Friday 23 January 2015

A busy impromptu day

Earlier in the month Caitlin started to take part in a summer library activity. There were activities to do each week and she could get her passport stamped at a library once she had completed each stage. We did the 'in library' stuff last week at Healesville, and she had some things to look up on their website at home, and some books to read, and the final stage was attending a Story Time activity - the closes one being in Healesville yesterday. We had planned to attend, then she was so tired on Wednesday night after 3 days at Horse Camp that I decided to see how things went on Thursday morning, rather than suggesting we go.

Millie was up early and we played on the computer for a while then played in the lounge room. When the others got up they put on Barbie Thumbelina as Caitlin hadn't seen it yet and it was due back at the library. Afterwards they went outside and played a spy catching game, and asked me to come and join them, so we all crept around the yard trying to catch each other, then sat in the shade of the camper trailer (set up so it can dry out from our camping trip - it's probably dry now!) and had a drink of cold water - it was a hot morning. Suddenly Caitlin remembered the Story Time and said she wanted to go. It was after 11.30 by now and the activity started at 11. She started to get upset, then I said we could still try to get there - so we rushed inside, she finished off the rest of the passport activities, we all got dressed, I threw the swimming bag in the car (just in case) and we made it to Healesville a bit after 12. There were a few library ladies there chatting, but the activity had obviously finished. I suggested she go and apologise for being late and see if she could still get her passport stamped. She wanted me to ask, so we all went over and explained that we hadn't made it in time but she'd still done the work. They were lovely and told us all about how the activity went, and said that unfortunately they'd already drawn the prizes - then they said that not all the prizes had been claimed, so we could have one, and they gave us 'The 13-story Treehouse' by Andy Griffiths. They took a photo of us as prize winners and everyone was very happy.

We drove back over to the shops, Caitlin reading the new book to everyone and causing lots of giggles (it's a funny story!), and got some hot chips. While we were waiting for them the kids started talking to a lady in the shop eating her own chips, and we ended up sitting and chatting with her until she left. She said several complimentary things about the kids which is always encouraging. From there we went to the library, the kids watched youtube videos, played Sonic Lightning on the PS3, and played with duple. I read my book and chatted with them about what they were doing.

We borrowed some books and DVDs then went over to Healesville Outdoor Pool (it's only open in the afternoon, only in the summer). The water was freezing as usual, a big contrast to the hot, muggy day. It was so much nicer swimming outside than an indoor pool, very glad we decided to go. We saw some friends there, 13yo twins from karate, and Caitlin & Liam played with them for the afternoon (LiAM is so confident in the deep end now, I am astonished at how quickly that happened). Millie and I had races in the kid's pool, played sharks and dolphins and humans and were in and out of the big pool with the other kids. We also sat and chatted to the twins and their dad for a while. Once Millie had had enough swimming we bought some snacks, she ate them and played on the grass and I read my book for a while, then we all headed home.

The kids had a play on the computer and outside and watched the tennis with Tony once we were home, and I went out again to an ABA Regional meeting. When I got back Tony was watching the Australia v China soccer match, and C and L were playing cards in the camper trailer where they were planning to sleep. Millie was already asleep there. The kids came in after a while, a bit spooked by what they think was a kangaroo close to the tent. They calmed down and went back out, then there was lightning and thunder and other noises so everyone decided to move back inside and sleep in their own bed (and Millie was moved as well)

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