They're Off

Well it's official - I am the mother of TWO school children and as such Surfer Boy seems to think that the house will be immaculate, meals will be prepared, and various home crafts will be completed. He was a little miffed to find that nothing has changed in one day! Little does he know that I headed straight for 'The Corner Shop' cafe and sat around with various lovely ladies until 1.30pm!! There really wasn't much time left after that for chores of any sort. Maybe tomorrow will be different - but I doubt it!
Here's the lovelies off to their first day -

Gidget - year 2

Moondoggie - Prep

(and before you ask - no I wasn't at all sad or sentimental. He was so happy to be there that there didn't seem much point)

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YWPS ART SHOW

I think we must be involved with the greatest school in the Western suburbs! (Slight bias) During the last week of term The school puts on the most amazing Art Show which also doubles as a ripper of a night out. Everyone has a fantastic night with food, wine, and great music adding to the festivities. The kids produced amazing work and get a real thrill out of showing off their efforts. Next up - The Christmas Concert!

My Crazy Scientist

I got a chance to spend some time in Gidget's classroom the other day as part of Education week. They are doing a unit on science and spent the morning conducting experiments and dressing as scientists. It was great to see what she is up to as I rarely get to see the class in action. In prep you get to spend so much time in the room but I've realised that as she gets older I will get to spend less and lees time being a part of her life. Good and bad at the same time. It's exciting seeing her find her place in the world but a little sad that I am not the center of her universe anymore.
Thank god Moondoggie is still a mummy's boy!
(P.S. hours of hair plaiting went on the night before to ensure hair was suitably crazy - unfortunately you can't even tell in this shot)

In Awe

I took Gidget to visit her godmother yesterday at the Park Hyatt. Gidget loved seeing Kris and her family but she was even more excited about the actual hotel! I had forgotten how exciting a luxury hotel is when you're small. The glitz, the glamour, the lifts, the piano man! She was in awe. I think afternoon tea visits to Melbourne's hotels might be a great idea.

I, on the other hand, was in awe of Gidget's godmother!

Kris gave birth to her beautiful daughter on Thursday, and you would swear she didn't raise a sweat. She radiates calm and is happily holding court at the Hyatt with her usual grace and charm. Even the arrival of her three boys did nothing to outwardly disturb the tranquility although she did mention that she wouldn't be encouraging them to stay too long!

I find it amazing and comforting to know that after 26 years Kris and I are still there for the big moments in each other's lives.

Congratulations Will and Kris - she is divine.

Kris and Jen - 1985

She's Off!

All went swinmmingly! She couldn't wait to go and when we got to the classroom she cheerfully kissed me goodbye and then ignored me. There was nothing for me to do except leave - which I promptly did. Now I just need to think what to do with Moondoggie for the rest of the year. Yikes!

Here's the shot I took through the window as I was leaving - see how upset she is to be at school...

New Beginnings

It's a busy week this week with both the offspring starting at their respective educational facilities. Sounds fun when you say it like that doesn't it!

Moondoggie and I went off today to his first ever day of institutionalised care, aka 3 year old kinder, and Gidget starts Prep tomorrow at 9.00am sharp.

I'm starting to worry that I am an unnatural parent as every other prep mother I speak to is lamenting the loss of their baby, the end of an era, such a big transition etc etc. And I'm just really, really excited. I am so thrilled for Gidg as I know she is going to LOVE school and I can't wait for her to start. Maybe tomorrow all normal parental anxieties will assail me as I wave my darling goodbye, but I seriously doubt it. It's strange 'cause I cry at anything and everything usually.

To be perfectly honest I'm not that in to pre-school aged kids and I'm thrilled I'm nearly out of that phase. I have always said that I'd love a big family if I could get pregnant, give birth then farm them out until they are 6. I adore my babies but in general school kids are heaps cooler. Many of my friends are aware of my weird preference and often hand me their babies just to annoy me, others don't even bother and pass me by when little Johnnie is being handed around the doting friends.

So tomorrow if you see me at school and I am a blubbering mess you'll be able to point and laugh and I'll be eating my words in tomorrow's post.

For now I am off to pack my first ever school lunch, which, by the way, is a whole other set of issues and may indeed make me cry after all. Who knew the humble school lunch could be so fraught with difficulties! I'll save that rant for another post....

Flashback Friday

Photo removed due to the fact that it may incriminate others.

I think the less said about this photo, the better!!!!

Flashback Friday

God It's Flashback Friday again already and I nearly forgot!!

This photo just scrapes in as it's taken in 1985. It's one of my favourite photos as it is so evocative of my fabulous school days. This is Kris and I catching some rays in the corridor at school and although I look like I'm puckering up for a kiss I 'm sure Kris was just offering me some of her lunch. This photo makes me want to go back to those days so much... when you spent all day with your best friends instead of trying to catch a spare half hour together around kids, work, husbands, LIFE!!!