The Donaldsons in Oz

Halloween is still not a big event here in Oz but this year there seemed to be more going on than usual.  Charlie’s kinder had a day of dress-up and a ‘gathering’ in the park afterwards.  The kids loved the halloween lollies and cakes….thanks to all the mums who did the baking!

The prep class reps at Ella’s school organised a treasure hunt on the oval.  I was amazed how well everyone gathered their loot and brought it back to the adults to share out.  We also went out ‘trick or treating’ in the evening.  Some parents from school had nominated their houses as having treats so we had a map to follow.  After 2 hours I had sore feet but the kids didn’t complain at all!

Ready to Go

Too many lollies

Lollies from the tram driver

Fun was had by all!

K

We started the weekend with two little girls very excited about their first ballet class but the reality was all a bit too much for them and they didn’t want to join in.  They watched from outside the class, copying the teacher, so maybe we’ll try again next term.

Yesterday afternoon we decided to make a worm farm….more difficult than you think!!

Sunday brought with it beautiful sunshine.  We spent the morning wandering around the market then had a picnic lunch in Catani Gardens.

It’s surprising how much fun kids can have pulling each other around in a shopping trolley!

Ella posing

Climbing

Ruby & Poppy walking home

Later in the afternoon Alan cycled with all the kids up to playground at Albert Park Primary. Poppy is crying in this pic because she went over her handle bars just before….she was remarkably unscathed considering!

I need to invest in a bike so I can join them but in saying that it was good to have the car because everyone was too hot and tired to cycle all the way back!  They had fun at the park playing with Olivia and Sophie.

K

This is a late post but we spent Grand Final weekend at Jenni & Richard’s house in Lorne.  They have a fantastic place there and it was great to escape the city, relax (as much as you can with 6 kids in the house) and catch up with them away from the normal weekend rushing!

The weather was wet to say the least but the kids didn’t care.  Here they are on a bush walk, this picture looks deceptively ‘dry’ but by the time we got back to Alan & Richard in the pub we were soaked through!

Darcy, Charlie, Ella & William

Ruby, Ella, Charlie, Darcy & William (Poppy stayed with Daddy in the pub)

Milkshakes after walking along the beach.  Charlie was delighted to find a snake skin although Ella was just worried as to where the snake had gone!

Darcy, Poppy, William, Ella, Charlie & Ruby

Shannon joined us with her kids AJ, Felix & Teddy to watch the game but the transmitter went down due to the weather….amusing for Jenni & I but Richard was beside himself having to listen on the radio.  We gave in and headed to the pub for the last quarter.

On Sunday the sun came out and we enjoyed a coffee while the kids happily played in the sand.

Ella & Darcy

K

Today was the Melbourne Marathon and Alan’s big run is over for another year!

We watched him run long the beach towards Albert Park then return in the opposite direction ahead of a grueling stretch down beach road.

The kids had fun high-fiving lots of runners and handing out jelly snakes, a much needed sugar boost for many.

We then took up a new vantage point on St Kilda Road to cheer on Maz & my friend Dora in the half marathon and Alan as he neared the end, we saw Maz but Dora must have whizzed past!!  It was great to catch up with Paula & Tim who were there watching too!

Those last few km’s were a struggle but I know the effort of getting the kids there gives him a much needed lift – here they are with approx 7km to go:

Training over for a few months…..but he’s already talking about next year!

K

It was the last swimming classes of the term today and the theme was ‘water awareness & safety’.  The kids had to wear their pyjamas to get a sense of what it would be like to swim fully clothed should they fall in.  Charlie thought it was hilarious!  He really enjoyed wearing his life jacket and going for a ride in the boat.  Ella’s class had to swim a length with their life jackets on and when she came out she repeatedly told us how difficult it was. Here they are in action:

K

Hard to believe school holidays are upon us again, yes, today is the last day of term 3.  Ella is really looking forward to the holidays, she’s seemed tired the past few weeks.  She has started a list of all the things she wants to do including the zoo, museum, ice skating, sleepovers…..we’ll take 2 weeks to get though the list!  Her teacher is going on long service leave for the next 6 weeks, spending most of her time in Edinburgh.  Ella made her promise to keep an eye out for Grandma!

Everyone at school was dressed in their footy colours. Here is Ella on the walk to school:

Happy holidays everyone!

K