking parts as a pirate. Before the main attraction the music teacher struck up a tune on the piano all of which the children seemed to know and sing along to. Except Archie. Who was staring up at the ceiling. "What's wrong?", I whispered to my mother, alarmed. "Why isn't my little boy joining in the singing?" "I don't ...

We've had a few parenting wins in the last few weeks. - Driving Ruby and friend home accross town from band rehearsals with clutch about to give. Limping home in the dark having to restart the car every time gears need changing. Of course the kids loved the drama. "We thought we were going to die!!!" Ruby's's friend gleefully told her mother, having to be picked up from our place where the trip was finally aborted. - Sending Ruby off on the state band tour at 7.30 in the morning  sans trumpet. Daughter's friend's dad (who is chauffering because our car has dodgy clutch) rings up at destination in panic "Missing a trumpet". - Discover later on that father of Ruby's friend has also stopped en route at bakery for danish pastry when  Ruby announces no one has fed her that morning. But this is the best: forgetting to pick up Archie's friend from a party. When Col returned from the party with just Archie, I'm like, "Oh my god, wher...

Archie was telling me the other day how funny one of the boys in his class was being, a child with a rep for being the naughtiest boy in the kindergarten class. I said "Did everyone think he was being funny?" Archie said "Just the boys". I said "Why don't the girls think he's being funny?" Archie said "Because they know he's being naughty" "Don't the boys know he's being naughty?" I asked. "Yes" said Archie "But they can't help it" It was hard to know what to say next. You'd probably pay a psychologist with a Phd in gender studies a fortune to reach an insight like that...