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Because sharing is caring

Luke — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:07:10 +0000

(while watching a movie)

RJ: Can I PLEASE have some more blanket LR?

LR: Here’s some more. You can have that side.

RJ: That’s not enough! Sheesh! It’s like a blanket desert over here!

It’s the prolonged squawks that get to you

Luke — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 03:07:34 +0000

Dad: No watching… It’s a school night. Bedtime, Mister!

RJ: But Mom said I could watch a movie!

Dad: Yeah, on the weekend, not for tonight. Move!

RJ: (threatening) If you don’t let me, then I’ll be the… Distressed Parrot.

Dad: Then I’m just going to have to deal with a distressed parrot then.

RJ: (in very loud parrot voice) Distress! No one’s getting the damsel! Arawwk! Danger Alert! Princess is in distress! Damsel in distress! Emergency! Panic!

April, 2011 Photo Wrap-Up

Luke — Fri, 06 May 2011 03:07:57 +0000

We’re back from our awesome holiday and the good news is: no monkey bites or life-threatening illnesses!

While we’re getting those pictures sorted out, here’s everything else we got up to during April: our neighbours visited with their new baby, we played real video games for the first time, we took some friends ice skating, we dyed some eggs for Easter and we also noticed that a movie character has been taking fashion tips from… Dad?

Our neighbour's mummy bobtail lizard had babies and they were super cute!

The family got together to wish Grandpa another happy birthday!

After walking past the arcade at the movie theatre last month, the kids begged and begged and begged us to take them there one night. They had an absolute blast, followed up with dinner at a restaurant — with a dessert bar.

RJ discovered a new surprising ability: destroying ships from a submarine.

When Mom joined in, we got the high score! It would have been even higher if Dad hadn't stopped RJ from climbing into the machine.

For dessert, RJ just got a bit of everything.

When someone discovers you eating three scoops of marshmellows on top of a tiny bit of icecream, the best response is to look innocent.

Our friend E. and her parents came down from Geraldton to visit for a couple of days. We showed off our "extended front yard", aka. the park across the street.

If you could see the rest of the scene, you'd discover that LR is balancing on one foot, on top of a 3 foot pole... and dancing.

We also decided to take E. ice skating. She and LR are really good!

RJ's always happy for an excuse to wear a different hat.

Our friends came over for dinner one night. Just like LR and RJ when they were younger, R. was a big fan of Snugglepuppy.

For Easter, we dyed and decorated a bunch of eggs. RJ did a great job at dying everything.

We added some small, precise details using matchsticks.

LR does a great job of not spilling a drop of the dye.

Our neighbour even came over to help us.

Nice hat RJ! RJ went to a birthday party and was used as a pigeon rack.

"Isn't that Dad's shirt?" "Yeah, that's definitely one of Dad's shirts."

A Grim Fairy Tale

Luke — Tue, 03 May 2011 03:07:23 +0000

A couple of weeks ago LR headed off to camp and we decided to have a movie night with RJ so he could enjoy something special. Considering his imagination, we picked an older movie with a fun story (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen). Things went fairly well, although he was a bit bored during the beginning. Part way through, Mom and I briefly turned and discussed something. I’m not sure what it was, but it was probably something critically important, like what the dismembered body parts that the cat recently dragged in originally belonged to, or when I would finally get around to gluing down the plastic strips on the edges of the cabinet doors in the kitchen.

Conversation over, we looked up and saw RJ, eyes very wide, staring at the screen. On screen, in the typically surreal and maniacal styling of Terry Gilliam, a horrifying, winged variant of the Grim Reaper / Angel of Death loomed over someones body, coaxing a soul from their mouth as flames and screaming noises roared in the background.

I quickly realised I had forgotten a fairly important part of the movie… and that I’m no longer in the running for the Parent of the Year Award. Less than a moment later, the movie was paused, the screen was blanked and we were asking RJ if he wanted to watch something else.

RJ: (quietly) Yes, please.

The movie got switched off and replaced with the safe, inoffensive (yet mildly nauseating) world of “The Land Before Time“, but it appears the damage was already done. To be fair, the scene was only thirty seconds long, but it does set up the young girl in her role as heroine, so it’s fairly important. Considering the last time I watched the movie was twenty years ago, I’m not surprised I had forgotten it.

My memory — or more accurately, my lack of memory — is an impressive thing. Yesterday I went to the shops to buy a few things, most importantly some spinach. Now spinach was not only requested before I left, but was actually written down on a shopping list that I carried in my hand and it (spinach, not the shopping list) was a critical ingredient of the evening’s meal. Spinach was therefore very important and more than once while walking through the store I told myself, “Must not forget the spinach.” Much to my poor, suffering wife’s chagrin, the spinach is still sitting uneaten on a shelf in the vegetable department, quite safe from our hungry family.

The fallout from the movie incident didn’t occur until the next day and considering our previous experiences with RJ, it was pretty mild. It all started with RJ spending some time with his lego, working hard on a secret project.

RJ: I made something. Do you like it?

Dad: (channelling Keanu Reeves)… whoah….

RJ: It’s the Death Fairy.

Dad: It’s awesome. How long did that take?

RJ: Just this morning, but some bits are falling off, can you help me get them to stay?

Dad: Sure thing.

(Progress is made reinforcing some sections and changing others.)

RJ: Did you know the Death Fairy can smell better than a bear? That’s how he knows you are going to die.

Dad: Most people call him the Angel of Death. He’s not real, you know.

RJ: I know. It’s just a story.

Dad: Are you scared of it?

RJ: Not really. I already know lots about him.

Dad: Like what?

RJ: He can never be killed because he has no weakness. He also has many children that do what he says and help protect him… and a mum that stays at home and protects his house.

Dad: So he’s pretty dangerous then.

RJ: YES! Do you know the worst part?

Dad: What’s that?

RJ: He takes your soul and your ideas and puts them in a jar and he never lets them out. He loves to look at the little stars in it.

Dad: How does he do that?

RJ: He has the closest looker microscope, with the closest looking sensors. It’s the only way to see the stars.

Dad: So where did he come from anyway?

RJ: Well… Death Fairies used to be normal people and they lived on another planet. They were living in a house and it got buried under rocks and they died. After that, they felt a bit zombieish and woke up again… and then they were Death Fairies.

RJ's rendition of the Death Fairy, aka the Angel of Death.

RJ’s Birthday Party

Luke — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 03:07:53 +0000

RJ’s birthday was loads of fun. After school, we gathered up most of his classmates and walked them to the park near our house, where we enjoyed fruit, snacks and cupcakes! We had a nice dinner and more cake that night with Grammy and Poppa. The next day, RJ invited two of his friends to go see a movie with us in the city. Happy birthday RJ!

RJ's favorite present was this jaw from a 10ft lemon shark.

His other big present was a set of Lego PowerMiners, mostly because it comes with the largest rock monster available.

After school, it was time for RJ's "Not a party" Party in the park. Half the kids joined our train that snaked through the school toward our house.

A big part of your birthday is the birthday hat... RJ decided it was good enough to wear all day long.

LR is happy to hang out with some of RJ's friends... for a little while.

Kid pile-up at the swing!

RJ blows out the candles... Only one girlfriend this year!

Mum hands out the delicious cupcakes that Grammy made.

C and RJ peek over the edge of the slide before disappearing.

Apparently, a slide is the most fun if it has seven people on it.

Later that night, after dinner, we had another cake for RJ.

The next day, RJ invited two of his friends to go to the movies with us.

We always wave to the train drivers as they arrive at the station.

The three guys watch the world cruise by out of the window of the train.

We had fun spinning a huge stone sphere balanced on a fountain. We got it moving really fast!

One the way to the theatre, we stopped to watch a street performer do some amazing juggling tricks.

The kids enjoy the traditional 'Choc Bombs' -- chocolate covered ice cream cones. We used to get them at the movies as kids too!

Brick versus toe? BRICK WINS

Luke — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 03:07:20 +0000

Last Thursday before school, RJ had an incident involving a brick and a digit… And by brick I mean, ‘a middle-sized paving slab’, and by digit I mean, ‘his middle toe’ and by incident I mean, ‘dropping the brick from head height in such a way that its edge lands on the toe causing a particularly nasty gash down to the joint resulting in an alarming amount of blood, a lot of yelling and a fun-filled trip to the hospital.’

RJ's toe at the hospital, all cleaned up, but before the stitches went in.

Mum was, of course, brilliant — calming everyone down, bandaging the toe, and getting him to the hospital with an absolute minimum of fuss. LR was right on the scene too, applying pressure to the bandage to slow the bleeding.

A few hours, several stitches and an orthopaedic consult later, and RJ was ~~as good as new~~ no longer as curious about bricks. He did incredibly well, with only a few whimpers here and there. The doctors were very impressed.

We’re not sure what he was trying to achieve: perhaps an early start in a masonry career, or trying to spice up his juggling act, or maybe just playing One-Brick-Monty with some bugs… One things is for sure, he hasn’t watched this many documentaries, movies and television in a very long time.

Your extremely sympathetic parents are willing to let you spend lots of time watching TV on the couch.

Another benefit of an injury: plenty of time at home to organise your stuffed animals by phylogeny.

The bandaged toe. It was pretty horrific looking for the first few days so we preferred to keep it hidden.

After three days, Mum was allowed to clean it up.

RJ's impressive pain tolerance helped out a lot, with only an occasional quick breath when it hurt.

Mum was extra careful to make sure nothing could get in there to start an infection.

Everybody sing along!

Don’t Drop a Brick on Your Foot (by Joe McDermott)

A brick is a thing that is hard
One time I played with one in the backyard
It was smooth it was neat
But when I dropped it on my feet
I learned a rule that I’ll always regard

Chorus:
Don’t drop a brick on your foot it will hurt
It will make you hop around in the dirt
You will have to see the doc
Use a crutch when you walk
Don’t drop a brick on your foot it will hurt

Five days after the incident, Dad decided to try getting us out of the house and took us to the zoo. We brought a 'wheelchair' for the invalid.

When Dad decided to stop and get a nice picture to take back to mum, we thought she'd appreciate a picture of us picking our noses more than anything else in the world.

And in other news, LR has lost her fifth tooth. This time it was one of the big guys!

Melbourne and the Cousins, 2010: Part 1

Luke — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 03:07:21 +0000

The trip to Melbourne wasn’t only for Thanksgiving dinner with our friends. We also spent a bunch of time with our cousins!

Even though it was nearly summer, the weather was typical Melbourne: cool and rainy. The day we arrived, we stopped by a great cafe for a terrific brunch followed by a trip to the Melbourne Museum. They have a great permanent dinosaur exhibit and while we were there, they had a fantastic arthropod exhibit with a huge collection of LIVE tarantulas and dangerous spiders as well as some insects. RJ was in heaven — a museum full of dinosaurs and bugs!

Off to a cafe for breakfast, where LR tells Mi. all the latest news. Surprise of the morning: both LR and RJ like kippers!

After a great breakfast, we set off together to the Melbourne Museum. At one of the exploring tables, Pa. shows off a deinonychus claw.

LR and Mi. check out an interactive panel about velociraptors.

RJ had a great time identifying the skeletons and was amazed when he spotted the huge pterodactyl hanging at the very top of the room.

Mi, LR and RJ pop their heads up in the middle of an ant's nest!

Auntie Bron and the girls check out the deadly funnel web spiders. Luckily we don't have them where we live.

Mi. considers adopting a Venezualan Sun Tiger for a pet.

Careful LR, I think they've seen you!

Just for fun, RJ crashes an asteroid into Northern Australia.

Mi. and LR check out the near reaches of space in the 360 degree 3d movie.

Mum takes a break under a long-legged friend.

RJ sticks his entire head in the "Clever" tube.

Time for a 3d movie about African animals!

Mi. is doing great at quoits; she only missed a couple of pegs!

LR practices with the hoops, controlling them with her magic powers from across the courtyard.

RJ built himself a new robot body.

The kids line up on the concrete blocks for a quick round of statues!

Mum and Auntie Bron take a supervisory role at the museum playground.

LR loved these enhanced monkey bars -- the arch made it easy for her to practice some of her gymnastics bar routine.

RJ sat at the top of the slide declaring to anyone who approached, '' I'm managing my business. You can do whatever you like, and it wont bother me! ''

We were all ready to go when Pa. ran into a small problem... her legs disappeared! It took ages to find where they had run off to.

Resolving Logistical Issues

Luke — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:36:14 +0000

(phone rings, it’s T, one of LR’s friends from school)

T: I’m going to go to the movies with LR.

Dad: She and her mum aren’t here right now. Do you know which movie you’re going to see?

T: Yes. Coraline in 3D, but you can’t come.

Dad: Not fair T. You’re always so mean to me!

T: (laughs)

T: We’re trying to pick a good time to go.

Dad: Okay. I’ll tell LR and her mum when they get home.

T: Okay. (pauses)

T: I think maybe we shouldn’t go right now though. My mum is asleep.

Early September Pics

Luke — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:11:35 +0000

It’s September and the wildflowers have gone crazy. We took a quick trip up to Gingin to wish Grammy a happy birthday and spent an afternoon with Poppa helping him with his electronics and designing our own robots.

RJ and LR work on a birthday present for Grammy.

LR admires a huge bunch of daisies.

The almond and other fruit trees in the garden are all flowering.

The field is filled with a carpet of yellow flowers.

LR performs her amazing disappearing stick trick.

Please put down the camera. We want to do something fun.

It's either from a dragon... or a cow.

LR solders a resistor for Poppa.

RJ clips some leads for Poppa.

LR shows off her latest masterpiece - now hanging prominently in her room.

Dad and RJ worked together on cutting, gluing and colouring his robot.

RJ made himself a pair of "mad scientist glasses" -- out of some plastic packaging.

LR and RJ keep each other company during the scary bits of a movie.

It’s Scarier than you Think

Luke — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:30:55 +0000

RJ: I’m not scared of scary movies… That means I can watch Hairy Bottom.

The fearsome Hairy Bottom