Gone fishing

We are in Denmark, the beautiful coastal town five hours south of Perth. We are staying in Christian and Karen's rustic holiday shed while they have a white Christmas in Canada. This time it is just the five of us in a Karri forest playing board games, cooking, riding bikes, swinging from a tyre swing, reading and napping. The beaches are glorious and the water is calm and clear. The boys are enjoying everything and soaking up the special time with Dad.

The only luminescent screen is my iPad and we each get 30 minutes to play! The conversations are lively with lots of laughter interspersed with boy fights. They race everywhere and challenge each other at every opportunity.

We have already had a delicious lunch at a wine farm followed by excessive wine purchases and an afternoon nap.

The rods are packed and the fishing spots are calling. Maybe today we can put the sign up: Gone Fishing.

MPK blessings

We have been so blessed by an awesome kids' club at Mount Pleasant Baptist church. Our boys really love Sunday School and have made great friends there. The leadership team is so organized and has fantastic ideas to keep the lessons fresh and real. MPK stands for Mt Pleasant Kids and they are divided by age into STEPS, SKIP, RUNNERS and SPRINTERS. These names are inspired by 1 Corinthians 9:24 which teaches self discipline in your walk with the Lord. While having a great time, the underlying message is that it takes commitment and perseverance to be a true follower of Jesus. No one can win the race without putting in the hard work and training.  Our salavation is a gift from God but that doesn't mean that we should not be working hard at spiritual growth in order to fulfill our earthly purpose.

A lot of sport takes place on Sunday mornings here which is a real dilemma for us. We want the boys to be able to do both but that isn't always possible. This year Russell chose MPK over cricket as he just wasn't prepared to give up MPK for 6 months - that says something for the programme!

The fact that the kids are happy and well cared for makes our worship time that much better. Sunday morning has become great family time for us. Mounties has been a home from home. It has stretched us and nurtured us. It has been a place of refuge and support. It has taught all of us to run as if we want to win.

"Do you know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

ATLAS family day

The Christmas season has really brought home to us what a great company Rob is working for.  We were treated to a night out on the town a few weeks ago to celebrate Christmas.  Both Rob and I were amazed and impressed by how many staff members were acknowledged in a very special way for their efforts during the year.  The CEO is a dynamic 40 year old who is both astute and down to earth.  He mixes well with everyone and can also hold court with the queen!  On the recent visit of HRH Rob's boss, David Flanagan, was approached for a private visit with the Queen!  He has taken a small exploration company to a major mining company over the last 6 years and is portrayed in the local media as a man to be reckoned with and listened to.  Rob and I both think he is great and surrounds himself with likeable people.  The company culture is celebrated and fiercely protected as they go on a major employment run.

After the adult Christmas celebration, our whole family was treated to a day out at Perth zoo.  The boys had a fabulous time.  The lunch and drinks were laid on in real style and everyone was able to enjoy a Sunday afternoon cruising the animal enclosures.  Father Christmas made an appearance and each child was given a fantastic thoughtful gift, appropriate to their age and interest.

And of course, who can resist a good face painter!?

School's out

I am lying on my bed recovering from another bra party this morning, which followed closely on a bra party from last night and yesterday morning and the day before! Yes, I have totally overbooked my diary and am preparing for a family blow out which hopefully will happen after I have left for the next one tonight! Only three more to go and then our real holiday starts. Russell is next to me reading his book and we have that glorious summer holiday feeling. I didn't quite make it to the end of the shopping list before the boys became my constant companions, but the online shopping has arrived, so that is something!

All the reports were fabulous so we are super proud of our young men. I have to quote a line from each report card to be saved forever:

"Russell is a capable student who is able to organize his thoughts and skills to complete a challenge...easy going and compassionate nature which allows him to work well in groups. He respects the values and opinions of others...pleasing results in maths and science...pleasure to teach."

"Adam is becoming a more independent worker. When he is focused on the task at hand he produces pleasing work. Adam can be proud of his efforts this year...pleasure to assist him to learn"

"Hugo is bright and boisterous child...always keen to explore all activities as offered. Physical play and interactions with his peers are the aspects he enjoys the most...always tries his best...will benefit from extension of pre primary. Keep your happy smile!"

Oh, happy days. Oh, happy holidays...

kindy graduation

This week Hugo graduated from kindergarten.  He was a fabulous dinosaur in the kindy concert and all the little four year olds wowed the audience with their singing and dancing.

This graduation means that Hugo will go to preprimary in February and be at school every day from 9 till 3.  There will be no more "mommy days" and special treats.  He is a big boy now in school uniform and will join his brothers on the main campus.

Mommy is clicking her heals!

Christmas lights

This is the benchmark for Christmas lights on your home in Perth!  This home north of the river about 20 minutes drive from us has won national and international awards for its brilliant display of thousands of lights.  There are few homes with walls or fences around the property and no interest in stealing lights.  There doesn't seem to be any issues with the electricity grid either.  The result is that people really light up their homes and lives at Christmas time.  There is an online competition where you can register a home that has a particularly good display.  People like us keep an eye on that list and take a drive to the new releases for viewing!

Tonight we are all going to Russell's karate year end round up party and if we can keep all the little eyes open long enough we will be trawling the streets for spectacular Christmas lights.

There really is no better way than this (and of course belting out the odd Carol over a candle) to get you in the spirit.

madvent

There is no advent here this year, only madvent.  The first of December rushed up and kicked me in the pants.  I woke up with a panic, realising that I really hadn't done any Christmas shopping and had booked my diary FULL of work right up to end of school term.  And then there is the Wilson family tradition of a cute, unique, interesting and exciting advent calendar.  And it does have to tick all those boxes.  (note to self:  don't do something cute for the kids unless you plan on repeating it every year until they are 21).

Well, on that hot summer's morning of 1 December 2011, not only did the shopping panic wake me but also a sudden and genuine need to vomit.  I was the third domino to fall after Hugo and Adam.  Rob wasn't far behind and Russell brought up the rear.  So advent started well around here.  We picked up and violently threw off a terrible stomach bug.  To add to my Christmas cheer, in between INTIMO parties and caring for the patients, I was scrounging in the neighbourhood recycling bins for used baked bean cans.  The boys were told they could have a recovery day on condition that they each painted their quota of cans.  We were slightly late, but by day two of advent we had a pretty impressive row of cans on top of our kitchen cupboards.  I keep threatening to spend a night filling each tin but right now it is all a bit seat of the pants as I reach into my hidden secret stash for chocolates and toys to put in the next metal victim before sunrise.  We move the name tags along the cans to help us to remember whose turn it is to get out the treats.

Thank goodness for online shopping that has saved Santa's glow for one more year.

It is just a last push of parties, a last ditch effort to shop, a few more concerts and year-end round ups to attend and we are there.  The holidays loom ahead.  Yay!