With a huge overseas vacation looming, the first half of December was filled with the last days of the school year, some early Christmas celebrations… and a lot of silly hats.
December means the Advent calendar gets brought out. We like to pretend the kids appreciate the tradition and fun puzzles and clues that we leave in there for them...
Once again, LR’s and RJ’s school put on its huge biennial musical performance. All the kids at the school have a part, with each grade getting its own big musical piece to perform. This year’s performance was Jack and the Beat-stalk, another original written by the school principal, filled with only-slightly-mangled songs by the Beatles.
LR and the Go-Go Girls strut their stuff across the stage.
LR is in the kitchen helping Dad get dinner ready. Music is playing and things are relatively calm. All of a sudden, RJ goes zooming past, dancing like a crazy guy.
Dad: LR! What is he doing?
LR: I don’t know… I think it’s… musical statues?
The music stops and RJ freezes.
RJ: Yeah! I’m controlling the music and I’m playing musical statues… Against MYSELF!
The music starts again and RJ resumes whirling.
Dad: What a cool idea! Who’s winning?
RJ: I AM!!!
LR: (with a grin) Yeah? But who’s losing?
The music stops, bringing RJ to a halt.
RJ: (sadly) That’s me. I’m losing…
RJ: (devious grin) … But I think I have discovered a trick!
The music resumes and away he goes.
We had a great camping weekend planned down at Dwellingup, and had we been equipped with scales, fins and gills we would have had a terrific time. The skies opened up and happily alternated between a torrential downpour and a soaking drizzle for most of the time. Mum held out, despite a leaky tent and the kids tried to make the most of it before Dad took them home early…
LR discovered a passion for playing the guitar. She happily entertained the group as we waited for the rain to pass.
(while eating breakfast)
Dad: RJ. We’ve got a problem. We’re not drinking enough milk. We’re never going to get through all this.
RJ: I have an idea! Let’s get all the bottles out and dress them up and then put on some music and have a milky conga line! They can dance along, it’ll be great!
Dad: Yeah! And we can dance them all out of the house and down the street and all our neighbours can have their milk join in too!
RJ: …
RJ: …
RJ: …
RJ: Don’t be silly, Dad.
Dad: Sorry, mate. I got a bit carried away.
RJ: That’s okay. It’s cold today, right?
Dad: Yeah. Very wintery. They said it might hail.
RJ: Good, because today I’m going to wear TWO hoodies AND my wooly hat.
It's the dreaded double hoodie!
(getting ready for bed)
Dad: I’ll put some music on for you if you want.
LR: (Snuggling down under the covers) Thanks Dad.
(The first few quiet notes of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata fill the room…)
Dad: (kissing her head) Goodnight, LR.
LR: Goodnight Da-…
(The melody starts playing; this time with unexpected, accompanying harmonica.)
(from just outside the door) Hawwwwnk… Hawnk haw hawwwwnk…. Hawwwn haw hawwwnnkk…
RJ: (waltzes into the room, playing along and dancing around) Hawwwn haw hawwwnnkk…
LR: (uncontrollable giggles)
RJ: Do you like it? It’s the Harmonica Sonata!
Dad: Oh yeah, it’s heaps better than the original. I’m sure Beethoven would have loved it. Now, BACK TO BED!
(A few minutes later, RJ insisted on showing me his “emergency harmonica” and where he keeps it, in case he needs it in a hurry… And THEN he went to bed.)
While we were away for half of July (pictures coming soon, promise!), we were just as busy through the rest of it. American Independence Day rolled around and we invited the family over for hamburgers and sparklers. Dad got to stand outside and grill the burgers in the cold, rainy winter weather and ponder how to get some ‘real’ fireworks into the country. There was a disco for the end of the term at school — apparently costumes were NOT optional. Finally, Dad and RJ rocked out at the AC-DC exhibition at the WA Museum.
Grammy gets some sparklers lit while RJ... Hang on a minute! HEY RJ! STOP TRYING TO SET THE LAWN ON FIRE!
(While walking through the city one evening)
Dad: (pointing to musician playing on the sidewalk) How about that guy? He’s really good. That’s a really crazy solo he’s playing.
RJ: Yeah, he’s great. (Pointing to the rows of parked cars) He’s so great that all these cars have stopped along the side of the road to listen!
Dad: Wow. I didn’t even notice. He’s so good he causes traffic problems.
RJ: Well…. There is another reason.
Dad: Yeah? What’s that?
RJ: He’s part of the Rock Police. If people don’t stop and tell him how good he is, he sends them to jail.
Each year, we invite a few friends up to the farm at Gingin to celebrate the winter solstice. After spending the day pruning the fruit trees and tending to the orchard, we fire up the pizza oven and serve a nearly endless stream of delicious homemade pizzas. We follow up by lighting a huge bonfire to brighten things up through the long night. It’s heaps of fun (despite things often going awry because of rainy weather).
Citrus is in season at the moment, and the trees are totally loaded with fruit. LR gets to work picking some mandarins. Delicious!
(while packing lunches for school)
Dad: So RJ, what do you want for lunch?
RJ: Hmmm… How about… chip?
Dad: No chips, something else?
RJ: Just grab a potato, then you slice it nice and thin…
Dad: (pointing to loaf of sliced bread) How about this instead?
Now in front of me is a very rare Brazilian Potato. I carefully open the wrapping, and then large chips just peel away. Amazing stuff! Greatest invention since…RJ: (sternly) That’s not a Brazilian potato. That’s impossible.
Dad: What do you mean?
RJ: Don’t you remember the song? The Brazil song?
RJ: (singing) No tea…. Or tomato juice…
You’ll see… No potato juice…RJ: No potato juice means no potatoes. Sorry.
Dad: You’re right… My mistake — wrong South American country. Now in front of me is a very rare Bolivian Potato…
