Last night my sister and I took our respective little boys to Granite Island to see the fairy penguins at dusk. Well, as much as a 2 year old and 5 month old will cooperate with that plan.
Visiting the island to see the penguins was a stock-standard of our childhood and school camps. And the penguins were everywhere. In fact one of my best friends and I spoke for the first time on the bus on the way back to our accommodation after the visit our class made for our Year 8 'get to know you' camp (for US readers, year 8 is the first year of high school in South Australia).
So N and I were expecting to see the hundreds of them that you used to see when we were kids.
I had heard numbers were in trouble, but was gobsmacked to hear they're down to 26 birds!!
Down from 2000 birds around ten years ago.
As J was not a happy camper while the guide was filling us in, so I didn't really hear the reasons, but apparently one main one is there has been an explosion of seal numbers. And fairy penguins are quite yummy to seals.
On the drive home, N and I were saying we thought this is one of those things we'd always be able to do with our kids at any time - turns out we may not be able to.
Showing posts with label children's activities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children's activities. Show all posts
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
23 Months
I cannot believe that J is 23 months old.
One month until he's 2.
Where did the last 2 years go??? Don't answer that - a good chunk of last year was well and truely a write-off, as much as I tried to be conscious of J's growth and development while one stressed-out mamma about Mr Trifectagirl.
His favourite things at the moment are his wooden train set, water, baseball set, water, Fireman Sam, Lazy Town, Thomas, Giggle and Hoot, chasing mum with a spray bottle full of water, ice (frozen juice or frozen oranges or strawberries), bathtime. This kid is a water baby.
Party plans are in full swing. We're going to the same park as last year since it gives options for older kids to run around - and I suspect J will only stop long enough to inhale some cake that a friend is making for us, and get back into playing himself.
Gift wise he goes up to the toddler room at childcare on his birthday, so he'll get a new bag and hat on his birthday. I also want to get him a sand pit, but that will have to happen later with grandpa's help.
Other gifts I've been told about are an easel, bathtub stickers, a quilt cover set and some size 2 clothes - and since it looks like he had a growth spurt Saturday, he'll be in them sooner rather than later, I think!
One month until he's 2.
Where did the last 2 years go??? Don't answer that - a good chunk of last year was well and truely a write-off, as much as I tried to be conscious of J's growth and development while one stressed-out mamma about Mr Trifectagirl.
His favourite things at the moment are his wooden train set, water, baseball set, water, Fireman Sam, Lazy Town, Thomas, Giggle and Hoot, chasing mum with a spray bottle full of water, ice (frozen juice or frozen oranges or strawberries), bathtime. This kid is a water baby.
Party plans are in full swing. We're going to the same park as last year since it gives options for older kids to run around - and I suspect J will only stop long enough to inhale some cake that a friend is making for us, and get back into playing himself.
Gift wise he goes up to the toddler room at childcare on his birthday, so he'll get a new bag and hat on his birthday. I also want to get him a sand pit, but that will have to happen later with grandpa's help.
Other gifts I've been told about are an easel, bathtub stickers, a quilt cover set and some size 2 clothes - and since it looks like he had a growth spurt Saturday, he'll be in them sooner rather than later, I think!
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Seasonal Run-Around
I've made it part-way through my first holiday season without Mr Trifectagirl.
I'd hoped to be able to keep all the things Mr Trifectagirl and I did last year with J, but some I decided against on practical grounds. And of course best laid plans and all that...
I'd hoped to go to our Zoo's member picnic held on the first Sunday in December, like we did last year, but just wasn't up to dealing with J on my own in that environment. It is at least a two-adult event at the moment. Instead we went to our church's annual street party which directly clashes with the picnic.
On December 14th, which was the 6 month anniversary of Mr Trifectagirl's passing, I had hoped to take J to see a particular light display we went to last year - I'd really like it to become a tradition of that's what we do that day. But of course the stress of the anniversary had me sick with bronchitis and sinusitis. My sister, her 10 week old son, J and I finally got there on the 21st.
The anniversary was hard - I was sick, over-tired because J was sick, and work circumstances lead to a massive amount of pressure. So not so unexpectedly I had a melt-down and am now on a 3 week break (it was only going to be 10 days) to recharge.
Also on December 14th our Elf arrived. I must say, having to only come up with 10 hiding ideas makes this a good date to choose! After a couple of days J got the concept and started looking each morning for where the elf had moved to. It was cute to watch him check the last couple of places before he found it. The elf is still unnamed - we'll do that next year.
One of my uni crowds had our usual pre-Christmas catch up on the weekend before Christmas. J loves water so was happy as a clam once he figured out the slip-n-slide that was set up to deal with the 39C temps. The next morning he also started copying one of the older children's bowling action.
Christmas Eve was spent catching up with friends and J performing in the church children's nativity. Unfortunately for me during the rehearsals he discovered the organ niche, so kept making a bee-line for it. We usually sit up the back, so there are plenty of people to catch him if he makes a break for it one Sunday!
Christmas Day started with pancakes and gifts for J- he was rather spoilt, but I kept it relatively in check with the 4 gift rule of something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read. His stocking had a bit more stuff in it, and I won't go as overboard next year. The Christmas morning church service was followed by a lovely long lunch - once my MIL's access cab showed up.
Boxing Day my sister and I brought forward our usual "get each other tickets to a musical" gift and went to see Les Mis. Both loving the musical, we enjoyed it, but also had some critiques.
Last night I caught up with a bunch of girlfriends and another friend on his biannual trip home from London over dinner. Good food, good company and a lovely night all up. Topped off with J staying at the grandparents place, so I got to sleep in!
I just have New Years Eve to get through now, which will be spent with friends. Then I start the first calendar year without Mr Trifectagirl.
I'd hoped to be able to keep all the things Mr Trifectagirl and I did last year with J, but some I decided against on practical grounds. And of course best laid plans and all that...
I'd hoped to go to our Zoo's member picnic held on the first Sunday in December, like we did last year, but just wasn't up to dealing with J on my own in that environment. It is at least a two-adult event at the moment. Instead we went to our church's annual street party which directly clashes with the picnic.
On December 14th, which was the 6 month anniversary of Mr Trifectagirl's passing, I had hoped to take J to see a particular light display we went to last year - I'd really like it to become a tradition of that's what we do that day. But of course the stress of the anniversary had me sick with bronchitis and sinusitis. My sister, her 10 week old son, J and I finally got there on the 21st.
The anniversary was hard - I was sick, over-tired because J was sick, and work circumstances lead to a massive amount of pressure. So not so unexpectedly I had a melt-down and am now on a 3 week break (it was only going to be 10 days) to recharge.
Also on December 14th our Elf arrived. I must say, having to only come up with 10 hiding ideas makes this a good date to choose! After a couple of days J got the concept and started looking each morning for where the elf had moved to. It was cute to watch him check the last couple of places before he found it. The elf is still unnamed - we'll do that next year.
One of my uni crowds had our usual pre-Christmas catch up on the weekend before Christmas. J loves water so was happy as a clam once he figured out the slip-n-slide that was set up to deal with the 39C temps. The next morning he also started copying one of the older children's bowling action.
Christmas Eve was spent catching up with friends and J performing in the church children's nativity. Unfortunately for me during the rehearsals he discovered the organ niche, so kept making a bee-line for it. We usually sit up the back, so there are plenty of people to catch him if he makes a break for it one Sunday!
Christmas Day started with pancakes and gifts for J- he was rather spoilt, but I kept it relatively in check with the 4 gift rule of something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read. His stocking had a bit more stuff in it, and I won't go as overboard next year. The Christmas morning church service was followed by a lovely long lunch - once my MIL's access cab showed up.
Boxing Day my sister and I brought forward our usual "get each other tickets to a musical" gift and went to see Les Mis. Both loving the musical, we enjoyed it, but also had some critiques.
Last night I caught up with a bunch of girlfriends and another friend on his biannual trip home from London over dinner. Good food, good company and a lovely night all up. Topped off with J staying at the grandparents place, so I got to sleep in!
I just have New Years Eve to get through now, which will be spent with friends. Then I start the first calendar year without Mr Trifectagirl.
Saturday, 8 December 2012
Score
At home, J spends a lot of time inside. Our yard just isn't as interesting as Grandpa's.
One thing I've been wanting to get him as an enticement to go outside is a basketball hoop - one of the adjustable plastic ones. But I since I've already got his Christmas gifts, I haven't been able to justify the expense, even with his birthday not far behind Christmas.
Driving towards Grandpa and Anjeanie's house a coulple of weeks ago, a lady was putting a bunch of stuff out for hard rubbish collection.
The pile was dominated by one of the hoops, which was in pretty good nick. So I took it!! Along with a little art table/seat thing. And promptly unloaded them both at Grandpa's house, which is where we were heading at the time.
Grandpa and Anjeanie hold a 'big bash' back yard party leading up to Christmas each year, which happened to be the day after. They were concerned about not having anything for few kids who are coming to play with.
Perfect timing. A bit of a clean, and the hoop was good to go.
J's taken to it and loves trying to get his soccer ball up through the hoop from below. It will probably come here in January some time
One thing I've been wanting to get him as an enticement to go outside is a basketball hoop - one of the adjustable plastic ones. But I since I've already got his Christmas gifts, I haven't been able to justify the expense, even with his birthday not far behind Christmas.
Driving towards Grandpa and Anjeanie's house a coulple of weeks ago, a lady was putting a bunch of stuff out for hard rubbish collection.
The pile was dominated by one of the hoops, which was in pretty good nick. So I took it!! Along with a little art table/seat thing. And promptly unloaded them both at Grandpa's house, which is where we were heading at the time.
Grandpa and Anjeanie hold a 'big bash' back yard party leading up to Christmas each year, which happened to be the day after. They were concerned about not having anything for few kids who are coming to play with.
Perfect timing. A bit of a clean, and the hoop was good to go.
J's taken to it and loves trying to get his soccer ball up through the hoop from below. It will probably come here in January some time
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