Tuesday

B: Went out to the farm with Nannie for another riding lesson on Annie. It was decided that Annie is not suitable. Also rode Smoko.

K and H: read books, playdough, Duplo, doll and pram.

Wednesday

B: Rode Smoko and Annie, fell off both of them. Scouts.

K: I read the first chapter of Gumbles on Guard to her. Crafting with pipecleaners, paper bags and general drawing and writing.

K and H: Duplo, saucepan orchestra, playing with glass pebbles in a bottle, garden, water play table, doll and pram.

Thursday

HS group activity was Clean Up Australia Day at our usual venue, followed by a picnic and ballgames. There wasn’t much of a turnout but fortunately B’s three particular friends were all there.

I had a nap in the afternoon (E was home sick) during which B spent ages playing with H, then H and K shut themselves in the bathroom and got everything soaking wet.

Friday

K: played on the computer, then in the garden.

B: read in bed til after 10am. I finally got her up to fetch the eggs for me – Blackie is broody and having finally discovered where she is laying, there were 15 eggs!

The ACTEWAGL men came back to remove the plastic from around the pole.

B put out some of the laundry then had a shower and got on the computer.

H had a half hour nap while I had a shower. B put away the washing up, put her clean clothes in her room, and hung out the rest of the first load, then hopped back on the computer.

K: musical toys, My First Scrabble, back out into the garden.

B, K and I cut open a couple of huge pinkish-red galls we found on gumleaves by the cubby house. The had small red larvae in them. We left the rest on the tree to keep an eye on them as they grow, except for one which K brought in to stay in a jar.

I wrestled with trying to print B’s passport application and got it done just in time to send her off with Nannie to meet up with her father to get it signed. I did not cope very well with the rigmarole of trying to get the bloody thing to print and poor B copped most of that, after I dragged her away from the puter to look after H, who did not want to be looked after.

Fed small people lunch. H had a half hour nap, then K and H spent ages puttering in the garden – mostly in the sandpit, but K ate more peaches and H pushed around the laundry trolley and climbed on the tricycle. I did more laundry, including sorting everything from the floor and all the baskets and suitcases and bags in the playroom and living room, and putting half of it away.

I read them a few books and K did some writing then got back on the computer. H fell asleep on my knee and was distraught when I had to wake him up to let K in from the front, so we snuggled on the sofa and (after I’d done some meditation and breathing to redirect my energy) we had a lovely soothing bonding time instead of more frazzled shouting and lack of coping. Walked down the hill to meet Daddy but he was too quick for us and by the time we’d put on everybody’s shoes, he was most of the way home.

E helped K clean her bedroom while I made dinner. K (and E) helped me put away her clothes when I triaged them.