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...

It's RJ's job to read the clues this year. LR was surprisingly patient.

Oh no! The end-of-year music "party" turns out to be an impromptu concert and no one will volunteer to go first. RJ steps up and breaks the ice with a few of his favorites.

Three songs later, RJ has the room in stitches, finishing his performance with a flourish in classic RJ style.

LR volunteers to play a few of her favorite songs too. Beethoven FTW!

LR won one of the three coveted prizes for the students who improved the most during the year. Well done, LR! You deserve it!

The last game of the year (but not the season). RJ's teeball skills (and patience with fielding) are improving with every game.

Everyone works together building the gingerbread house. For some reason, only about half the materials make it into the construction -- there must be some dodgy contractors on the worksite.

Nice work guys! The finished gingerbread house looks terrific!

Because we went away for Christmas, we had an early Christmas dinner at Grammy and Poppa's.

LR takes the time to read the cards before tearing into the presents.

Thanks Grammy!

Careful there Auntie Jess. It's not safe to get between RJ and his Hero Factory legos. Just carefully put it back on the table and you'll be okay.

Parental win: the kids actually remembered their manners without prompting this year! Now if only we could get them to stop picking their noses.

Christmas dinner. A time for family, a huge feast, and the opportunity to wear ridiculous things on your head...

RJ got first pick of the hats and picked out the crustacean for himself and a spicy little number for Grandma Dot.

LR picks out her favorite, complete with spring-loaded pom-pom action -- essential for tormenting younger brothers.

Everyone helps out during the final rush to the kitchen, delivering the food to the table.

Crumbly destruction and delicious, sugary mahem ensue as the gingerbread house is attacked!

An important lesson learned... Never, EVER let the kids pick the hat for you or you will end up looking silly.

Make a wish! Mom slices into her favorite cake, pinapple upside-down cake!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Poppa and LR look over some of his pictures of New York as RJ backflips in the background.

RJ takes the ball in his soccer finals! Go Ninjas!

Coach Jeremy presents RJ with a medal with a congratulatory handshake.

RJ rescued this waterlogged dragonfly at the beach and resuscitated it successfully.

The kids dressed up as their favourite characters for Book Day: RJ as Korlo the Gatekeeper and LR as Nancy Drew.

We spent a weekend up at Gingin, and a friend brought along their dirt bike. LR thought it was AWESOME.

RJ enjoys a piece of cake while taking a break on the pizza oven.

LR threatens to jump on Dad's head from a great height.

A huge stone warrior, bewildered at his sudden relocation to Australia, makes friends with LR.

RJ admires the warrior's collection of snakes, and wants to join the club.

After dark, LR and a friend posed for some light-painting antics.

Big news: RJ has started piano lessons and loves it! In other news, the song "Chopsticks" is taking an unassailable position as least favourite of all time (amongst parents age 30-39).

RJ took flying lessons at one of his friend's birthday parties. That trampoline practice came in handy!

LR and RJ treated Mom and Dad to their own magic show. Nothing in the hat, right LR?

Abracadabra! And a necklace magically appears!

RJ says to watch his hands carefully... and again... Nothing in the hat! DON'T LOOK IN THE HAT!

LR performed in a piano concert for a hall filled with people.

LR plays the amazing Alma Mater Blues for the crowd.

The kids played in the park, during breaks in the rain.

RJ continued his endeavour to be the weirdest kid in Australia.

Some friends of ours invited us on a traditional German lantern walk through King's Park. We didn't have lanterns prepared, so we had to borrow theirs.

Surrounded by home-made lanterns, RJ, Mom and LR huddle down together and try to sing along in German. Who knew there were so many songs about lanterns?

LR takes her time exploring the cerebellum. Mom has been teaching some science classes at the school and brought some lambs' brains. We got to dissect the extras at home!

RJ was able to identify several different structures in the brain. This frontal lobe looks a little underdeveloped.

BRAAAAAAAIIIIINNNNNSSSSSSS! RJ does his best zombie impersonation.

Mom and the kids sit down for a little bit of reading before bed.

Scarlet and Dad collapse, exhausted, at the end of a long day.

RJ had a penguin buddy to help him get around the ice. With an extra person pushing, that thing got going really fast.

Mi. takes a quick break, but LR keeps on going... and going... and going... For a first-timer, she sure is confident.

Mum was the most skilled person on the entire rink, gliding around gracefully and putting everyone else to shame. She was nice enough to give us all lessons.

The mums stop for a break and watch the kids head around together.

Time to have a break for lunch... The kids did some colouring in while they waited for their food.

The food's taking too long! Mum can't wait any longer! LR! LOOK OUT!

Off to ScienceWorks, where LR decides to take a quick nap... on a bed of nails!

Pa. tugs on someone's heart strings (aka their intestines).

LR and Mi. work on identifying some strange smells. This display was an improvement on the 'Pull my finger' one.

LR and RJ made hovering balloon creatures in the craft room. LR decided to make a bumblebee, while RJ opted for a (surprise surprise) shark.

Mi. takes a ride on a huge penny-farthing bicycle. It'll be downhill coasting for her for the next few years, until she can reach the pedals.

RJ carefully studies some of the trash sorting machines. Apparently, he wants to know how they worked, so that he could use those ideas in his 'Wall-E' recycling robot that he's designing.

Pa. and LR meet up with a friend for a quick snack.

Mi. shows her dad how to solve a giant tangrams puzzle.

Mi. invited us to her piano concert! They hold the concert at a cafe, which seems like a great idea to us!

After her great performance of ''I'm a little teapot'' it was time for hot chocolate. Yum!

Pa. sips carefully -- those drinks came out really hot!

LR is trying to get a sponsorship with the coffee company to augment her pocket money.

LR in her debut piano performance.

RJ sits still for a change, quietly absorbing dinosaur facts from Nigel Marven.