ANZAC Day

This years ANZAC Day was different with being in Isolation. We were encouraged to do a dawn service on the driveway but we decided we wouldn't normally go to a dawn service so let the kids (and us) sleep in. But we had planned for the day to be focussed on the ANZACs and teaching the kids about it all.

As I had previously mentioned, the kids painted wreaths to put outside so I popped them up on the wall.

The morning sunrise as I put up the art gallery

Lest We Forget

 Daniel and I had a few games of Uno (it has been an iso favourite with him).

And then we sat down as a family to learn a bit about ANZAC Day, what it means and why it is celebrated and also to learn about some of our family members and how it affected them.
I made up a powerpoint slide show for the kids to watch.
I don't think that I can attach the document (even though I would love to) but will check with James later if I can. The powerpoint introduced what ANZAC Day means and had a story read to them called ANZAC Ted. I liked this reading of the book because after the story it then showed some photos of WW1 and told a bit about the history. Great for the kids to engage with. (the link has now been made private which is a bit of a bummer. It was a really good link!!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et09N2EoAdY

I had asked James' parents and my parents to let me know about their parents who served in the war so that we can tell our kids about them. It was so cool to hear about how each person served and to see some photos about them.
We learnt about their:
-Great, great Grandpa - William Noble - who served as an infantry soldier in WW1.
-Great Grandpa - James Donald Noble - who was too young to serve in WW2 but was involved in a youth league.
-Great Grandpa - Reginald Harold McClymont - a stores clerk
-Graypa - Harry John Kidd - pilot in the RAAF
-Great, Great, Great Uncle - John Kidd - WW1 gunner
-Great Grandpa - Lionel Keith Gower - leading aircraftsman in the RAAF
-Great Great Great Uncles - Edward, Joseph and Samuel Pearson - served in WW1.
-Great Great Great Uncle John (Jack) Gower - sailor in English Navy

They saw photos of each of the people (well the ones that we had) and heard about how they served and if they were injured or died. I was amazed at a letter that Edward, Joseph and Samuel's mum wrote when she found out about her 2nd son's death. It must have been so very hard as a mother during the war. I reckon you'd be on edge with every letter you received or every phone call that was made.

It was really cute to see Daniel and Alexander holding hands while watching it.

I am really proud of my grandpa's who served our country in WW2 in the airforce. I am so proud of them for going, for their involvement and I'm so grateful that they came back home. I loved talking with Grandma K and hearing her say that she was so so grateful that she didn't know Grandpa until after the war because it would have been way too stressful with him being away at war. Fair call Grandma! I think I would feel that same. They both are very handsome men too!

Grandpa G

Grandpa K

Next up we made some ANZAC cookies. As part of the home school program, Mrs Granville posted a video about how to make the cookies and the kids were keen to do it. 

Daniel mixed the ingredients on the stove

Eliza and Alexander mixed them in the bowl

Watching the next steps from Mrs Granville

Rolling the balls

Ready for the oven

Yum!

They were a little bit over cooked so our oven must be stronger than hers but they were still quite tasty!

It was a good day and great to pause and remember the soldiers who served our country - those who lost their lives and those who returned with lasting memories that I'm sure they would like to forget.