Cool headed liar

Over the weekend, Dad went to Karratha for Uncle Scott's birthday party. Neither Scott nor Pa knew he was coming up... it was to be a surprise. Courtney and Brooke were both told to keep it a secret.

On Friday evening, Courtney was talking to Pa on the phone and she slipped, saying something like "Have you seen my Dad?" Seconds later she recovered with "Oh no, that's right he went to Albany for the weekend."

She obviously did a good job at controlling her tone as well because Pa bought it hook, line and sinker.

Having a 5 year old that can make up such convincing lies might become a double edged sword.

Today is...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PA !

Merit Award Day

Today Mum, Dad, Brooke, Nana and Grandad all went to Courtney's school to watch her get her Merit Award. Once again she was very proud of herself. "Mum, you can take this certificate and put it will all my other ones"

Merit Certificate

Leighton's BIrthday Party

Today after school the girls went to Leighton's birthday party at the Wacky Warehouse. Everyone had a great time, no doubt we'll be going there again soon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEIGHTON (for last Tuesday)

The big news of the day is that Courtney got sent to the principles office. On Monday she was given three more 'golden certificates' for good behaviour so today she went and saw the principle and collected her certificate and a pencil. She's wrapped in herself and loves telling everyone about it.

On Thursday morning she will get a Merit Certificate in front of the whole school. You're all welcome to come and watch if you want. Being that it is her second certificate - that puts her about par with Dad - 11 and 3/4 years to go...

The Simpsons

Dad is stumped.

Tonight, just before bed, Courtney was sitting back watching the Simpsons, no great big deal except right at the end of the episode, Homer told Bart that he would love him, "even if you are gay"

Anyone know how you explain "gay" to a five year old?

Football, Swags and Makeup

On Friday night, the girls went to watch Mum play netball and her team won. Not unlike the West Coast Eagles who Dad watched beat Fremantle

After lunch on Saturday the girls went to Dad's house, the idea was that they would have a quiet afternoon in the airconditioner because they were to go out that night... They both got about 90 minutes rest whilst watching a movie but that was it, bouncing off the walls as always.

On Saturday afternoon it was Chloe and Hayley's birthday party and then they all went to Mum's friends house for dinner.

On Sunday the girls went back to Dad's and helped him clean the inside of his car. While he was vacuuming under the seats the girls both started rubbing armor oil onto any surface, regardless of what it was made off - not too much of a mess.

Then we went inside and Brooke put layers and layers of makeup on everyone. She is really into lipstick and blush at the moment although she is yet to learn that you can use too much at one time.

Courtney has worked out that the vegi patch is not doing so well, and she now understands that there needs to be nutrients in the soil for healthy plants. She also thinks that flooding plants can only be good for them.

In the afternoon, the girls found Dad's swag on the front lawn - Instant cubby house and picnic place - hours of fun.

Another from DRB Photographics

Although I am sure he would like you to know that he didn't take the photograph, a contribution from DRB

Giant Vegi

The "big" result

Forgot to mention yesterday that Dad picked the first of the vegetables. The packet said "eight weeks" before the capsicum would be ready... it's been months since they were planted. Apparently vegetables don't like growing in coastal beach sand. We might have to try again in the future, this time maybe we'll prepare the soil a little better.

The lettuce isn't doing much better. After Dad went away for a few days, the leaves near the core died off. After they were pulled out the lettuce started growing upwards... One is now about two foot tall... and flowering like a broccoli.

This afternoon, after Courtney got home from school, the girls played with face paint... blue face paint. Even after two baths this evening, Brooke's hair is still greenish in colour and her face looks like she has been punched by Mike Tyson.

Sneaky girls

The weekend didn't start very well for Brooke. She finally found out one of the reasons why she is told not to run on the road (or any other surface like that). Brooke stubbed her toe, making a big sore. Nana and Mum had the answer and Brooke now thinks she is fairly special, getting to sit on the edge of the sink, bathing her foot in Dettol.

However a sore toe didn't stop her from having a great weekend. On Saturday morning Dad took the girls down to Bunnings and Courtney picked out a new pot for Mum's ponytail palm. Whilst there the girls went to the playground and then we went to McDonalds and played on that playground as well.

Dad had bought a new door handle for the front door, when Brooke saw the hole in the door where the old one had been she said to Dad (in her stern voice), "You broke it Daddy, you silly boy"

In the afternoon, we sneaked over the fence and "kidnapped" Mum's palm and took it back to Dad's house so the girls could put it in the new pot. They did a great job, especially the bit where they got to water the palm into its new pot. We never thought Mum would notice so quickly that her palm had gone and she was relieved to find out who the "villains" were.

CJ, at first was right in on the act and she thought that it was "cool" to be sneaking around behind Mum's back and "stealing" her palm... When it came time to confess, she obviously put a bit of thought into the consequences, should the whole thing go wrong. Just before we took the palm to Mum, CJ started telling Dad that it was wrong to be sneaky and play tricks on people. Sounded like she was having a bet each way.

Today, we all went back to Dino Gym again. It's been noted that Brooke is getting older in that she is starting to gather some common sense/fear. There was no way that she was going to climb as high or as fast this time, it was only a couple of months ago that she was there and she was fearless with most things then. No she is stopping and thinking about what is going on.

Tonight we went to Dinner with all the family in Perth for Nana's birthday. CJ thinks that she likes Sweet and Sour Pork now... we'll see...

Courtney is going well at school and she is proudly telling everyone about how she has received three golden certificates for doing good things. Two more and she will get sent to the principles office for a surprise...

Brooke's toe

Don't tell anyone!

Shhhhhh. It's Nana's Birthday

She has manners

This afternoon, the moment Dad walked in the front door, Brooke fell over on the pavers out the back. She grazed her knee, causing tears and crying. Swerving Dad and heading inside to see Mum, screaming all the way, Brooke was delayed by Courtney who (don't ask why - we don't know) is trying to give Brooke a purple texta.

In mid scream, Brooke takes the texta and then clearly says "Thankyou Courtney"

She then continues to cry until Mum fixes the sore knee.

Gymnastics

On Friday afternoon Courtney went to her first session of gymnastics, seems like she had a good time. Then the girls went to watch Mum play netball.

Saturday was a slow day. The girls played outside for a while and then took turns in playing their computer games, learning how to read and colour in the pony...

On Saturday night, Dad had to work. Mum and the girls went to Leighton's house for a sleep over. Today they have been in the pool and then the plan was to have a rest this afternoon...