FIRST DAY OF PREP

How is it possible that I had to set my alarm clock to wake up Justice because he started school today.

My baby started school! I think that this must be a slightly different experience when you have other little ones at home, but my only baby started school today!

Of course, he was fine. More than fine. I was mostly OK. I'm not worried about how he'll do - I know that he is more than ready academically and socially.

I just thought he would be little for a while longer. Where has my baby gone?!

Showing off the uniform to Dad before heading to school...

VERY excited!


That giant bag is FULL of school supplies, two water bottles, morning tea and lunch...
Whew! Lucky we chose the wheeled one!

Digging right into activities while we had the teacher/parent meeting.
Justice humored me and let me get a picture of us together... Doesn't he look BIG?!

"My beautiful teacher Miss Henderson" with Justice...

Growing Pains

April has literally grown out of her skin.

This is "the most exciting, coolest thing ever" except Justice had to be dragged away from his computer to look... Now that I have replaced the leaves and removed her old shell, NOW its the most exciting, coolest thing ever...

Justice is chomping at the bit to start school and I think he just can relate to getting bigger... which she is. This insect is getting HUGE!

AUSTRALIA DAY

This was it. My first Australian citizen Australia Day!

Well, on Monday. But we're open Saturday, so that's when we did our big damper giveaway.

Turns out that there is shockingly little foot traffic in front of our shop on Saturday.
Also turns out it is difficult to give things away in our town. Everyone is waiting for the catch...
And it also turns out that after a day of distributing FREE damper (buttered with golden syrup, served on an Australian flag napkin with an Australian flag pick) my son had $30 in tips. Which is particularly odd as Australians really don't tip...

Will and Justice had a great, systematic approach. Justice called out to the passerby's - ANY passerby's. Will put the buttered slice on the napkin, Justice liberally applied the syrup, stabbed in the flag, and The Just Loaf free damper was ready!

Then Will headed home and Chantal had the honours.

She had to leave at lunchtime, and we moved the table inside where Justice set up shop independently.

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

ADMISSION

Okay, I admit it... I stayed up nearly all night in order to watch the inauguration live. My husband teased me endlessly. But come on, we know this, I am a bit of a sap. Sad movies, great music - let's be honest, those old Kleenex commercials - I can easily be moved to tears, and I revel in the corny.

I wanted to watch it. I remember when he threw his hat in the ring, and I made all the jokes about why he would never be able to be elected. I'm glad that I was wrong. The hideous reign of Bush, the financial crisis, the giant Palin mistake, I think these were all contributors to it becoming the right time.

But I've moved away - I've even acquired new citizenship. American political bashing is like a past time when people notice my accent (and don't mistake me for Canadian). Particularly when I was in Ireland, and Bowling for Columbine was in theatres... But still now. And I didn't feel invested in the outcome of this election - only grateful that no matter what, Bush would be gone. Over time, I swayed, I felt "OK, I would probably vote Obama" - but truly, that's because he was the one who made it to the ticket (well, and Palin made me ill)... The only person I would've REALLY followed was Colbert, and he pulled out so quickly (well, he was never really going to be in, was he? But I would've absentee voted for him, that's for sure!)

Anyway, somehow, through the course of things, I found myself excited by the outcome, and hyped to hear the inauguration speech - which pleasantly lived up to all expectations. Seeing so many people had turned out, watching him walk down the road --- well, it was all warm and fuzzy and lovely. I haven't felt so patriotic since Lee Greenwood sang at the first Rockies game following 9-11 (okay, THAT day I was a teary mess!)

I feel poised on the edge of a great hope. I want to believe that there will be transparency and change and a restoration of American ideals...

But I am a political cynic, and still feel afraid to throw my hat in the ring. While the cabinet appointments seem uninspired, the support of Bush's Wall Street Bailout nonsensical, in the end, I do believe there is the potential for some magic to this presidency.

After eight years of the politics of fear, preemptive war and shallow conservatism born of fear of change, it is wonderful to hear this president calling on us as a people to band together, to unite and change.

I want to believe.

A DAY WITH FRIENDS

Justice and I have talked about getting together with Simone and her kids so many times, but it has easily been a year since we actually did. However, I am proud to announce that today we spent the whole day together in Brisbane.

We drove into the city around 10AM, and had to stop for the kids to snack (where do they put it all?!). We plopped on a bench, and right in front of us had a circus performer practising. Built in entertainment? Yes please! Of course, that meant the snack break was a bit longer than we had anticipated.

After a few false starts, some unnecessary elevator trips and a turnaround, we found ourselves at the museum as intended. The turtle exhibit (which Simone informs me is old) was wonderful. As was the animal display. Justice particularly enjoyed looking through the magnifying glass at the beetles.

Following the museum, we went to the art gallery where we ordered food at the cafe with the VERY child friendly courtyard. Peaceful, flowing water, cool dandelion fountains - and giant walls surrounding a large area. We could chat while they played, and while there was water everywhere, it is so shallow that you don't even have to flinch when your son is running and topples slightly in (as I learned).

Since all that wasn't enough of a big day out (apparently) we also walked across the way to the convention centre for the Lifeline Book Sale, which I had never been to before. AWESOME books, ROWS of tables - and SO CHEAP! I never got past the kids' section, but Justice found ten books about dragons. He has been reading a book to me every day!

In the end, we left the city at 4PM. But we had THE BEST TIME! We may have waited years for the day to come together - but it was certainly worth it!

Distinguished Guest...

Last night Will had an extra set of hands in the bake. Martin is the Program Chair at the Culinary Institute of Vancouver Island. He's in Australia for a few months on sabbatical, and he's using some of his time here checking out Australian bakeries. His program information is available on the Vancouver Island University website.

He found Will through a BBGA acquaintance. Sometimes, it really is a small world. You can see more about Martin's night at The Just Loaf on his blog.

ITS ALL OVER

That's it... Justice's little boy days are done...

That's it. Its all over. Justice is officially big now. No more little kid, no more Mommy's little boy - just a big school kid.

I guess that it will hit home more when he goes off to school IN TWO WEEKS (is that possible?!) but today we went and bought all the school uniforms....

Formal dress uniform with formal hat (Mondays and Fridays)

*** (photo to be reserved for an actual school day shot)

Sports uniform with play hat (Tuesdays and Thursdays) (as pictured below)

And on Wednesdays, house uniform, except we don't know which house we're in yet. Whichever, it will be for his whole academic career there. (and we're all confident I'll post a picture eventually!)

The swim uniform? Speedos! I am going to be a conscientous objector. I want him to swim, but I am all about board shorts. Apparently, the teacher can make an exception. I am SO applying for that!

We're now officially broke, but once I buy some white athletic socks, Justice will have everything he needs for school!

He is encouraged to use keychains to help distinguish his bag from everyone else's (as they have to have a school logo bag). So, any original, distinct or otherwise cool (ie from the town YOU live in) keychains are more than welcome!

Can you believe that he is SO big?

After the school uniform shopping, we went and had a play date with his friend Gus. They went to the same preschool together and will also probably be in the same class this year at their new school...

Where has the time gone? How is summer vacation only like SIX weeks? What am I going to dd with myself while he's away at school?

A DAY AT SOUTHBANK...

Justice and I spent today at Southbank.

We're back to the full swing of work now, which meant that Will was awake for 28 hours straight, including a full night of work. He crashed late this morning, and following deliveries, I got Justice out of the house (as he has completely forgotten how to be quiet). I have been wanting to have a day at Southbank, as Justice and I haven't really gone in over a year (and he loves it there). I tossed out the idea over our break, but it didn't really fly, so I figured today was as good a day as any. Particularly since Justice's summer vacation is over in THREE weeks! We have only three more Mondays off before he is a big school kid (and the last one of those is a public holiday)...

Well, we started the day trying to find parking. I parallel parked in the city (I haven't done that even once since I lived in Boston and shopped on Newbury Street!) and we had two legal hours to play. First thing we went on the GIANT (I hate heights!) Ferris wheel because I had a great voucher that expired TODAY and Justice has been keen to go since our trip through the museum a few weeks ago...

Justice wasn't afraid at all, and loved looking down on the ant people... And out at the boats on the river...

These fountains are underneath it, and the wheel gets wet as it goes by...


See, PERFECTLY COMFORTABLE!

After the wheel we walked towards the City Beach, passing this Nepalese temple

Where Justice found the ceremonial bell interesting, And sort of appreciated all the detailed work I tried to point out to him,

Its really quite beautiful!

From there we walked the nature walk to the beach area.

Where we promptly changed into togs

And played in the water, diving for treasure...

And trying to swim (he'll have lessons at school this year)

And got soaking wet!

We went and ate lunch, and when we were headed to the changing rooms we saw:

Which - of course- we had to try!

And Justice loved it!

And since he was so well behaved they gave him heaps of time...

Which was a huge hit!

Believe it or not, we still had a little time on the parking metre, so Justice got the chance to play on the playground as well.

Which was also a hit...

My little ham...

He did this see saw on his first birthday! It used to be at the gardens...

Now, you might think that that was our whole day - but that was what we squeezed into our two hours. From Southbank, we went on to run bakery errands (our frypan died - again) and then we went to see BOLT 3D. I really want to see BEDTIME STORIES, but since that movie looks like one Will and I would enjoy instead of endure, I thought we should save that.

So, Justice and I sat down to watch Bolt 3D, and it was totally cute. It was also probably pretty much over - there was a raging inferno and Bolt was running to the rescue - when we realised that the fire alarm sounds were actually for OUR THEATRE and not just part of the movie...

It was not quite as surreal as my BLACK HAWK DOWN experience (the most extreme movie experience ever!) but it was definitely something...

Well, we missed out on whatever minutes were left (I was not going to watch the whole thing again) but now we have family tickets -- and can see Bedtime Stories! So, that about wraps up the day. Came home, did bookwork, sent Will off to work. We're back to our regular life - where we see each other for moments out of the day... BUT - we'll have a few days off again. In August...

Hoping all is well and your days are likewise fun filled. Without the sunburn (darn! I even had a goofy hat on with the sunscreen!)