Play

The huge trampoline is up and everyone is enjoying it. Even I have had a go.

The kids have been having a great break, with "sleep" overs and friends over to play. The girls down the street have been playing with Bethany, recording multiple ice bucket challenges for the fun of it, then jumping themselves warm and dry.

This time next week we'll be in the last term of the year! Whoosh......

Travels

Tim has been to Melbourne for work, and my niece has been in New York with school, and I have done some modest travelling.

Yesterday I went to Henty to help set up after their library renovations and today, the management team headed up the mountains to Tumut and Tumbarumba.

Tumbarumba library was originally a church and feels like a ski chalet, with a steep A-frame and wood paneling. The view is lovely and it snows there in winter.

It poured at home last night and we drove through intermittent hard rain today, but now that I am home, with a four day weekend ahead of me, the sun is shining.

At the fair

We had our church street fair on Saturday. The weather was perfect, Andrew played jazz on a borrowed, bent trumpet, I gave a talk on smart phones and tablets and we enjoyed coffee and cake in the sunshine. Bethany had her face painted, her hair sprayed and played with baby animals.

Sue and Ron arrived on Friday so they were able to enjoy it, too. Bethany and I stayed at the fair while Andrew, Joss, Toby, Sue and Ron went down to the lake for the cycling presentations. Joss and Tobes both got first and second medals. Now, for an awesome track season!

Earth mother

Ha ha, not likely, but I almost feel like one when I make sourdough bread, yoghurt and eat the cabbages, spinach and spring onions from our garden! We've been eating lots of coleslaw, okonomiyaki, spinach and feta pie and triangles. Yum!

It's over.....for another year

A message from the school said that the bus full of exhausted students and teachers would arrive at 6.30pm. They were all so tired! Bethany had a wonderful time at the car museum, old gaol, the Dish and especially the zoo. She brought home a cold, however, so we let her stay home the next day. Andrew texted me at work to day that she had just woken up at 10!

That night she had her first ever eisteddfod performances for speech and drama. She did a costumed duologue with a friend where she was Cinderella. They followed that up with an impromptu duologue. I would have to say that it is hard for ten year olds to do improvisation, or, at least, it is hard for adults to watch. They performed very well, but received no prizes. It's difficult when you have a high achieving brother.

The following morning she danced with her school dance group at the eisteddfod and they came second. I picked her up at lunch time, took her home to change and eat before going back in for a poem with her lovely friend, Charis. We got there at 2.45 and they finally performed after 5! They weren't actually eligible to be judged in that section as Bethany is already ten, and it was the under tens. 

I don't really know what happened there, but I do know that the eisteddfod plus big excursions (Toby went to Yarrangobilly Caves) makes for a busy and stressful couple of weeks! I'm not having any time off over the holidays, but I am looking forward to them all the same!

Leaving the nest

I agreed to wake Bethany at six, when I usually get up, so she could have plenty of time to get ready. Just as I would be before a big trip, she was lying awake, waiting for me. 

All nervousness disappeared once she was with her friends and I am sure they are having a brilliant time.

Eisteddfod

It has been quite a big week. As well as a trip to Sydney, the eisteddfod began for Toby and Bethany. The Wagga Eisteddfod goes for three weeks, and I have been to plenty before, but our first two sessions with Toby on Tuesday were so very long. We went home for fifteen minutes between the sessions, but were otherwise there from 1pm until 8.30. The long haul.

Toby earned a highly commended, a fourth and a second. I was very pleased with that but, ever the perfectionist, Toby was not pleased. This afternoon he was asked to drop into the conservatorium where he was presented with a trophy for the most promising pianist under 14. Much joy!

Bethany went to the eisteddfod on Friday with her school choir where they also did very well. She still has three drama performances and dancing to go.

Today she and Toby had their soccer presentations and sausage sizzle. There's nothing quite like a sausage at 10.45am.

Tomorrow morning Bethany heads off to Dubbo for an excursion. She is equal measures of excitement and nervousness. I hope she has a wonderful time!