Where does the time go? I'm not sure how it has come to be July already and Owen's 4th birthday tomorrow! We've enjoyed a great party this weekend for him, at the church in the hall, with a small bouncey castle borrowed from another local church, and a mario bros theme - the kids dressed up and made their own cardboard box racing cars for a Mario Kart style race around the hall. The kids (big and small) were pretty pleased with the star coin cookies and the Yoshi cake (although Owen is still not set on what colour he really wanted Yoshi to be - next time Red, next time blue yoshi Mum he keeps telling me - hehehe, he'll be waiting a while!).
Unfortunately Lee and I are feeling a bit under the weather - colds have kicked in. And winter has finally hit in Palmy with some cold nights of late and chilly morning starts - 0 degrees when Lee went to church this morning at 7.30am. 4 degrees when I left at 10am! I think we peaked at about 11 (which at least is double digits, but still requires a heater or fire for most of the day).
Owen is not sure about the changes that being 4 will bring. He moves up to the 4 year old mat time at Preschool this week, with a special celebration on Tuesday (his first day as a 4 year old) where the preschool presents him with a bible. I am taking a cake in at 11.30 so I can see the ceremony too. Imogen LOVES any excuse to go to preschool! He will get to start going on excursions and sometimes to the Primary school for special assemblies and concerts now - he really will enjoy it I think. They also have optional drama classes on Friday mornings that he can enrol in (we'll see!). He really wants Imogen to come to preschool with him, but he'll have to wait til next year. We're still not keen to fork out money for her to go, and she is still so happy at home, and with her weekly music group (Twinkle Toes) and Playgroup, and occasional catch ups with friends Sophie and Alexis. There is so much to do in Palmy with kids that I don't really feel stuck for things to do, and Imogen is mostly pleased riding bikes, going for walks and playing play dough!
She has discovered a joy in reading lately (especially the "Where is the Green Sheep?" book, and Owen's dinosaur books - handmedowns from Lee!). When she reads the ones about dinosaurs it is very animated with actions about how ANGRY they are and lots of ROARing and stomping. It is also important to comment on how big their teeth are or how long their next it, or if they are spikey! This sort of reading suits me fine. She doesn't care if I can't say their names!
She also loves music and dancing and has taken to making up her own songs and dances, spending hours running around the house describing her "moves" - wiggle wiggle wiggle, jump jump jump, shake shake shake, clap clap clap - it goes on and on. Mostly it escalates to a yelling sort of hard core mosh pit of moves which is very embarrassing when we are in public!
I think Owen and Imogen are nearly mostly better - JUNE was a blur of illness: hand foot and mouth, throat infections, viruses, tummy bugs and a sinus infection for mummy (hopefully this is not making another return with this cold I have picked up!). Daddy stayed surprisingly well, although he may well be sucumming now finally in a tired heap!
Ministry wise things have been positive. Synod in June was good. We have a new president which hopefully will also mean a new injection of energy and vision. Lee is serving on the Lutheran Support Ministries board now, and I think this will be good for him. He has been doing lots to support the LSM already, so hopefully he'll be inspired if he can work positively with some others. He's particularly looking forward to working with Mark "Team Whitfield" :)
My lifeskills group is winding up - the kids seem really thankful and some of them are starting to put into practice what I've been teaching them about job seeking, flatting and budgeting. I think the real world is a whole lot real-er for them now! This week we are doing "How to throw a dinner party" ending with a roast dinner with invitations next week. Should be fun. Hopefully I'm feeling well enough to enjoy it.
This month we have the delight of a visit from Uncle Benny (in just 2 weeks - eeek! how exciting! we skyped him tonight and the kids are SOOOO excited!), and National Youth Camp up at Hamilton so that will be a great fun week away hopefully and a special 2 weeks. We'll keep you updated!
Seeing as Owen has been busy playing Nick Jr games on the internet and our broadband allowance has been used up, we are running very slowly here, so if I can get some photos up I will.... you just might need to be patient!
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