Aquarium

We found a deal where NRMA members could get Aquarium annual passes for the price of 1 visit so we decided to take them up on it. We headed into the city nice and early for them opening. They completed the passes for us and then we entered the aquarium. It was more busy that I had expected, even for just openning, but it definitely got more busy as the day went on. The kids were very excited to look at all the different sea creatures. Daniel was keen to look at all the electronic information screens which was a bit frustrating but we managed to convince him to actually look at the real animals instead. The tunnels under the water were still one of the high lights for us all. We also enjoyed the trip on the penguin boats. It was a short trip but really cute and fun to see them. The penguins are so cute. Alexander really loved the penguins. The touch pool was also fun. The Daniel liked touching the starfish and the sea cucumbers. He even touched a shark egg.

We found Nemo!

Under the sea

I love the dugong

There it is

Ahhhhhh

A shark!!!!!

Help!!!!

Penguin boat ride

Hi Penguin

There he is.

After the aquarium we went to have lunch and then we went on the ferris wheel in Darling Harbour. The kids were very excited and enjoyed it. Eliza couldn't contain her excitement.

You could turn the cabin by spinning the pole. Alexander loved it.

 It was a fun day and we had some very tired kiddies. Alexander even struggled to hold his head up on the way. We can't wait to go back again.

 

Tooth Fairy

At the start of the holidays, Daniel commented that he felt one of his teeth were wobbly. Each day of the holidays he was checking it and wobbling it. On Thursday 26th April I was brushing Daniel's teeth and then the next thing Daniel was freaking out! His tooth had fallen out and we didn't know where it went. It wasn't in the basin, it wasn't in his mouth. I thought he must have swallowed it but he was convinced he hadn't. He got so upset that he might have lost it. I looked on the ground and a little tooth was lying there. Phew! His tears turned to a smile. A smile with a gap.

I asked him if he wanted to draw a picture or write a letter to the Tooth Fairy and he was keen to. He drew a gorgeous picture of the Tooth Fairy and himself. I laughed when I saw all the teeth that they both had. Attention to detail.

I then asked if he wanted to write a message to the Tooth Fairy and he decided that he did. I loved watching him sound out his words, stretch his words out and think about the different sounds in the words. I only really helped with collecting where he asked about the 'c' sound but he knew the -ing ending. I especially loved 'Toof Fairy' and 'Tif' (Teeth)

To The Toof (Tooth) Fairy
I hope you hav(e) fun col(l)ecting tif (teeth). From Daniel

He really hoped that the Tooth Fairy would have time to write a reply to him. At night he placed his tooth in a cup with water, and placed the letter on top. Daniel woke at night to go to the toilet. When he came back to bed he wanted to see if the Tooth Fairy had come and he was so excited to see that there was a card for him! In the morning he called out to me that he got a card with a tooth on it.

The Toothfairy gave him $2 and a lovely message. I have one very happy boy.

*Thank you to Anne who kindly helped me with the card.
I am amazed at how convinced Daniel is that the Tooth Fairy is real. He worked out that Santa wasn't real last Christmas but the Tooth Fairy (and other fairies) in his mind are real. I think the main reason is because at Preschool they have a fairy door. He and the class wrote a letter to the fairies and they wrote back! So they must be real. It's so cute to watch his excitement about it and it is a lot of fun playing the Tooth Fairy.

Sculptures in the Blue Mountains

In the holidays I took the kids to the Blue Mountains to Scenic World. It was a lovely time and the kids were so good!

Ready to go

First we went on the Scenic Railway 3 times. (down, up and down again). It is such fun!

When down the bottom the kids liked sitting in the replica of the original Scenic Railway. They were glad that they didn't have to use that one to ride in though.

I just love the views at the Blue Mountains. Alexander liked looking at the trees.

The kids let me get a photo of the 3 siblings with the 3 sisters.

The tried to push the coal truck along the track. They decided it was too hard.

We then did the rainforest walk and really enjoyed the Scultpures that were along the path. Daniel was especially interested in them and asked me to read most of the signs about the sculptures and sculptors. They were made with recycled materials which was pretty amazing!

The first sculpture

The kids liked spotting the umbrella birds

It is hard to see but there is a sculpture of an ant mound with ants on it made out of bottle tops

Led lights nest

The owl was very cool

Eliza's favourite sculpture - balloons made out of glass

In honour of war planes

I liked the sun rays

The miners hut was transformed to have toys everywhere. The kids were so tempted to touch any and every toy

Broken tree

Ghost trees to symbolise deforestation

Daniel found this sculpture funny - a boat in the tree - symbolising global warming

duplo sculpture

We then rode the cableway, enjoying the views from the front window.

We then caught the Skyway across and the kids enjoyed looking under the walkway down to the trees below. Very cool. They were on their hands and knees to make the most of it.

Eliza started the trend of looking down

Because the kids were so good and we have a discount with our annual passes we decided that the kids could choose a toy each. Daniel and Alexander chose a kangaroo and Eliza chose a koala. They were so excited.

The next day I asked the kids if they wanted to make their own sculptures. They were pretty keen. They both first made birds, inspired by the umbrella birds.

Daniel then decided to make an ant mound out of bottle tops (like the one he saw) and then drew some ants on it.

It was really cool seeing the kids be creative, inspired by the sculptures. It was also really cool to see Daniel being creative and using his own initiative to design. This time last year he wouldn't have done that. Not without pushing and a lot of guidance. I do enjoyed adventure days.

The other funny moment was Alexander's 'I've finished eating' dance. Too cute!