High Tea with Alexander and work for Daniel and Eliza

With Preschool starting next year I wanted to take Alexander on a little date that I had taken the other 2 to - high tea. 

I called up the place to book and they said that they didn't do it anymore. I was so bummed and they could clearly hear that through the phone. The lady asked me how many high tea was for and when I said that it was just my son and I she seemed to change tune and decided to make it work. 

So on the Friday 20th I took Alexander out for our little date while James took Eliza and Daniel into work with him. He was keen to try and take all 3 kids but decided it was probably easier to just take 2 kids at this stage but it worked out well.

After swimming we came home, Alexander had a shower and then we got dressed up. When we arrived at high tea they had set up a table and pretty much brought out the food straight away. It looked amazing! We sure weren't going to be able to eat it all!

Alexander was so excited! They even included a bottle of bubbles for him to take which was really sweet. I do think he got the best of the 3 high teas!

They asked if we wanted cold drinks (it was quite a warm day so decided to avoid tea and babychino) so we ordered milkshakes - vanilla for Alexander and caramel for me. 

In hindsight I should have gotten him a babychino because the milkshake filled his tummy quite quickly and it started to hurt, even before he had some of the sweets! We had a few trips to the toilet and he slowed down his milkshake drinking and fortunately his tummy settled. I don't know what I would have done if his tummy was too sure, especially after they made this specially for him. 

Each tear was amazing! And so filling.

We barely touched the top layer, besides the fruit. Fortunately we could take home a doggy bag and have them at home.

We started with the sandwiches, wraps and fruit.

After having sandwiches Alexander's choice was the cupcake! Happy boy!

He then continued on the fruit. I do like that he prefers fruit over all the cakes.

He decided to arrange his fruit in colours

Sneaking a blueberry

Ommm nom

Cheeky boy!

It was such a lovely morning just sitting, chatting and eating with my little guy. I love his personality and spending moments with him. He does make me giggle.

When we got home we popped open his bubbles. He loves blowing bubbles and chasing them. He had a blast playing with the bubbles and even got a case of the giggles when the wind was blowing the bubbles onto me. 

Love his laugh!

A special morning with my little man.

Meanwhile, Eliza and Daniel got to have an adventure into the city with Daddy to go to his work. The kids were so excited! They packed their backpacks with things to do and had their ipods to listen to music.

They fit right in on the train and even got to have a ride on the new lightrail through the city.

The kids were hard at work.

They got to have a Bluey break too with one of James' colleagues. She was very excited that she could sit and watch Bluey while at work with the kids being her excuse. She was very sweet and even bought the kids each an activity book for them to use.

So a fun day all round!

Fire Trucks and Christmas Lights

Another little tradition that we do each Christmas time is have the local fire brigade drive around the streets with Santa and an Elf on the back of the truck. We love this time. The kids (and big kids) get so excited. It brings the community out of their houses to see them, and the kids get very excited about receiving the lollies. This year was no different. 

Sunday morning we had a quiet morning at home while we waited for the fire engines to come to our street. The excitement in the kids definitely rises as they hear the sirens going! We headed out and our friends from down the street came down to our front yard. Our kids were excited to wear their santa hats too.

Waiting with Matilda and Harry. Note Eliza in her uniform.

The firetrucks didn't disappoint! They were loud (which our kids found hard - notice Alexander had his earmuffs on because he didn't want to be outside without them). Santa waved and the elf threw out many many lollies. The kids gave them a tin of food for collection to make hampers for those who can't afford food at the moment. 

Too busy collecting lollies

Hi Santa

More lollies

We are so thankful for the firemen and women who still did this special event, even in the chaos of the bushfires that have been going on in NSW. They definitely brought much joy.

Eliza had been complaining of a sore throat on and off since her Christmas concert at preschool and this morning I looked in her throat to notice there was some white on the back of her throat. Most likely tonsillitis. So we then headed to the Dr who was lovely and agreed that it was tonsillitis. Poor chook. We headed to the shops to get her medicine and the kids were great sitting and reading books from the street library there. Great idea!

Now because of this tonsillitis, our plans for the afternoon needed to change. The kids were really excited to be going to the Carols that night but I just didn't feel right having Eliza out for a late night and with friends who she could make sick before Christmas. Instead we compromised and would have a picnic infront of a movie (Madagascar 2). Daniel asked if we could still go and see the Christmas lights which I decided would be ok to do before bed because people would still be at the carols. Eliza was sad about this because she really wanted to go, but I just knew in my gut that we couldn't go.

We bought dinner from the shops (sausage rolls and yum cha) and headed home. The kids enjoyed the movie but weren't so keen on the food. Oh well.

Then we headed out to our local lights - the ones we were going to be walking home past. The kids were so excited to see the Christmas lights!

Daniel loved the nativity.

I love that the lights around us point back to the real meaning of Christmas - Jesus being born.

The kids were quite excited to be able to run around at the houses.

I loved their reactions as they saw different lights. the "wow" comments and "this is beautiful" were very special.

They just loved it all. 

Daniel came home and said 'This was the best night ever'. I'm so glad that even though the plans had to change, they came to embrace the change and have a blast running around the gardens, experiencing the magic of Christmas.

Hopefully next year we will all be well and can head back for the Carols :-)

End of Preschool for Eliza

Eliza has finished her time at preschool. 

Another 2 years at this wonderful place and Eliza has blossomed so very much! We dropped her off in the morning to have her last day party at preschool. She took a veggie Christmas tree.

And was excited to wear her Christmas hat. They were very cute!

We got photos with each of the teachers.
I am so grateful for Sue. She is a firm but fair teacher who has helped Eliza to really grow in her confidence with making friends but also to grow in her patience with other students. Like with Daniel Sue has helped Eliza grow her kindness and care towards other kids in he class. She has pushed Eliza to achieve her best and to have a go at many different activities.

I am so thankful for Dianne. She is just a mother hen. She is so caring and helpful. She has looked after Eliza multiple times when she has hurt herself, felt sick or felt nervous about things. She has helped Eliza with her writing and pushed her with drawing her pictures, pushing her past 'I can't do it.' She is the one who looked after Eliza at the preschool concert. She is just beautiful. She read the class Roald Dahl's book 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' which has spurred the kids onto reading other books by Roald Dahl. Something I love.

I am so grateful for Myra. She is just beautiful. She works quietly behind the scenes but picks up so much and observes so much. Myra will always ask how we are going and follow up on us. She has cared for Eliza and looked after her when she has felt sick. She has made Eliza laugh and giggle.

In the afternoon the kids did a little performance for us. This was more how I expected Eliza's last preschool concert to go. She was all smiles, she was giggling, she was singing and doing the actions. It was so sweet to watch.

She even got to have a dance with Daddy.

And I remember Daniel doing this song 'I'm a Christmas Tree'

We got some lovely little snaps with her preschool buddies.

With Carys

The awesome foursome

With Lily

She gave us her gorgeous present with her beautiful framed picture of our family with Christmas hats and this sweet little card. I love the creativity of it.

To my sweet little Eliza. Well done on completing your 2 years at preschool. You have had some ups and downs over these last 2 years. You have made your way through anxiety and managed different strategies to be able to overcome situations where your worries may arise. You have made some beautiful friendships that have pulled you out of your shell. You have developed a love of writing and I can't wait to see how this comes in leaps and bounds as you start Kindy. You love reading and you love bring creative. I know that you are going to miss being free in your creativity as you enter school - but I know that you are going to embrace the art lessons that your teachers do. Your heart for others and your inclusiveness has continued to grow at preschool and I know that you are going to take that into school - include those who are lonely, think of ways to solve problems and have others join in. I hope that these years at preschool have shown you that you can do anything you put your mind to, that it's ok to ask for help and that the most important thing is that you have fun. As you start school my little Eliza, have fun, believe in yourself like Daddy and I believe in you and just do your best. Love you my beautiful, crazy girl!