Monday, May 16, 2011

Hello

sleep deprivation again! On return from our Perth holiday we assembled Katy's bed and said goodbye to her cot. Ella also decided she wanted to stop wearing nappies at night. Let's say it hasn't been smooth sailing - well it never was going to be right? Last week saw numerous tag team interruptions each night usually involving Ella waking up crying because she was wet followed by Katy waking up. It was almost like having a newborn again!

Katy's move into a bed is so different to Ella's transition. Although it does have it's benefits - both girls now go to bed at the same time just after 7pm. At the moment we need stay in the room until Katy is asleep otherwise there would be tears followed by footsteps.

Ella's nappy mission is going ok especially seeing though she has never had a dry overnight nappy! The last two nights have been bliss - taking Ella to the toilet when we go to bed around 10.30 - 11pm and then she has made it through to 6ish. Meanwhile Katy has been sleeping through the whole night and waking around 6am. The main challenge has been trying get the pj's and sheets washed before work and dried when the max temperature has been just over 10!


Saturday, May 14, 2011

How to ride a bike in 4 easy steps

Sometime last summer I picked up an Aldi 12" bike on the cheap, and we had committed to giving it to Ella on her 4th birthday. Of course, since she turned 4 on our holidays, we just drew a picture of said bike, and it wasn't until after we got home that she was able to ride it. While Ella is fairly proficient on her balance bike, we weren't sure that this would translate directly to a pedal bike. But it all turned out easier than we thought, along the following lines:

1. Learn how to pedal.
Unfortunately, the only way to learn how to pedal is with training wheels, and so last Saturday I assmbled the bike complete with the training wheels. Training wheels are the most annoying invention since sliced bread. Ella can steer well on her balance bike, but training wheels have one leaning in the wrong direction and oversteering, neither of which Ella could cope with very well. To add to the confusion, training wheels get impeded by gutters, or any other obstacle, so progress was slow. Despite this, Ella thought it was great, and we even took a short trip around the block for a bit of fun.
2. Learn how to balance
On Sunday, we graduated to free riding. After 2 minutes, Ella wanted her training wheels back on, but after 5 minutes she was riding happily (albeit slightly erratically) back and forth along our road. The only catch remained starting off -- which meant she needed a push to get going each time. But once started, she was pretty much gone...
3. Learn how to start off
On Monday afternoon we got home sufficiently early to spend 20 minutes practising before we had to cook dinner. The strategy today was to learn how to start off on downhills (pretty easy in the end) and graduate to starting off on the flat. Pretty pleased with ourselves after this.
4. Learn how to brake
Turns out that this one is hardest of all. Logic would dictate we would learn this first, and believe me, I tried. But when panic sets in, she forgets all about back-pedal brakes and tries to plant her feet down. Plenty of time to learn this, I thought, as we set of this morning for a play/coffee at Jammo with Abby & Zoe. It wasn't until the way home, on a steep downhill, and despite my instructions to slow down for the corner, that Ella missed a turn and ploughed headlong into a bush! She thought it was hysterical, so obviously no damage done, but perhaps this is one lesson I need to reinforce before we hit the hills again.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Easter Egg Hunting

While we were at Brookton for the Frazzle Rock Orienteering carnival, the easter bunny came to Nanna and Grandad's house. He didn't leave any chocolate eggs only glittery ones, plastic ones with little chickens inside and foam ones you could colour in as well as stick stickers on!! The best part was not the initial treasure hunt in the backgardend but the fact you could do it numerous times. It was exciting every time - even when Ella hide them herself!! I must admit I was pretty much over easter egg hunts by the end of our stay...

Decorating eggs...



Hunting the eggs...


Look at our treasures!!





Ella Turns 4!


Ella celebrated her 4th birthday in Perth at the pirate ship playground with several orienteering friends as well as Nanna, Grandad and Nayne (Ella's great grandmother). The pirate ship is just a perfect place for a party and the weather was glorious. There was lots of playing, a treasure hunt followed by a cake - this year's request was a cat. The rest of the day was spent playing with Nayne back at Nanna and Grandad's house with a roast dinner to top it off.




The Final Result..

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Easter in Perth

We've spent the last 2 or so weeks in Perth -- this was allegedly a holiday, but I quickly discovered that having a holiday while recovering from pneumonia isn't so much fun. Nonetheless, the girls in the family had fun. Easter itself was spent orienteering (well, Nat orienteered while I tried to keep Ella & Katy in line). The highlight of the weekend was the string course at orienteering, which we did with all our friends (Sophie in the photo on the right; Aoife, Ashley and Kate on the left). Clearly, following isn't considered illegal on string courses...



Secondary highlight was Sunday morning Easter egg hunts around our B&B, organised by Annwen. Pyjamas and bare feet were mandatory (it turns out that Easter in Perth is a little warmer than Canberra), and numerous (plastic) eggs were to be found - some of them perfectly placed for the younger brigade to find, much to their surprise.


Stay tuned for news of the rest of the holiday, featuring in particular Ella's 4th birthday.