Serious Rain

Well the rain storms hit! It's been raining here since Thursday. Non stop.

Elsie was to have three friends out here to Wallaby Scrub to camp and play for the weekend. Apart from being very wet, she felt rather sick with a headache and belly ache, and thought she would postpone it for a week.

The children have been down at the dam between rainfalls today; chasing each other around, and around, and around. They made a 'slosh' hole (according to Jack) in which to become completely covered in mud. A waterfall was made from one half of the dam to the other, and it flows well because of the rising level from the recent rains.

Between showers of rain the bikes have been ridden up to the gate, legs are stretched, and then it's back inside again when the next drops begin to fall.

Beth has done a stack of beadwork lately, and Tildy has joined in her creative flow. Elsie is still working hard on her weaponry skills. Lots of dvds are being watched and books are being read. I've started a special illuminated journal, using special pens, Derwents and lots of creative energy. And the playing cards are being given a good working over these last few days. Some of Lilly's big size cards were damaged, so she has recreated them with pens and cardboard.

Willem is saying many new words every day. He enjoys making animal sounds, repeats our names, points to himself and says 'me', plays with 'lizzies', drinks 'cocoas' and enjoys nice warm 'baafs'. He's just come up to me with that cheeky grin of his, with a dry Weetbix/butter/jam snack in hand.

Elsie has written some song lyrics which are rather 'fifteen year oldish' (IYKWIM). I'm thinking she's a deep thinker, with much to say on the state of the world! Good for her!

Right now ... Beth's writing a short story about a family with a new baby; Emily is watching some old time cartoon; Jessica is narrating the cartoon to anyone who will listen; Lilly is trying to watch the cartoon from my bedroom doorway but Willem wants her to play with him so is pulling her back onto my bed; Matilda is peeling potatoes for the chips tonight; Elsie is organising her thoughts on paper as to what will be in her new city bedroom; and Josiah is just outside 'slinging' rocks at the tin shed to see how much noise can be made.

NICE!

Porridge Time

Here's Willem sitting on his new 'cube'. I had an old windcheater that was going to Lifeline, so I chopped it up, sewed it into a cube, and stuffed it. It has been rolled, cuddled, thrown, sat on, lounged on, kicked... in fact it has been the toy of choice all week.

The morning this photo was taken was quite cold, so porridge was on the menu for brekky. A longstanding favourite around this house.