Hats off the the Swans

On Monday 9th July Dad, the kids and I headed into the SCG for the Sydney Swans Clinic. Daniel was super keen, Eliza kept saying that she wanted to do it but didn't sound heaps keen and Alexander wanted to go on the field but was too young. Next year he will be able to do it too. We arrived just before the sent the kids onto the field. Alexander had a cuddle with Cyggy which the professional photographer snapped.

Then Eliza and Daniel got in on the cuddles too.

Where's Alexander?

There he is

Then the kids were called onto the field. Eliza's group was called first and she was happy to walk down to the grass on her own. Once she got to the stairs she walked down so slowly, one step at a time. Ohh dear. But it did make me chuckle.

She did eventually make it to the group and the teachers. Daniel's group was called out next and he was the opposite, running down and over to his group. 

The kids then started their activities. Eliza was in the group closest to us so we could see her skills easily, while Daniel went around the ground to different groups. 

As I watched Eliza I could see she wasn't herself. She stood on the outside of the group, when they asked her to run, she would walk. When it was her turn she went to the end of the line instead of having a go. When they were running through the ladder, she walked through it. At one point I saw her upset and thought she was going to be brought over to me. Instead I saw one of the players hold her hand and help her with the activities. The player was Jake Brown, number 41. 

I cannot compliment him enough! The way he just took her by the hand, ran with her, encouraged her and helped her get involved was just beautiful. I love this club. I love how family focussed they are and this just increased my appreciation of it. Here are some videos of Eliza doing (or trying to do) the activities. She is the one in grey with the Swans cap on.

Eliza trying to handball/throw.

 Eliza walking the hurdles.

I just loved watching Eliza and Jake doing a tipping game. Again, the way that she was included in the activities was beautiful. What a champ!

 He then held her hand as they walked over to the signing table. It really was just beautiful and meant so much to me that she participated and enjoyed it, even if she was feeling a bit out of sorts.

I managed to spot Daniel as he came to a closer group. He had fun doing tackling

and different handball skills too.

Alexander had fun sitting with Poppy and I.

The kids lined up and got their hats signed. Daniel was very excited to have Luke Parker sign his hat.

Eliza liked having the team sign her hat. It was special how one of the players wrote 'To Eliza. Go Swans.' on it. She was also lucky enough to have her Swans ball signed by some of the players too.

Then Alexander of course wanted a photo of him too.

Thanks for a great day at the Swans clinic! Can't wait for next year.

Daniel turns 6

My big boy is now 6! Where has that time gone? Why does he keep growing? I know these are dumb questions to ask but while I love the young man that he is turning into, I miss the little baby and toddler that he was. Daniel is such a caring, gentle, problem solving, curious kid. He is coming along in leaps and bounds with his learning at school - reading with more confidence (today he was sitting at chiro with a book in hand reading on his own, only stopping to as me what some unfamiliar words were). He is starting to sound out words and write sentences. He is still great at maths and is just loving school. He has many little friends and plays really well with them. He is great at compromising with others (mainly so he can get his way) and is persistent if he feels he is right about something (both a blessing and a curse at different times). He makes me smile and laugh and also drives me crazy at times. I can't wait to see what is in store for this gorgeous 6 year old.

On Wednesday 27th June Daniel woke and was quite excited because it was his birthday! I was very proud of the way he understood that presents were going to wait until night time because that was when Daddy would be home, instead of heading into work early and him missing out on it. He was more understanding than I was with my birthday. Ha. 
He excitedly headed into school with a treat in his lunch box and a book to share with the class, Pamela Allen - The Bear's Lunch. 

At the end of the day we picked him up and he had had a nice day at school. Oscar, Auntie Jenny and Uncle Howie came around to visit quickly which was nice.

Cousins checking out upstairs

playing with the Fireman Sam book and board set from the Howies

We then headed to swimming and Eliza kindly told the swimming teacher that it was Daniel's birthday. Turned out the swimming teacher had her birthday the next day. 

Once we got home Daniel Facetimed with Nana J and openned the present from her.

We then had dinner, Daniel's choice of burritos and then we sang Happy Birthday and had cupcakes which Eliza and I made.

 After dinner it was present time. It was great to see Daniel excited and happy about the presents he got. He was especially excited to be getting a new bike!

Lego!

transformer

His reaction when he read he was getting a new bike

 He went to bed a very happy boy.

The next day, Daniel came home from school with a sore stomach. Gastro had been going around school and sure enough he had caught it. Fortunately it was just diarrhea but still was very sore stomach for him. I kept him home on Friday from school (apparently 7 kids were away that day). James and I made the call that we would need to postpone his birthday party because he just wasn't well. It was the right call too. He fell asleep on the couch for a nap on Friday.

During the day we busied ourselves with different activities. Daniel did a letter and also made his present from Nana J and Boompa - a Kiwi Crate claw. It was great! Straight forward instructions, all the tools there and fun to do.

Now that we didn't have the party to go to on Saturday, instead we went to get Daniel's present - a bike. In the shop he straight away saw the red and blue bike and wanted it. It was the perfect size for him too. We headed home and Daniel was keen to hop onto it.

After riding it around the carport for a while (something they have missed since having the builders start!) we then headed down to the road to do a few laps.

Riders, are you ready?

Loving it!

Such a happy boy on his new bike. Excellent.
With being sick, we missed family dinner on Thursday night. When Daniel woke in the night he was very upset because he realised that he missed out on the birthday cake that Nana was going to make him. I reassured him that if he asked Nana, she would be more than happy to make a cake for the following week. Nana is a good one and she did make him a cake for the following Thursday night. He was a pleased boy.

Then on Saturday we had his little party with family. Fortunately most people could make it. The weather was lovely, although it was quite windy. But that didn't deter us.

Daniel was very happy with his AFL cake. I added to the Women's Weekly cake book version to make it a bit more real, drawing the 50m line, the goal squares and guernseys on the players. I made it Sydney Swans vs Bulldogs because they are both of Daniel's favourite teams. I also made Daniel standing on the sidelines wearing a Swans scarf and holding a Swans flag. It was actually quite fun decorating this cake.
I did a couple of trials to work out the best way to do the guernsey for the Swans. I decided on simple is the best. 

The first one was my final choice

The field

The field markings

Complete with players and goals

Swans vs Bulldogs

Daniel cheering on the sidelines

I'm so glad that Daniel was excited to see it and worked out that it was the Swans vs Bulldogs too from the icing on the players.

 The morning was filled with bike riding, play ground playing, eating and chatting. We then sang Happy Birthday to Daniel (with the wind blowing out a couple of the candles before Daniel did) and enjoyed cake.

6!

Helping stop the wind with his hands

Blowing out the candles

The players were in high demand to be eaten with the cake.

Cousins

It was then present time. Daniel loved and was so excited about every present he received. So lovely to see.

The joy of getting his own garbage truck

"More Lego!"

Reading the title of his book

So excited to get an air hockey game

When we got home the kids were straight into playing with the different presents.

Happy 6th birthday Daniel!