Eat yourself to sleep

Previously I posted a video of Alexander doing some sleep eating. A few weeks after Alexander was eating his lunch on a Tuesday after an early morning start and after a broken nights sleep. He was so tired while he ate he eventually fell asleep and stayed asleep as I transferred him to bed. My little sweetheart.

Falling asleep

Going...

going...

Gone

Sisterly love and care

Didn't even wake when I got him up and put him into bed.

Ahhhhh Bubba

Before each meal we say grace at the table. I love that Alexander now joins in. He wants to hold our hands and often won't start to say grace until he is holding hands. We say 'Thank you Lord Jesus for this food' and Alexander then says 'Ahhhh bubba' for Amen at the end. I think this is one that I will be sad when it changes to the correct words.

 

Feeding

I have enjoyed (mostly) feeding each of my kids. I love the quiet time of just sitting there with them. I love they way they fiddle with my hair or my straps or my fingers. I love it when they lie there looking into my eyes. I love the little grin that comes across his face sometimes while he's having a drink. It is a precious time. I was worried that Alexander was finishing up having his breastfeeds which scared me because I'm not quite ready to stop it but also because it is the way that I settle him when he wakes up at night. A few times after he has woken in the morning Alexander has then pushed me away when I've sat down to feed him, mostly because he has seen something he wants to play with or a book to read. I've just let him miss that feed and then given him milk after his afternoon nap. But now he is keen for it again. When he wakes up he now asks me for 'ilk' (milk) and will gladly lie there and have a drink. It really is a special time together. I have no idea how much longer it is going to go for, or how long I will be happy feeding him, but for now I am glad he is still happy to have breastmilk at 18months.

Eliza's Preschool Orientation

How is my little girl getting ready for preschool? The time is going way too quickly but she sure is ready. We had her orientation a couple of weeks ago and she just loved it. 

Before we went Eliza told me she needed to have a backpack like Daniel. So I packed our lunches into her little backpack. She then told me that she needed to wear it, so we popped it onto her back and off we went.

When we arrived Eliza needed to walk the wall to get into Preschool.

Fortunately the weather held off for most of the time so the kids got to have a play outside. Eliza went straight to a table with Little People toys on it. She was lovely with sharing with others playing there too and made a great story about the different people.

Next she had a play in the kitchen sandpit. I think this will be heaven for her next year. She will have a blast in the sandpit making all different creations. 

  We then sat down to have some lunch 

but it started to rain so we moved inside to finish it off. Eliza then wanted to paint a picture. She did a lovely painting using all the different colours. I think we're going to have many paintings too from her days at preschool.

Then Alison called for all the kids to sit on the ground to listen to a story. Eliza was great and sat there while she listening to 'Where is the Green Sheep?'

I can't wait to see how Eliza is going to grow, blossom, develop and shine at preschool. I'm sure some days are going to be challenging, some days are going to be full on, and some days are going to be so much fun but I know that she will rise up to each occasion. 2018 is going to be a big year!
 

Milo Cricket

Daniel just loves playing cricket outside. He enjoys hitting the ball and having a go at bowling. We decided to sign him up to Milo Cricket and he is having a blast at it!

After initially heading to the wrong park we found that it was held at the oval basically at the end of the street. Ha. We collected his pack which was unfortunately the wrong one but that was ok. Daniel was still excited to be in his new outfit.

The first week we mostly focussed on batting. Daniel has a pretty good eye for the ball, often hitting it so that I had to run different places to get it. He was so excited he'd often run after the ball too.

It's pretty cool that he gets his own cricket bat and ball to play with.

The following week we were able to change the pack to the one he should have received - a backpack, drink bottle, bat, ball. He could change his hat but there wasn't a yellow shirt but again, he was fine with that. He then focussed on throwing and catching the ball, an area which we are needing to work a bit on. But he was getting there - point, step, throw.

But his favourite thing to do at Milo cricket is to play games. They are only small games but he just loves it and has a turn at everything. I love watching him enjoy all of it. 

Each of the kids like to have a turn at bowling practice at home which is just the cutest!

 




 

Look at Me I'm Going To School

Daniel has now finished his school orientation program and he has loved it. He has been so comfortable each week when being dropped off, has had a big grin on his face when I've picked him up and has told me bits and pieces of what he did in the classroom (even though it has been brought forward by a lot of questions from me). 

On Friday when we dropped him off he just walked into the classroom and sat down at a table and started to do an activity. He didn't even say bye to us. But I guess that's how you'd want it to be, much better than screaming and crying because of us leaving.

At the end of the sessions Daniel and all the other kids came onto stage and performed a song to us. They were so very cute and all appeared so confident! Daniel did really well, big smiles, actions, singing. He was himself and I appreciate that, looking at the others behind him for parts of it, watching and taking in all that is around him. He does make us laugh but we love him for his inquisitive nature. Enjoy the song, it's catchy!!

 

Day Out With Thomas

This morning the kids woke up to find a Thomas train on their placemats at the breakfast table. 

This was a clue for them of where we were going - A Day Out With Thomas! They were pretty excited and wanted to listen to the Thomas theme song and some Thomas stories while they ate their breakfast.

We then hopped into the car and started our trip out to Thirlmere at the NSW Railway Museum. I pulled together all the Thomas books that we had (and that was a lot thanks to a recent collection from the Howies) for the kids to read while driving there. They loved it!

And I remembered the Thomas cap that we had (thanks to the Howies) for Alexander who was very happy to wear it.

We arrived just in time for our Steam train ride being pulled by Donald. We were in such a beautifully restored cabin. There was another family in there too but they were really kind. The kids had a blast looking out the windows, watching everything go past, looking at the end of the train, spotting the guard, waving to people as we went past. What a great start to the day!

Ready in our carriage

Daniel ready to go

Alexander and Daddy excited for the ride

Eliza all set in the window seat

Such a cool view down the carriages

Windows open

Heads out

Trying to spot the signals

Alexander grabbed the window seat

 

 

Train buddies

We kinda took over the passageway

Waving at people as we go by

Daddy, Eliza and Daniel went for a walk to a different cabin

Alexander keeping an eye on them

Such cool carriages

The steam train ride was definitely a hit!
We then went back over to have a ride in Toby.

Alexander had a great time looking out the window and waving at the people as we went past. He really enjoyed the train rides!

Waving hi

Spotting Thomas

Toby travelled to the Roundhouse and we noticed that people were getting off so we hopped off Toby. We grabbed a quick photo with him

and then walked around to see what was in the Roundhouse. We were excited to see Emily having a rest there and also another Donald.

We then explored a few of the heritage trains. It was really cool to go into one of the dining cars and hear about the set up and the food that they would provide on it.

Sitting in the dining cart

Ready for her meal (not happy that she wasn't actually going to have food there)

The kids had a go at pushing a baggage trolley

and were fascinated by the old school station timetables. They enjoyed turning the slots.

And Alexander had fun walking and running around.

Then while we waited for Toby to return Eliza and Daniel and I went into a train drivers cabin and they had a turn at 'driving' the train and pushing each of the switches.

Eliza driving towards Daddy and Alexander

When we returned to the station we then lined up to get a photo with Thomas and the Fat Controller. He was lovely. He gave each of the kids high fives after the photo and told them that they were 'Really useful engines.'

Alexander was excited to see Thomas

Alexander getting a high 5

 We then had some lunch. Daniel made me laugh as he ate his grapes saying 'I'm going to eat this whole grape because it's Fat Controller.'

We then lined up for a miniature train ride. Eliza chose that we'd ride on Annie. I loved watching Alexander's face light up each time the trains went past. He just had so much joy in his smile.

And then kids had a great time on the train.

The the end of the ride Alexander walked up to the driver. He was kind enough to put Alexander on the front of the train and say 'Now you're driving it'.

The kids were then keen to get their faces painted. Daniel changed his mind to get a tattoo so it would last longer. He got a Thomas tattoo. It was so cool!

Eliza wanted her face painted and it was a princess. She loved it! I think she is never allowed to wear make up - she looks too grown up!

2 happy customers!

While we waited to climb into Thomas' engine we watched Donald let off a lot of steam and also saw Toby head off.

We then went into Thomas' engine and the kids loved pulling Thomas' horn and turning the different knobs.

We then headed back to the station to get a photo with the Sodor sign (we forgot to get that at the start).

We then lined up for our last mini train ride. Daniel got to decide which train we'd go on and he chose Clarabel. The kids again really enjoyed the ride.

What a fantastic day! We'd definitely come back again. We'd probably do the steam train ride later in the day and also try to arrive a bit earlier. That way we can do more mini train rides and also go on the jumping castles. I love doing these activities with my family!