Crumpled Home » Mum

How much to upgrade one child ticket to business class?

Luke — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 03:07:17 +0000

LR: Mom, I can’t sleep on planes.

Mom: Sure you can. We’ll bring you a nice pillow. You’ll be fine. You fit in the seat perfectly.

LR: No. I just can’t sleep on planes. Can I stay awake the whole way to America?

Mom: It’s a very long way. It’s going to take us a full day and night to get there. I don’t think staying awake is a good idea.

LR: Well, I’m going to need a really good pillow and to lay flat then.

LR turns six

Luke — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 03:07:36 +0000

LR’s birthday rolled around and, despite appearances, we managed to keep it fairly simple (no giant parties, sleepovers, movie nights, etc.) LR loved every minute of it and is already making plans for next year!

After searching nearly ten bike shops in the area we finally found a bike cool enough for LR.

Good timing. We've had a long-standing arrangement that we would get LR a new bike when LR learned to ride. Fortunately, it happened right around her birthday!

Great Grandma Dot and Great Grandpa Maurie met us for lunch at a cafe. This is where LR had birthday cake #1!

LR and RJ head to the cake cabinet to pick the best ones.

Grammie hands her present to a very appreciative LR.

iLR LOVES her new iThing.

RJ got a new dinosaur lenticular image. So far it's become a video game, a movie, his pets and a useful demonstration of evolution in action.

Poppa gets a spontaneous thank-you hug from LR.

LR gobbles down her cake, ice cream and a chocolate cake with chocolate sauce over the top... Over the top is right!

Instead of a birthday party, LR invited her class to come for a play at the park after school.

There were kids everywhere! LR had a great time!

Cake #2 consisted of cupcakes for each kid. Thanks Grammy for the hard work!

RJ eyes the mighty stack of cupcakes... We kept a careful count to make sure none disappeared ahead of time.

RJ attempts to negotiate for an early cupcake by trading a cup full of worms.

LR blows out the candles with just a little help from her friends.

LR hands out the privileged 'L' cupcakes to special people.

By carrying buckets of water to the top of the playground equipment and pouring them down, the kids created their own waterslide!

LR eyes light up for cake #3, an icecream cake that we had after our family dinner.

LR blows out the candles with mum holding her hair back -- she's trying to grow out her fringe.

Poppa and RJ help put new batteries into one of her presents.

Rotto Wrap-up

Luke — Mon, 31 May 2010 03:07:59 +0000

The trip to Rotto with the school was full of all sorts of events, beyond the amazing LR learning to ride. A series of school competitions and activities took place on Saturday, despite the massive bursts of rain that showered down throughout the day!

RJ explores Longreach Bay on a final wander around the island.

The guys line up for their essential morning cup of joe... err.. hot chocolate. Yes, RJ is already bruised from an earlier collision.

The treasure hunt is on! The kids had to find 'foxes' -- people doing strange things, or dressed in out-of-the-ordinary attire.

Mum was a fox! We found her at the bus stop.

Bikes and quokkas, ubiquitous scenery at Rottnest. One of the locals finds a choice hiding spot, waiting until the madness dies down.

The school had a sack race for each class. As usual, LR was FLYING!

Someone's totally awesome dad takes the lead in the sack race... briefly... before collapsing on his face.

Mum gives very detailed instructions to RJ on the egg and spoon race. Perhaps with too much emphasis on not dropping the 'egg'.

C. employs his advanced Egg and Spoon technique, and hopes the judges aren't looking.

RJ very slowly and carefully navigates the course. He made it almost the whole way through without dropping it, step by careful, cautious step, finishing last to cheers from the whole crowd.

RJ enjoys his prize for the race as C. negotiates for a share.

Everyone sets up for the staff vs. students tug-of-war.

LR and the rest of the students pull mightily!

Mum and the teachers fight back, but it's not enough. The students win!

The kids unwind after a long day.

The rain didn't ruin the weekend -- it made it more exciting!

RJ and C. stop to give directions to X.

RJ and C. threaten to eat the monkey, while playing komodo dragons in the playground.

RJ climbs a tree while waiting for the bus.

Of course, LR climbs even higher.

Geordie Bay lit by a great sunset -- the gorgeous view from our front door.

A great source for all your almond goodness

Luke — Fri, 28 May 2010 03:07:36 +0000

(over breakfast)

Mum: (to Lorian) RJ and I need to go buy a birthday present for your friend.

LR: How about something from the horse shop?

Mum: Good idea!

RJ: How about something from the Indonesian Shop? They have lots of things and even horse stuff. It is expensive.

Mum: What do they have there?

RJ: Toy horses… and ones you can paint… You can even get food there! Like bagels, giant pretzels, juice… and almond dessert!

(For the record, we have never been to or even heard of an Indonesian shop, but it does sound pretty cool!)

News Update: Trees planted, environment restored!

Luke — Thu, 27 May 2010 03:07:15 +0000

On Tuesday, Mum and LR went on an excursion with the Year 2 class to plant and restore a local area.

We planted spinifex, knotted club rush, coastal daisy, fan flower, snake vine, and cotton heads. All these plants would once have grown on the site before rabbits and people destroyed the local vegetation.

Find out the whole story and see more pictures at Cottesloe Coastcare!

What’s got two wheels, two legs and goes AAAAAAAAHHHHH-crash?

Luke — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:07:58 +0000

After months of practice running, pushing, holding, catching, steadying, balancing with dad, LR hadn’t yet got the hang of riding her bike without the training wheels on. The big motivator was to learn before the school camp at Rottnest — EVERYONE else was going to be riding without training wheels and LR was determined to have it figured out.
On Thursday, LR, mum and RJ took the ferry over to Rottnest Island for the school camp. They stopped at the bike shop and rented two bikes: one with training wheels for RJ, and one without for LR. On Friday morning, amidst cheers from her classmates, LR wobbled away on her first two-wheeled bike ride!

LR à Grande Vitesse!

Learning to ride wasn’t the only challenge to deal with… There was also the issue of stopping, as well as getting started. A few times we heard the yell in the distance, “A little help! I need a push please!” It wasn’t until Saturday afternoon that she was able to get going on her own without a push from someone.

One of the Rottnest locals, a quokka, watches on in amazement.

H. stops by and gives LR a few tips on getting started. Getting the pedals right is everything!

After learning to take off by herself, things got a whole lot easier... sort of.

And off she goes!

With a look of intense concentration, LR discovers how much faster you can go without training wheels.

LR faces her biggest challenge yet... The hill on Georgie Bay Road.

One of the local bikie gangs (RJ and C.) patrols the streets, looking for trouble.

Go Jets!

Luke — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:07:07 +0000

On Saturday, LR and the Jets played the Nedaroos. It was a close match with both teams scoring and the Nedaroos jumping ahead into an early lead. The Jets came screaming back and nearly closed the gap, but couldn’t quite make it, finishing the game at 3 goals to the Nedaroos 4. After their stint in the international leagues, the Jets are still adjusting to the non-regulation, shorter games. All-in-all, a great match with terrific effort from both teams… (Not to mention the best looking coach on the field.)

LR is ready to get in the game!

T. gives an enthusiastic thumbs up. Go Jets!

LR heads for the ball.

I'm open! Kick it to me!

Out of bounds! LR kicks the ball back into play.

Halftime! Time to break for fruit and a chance to recharge.

RJ joins the team in refueling on fruit and water.

Huddle! The coach plans a strategy to break through the other team's strong defense.

LR sprints for the ball!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAL! The Jets score again!

Great game! The team huddles for handshakes and some words with the coach.

I. gives LR a piggy-back ride off the field.

Mother’s Day 2010

Luke — Wed, 12 May 2010 03:07:25 +0000

This year, a relaxing sleep-in followed by a delicious breakfast in bed was not in the cards for our adventurous mother. Instead, she woke up before everyone to go and participate in the Perth Mother’s Day Classic, a run to raise money for breast cancer research. Dad and the kids got breakfast ready, decorated the house, prepared our presents and went to meet her there.

After getting back to the house, we presented mum with pancakes and some wonderful presents made by the kids (a cornucopia of hand-made fans, cards, drawings, and paper flowers).

Afterwards, in a wonderful display of independance, the kids engrossed themselves in face painting for an hour. Folowing that, in a wonderful display of support, the parents spent the next hour cleaning up face paints, washing down tables, clothes and children. All in all, a great day!

Mum's runner number and medal from competing in the Perth Mother's Day Classic.

We decorated the house with some roses picked from our garden.

They made it! Mum not only survived this gruelling endurance test, but also achieved a personal best time for this run.

Mum and RJ stop to make a new furry friend.

I. came back with us after the race to enjoy pancakes!

RJ asked LR to paint his face like a scorpion.

LR and I. painted their own faces to look like puppies.

RJ as a fearsome scorpion, just moments before a thorough washing in the shower.

LR finished her puppy face, complete with collar and tags.

When good silverware goes bad…

Luke — Tue, 11 May 2010 03:07:01 +0000

(A yell from the kitchen table, causing immediate alarm amongst Mum and Dad…)

RJ: Mum! Get the fork out of my life!!!

Moments earlier…

RJ: I don’t need this fork. Dad, can you get rid of this fork for me? Why do I need a fork for icecream?

We have a winner!

Luke — Mon, 10 May 2010 03:07:24 +0000

LR had her second soccer match on the weekend, and they came away winners! That makes them 1-1 for the season.

More importantly, as LR said herself…

I ran the whole time! I never got to stop running!

Congrats to the team and to their coach (she hasn’t coached soccer before, but is doing an awesome job — great looking too)!

Great effort kiddo! Well done!

(We’ll try and get some pictures of the action at the next game.)