Amy was very excited to receive this letter in the mail – acceptance into the academically gifted class. She was in it last year and loved it. One day a week she attends this class and every other week they seem to go an excursion. I went a couple of times last year and they cover some great topics. I’m so happy for her!
Today we took Amy and 3 of her friends to Jamberoo Action Park. They had a fabulous day and we were treated to wonderful whether (after a cloudy start to the day).
I’m not sure who had more fun today – the kids or Kevin & Noel!
Amy chose to have chocolate crackles rather than another birthday cake.
It was a super-fun day and everyone had a good time, lots of sunshine and too much water 
.
As is the norm in this home Amy started her birthday by opening her presents in our bed.
I told her she was only getting one present but there were really a few in the box. Mostly books, and she was very excited to get her main present…
Breakfast was her request – Cheesy corn muffins…
Then off to school with a big butter cake to share with her class. She wanted to walk with a friend so I had to drive the cake up to school as it was rather heavy.
After school we had Nan, Pop and Granny (her great Grandmother) over for afternoon tea and another birthday cake. It might look the same – but this one was a rather rich chocolate cake (her request).
Then for tonights dinner she had requested a muffin tin meal – something we haven’t done in a long time. Not the most nutritious meal – but it is a special day.
All this and we haven’t even gotten to the main birthday event yet….
It seems like just yesterday I was holding this little “muffin” in my arms….
We watched as she grew into our lovely Princess…
Then into a school girl with a mind of her own…
Now, she is embarking on her last year of primary school and has entered the “tween” years. Goodness knows where the years have gone. Happy Birthday Amy! Hope the day is everything you hoped it would be.
I was looking at Christy this morning and thought her school dress was looking a little on the short side. Then tonight she came down from her bath complaining her PJ pants were too short….they used to 3/4 length!! And the top is almost a midriff!!! Lucky it’ll soon be Winter PJ time.
Don’t know how I didn’t notice the growth spurt. Two of the school Mum’s yesterday said Christy had shot up. Guess they were right!
Looks like I need to see the school uniform lady about getting some new dresses…oh, wait…that’s me .
The girls had their swimming carnival today – and amazingly it didn’t rain and we even saw the sun!!!
Christy came 3rd in 50m freestyle and made it to the finals – where she came last. She also went in the 50m backstroke.
Amy went in the 100m and 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke. No places but I was very proud of them both for getting in and giving it a good go.
It looks like she’s last in this next photo. She was last but I think the two competitors behind her gave up at the 50m mark of the 100m race.
Yes, it’s that time of year when the girls go back to school after 6 weeks holidays. Not only is it the first day of school but it’s the first day of Amy’s last year of Primary. She goes into year 6 and Christy goes into year 3. One year when they’ll be in Primary together.
Christy is a 2/3 composite class and is happy with her teacher. Amy is in a straight year 6 but unfortunatley didn’t get the teacher she was told she having yesterday. She’s rather bummed and I’m disappointed for her. She was asked what teacher she’d like and what kids she’d like in her class but it all seems to have been ignored – it would have been better if she’d never been asked.
As always I didn’t think to take more photos. I’d planned on riding to school photos but it rain is forecast and I had to open the uniform shop anyway. Oh, well, maybe next week.
A couple of weeks ago when Amy was having a emotional time she requested a day out with just me. Today was that day. It was hard to think of something to do (that we wouldn’t want Kevin & Christy to miss out on). In the end we decided to drive to the Southern Highlands for some shopping and sightseeing.
We started to day with a visit to my optomotrist (I snapped the arm off my glasses last week which were fixed “temporarily”). We then stopped by Gloria Jeans for an ice chocolate (Amy chose Hot Chocolate) to enjoy on the way. And we headed off on our adventure.
First stop was the Visitors Center.We then drove on to Bowral where we wandered around the shops – so many lovely home shops – I could easily have spent LOTS of money but I was good and only got a few things I really loved. We got some clothes for Amy (some of which will be put away for our UK trip) and then had lunch at a cafe we had spotted earlier.
We didn’t buy any of the above yummies but they sure did look good. Amy had a pie which she enjoyed.
The same could not be said about my lentil salad. I ended up only eating the feta (which was delicious) and a few other bites. Really wasn’t my cup of tea.
While at lunch I checked out how to get to Wool Addiction. I thought Kevin would be very proud of me!
We loved the street of Bowral and the surrounding areas – so many trees and everything was green thanks to all the rain we’ve had lately. It was stinking hot day though – 38 deg. celcius.
We found the shop and got some wool (not that I really needed any). Amy picked some to make a scarf and I couldn’t resist after seeing a certain colour combination.
We then drove to Sutton Forrest to visit A Little Piece of Scotland. We had to buy some shortbread (which Amy tells me is nicer than the one we make – which I think is pretty darn good), Scottish Tablet and Scottish Breakfast Tea (which I’m enjoying as I type this).
Then it was on to Red Cow Farm where we explored the gardens, guided by the 3 collies who live there. The gardens were nice but well past their best. We still enjoyed our visit.
Our last stop in the Highlands was the Old Cheese Factory in Robertson. We had stopped for gelato but as soon as I saw they had scones with jam & King Island Cream I changed my mind. This is a cute little place – part shop and part cafe. Of course I had to buy some of the locally made camembert (my fav. cheese).
Loved the sign by the door.
After driving back down Macquarie Pass we headed to Shellharbour Square to get some new school shoes for Amy, baskets for my scrapbook room and a few other clothing items for the girls.
We had a fabulous day. Amy felt special and seemed to enjoy having me to herself for the whole day. I’ll definitely try to make this an annual event.
NOTE: Christy had a fun day out with her Nan – which included a trip to the movies – and I’ve promised her at least a half day out with me before she goes back to school.
Wednesday was the last day of school. Christy came downstairs at 4am, completely ready for school – hair done, shoes on. She had her dressing gown on over the top cause she was cold.
She’d even made a list of things to get done.
Both girls were excited about the last day of school and the start of 6 weeks holidays.
Even the dogs were excited – look at the mess they made of some hand-made bon bons we had mistakenly left under the tree.
Yesterday the girls had a fun day at school. As expected they had lots of FUN!!! I think the highlight was coloured hair, though Christy really loved the sand art (she did 2 there and bought one home and did it after school).
