So Close

School Report Back

Touch wood, things are going swimmingly well so far!

The twins have settled in to Grade 1 really well.  They each have a lovely teacher and as I keep saying, I absolutely love our school.  I don't have any experience with other schools (my schooling was so long ago that it is all a distant memory*) so I can't say if our school is any better or any worse than other schools, but I am extremely happy with how things are run.  Everything is so organized and so efficient.  And the support I get from the other professionals on site (the educational psychologist and OT) is fantastic.  I feel incredibly lucky (long may it last!).

*Adam asked me if I was ever in Grade 1, so I said 'yes, a long time ago'. He asked whether it was when dinosaurs were around.  It was that long ago.

Just as an aside - sometimes some people can drive you crazy!  At the end of each year and the beginning of the next, the conversation in the car park ratchets up several notches with talk about which teacher your child will get.  "I hope we don't get So and So because she is very strict / shouts / other stuff."  Or "I hope we get Teacher XYZ, she is the best".  The first year I was there, I got myself into a bit of a state listening to all of this because I was pooping myself that one of the kids would get Teacher So and So who shouted / was very strict / other stuff. And then I realized that throughout their schooling, one of my kids would not get the 'best' teacher as they will never be in the same class.  One of them would get the second best teacher or heaven forbid, the Teacher Who Shouts.  There is absolutely no point in getting worked up about it.  I might be very naive but I don't believe any of the teachers are truly horrible.  Perhaps there might be a personality clash with a particular child but I choose believe that teachers are professionals and they will provide the best service they are capable of.  I hope that if my child does the best he or she can, that the teacher will recognize and appreciate that and teach my child to the best of their ability.  And yes, perhaps some teachers are stricter than others.  Which is not necessarily a bad thing.  So, I am not going to get caught up in the hysteria of whether the kids have got the 'best' teacher or the 'strict' teacher.  My faith in the school is such that I believe they will have the good teachers who do their best.

If I am being totally naive about all of this, don't say anything. I prefer to believe that most people are good than worry about the few that might not be.

Moving on...

Sister Mel has been terrorizing me for years about HOMEWORK. Apparently homework is the bane of any other mother's life and she couldn't wait for me to spend my afternoons listening to 7 year olds s l o w l y  spell out words about Kipper and Biff and Chip.  I must be honest and say that I am not so excited about the prospect of doing homework for the next few years.  If there is one motherly duty I could outsource, it would be this.  However, we will soldier on. The kids are really excited and keen about homework.  Novelty and all that. 

Yesterday we were thinking of all the words that started with a W.  The kids were shouting out words like watermelon, walrus, water, wave etc and then Adam added: "Wose!" (Rose) Rose and I had to try really hard not to laugh. We didn't laugh.  He would have been very upset.  Adam hates being embarrassed. Who doesn't!

I know it is a real stereotype but it is amazing how much better Kate is at reading and writing and how much better Adam is at sums and numbers.  Adam LOVES money, so has been very quick to pick up addition and subtraction.  

As for Maxy boy, well well well.  I was so anxious about sending him to school. I was scared he would miss me. I was scared he would be sad and lonely (even though I absolutely love the teacher and I KNOW the school he is at is fantastic). I was scared he would cry and cry and cry.  

Well, not one tear shed (besides mine).  He has taken to school like a duck to water.  Unbelievably.  I do realize that this might change and that he must not want to go to school at some point, but so far so good!  He is obviously more like Kate (didn't cry ONCE) than like Adam (cried Every Single Day for eight months). Praisethelord!

So after all my anxiety and worrying about how it would go for them, it has gone really well, thank goodness.  

First day at school

It is a big week for the Albertyn household - Max started nursery school and the twins started Grade 1.  I know every mother says this - but I can't believe how quickly the time has gone.  This is a big milestone, my babies aren't babies anymore.  

The birthday celebrations that went on forever

Because the twins birthday is on the 7th Jan, right in the middle of our long summer school holidays when everyone is away, I always have an early birthday party for them. About a month before school breaks up. So that they also get a turn to be the birthday girl / boy at school and have a party for all their school friends.

However, because they are 7 years old and what happened yesterday seems like FOREVER ago, I obviously have to do something special on their actual birthday too. Which gets quite damn expensive.

For the last few years, I've done a swimming party on their actual birthday, for family and a few close friends.  Which ends up being just about the same size as their school party. Anyway, I suppose it is only once (twice x2) a year.

This Saturday was their 7th birthday and I decided to do something special for them. They could each invite their BFF and we would do movies, the Spur and a sleepover. And the next day we would go on a hop on/hop off bus tour to the beach. 

Unfortunately we had to cancel the birthday celebrations at the last minute because poor Kate got pneumonia and we had to spend three days in hospital. She is fine now (we went for a follow up chest xray today and she is most definitely on the mend.)

Thank goodness the kind doctor took pity on us on Saturday and allowed us to go home at lunchtime which meant that we could do a mini celebration on Saturday afternoon for their birthday.

Then on Tuesday we eventually did the movies/Spur/sleepover/bus tour.  It has been the longest birthday celebration in the history of birthday celebrations.  It was also the longest 24 hours of my life doing all the things I am not terribly fond of doing - movies (extremely loud, grating high pitched soundtrack to Alvin and the Chipmunks), Spur (loud, noisy, not exactly fine dining), sleepover (loud, late and messy) and the bus tour (topless bus in blistering heat). But I grinned and beared it and great fun was had by all.

(Disclaimer: I took my laptop to the movies and sat right at the back on a plastic chair so that I could work while I kept an eye on them.  My BFF (who happens to be the mother of Kate's BFF) came with me to the Spur and the bus tour which made it immensely more bearable). 

I can't believe my babies are 7.  So big.  Thank goodness I am off the hook for another 11 months or so.

Here are some pics from our birthday celebrations:

Boys sleepover

Girls sleepover

Kids on the beach

 

 

Light and dark

Its amazing how genetics work.  My children are so similar in some ways and yet so different in others. On every level.  All of them are tall and slim, but they each have different features. Adam has straight hair, Kate has wavy hair and Max has curly hair. Adam and Kate have deep blue eyes, Max has green/blue eyes that change colour.  One of the areas where they are most different is in their skin complexion.  Adam is so unbelievably tanned.  He is extra brown at the moment as it is summer here.  Whenever the three of them are in the bath, I always marvel at how dark he is and how fair Max is. I know Max has virgin skin, as yet largely untouched by the sun but even so - he is much fairer than Adam. Adam is dark, Kate is medium and Max is fair.

I took this photo with my crappy Blackberry last night to try and show you the difference in their skin tone.  And then a gratuitous one of Kate in her swimming gear.

2011/2012

What do you know! I have a few minutes of quiet time - Marko and the twins are out, naughty Max is asleep and I have answered most of my emails. I think I have time for a blog post! A look back on 2011 and a look forward to 2012.

2011 was a tough year for our extended family, as it was for many others.  I can't say much more because contrary to popular belief, I do not share everything on the Internet. And I especially do not share stories that are not mine to tell.  Suffice to say that the year contained loss, betrayal, hurt, separation, grief, anger and a slow move to new chapters for a few people who are really close to me. 

On a personal level, in my immediate family, it was a good year.  The twins did really well in their last year before big school.  Adam especially has had a very good year.  He has really matured well and is increasingly finding better ways to cope with his sensory issues.  If I compare how he was 2 years ago to how he is now, the improvement is amazing.  The school the twins are at is amazing and he has a wonderful OT who he sees once a week.  He has turned out to be a really wonderful, sweet, kind boy.  He really is super kind, everyone remarks on it. Such a generous person, he will give his last sweet to you.  

As for Kate, I know I am biased, but she really does get more lovely every day.  In fact, have you ever heard me say my kids are good looking? I don't usually say that.  I believe all children are attractive in their own special way and physical appearance is not important (and my children really are not super models, which is totally fine with me) however, I look at Kate and I can't help but admire how what a lovely girl she has become.  She is tall and lean and has a beautiful frame.  Perhaps a little too lean at the moment, but hopefully she will put some meat on those bones.

For the first time since just after birth, Kate weighs less than Adam.  Adam is 128cm tall and weighs 23.5 kgs and Kate is 126cm tall and weighs 23kgs.  Both are super skinny but both Marko and I were like that as children so I suppose it is to be expected.  Max is going to be tall too, not sure whether he will also be a skinny malinky like Adam.

As for Max, he is super dooper unbelievably naughty.  Seriously. He is not malicious or mean or (purposely) destructive, just SO bloody naughty!  I am not sure whether it is because we are older or because he is a third child, but OMG! NAUGHTY! Naughty, but so damn cute.  My goodness, I love that child. Everyone says he has me wrapped around his little finger.  I think they might be right. Love love love him.  Even if he is the naughtiest baby in the world.

The twins start Grade 1 this month.  I am a little nervous about it because I have heard from many sources that Grade 1 is a big deal.  No more messing about at school and playing, they have to do some serious work.  I am extremely grateful that they have had two good years of preparation and that they are at a good school.  It makes it a LOT easier for me.  

As for Max, my little baby starts play school this month.  Three mornings a week from 9-12.  I am in a total state about it. I know he must go and I know it will be good for him but he is my BABY! He is going to cry and tell me not to leave him there and it is going to break my heart.  I know it is only for a bit until he gets into it, but those first few times - aargghhh!  I can only hope that he is more like Kate (didn't cry once) than Adam (cried EVERY DAY for 8 months).  In fact, the young woman who helps at the school casually asked me whether Max was more like Adam or Kate and I happily assured her that he was not another Adam. Not quite as tough as Kate, but not nearly as sensitive as Adam.  (Although, look at what a wonderful boy Adam has turned out to be!)

Well, I better go before Max wakes up.  Best wishes to all of you for a wondeful 2012. I hope the year is filled with lots of good health, wealth and happiness for you and yours.

Here are some pics over the last few days, we are on holiday in Hermanus having a fab time.

xx