Riding riding riding

Daniel has been enjoying riding a 2 wheeled scooter for a while. I took him, Eliza and Alexander for a walk one afternoon and had the kids on the scooter. Daniel did a great job and was so confident and was balancing really well. 

This made me think that he might be able to ride his bike without training wheels. The only difficulty was that I couldn't do it on my own because of having the other 2 kids. With James being off work this week between Christmas and New Years we decided that each day we'd give it a go. Daniel was keen which definitely helped.

On Monday James took off the training wheels and took Daniel to a nearby oval.

I didn't expect Daniel to be able to ride his bike without training wheels by the end of the week but did think it would be worth a try. I believed that he had the ability to do it, but thought that he wouldn't have the confidence. They came home after a little bit and James said that he did really well. He was able to balance but it did come down to confidence and momentum. James was needing to push him most of the time.

Tuesday morning we decided to go all together to the park to watch Daniel ride. James started with Daniel and he was doing really well. A lot of the time James was just pushing him with his finger to help keep Daniel's speed up. So cool to see! I also had a little bit of a turn pushing him around.

Towards the end of the time James was letting go of the bike and Daniel was able to ride short distances. So very proud of him!

Helping Daniel get ready to start

James stopped but Daniel kept going a short distance

Wednesday James and Daniel headed out again. After a short time Facetime came up on my phone. I answered it and was so excited to be shown Daniel riding on his own on the cricket pitch. I had tears of joy and pride in my eyes. I couldn't believe that he was riding on his own. He had such a big grin on his face too!

Here is a video of Daniel riding on his own on the cricket pitch.

Thursday morning James again took Daniel to the park. This time Daniel decided he wanted to ride around the park. James was able to just give him a push to start and then off he went! Amazing! He even kept smiling when he bumped into the equipment and times when he fell off.

I am so very proud of Daniel! I can't believe how far he has come. He is so confident on the bike. He enjoys riding it. We will continue to explore different places slowly and work on breaking and stopping but he has done amazing work with his riding this week. Well done buddy!


 
 

Alexander's First Christmas

2016 has been Alexander's 1st Christmas and our first Christmas as a family of 5.

On Sunday 18th December we had the annual Santa run by the rural fire brigade. It is always great fun to sit out the front on the grass and driveway and wave to the firemen and women as they drive past. Eliza was excited about it. Daniel was worried the sirens would be too loud. Alexander was asleep. James was the most excited of us all I think. 

On the Thursday night at Mum and Dad's place the kids were excited to put on reindeer antlers and santa hats for a photo. They're a pretty cute bunch.

 Each morning the kids enjoyed putting in one of the nativity advent calendar pieces. I still love this and it brings back lovely memories from New Zealand.

Daniel and Eliza took it in turns to open our Christmas book countdown each night. I just loved Daniel's reactions when unwrapping the book. It was always met with excitement and joy in which book to read. I wanted to get it on video so this doesn't feel as genuine as his non-videoed ones but it gives you an idea of the joy.

The Sunday before Christmas the kids were encouraged to dress up as a person from the nativity to go on stage and perform a song for the congregation. I didn't really have a costume so quickly cut out a crown for Daniel and put on his dressing gown. He held a treasure chest (from Oscar's birthday party) and he was a Wise Man. For Eliza I bought her fairy wings for Oscar's party so she wore them to be an angel. Eliza didn't know the song as her group hadn't learnt it but Daniel did a great job singing the song.

On Christmas Eve we headed to church for the service of Carols, a children's talk and a short talk by Brendan, one of the pastors. The kids were again encouraged to dress up. I was going to just do the same costumes but Daniel did not want to be a Wise Man. When I asked him what he wanted to be, he told me a camel. No deal. I am not that creative at the last minute. I asked him what else he wanted to dress as he suggested a shepherd. I thought about it and managed to put together a costume for him. A teatowel on his head, a band from my dress to hold it on his head, one of James' t-shirts and a toy sheep. Eliza was an angel again but this time had a halo on her head. I should have dressed Alexander as baby Jesus and put him in the manger for the photo but I didn't. Oh well.

 It was a nice service. When we got home we changed the kids into their pjs and then completed the nativity scene with baby Jesus.

Christmas morning the kids got up and completed the Christmas tree advent calendar by adding baby Jesus - the reason why we have Christmas day. 

We then had breakfast followed by getting dressed and heading to Church together.

Happy Christmas from us!

Church was a lovely service. There was another children's talk where Alexander was asked to help. Carol, our Children's minister, wanted to remind people that on Christmas day, the best gift that everyone could receive is a real baby - Jesus. Alexander was used as a symbol of that and the reaction from the church family was fantastic! 

Alexander did so well being wrapped up. I expected him to either crack it being in the box or to try and crawl out while Carol was talking but he did neither. What a champ! Here is the video from James and from Dad.

Alexander then had a sleep during the rest of the service.

Last Christmas with a baby sleeping in our arms

We then headed home to sit around our Christmas tree for present time.

Daniel and Eliza were very excited to open their presents and were very good with starting with the cards. Alexander didn't really understand how to unwrap the present so James helped him. He was more interested in the paper than the present.

Daniel was very excited about his headphones

Eliza likes her apron

Alexander didn't know how to respond to his present

but he liked the paper

A combined present for the kids was a trampoline but we didn't get to make it the night before because a massive lightning storm hit after church. So after the presents were opened James, Daniel and Eliza headed outside to start making the trampoline.

Once the base was made we hopped into the car and headed to Auntie Sue's place for lunch. It was a lovely time with family. The kids were really good and enjoyed watching the cuckoo clock and grandfather clocks go. 

They liked playing with their toys too.

Alexander with Nana and Poppy

Daniel just loves wearing the Santa hat

At lunchtime I asked James why he put a serviette over Eliza's bib. He told me that he didn't. We worked out that Eliza did it on her own to copy Grayma who was sitting that the other end of the table with her serviette in her bib. Bless.

Lunch was tasty.

Auntie Jenny came after she finished work and joined in for lunch, dessert and present time. (Oscar and Howie were in Armidale with Howie's parents).

Dessert was Mum's Christmas pudding (yum, yum!) which the kids love

And my gingerbread house which was also tasty.

 Then it was present time! Grandma cracks me up. She put on the antlers and Daniel had on his Santa hat. Too cute!

Then Daniel and Eliza played Santa (with the help of others to read the names).

And then it was time to open them. The kids loved all their gifts and they were very spoilt.

Straight into her drawing book

Daniel focussed on his draw with water book

Alexander opening his present with Auntie Jenny

Excitement plus! His favourite song in a book

Opening more presents with Mummy

Once home we Facetimed Nana J and Boompa for Christmas day. It was nice to chat with them and we can't wait to head up to Hervey Bay soon.

Once the kids were in bed it was then time to finish the trampoline. James did a great job putting it together. He deserved to have the first jump.

The next morning the kids quickly ate their breakfast and got dressed so they could head out to the trampoline. They both were pretty excited about it.

Since then they have been on the trampoline each day. They will just go outside for a bit, have a jump, then come back inside. It's pretty cool watching them play on it and enjoy it so much.

Daddy's turn

Even Alexander got to have a turn on the trampoline. He loved it!

The kids had a great time playing with their board game too, Trouble. Nice choice Howies!

 In the afternoon we headed to Aunty Megan's house for the Noble Christmas dinner. The kids were very excited to be here and were so well behaved. After some nibbles we started with presents before Alexander went down for a sleep. The kids loved their gifts and played with them straight away.

They were very spoilt! It was then dinner time. Eliza was very keen and sat patiently at the table while waiting for everyone else to join her.

The Bonbons were popped, hats were put on and jokes and toys shared. It was a lovely dinner and so nice to have Daniel and Eliza join us for it.

Alexander woke up and joined us towards the end of the night too. Everyone had some lovely cuddles with him.

 
On the way home we drove past some of the Christmas lights near our house. The kids loved seeing them. I can't wait until they're older so we can go and see more lights with them. It has been a lovely Christmas time, and I'm looking forward to having Christmas in Hervey Bay in a couple of days.