Gifts From Greece

We received a delightful package in the post in September, 2010 - gifts from Aunty Jeni and Uncle George on their return from holidaying in Greece! Neal got some ouzo and shot glasses, I got some perfumes in beautiful little pots, and the girls got a doll dressed in their regional costume - gorgeous! Both girls adore their dolls, and wanted them out of the packaging so they could play with them, but I don't want them to get damaged - I've told the girls they are for looking at, not playing with, and they live on the top shelf of their bookcases in their rooms, with their fairies and other special "pretties".

I told Kira who had sent the boxes, and as soon as she opened hers and saw the doll, she yelled out "THANK YOU, AUNTY JENI AND UNCLE GEORGE!!" I wonder if they heard her?!

Even now, Kira still wants us to get her doll down for her so that she can have a good look at it. She knows it's very special, and each time she holds it, she says "Thank you" again to Aunty Jeni and Uncle George, and says "I really love it!"

The Show, 2010

We took the kids to the Royal Adelaide Show this year. And despite the miserable weather, we all had a great time. Kira had her face painted...she saw a boy getting a "dinosaur" (looked more like a dragon!), and she wanted one, too! I didn't mind what she got (you're only young once!), but the artist managed to convince her to choose something more suitable - she chose a butterfly. This is her full-face painting! She's only had face-paint once before, and it was just a little flower design on her cheek. Kira loved this one - it looks like the girl on the posters in the city that she's often admiring!


The kids loved petting the baby animals:


And Kira adored the rides! We went on the Ferris Wheel - our first ride together as a family (Erika slept in my arms all the way through it, waking up as I put her down in the pram afterwards!):


Daddy took Kira and Erika on the carousel. Last time Kira went on it, she was Erika's age (18 months), and not too thrilled about it once it started moving. So it really wasn't a surprise when Erika started to panic...Daddy cuddled her for the entire ride. But Kira loved it this time!! Here she is, riding a "sea horse":

All day, Kira had been eyeing off the "Dragon Wagon" ride - a roller coaster for older kids. We thought she'd be too little, or too scared (parents couldn't ride with children), but she was determined.... she'd loved the other rides, and assured us that she'd hold on, and be brave (since once she was on, she'd have to stay there til the ride was over), and so I let her go (Neal still had his reservations)... She had the BEST time!! She was so excited at the ride, and so proud that she could go by herself! Unfortunately, this was the only decent pic I got. I couldn't get a pic of the ride as I didn't want to be too far away - if I moved back, there'd be too many people in the way of the shot, and I'd lose sight of my daughter! But there she is, the little girl in pink, riding with the "big" kids...

Starting "Monti School"

Kira started attending Montessori ("Monti school") on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - the beginning of Term 3. Monti is at the Early Learning Centre of St John's Grammer, Belair (Neal's old primary school - which is now preschool through to year 12). Kira has been SOOOO excited to start school....we'd finally gotten her used to the idea of waiting til she turns 5 before starting school, but then we got the call to say a place had become available at Monti, just weeks before she was to start! She was THRILLED!

This is Kira on her very first day...

On arrival, each child is asked to find their name card (by the door) and post it into the wooden "letter box" - Kira had no problem finding hers, and takes great pride in announcing "This says KIRA!!" each time! The children also have a name card placed on the table - again, Kira delights in finding her name (always in a different location). Now, at the end of her first term, she is starting to recognise the name cards of some of her class mates - "This says Austin!"

This is Kira on her first day, just after finding out where she is to sit that day (she was already off and running to find an activity to do!):


At the end of the day, the mums wait quietly just out of view of the children. Then Mrs Galaz will hold up a name card, and say "This person's mummy is here", holding up a name card. When Kira sees her name, she gets very excited, and very nearly forgets to shake hands with Mrs Galaz (and Mrs Pfitzner!) and say goodbye to them! But she does, then races over to me, yelling "Mummy! Mummy!" It's so sweet - and a tad embarrassing. She's probably the loudest child there! She's definitely not shy!!