Daniel really enjoyed playing his cricket games. His team were very enthusiastic. They improved in their batting and bowling skills. Some weeks they won and other weeks they didn't but overall they all improved. It was so great to watch their joy.
In the 2nd game Daniel got his first wicket when bowling by one of his team mates taking an amazing catch. He also hit some runs too. Their calling between wickets was heaps better and clear.
Daniel's 3rd game he had a lovely cheer squad with Nana and Poppy and also Nana J watching him. It was so nice to have his grandparents at his game and they were very proud of him! He did some big hits for them and also got a wicket when bowling.
Over the season Daniel really improved his bowling and got a few wickets. He also improved his batting and made some great shots.
James' and my plan of playing cricket this way to realise that a lot of the game is standing around and not doing much kinda went out the window. The kids tried the different positions in the field, they got to bat for 4 overs of the game and they got to bowl. He loved it and will probably play again at the end of the year. But I'm happy that he enjoyed it too.
After Covid stopping our Sydney Noble Christmas get together, we organised to have it at the end of February instead. Nana J was able to come down which was lovely. It was so nice to be all together and times at Aunty Julie and Uncle Pete's place are always fun and relaxing.
The kids took turns playing Santa (Kate has handed on the Santa hat role). Daniel wasn't heaps keen to do it but Eliza and Alexander were more than keen. The kids were very spoilt with their gifts, ones that were so perfect for each of the kids!
What a perfect gift for our crafty Eliza!
The boys kept themselves busy playing some backyard cricket with Michael, while Eliza was creative with the plants she found in the backyard.
It was so lovely being all together, but was did miss having Malcolm there.
We enjoyed a lovely dinner together and then had dessert which included Christmas pudding. It's not as nice as Mum's one but still can't pass up a piece of pudding.
Certain toys always come out at Aunty Julie and Uncle Pete's place, including the slinky, marbles, and Trouble.
We also had fun pulling the bon bons and sharing the bad jokes inside them.
We took a puzzle that the kids could do while the adults chatted too. It was so lovely having Michael and Amy join with the kids to help them out. Eliza did most of it with me but the others helped too at the end.
Because of Covid was also missed out on celebrating Nana J's 70th birthday so we enjoyed some cake too and sang Happy Birthday. Julie did so well. It was hard being here without Malcolm but also so lovely being here. She was quite quiet at times but was also very happy to be with family. He was just missed.
The next day, the little ones were right into their presents - painting and crafting. As I said, the gifts were very well chosen.
Eliza's craft box creation
She made stickers for her water bottle and my phone cover
We then needed to say bye to Nana J. It was so lovely having her here, staying with us. It was nice to play, to listen to her read to the kids, to have chats with her and to cry with her. We look forward to her next visit.
I do love that things that we did during lockdown have become lasting memories for the kids. One of these things is the Reptile Park. Alexander had asked a few times if I could set up the Reptile Park for him to have a play with. I had boxed up most of the resources so it didn't take too much to pull out the toys and set up some of the animal areas. He played with it the same as how he did in lockdown. He was the keeper and was telling me about the different animals.
Feeding Elvis
Patting Hugo
Balancing owls
Cuddling koalas
Telling me about snakes
Feeding Hope the wombat
Individual photo
The next day Flynnie came around for a play after Mothers' Group and Alexander wanted to show him the Reptile Park. They ran around, patting the animals and feeding the different animals. Alexander took great pride in showing Flynnie.
The next week Anne and I decided to take Flynnie and Alexander to the real Reptile Park. The boys had a great time taking turns deciding what we would go and look at, being brave to pat some of the animals like a giant snake and pat the baby emus (more brave that me. I wasn't so keen to pat them). It was member appreciation week so the boys got a special badge that they enjoyed wearing. They finished the day having fun playing in the park.
I do love having this membership and it will be sad when we stop having it because the kids really do love visiting the park! Maybe I will keep it for another year and then leave it for a bit after that.
Tonight for our Tuesday Fun Night (Feb 23rd) we decided to play a game of Beanboozled. Eliza and Daniel have talked about how Alexander got one 2 Christmas' ago when we gave them to the Howies. He had one that was either Juicy Pear or Booger. He chewed it and then realised it was Booger. He loved it and said it was yummy! So the kids had mentioned that they wanted to try them again.
When I was at the shops I found the beans again and got them. Tonight we took turns having them. James found the game from the code on the back. You tapped the wheel and it spun around and landed on a jelly bean flavour that you tried. There was a chance that it would be gross or nice.
Alexander started and got Strawberry Banana Smoothie or Dead Fish. He tired it and...
wasn't too pleased with the taste.
Eliza was next. She got Toasted Marshmallow or Stink Bug. She tried it and...
was happy.
Daniel wasn't keen with the smell of the pack (to be honest it did smell gross) so he was already hesitant to start with. He got juicy pear or booger.
He hesitated and was happy that it was the nice one.
James was next and it landed on Tutti Fruity or Stinky Socks. It sure was ...
Stinky socks. Ha.
Then it was my turn. I had the same one but there were no more. I got the same as Eliza. I chewed and it was...
Stink bug. Gross!
We all had a 3 turns using the spinner. The gross ones were quite gross. Daniel didn't cope too well with the gross flavours. At one point he was almost sick because of the taste of it (I think it was this one of rotten egg.) James' worst one was barf which he said actually had the gross flavour and then the weird sweet taste at the end. Yuck!
Alexander got juicy pear or booger again and he was very happy that he had booger. Funny!
We didn't manage to finish the pack. The gross ones were just too gross. Alexander finished the booger and juicy pear ones and the rest ended up in the bin.
We had another first since Boompa passed away which brought a lot of unknowns and uncertainties of how the day would go. It was his birthday. James was able to head up to Hervey Bay to spend the time with Nana J and Jenny which was so nice. I was quite anxious about being at home for it on my own. I hadn't realised until after James left just how much I hadn't processed a lot of what happened just 7 months ago. I was anxious because I didn't know how the kids would react. I was anxious about James not being here and if something went wrong I would have to deal with it without him here with me. I was anxious because I didn't know how I was going to cope with it, what to say and what to do.
I had written a letter for James, Julie and Jenny to open so that a part of me was up there with them. It was hard being away. I had included a photo of Malcolm with them for each of them too - to hopefully bring some happy memories to be able to chat about.
Back her, I wrote a note for each of the teachers because I didn't know how they would go. Daniel told me that I didn't need to tell them that it was Boompa's birthday because they would have just treated it as a normal day. Alexander made a comment to his preschool teachers that it was Boompa's birthday and Daddy was up with Nana J. She would be sad because Boompa had died. But then he carried on with what he was doing and was fine. Eliza's teacher said that she didn't really make a comment about it and seemed ok through the day which was good because I really didn't know how she would have responded.
For me, I did little things to help us celebrate and remember Boompa.
Breakfast we enjoyed some orange juice (something we never do!). It is a drink that Boompa would have every time we went out to Enzo's.
I had my lunch sitting beside his plant in our garden and then spent some time with God, writing out my prayers and reading the Bible.
I still find it hard. I find it hard to understand why God didn't heal him. I find it hard not knowing where he is but I also just hope that something happened in those last moments. As I prayed I had a peace come over me. I realised that everything happened so quickly at the end and that so many people were praying for him, I can't help but think that he encountered God calling him home. I think I have to think that way to feel ok about him not being here anymore. I also started to wrestle with Grandma passing away too and me not being here and not saying bye to her.
With James not here, Daniel had his bass lesson. I organised for Eliza to have a play at Matilda's place and for Alexander to have a play at Emma's place. I decided to take Daniel for a milkshake and gingerbread man and a little catch up. It was nice chatting with him just one on one. Something that I don't get to do often.
After bass I picked up the other 2 kids and we headed home for dinner. With dinner we enjoyed some prawns, again something that Boompa loved to eat!
And then for dessert the kids enjoyed a little cupcake and a pack of Malteasers (Boompa's favourite chocolate). I also gave each kid a photo of them with Boompa to put up in their room. As we had dinner we each shared a memory about Boompa. The photos did help the kids with their memories. It was nice hearing their thoughts about Boompa too.
It was nice to celebrate Boompa's birthday together. The kids were totally fine with it and quite enjoyed the little treats that they got to have. Hard to believe that just 2 years ago we were altogether celebrating his 60th birthday. I'm so glad that we were able to do that. It definitely made memories for me to share with the kids - Boompa swimming in the pool with the kids even though he never went swimming, the big cake, tickling Alexander at lunch, and this precious photo.
