Another Special Birthday!

Yes, that's right we have another special birthday in the family today and that is my lovely mom-in-law.

Heath's mom lives in Johannesburg and as Heath and the boys are visiting in SA they will have the opportunity to catch up with her to wish her a very Happy Birthday! Unfortunately due to work commitments I am still in Perth so I will not be around to join in any celebrations!

Happy Birthday mom - wish you the best birthday ever and I hope that my boys spoil you rotten. Sorry I could not be there with them to enjoy the day with you!

Have a great day!


Lots of love
Heath, Nicky, Reece & Bryce

Giant US Navy Aircraft Carrier!!!!

During the week while I was in Singapore a US Navy aircraft carrier anchored off Fremantle. Below is the report in the Perth News:

"GIANT US Navy aircraft carrier, the nuclear-powered USS George Washington, anchored off Fremantle today for a five-day visit.
The near 88,000-tonne ship, which carries about 5000 crew, has sailed into an Australian port for the first time and will take part later this month in war games between US and Australian forces. USS George Washington replaced the USS Kitty Hawk last September as the command of the East Asia-Pacific Region and it is based at America's military port at Yokosuka, Japan. Named after a US founding father and first President of the United States, George Washington, the carrier arrived with guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens which has a smaller crew of about 400. Hundreds of sailors stood at the formation manning the rails on the USS George Washington as the anchor dropped 3km off shore just after 9am today. A helicopter will keep constant watch over the ships while they remain in port. The visit will inject millions of dollars into the local economy as the sailors take liberty leave.
Some crew will complete community work with projects including cleaning, maintenance, and painting work at organisations including PMH, a Salvation Army rehabilitation centre, Perth Zoo and Cohunu Koala Park. The two warships will take part in the Talisman Saber two-week series of exercises which are held every two years between the two countries around northern Australia and involve groups from all three Australian defence forces and their American counterparts. Commander of Battle Force Seventh Fleet, which includes the ships, Rear Admiral Kevin Donegan, said the exercises were more complex and more involved than most other ally games. Rear Admiral Donegan said his fleet’s main purpose was to ensure peace and stability in the region and while he would not comment on specific operations he was keeping watch of North Korea. "
Below is the link to see the full story and a full picture of the aircraft carrier http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,,25722174-2761,00.html

So of course as we had such great weather this morning we headed off to Fremantle to have a look and take some pics. Fremantle is about 10 minutes drive down the road so nice and close. The boys loved the sight but of course dad was the most excited. Below are some pics that Heath has taken. On the one video clip that we saw it mentioned that there are over 68 aircraft on the aircraft carrier.Heath also got some great pictures of the boys around and about on the rocks while watching the ship.

After visiting the aircraft carrier we went into Fremantle to have some fish and chips but of course Freo was packed as so many people came out to see the ship, anyway after a long wait we got our order through. Great day out once again.....

Cheers

Nicky

Reece's first cross country race!

On Wednesday 1st of July - Reece ran his first cross country race at school. Unfortunately while I was still in Singapore so missed the whole event. Now Reece is not really the sporting kind so in the morning was telling Heath that he was not feeling so well and did not really want to race..... I then spoke to him and mentioned that once he gets out there and sees all his friends running I am sure he will have fun.

Waiting to get going!

And they are off....

Well he came fifth out of about 15-20 boys, so he did not do too badly for a little boy who did not feel like running and also does not do too much sport. We have told him though that as long as he has lots of fun it does not really matter where he comes. He seemed to be very proud of himself all in all.

Run, Reecey run....

When he saw me on Saturday morning the first thing he showed me was his little tag that he had run in the cross country race and told me how much fun he had!

Love

Nix

Reece's Magic Box

Before I left for Singapore Reece bought a "Magic Box" from school.

Basically he had to put the box next to bed when he went to bed and "magically" in the morning there is a surprise. We had been sent a notice a while back informing us that the magic box would be coming home. We can choose what we want to put in the box and the idea it that the children take the box to school the next day with the magic surprise still inside. The rest of the class get to guess what is inside by asking Reece questions. The kids then get to take their surprise home.

Magic Box Instructions:
Place me by your bed tonight.
Then go to sleep and sleep tight.
When the sun comes up and you arise.
Look inside for your surprise!

Back from school with the "Magic Box"

So in the evening it was a big event for us to put the box in the right position as the teacher has obviously told them that the magic box needs a bit of sunshine to bring in the "magic". So the next morning before I went shooting out the door to wait for the bus I went to Reece's room to see if he was awake, which he was. When I asked him what did he get in his magic box he told me "No mom it is too early it is still dark and he needs to wait for sunshine before he checks in the box", he then turned over and went back to sleep - well that's what I thought.

It was not long before he came bounding in the room to let us know that the magic box had magically produced a toy horse. He went to school a very happy boy and after a couple of questions one of the little boys in the class guessed that Reece had a horse.

It is very cute idea of the teacher and it is such fun to see how the kids just love the new surprises she comes up with. I have been told by one of the other mothers from the other pre-primary class that they do not do any of these little tasks so seems like it is up to the teachers in the various forms that they teach.

Then over the week-end Reece decided that he wanted to build his own magic box and course I had to try and convince him that the teachers box was the real magic box..... can you imagine if we had to think of a new surprise everyday!!!!

Reece & his "magic box" and a little "monkey"

Love

Nicky

Update.....

Once again I have been really bad and not updated the blog in a little while there are a couple of posts that I never got around to before my trip to Singapore. I just got back from Singapore at about 2:00am this morning so the next couple of posts will be an update over the last couple of weeks. I forgot to take my camera to Singapore to take some pictures but I am going back on Tuesday until Friday and will try and take a couple and do my best to update the blog on a regular basis again.

Well as mentioned the next couple of posts will be an update. Hope that all of you are keeping well and will do my best to catch-up with everyone again.

Cheers
Nicky