I love to see my kids making wise choices with their time and in effect either practicing and improving current skills or learning new ones.

At this moment in time, on Boxing Day, Joshua is playing a Cricket Card game with Grandad while they watch the cricket.  This game is based on averages and Joshua has already memorised most of the cards. 

Jessica is parcelling up some gifts that we want to send to friends from the Bible Society.  She has sorted out how many are needed in each family, if we have enough and addressing the envelopes!  She has learnt that addressing A4 envelopes is different than addressing DL. 

Naomi has spent time typing up a list of the gifts she received and from whom.  Not only was this typing practice but also, I introduced her to the “tab” concept.

Daniel has been playing on the computer.  This morning he came up with a solution that involved saving someone else’s game in their name, and then him playing the game and saving it in his name making both himself and the original player happy!  Sounds confusing on paper … but we were impressed with not only his consideration of the other player but also his understanding of the computer game and its options.  He has spent time playing with his metal construction kit – he is making a plane and working on not giving up/not being discouraged while working on a big project.  Once again it is obvious that he loves making stuff and has persevered with small nuts and bolts as this “plane” is coming together.  Now he is in his bedroom doing some drawing.

Most of the pressies now have new homes.

Tuesday – Wednesday 27/28 December

Over the last few days it has been raining – lovely wet season – rain!  It has gone between heavy showers and drizzle all day.  Nomi and Daniel have just loved kicking around in the puddles.  They have been collecting tadpoles.  We have to get a book that tells us the life cycle of tadpoles and the timing so I can have a lid (mesh) on the jar before I end up with 12 frogs (at the least) on my kitchen counter!  Uggh!!  Much as I don’t like the idea of frogs I do believe every kids should have the joy of watching tadpoles!

Pete got back from his job before dark so he took the kids and Grandad to collect Pangola grass runners to plant in what is to become a grazing paddock.   While outdoors they decided to take the time to burn the rubbish that has collected over the last few days.  The flames were bright blue so Pete gave them a little lesson on burning different substances, in particular copper, which he believes to be in the wrapping paper they were burning.

The girls have been outside making frangipani crowns.  Somehow they bend the petals back and tuck them in and they get these little cushion-like crowns.  They float nicely in a bowl of water.  The boys have been playing with the dog and riding bikes.

There have been some good conversations around the dinner table and Joshua, in particular, has been challenged as he boldly states what he believes and doesn’t believe – we have discussed religions through to commerce through to cricket & books and more besides.