Apologies

To anyone who actually bothered to play the clip for Jack Davenport 2 posts back (yeah, probably just you Bhaer ;)) I'm sorry for the swearing in the middle of the lyrics tere - didn't realise it was there, and as, if you are like me, you might read your blogs near your kids, I've changed the clip.

May Movies (yeah, yeah I can always hope I get time out, right?)

As an addendum to my previous post on films I was hoping to see this year, 2 further movies out this month in Oz have caught my eye.

1. Samson and Delilah, an australian film, was given 5 stars by Margaret AND David. This is virtually unheard of, and makes this unmissable I think. Since they moved to the ABC, it has only happened once, for Brokeback Mountain (which I confess I still haven't seen.)

2. Synecdoche, New York. A Kaufman film - directing this time. It looks ambitious, intriguing, maybe annoying?

And I've gone off the Boat that Rocked - it looked fun on paper but the reviews have said it is disappointing. One for the DVD player.

So, in the movie of your life

Who would play your family?

My eldest Sparky would be Thomas Sangster when he was younger - who is that? see the clip below from Love Actually



My husband would be Jack Davenport - see clip below. Love the song title ;). Edit: my apologies, the song has some swearing - can tell I wasn't listening when I watched. If that's a problem, turn the sound off)Edit 2: Seeing as how I myself read blogs with my small kids around, I've changed the clip!



I have just asked my husband who would play me (feeling unequal to the task of working out myself). He reckons either Cameron Diaz or Helena Christensen, switches to acting and dyes her hair blonde (OH, ok say I, and also manages to get a shorter frame with a more normal BMI....) Gotta love the husband's eye view!

Here's a picture of both of them pointing out how similar they look

I can't think of anyone for the cute Scout though. That would have to be one seriously cute child actor :D.

So, your mission should you choose to accept it: who would play you and yours?

Oh no! It's the Gruffalo!

Anyone read this book with their kids? Sparky went through a stage of being into this one - a gorgeous story with a couple of twists, showing that the small are not without their own resources. Though not exactly a morality tale - more about the power of wit! Well, the show is coming to Australia, pitched at 3-7 year olds. Anyone interested in going? The possibilities in Sydney are Seymour Centre 16-30 May ($17-25 each, depending - complex ticketing!), Penrith Q Theatre 4-5 June (all tickets $15 or 4 for $55), Parramatta Riverside 19 June (18 each or 65 for family). Yes, the further out from the CBD, it seems, the cheaper.

* book available from Amazon (where pic from)

Our Big but Thrifty day out

Sparky and I had our regular holiday movie day yesterday. After the horrors of the Easter Show cost last week, I went looking for bargains....double pass from ebay: c $16. snacks and water from home during movie: $?? not that much. lunch at a food court (Sparky's choice) c$10. train travel c$7. I figure at $17 each we did well.

We saw Monsters vs Aliens. It was PG which we usually avoid, but there were no G movies (in school holidays!) It was a little scary for 4, but he still enjoyed it. It was quite funny too, so something for the parents there. Though, as usual, the funniest lines had been used in the trailer.

Note to self : don't take son for his haircut on your fun day out. Yes, it was convenient. No, it wasn't worth it.

Sparky's first post

I am too tired tonight to post, but Sparky reckons he can fill in for me. Here goes!

I love my teachers because they teach me such nice things. Like English. They have some games too. Well, before group time we go and do those games. A___ and C____ are my teachers. Sincerely, Sparky.

Still lots of chocolate left

Because we have been gastroland this week. First Scout, then me, now Sparky. Bhaer has been suffering under some respiratory illness instead, just to add to the fun.

I was re-introduced to a Lindt bunny during my bout. We had met under rather more pleasant circumstances. So I think that chocolate might be around a while yet.

So, I will resume my normal blogging in a couple of days or so.

The games kids play

Nicole blogged about playing snakes and ladders (frustratingly too punitive snakes) and slamwich (a hit!) with her kids. Might need to get that one.

Sparky is at the age where games start being really fun, but Scout is still at the throw the pieces around the room and start a bunfight with your brother stage. I'm hoping next year we might start being able to get them to play them together.

We recently bought Boggle for Bhaer and myself (with an eye to the future) and so Sparky got out his Children's Boggle. There is a multi player version of this game, but so far we have only used the single player version. Sparky has been reading for a long time but his writing has really only just started taking off - this game is great for kids at that stage.

Another couple of games we have for Sparky that have been used only rarely so far - due to Scout - are Happy Families and The Shopping List game (which is one of the many memory games out there). He enjoys both of these. I grew up playing with my Dad's charming old happy families pack from the 50s (outdated socially though as all the dads were the workers) but sadly no one knows where it is.

We also have children's scrabble, which hasn't really caught on with him yet - I think its easy version is now too easy and the hard version still too hard.

Other games that I remember fondly from childhood and I'm keen to introduce the kids to, include:

Uno

Chinese Checkers (Lovely old set of Dad's -missing??)

Battleships (forget the plastic versions - we always just played with paper)

Careers (I enjoyed this much more than Monopoly, I think because you could strive for happiness as well as money. Again used Dad's and missing)

Connect 4

Guess who (my brother and I loved this and never owned it)

I also loved a game which had no winners and was all about learning about each other and cooperating but my brother hated it. I would have to do a deal with him where I played a game of monopoly and he played one of my game - can't remember what it was called now.

As a teenager, I would add Trivial pursuit and Pictionary and Cheat (note that I have linked here to the wikipedia article which gives an alternative and more scatalogical title to the game...).

Which games do your children enjoy? and which do you remember fondly from your own childhood?

*I got the image from the Games Empire website, which is where we bought Boggle - a great games and lego shop online and in Marsfield with competitive prices.

Easter Sunday sickness

We were woken at 5 this morning by a very sick Scout. He missed out on his Easter eggs, and we have spent all day trying to keep water in him (without him gulping too much!!!) It went well during the day but he started looking well afternoon tea, had too much too soon to eat, and vomited again before dinner. He has been a very cranky and very clingy kid.

Can I confess to you as I write this I am feeling fairly sad and sorry for myself? And very much hoping Scout stays asleep tonight? As well as sad for Scout, Sparky and Bhaer. Our plan of joyful celebrations today didn't really turn out the way we hoped.

I'm finding it hard to remember that this too passes, so I can only imagine how it must feel to a 2 year old with a very rudimentary concept of time.

I'm struggling with being glad right now. I am worrying about who might be next. But I am putting my hopes in that time when God wipes my tears, and 2 year olds don't get tummy bugs.

Good Friday Grief

Good Friday has always, since I was a child, held much meaning for me, but it has added significance in recent years.

I lost my first child on a Good Friday 6 years ago, to miscarriage. The date itself (April 18th that year I think) hasn't stuck in mind, rather the poignancy of it being Good Friday. He/she would have started school this year. I always remember my first child on Good Friday and look forward to meeting that child in the future - the future that is ours through Christ.

That day 6 years ago was one in which I gained an insight into the terrible pain of God the Father. I had always been moved by Christ choosing to die for me , but now I had some understanding of the depth of the suffering of the parent. As I lost my child, which took several painful lonely and scary hours, I thought about the loss of the Son to the Father. In my grief, which almost overwhelmed me, I clung on to this, and found my way to the beginning of hope.

Easter holiday plans

1. Remembering, reflecting and thanking. I have been speaking more to Sparky about Easter and Jesus this year, and he told me he finds Easter sad and happy. We have talked about when sad is good sad.
2. Sparky's first Easter Show. I am staying home with Scout and Bhaer is taking him. Is it just me or is the show ridiculously expensive? Pity I have lots of childhood memories of it I want my kids to share. I also have memories of my parents being stingy with showbags. Now I understand.
3. So, instead I'm taking Sparky to see Monsters vs Aliens. Some debate over this, as it is PG - where have all the school holidays G films gone? But after consulting Kids in Mind, decided to give it a go. We can always leave if too scary. We will stick with 2D I think, for a 4 year old.

piccie from freefoto

Wild thing, you make my heart sing..

Trailer for the movie of Where the Wild Things are. Now, if only the movie lives up to its promise

200 posts and miscellanea

To state the obvious after my title, this is my 200th post. I am truly amazed that I am still blogging (I do have a tendency to be faddish...). I think I have kept going because of the helpful interaction with those of you who read and comment . So thank you! And to any lurkers out there, now could be a moment to delurk!

I've been absent from my blog for a week - I had a weekend away sans kids (ahhh) and been busy since I got back.

The major happening in our home is that Scout, having shown the ability to climb out of his cot, has been moved into a bed. The first 2 nights he was true to his Blog name by falling out the end of the bed - he couldn't fall out the side because we have a safety rail on. I have now rigged up a barrier with chairs and last night no falls (Sparky woke up twice instead...). Sparky never did fall out the end, so I don't know when Scout's adventurous sleep patterns will improve. Anyone else have a kids that did this?