School Break

Kids go to school year-round here. They get several two week breaks throughout the year and a six week break at Christmas. I have to admit I was a little concerned about the last two week break they had in July-the library and the aquatic center are the only indoor recreational options in Wanganui and winter can be cold and rainy. I shouldn't have worried. We had a couple outdoor adventures when the weather held, but most of the time we had a great time playing inside, with the kids staying in their PJs all day.

Liska Swims

Liska is a better swimmer than Lazlo (don't tell him) and the other 5 year olds in his class. There is a swim school rule that kids have to stay in the preschool class until they are 5, but Liska's teacher is going to ask the administration to make an exception for her. She loves the water and, living on an island, we're relieved to know that she is learning good swimming skills.

Gramma Barb: Child Therapist Extraordinare

Anyone reading this blog probably knows we have had sleeping troubles with Lazlo. Things have been much better for a couple of years, but putting him to bed was still unpleasant because he fought it every single night. No matter how great our day was together, it ended on a grumpy note, which was disheartening for everyone.

When my mom visited we picked her up at the airport and traveled to the South Island, all of us sharing cabins/hotels, so she saw first hand what went on at bed time. Without us asking, she took it upon herself to become Lazlo's personal sleep coach. Almost every night for the month she was here she spent the hour before bed time alone with Lazlo. She talked quietly, kept the lights low, kept him calm, taught him how to relax himself, told him she believed in his ability to cooperate with bed time and promised him a reward in the morning of one mint. During the day she gave him pep talks about bed time and we all piled on the positive feedback. Brad and I had tried many of these things before, but not all at once for an hour before bed every night for a month.

Amazingly, it worked. Even more amazingly, it continued after she left. While Lazlo will never be like Liska, who asks to go to bed when she is tired, he cooperates for bed time almost every night. We still can't believe it. Thanks mom!

Father's Day 2009

Brad had to work Father's Day, but the kids made him heaps of gifts. I bought him some Laphroaig whiskey but, as much as he loves it, Brad returned it because it cost $105 for the same bottle that is $40 in the States. Serendipitously, it went on sale for half price the following day so I got him another one. I was going to cook him a carnivorous meal but had been trapped in the house for 3 days with Lazlo, who we feared had swine flu, so I wasn't able to pull it off. Instead, we had fish and chips, which were probably better than anything I could have made anyhow. The best part is that Father's Day is in September in New Zealand, so we'll have another chance to celebrate.

Batgirl

Liska's kindy had pyjama day last week. The day we found out she told me, without hesitation, that she wanted to wear her batman PJs (hand-me-downs from Lazlo). I had assumed she would want to wear her pink monkey, pastel-colored cupcake or pink polka-dotted PJs, so I was a little surprised. I figured she would change her mind over the course of the week, but she didn't waiver.

I have to admit I was pretty proud to have the only girl wearing non-pink PJs for pyjama day.

Lazlo's Bike Rally

Lazlo loves riding his bike. So when Brad found out there was a kids' bike rally in Palmerston North, 45 minutes away, he signed him up right away. He was in the young age group so Brad got to ride with him (I took Liska to the nearby aquatic center so she didn't feel left out). He seemed to have a great time although 30 minutes was way too short for him. Maybe next time we'll sneak him into the older age group.

Fishing

Lazlo and Liska have been intrigued by fishing for awhile-probably because Grandpa Paul and Gramma Martha like to fish and took Lazlo fishing a couple of years ago.

When my mom, Nancy and Hannah were visiting we went to Kai Iwi Beach and hung out with some fishermen who had a remote controlled line that went out into the sea forever. They let us watch them bring in their catch, some pretty big red snapper. They were going to sell it to the local fish and chips shop and expected to get about $70 for it. After that the kids had a fleeting obsession with fishing so we spent a good deal of time on the river front for a few weeks. We couldn't let them cast because lots of people fish there, but Lazlo liked reeling in the line. Liska was a big talker but spent most of her time hunting for bottle caps in the grass. We didn't catch anything, but I bet the kids will be excited to go fishing with Grandpa Paul and Gramma Martha when we see them next.