Rock climbing

We've been trying go on more mummy/daddy son dates with the boys.  We really need that one on one time with them to connect, and I think they need it too to feel like they're important to us.  Often we do simple things like go for a walk with just them, or take them with us to walk around the mall and get a donut.  But this time me and Malachi went rock climbing.  Well, he did, I watched. 

This place was so cool, I didn't know it existed until a friend told us about it. There were about 40 different themed walls to climb, and you just went around for as long as you want. And it was something different, that he'd never even seen before, and he just loved it.  He learned to be brave and I learned to be patient.

 

   

   

   

It took him a little while to get the hang of how to get down, but once he got it, he would climb up just so he could repel down. 

 

 

 

Such a great Mummy-Son date. oxo

The Redwoods

Some friends of ours the Wongs invited us to come to Rotorua with them to walk in the Redwood forest.  I didn't even know the forest existed.  It was amazing!!  These trees were just huge.  Ridiculously huge. There were a few that had been felled and we tried to count the rings to see how old they were - well over 100. It was a nice little outing, good way to get some fresh air and for the kids to see something different.

   

 

 
With the redwood men at the entrance.

 
Our happy little marchers.

Afterwards we went and ate then spent the rest of the day at a playground.  It also had a few natural mud pools that were cool for the kids to look at.

 

   

 

 

I really am grateful for good friends, people that share your values and standards and you can just be completely yourself around.  I'm grateful for my kids to have good friends, that I don't have to worry about what bad habbits or ideas they'll pick up from them.

Malachi's cross country

Malachi's second day of school was actually their junior school cross country, so Malachi was thrown right into it.  He didn't quite understand that it was a race, and kept stopping to talk to his friends or wait for someone to catch up.  lol.  He's already determined that next year he wants to win.

They did this funny warm up dance to 'Who let the dogs out?'.  It was hilarious.
 

   

Getting ready to run.

   

Crossing the finish line.

 
Happy little supporter.

Woodstock school

Where to send Malachi for school was a concern for me.  After him doing so well at Montessori, I guess I had quite high standards for where I wanted him to be.  I wasn't so much worried about the academic side of it, I can always supplement education at home.  My concern was for the children he would be attending school with and the influence they could/would have on him.  I can't unteach him swear words, or racism, or bullying.  I know that all these things are at every school, but unfortuntely they are alot more prevanlent in low-income areas.  The school we're zoned for wasn't high on my list.  So I started putting his name on ballots with the hope he'd get in somewhere else.  My prayers were answered and he got into Woodstock, a smaller school across the river that was diverse culturally but had great reviews.

The week after we got back from Tonga, he was all prepped and ready for school.  I was in a bit of shock, that my little baby boy was not only big and walking and talking, but now going to school.  I felt like my time with him is estentially finished - he will now spend the majority of his waking hours away from me.  It made me worry; had I spent enough time playing, laughing, cuddling, teaching?  How would he fare in the big wide world?  Made me scared.  And sad.  His first day of school, I cried.  He didn't.  He was happy as larry and excited to go.


He picked this little pose up in Tonga.

   

First one there.

His classroom.

 

Lani just loved the little kid sized chairs and tables.

His favourite part of school?
The computers.
And the fact that he can actually play on them (he's not allowed to touch Mummy's laptop).

I am sure that he will love being at school, love learning, love being with his friends.  He's a great little kid and any teacher would be lucky to have him in their class.

Malachi says goodbye to Montessori

Turning 5 and going to "big kid school" meant leaving montessori.  Malachi has just absolutely loved his 2 years there.  He has thrived and excelled and it was definately the best choice for him to be there.  They were able to provide the opportunity for him to explore the areas that he was interested in, like reading, and help him accomplish so much.  He made some great friends, had some terrific teachers, and had the best time there.

As per tradition, his last day there he did his birthday walk.

 

 

  

  

 

 
His two favourite teachers.  Mrs Corbin taught him how to whistle and do the twist.  And Mrs Vegt was the one who really pushed him with his reading. She said that she had never met a child with the reading ability Malachi had at his age.  What a compliment.

On to bigger and better things, but definately sad to go.