TropicalSoup

Sniff-sensitive

We're lucky enough to have D's mum Catherine over from NZ to stay for a week or so at the moment. The other night, we were all discussing how silly it is that Ginger Ninja is terrified of Catherine - as soon as he sees her he takes off like the proverbial scalded cat. Dearest darling daughter matter-of-factly declared "I don't think he's scared of Nana Catherine, he's just terrified of the smell of old."

Thank the gods that Catherine has an awesome sense of humour. And she loves Immy as much as Immy loves her....because the rest of us were too busy choking on our laughter to come to her rescue for a few minutes!

Big birthdays and big boxes

 

Cole and Imogen turned 7 on Thursday. My babies. Seven. Mind Blown. The day was celebrated with much love and joy...and two ridiculously, deliciously excited little people!

 

 

Everyone should have a candle in their porridge on birthday mornings....

(she looks so old here!!!)

 

The excitement continues unabated, culminating in a birthday party at a gorgeous local nature reserve tomorrow. Much making and baking and cooking and crafting has occurred. (I will post all about it, promise. Just no promises as to when, haha!)

 

 

And just in case that wasn't enough for now, we are knee deep in packing boxes. Yep, we're on the move again, though this time just 10kms away instead of to another country (hooray!). We move next Saturday. We got confirmation of a house to move to this last Wednesday. That's a total of 10 days. And a birthday party in the middle. Can you say manic? Ahem. It's our doing really, but I do think all those massive moves over the years have been forcibly repressed in my memory, making me think these sorts of things are straightforward and easy. I am feeling a tiny bit overwhelmed. It will pass.  The great news is that the new place is fantastic - a perfect fit for us, with just as much house, but more space outside than our current postage stamp yard. And a pool. squee! So things are going to be even busier than usual for the next week or so, but I do miss this little corner of my world, and will hurry back soon...

The Littlest Redhead

This gorgeous wee bundle of fluff is the newest addition to our wee family. We picked him up last week from a shelter after Cole had started making noises that he was ready to think about another kitten. Ginger Ninja (beware the naming rights of 6yo boys, ha!) is such a happy, sociable, friendly, energetic little guy, and has slotted right in here - as Immy has told her brother several times over the past week *you definitely picked the right kitten, Coley!*

He is tiny - only just 9 weeks now - but boy is there plenty of personality crammed in there, and he purrs like a tractor...

 

We are all quite besotted with him, and even Cookie - who spent the first 4 days utterly terrified of the little guy - has come around and will play with him a bit...before retreating to the kids' beds where ginger can't yet reach! (And fear not, Cookie has been getting plenty of love and attention as well as the *the orange one with white around the edges!*)

Stuff I learnt while camping...

So, the Campbells have returned, windswept and sunkissed and with sand lingering in many a crevice, from a lovely week at the beach. This is the first time we'd ever done the camping/tenting thing since we'd been together - so for at least 19 years! And here, without further ado, are some things that became apparent whilst we were away:

~we all like it! Enough to try and figure out when to do it again, anyway.

~I like it enough to do it again, but am okay if that's not until towards the end of the year (ahem).

~You cannot fit a tent, a gazebo, everything else you need for 7 days' camping, 4 bikes, a kayak, and 4 humans into a station wagon. As a result, 3 of the humans caught the train to Newcastle whilst D drove the car there (with every spare inch of available space crammed) in order to pick up a last-minute-hire trailer so that we could fit all 4 humans in the car again, and finally head off to the campsite.

~Stuff like that seems to be a fairly common occurence for the Campbells...

~Putting up the tent in near (and then total) darkness is a lot easier with new, modern tents. And teenage boys from neighbouring sites who offer to help! (Did I mention we'd borrowed a tent and hadn't done a test run? hahaha)

~Cole and Immy absolutely adored being able to be free range (within the clear confines of the camp ground), and spent hours and hours on their bikes, making friends, playing volleyball and climbing trees.

~I sometimes had to make a concerted effort to be okay with them being a bit more free range than usual - sometimes it's hard to step back.

~Every Campbell is happiest when in water.

~My kids now are rather expert at boogie boarding, and are catching waves like naturals.

~Including waves that are bigger than them.

~I was usually the only one nervous about that.

~Given that they're both having to resist the urge to get up on their boards, I don't think surfing lessons are too far away.

~Cole has also been watching his daddy, and can now add bodysurfing to his repertoire as well.

~I really like sand-free sheets.

~That is just not possible on a beach camping trip.

~Being unplugged is lovely. And hard.

~3 of the 4 Campbells think fishing is an awesome way to spend a day. (The 4th Campbell took photos)

~2 of those 3 mentioned above were probably more interested in seeing if the fish took the bait (every 3.5 seconds) than the sitting and waiting part. As for the *being quiet* part....mwahahahaha

~46 degrees is too hot for camping.

~The beach is awesome even when (and sometimes especially because) it's raining.

~I took knitting and stitching and did neither.

~It's not classy, but sometimes a big sheet of black plastic is a lifesaver as an extra wall for long wet days.

~There's nothing quite like kissing the forehead of a sleeping child, sunkissed and sand-ridden, who has spent their day in the serious business of holiday fun.

~this little family rocks.

Bringing happy back

Good grief, lately it seems as though I have time to either live or blog about life, craft or record said craftiness...I'm sure you can figure out which options I chose!

 

One of the things that has had us all preoccupied chez Tropicalsoup, is a new school - this picture of Cole and Immy is on their first morning there last Monday. They haven't stopped smiling since - it's a beautiful thing. We decided to change their school for several reasons - and have in fact had a bit of a sea change - from public school to steiner private school. So we've gone from intensive academics and 30 minutes of homework a night, to collecting chicken eggs and baking bread and going on adventure walks (structured academic learning doesn't begin until next year - year 1 - at Steiner schools). The irony is not lost on me that part of the reason for the change (apart from the bullying!) is that these 2 were a little *too* good at the academic side of things - so they were being pushed further and further past what their peers were doing, and that led to stress and anxiety and trouble sleeping...and these are 6 year olds, people, not final year med students!!! So, we've taken a step back and changed direction slightly - the academic stuff will still come, and I have no doubt that Cole and Immy will still excel in it - but this way, I'm hoping that the pressure doesn't come along for the ride as well, and in the interim, these beautiful happy little people can focus on what's so important right now - being happy. And being children.

Of course, that doesn't stop them curling their exhausted wee bodies (playing is hard work!) around a good book when the mood strikes - Immy's particular favourite at the moment is D's childhood animal encyclopedias from the 60s...that's my girl!

Legacy

...and in other news chez Campbell, the legacy of *Crash Campbell* lives on, just the junior version this time! No broken bones (phew!) but Cole added this spectacular decoration to his face yesterday. On a skateboard. The same skateboard that D was on when he decided to rearrange the bones in his shoulder earlier this year. It had just come out of the garage for D to show a friend, and then Coley was on it (on all fours), and as it happens, you can still break your face from 8 inches away if you hit the edge of the board with enough meaning and purpose. And sandpaper surfacing is great for tread grip, less so for delicate facial skin. Ouch. Poor little dude was pretty upset for a while, but is doing very well now. These pics were taken this morning, and by bedtime the black bruising was really starting to come through, and his eye is swollen halfway shut...there'll be some explaining to do tomorrow at school!

Ps. Hair by Cole - he recently acquired his very own pottle of hair gel, and the styles that come out each day are quite entertaining!

pps. Uncle Phil, we still have your board, hahaha!

Nana Chris

Last week we farewelled D's beloved Nana Chris. At 103 (and a half!), her death wasn't completely unexpected, but it was still very sad, and very much the end of an era. I confess to having adored that wee woman from the moment I met her some 17 years ago, when she enveloped me in hug and insisted I call her Nana Chris.

I am thrilled to say that Cole and Immy thought as much of their *old nana Chris* as we did, and a visit to her was always a happy occasion, even if it took Cole a little while each time to warm up to the idea of giving her a kiss and a cuddle! (but her skin feels different and looks all folded, mama!)

(May 2011, just before we left NZ)

 

(This is not a very good photo of anyone, but it is my favourite - and so typical - everybody too busy chitter chattering to pay attention and smile, ha! Immy, Bob, Nana Chris, Cole and D - 4 generations!)

 

Thankfully D was able to fly back to NZ to attend her funeral, and to spend some time with his parents, sisters and extended family.

Farewell, Nana Chris, you are much loved and much missed!

 

(The kids discovered during a visit to Nana in 2010 that they could sneak through the fence at the back of the property and end up right outside her window. I think nana rather enjoyed the impromptu farewell dance that followed that day - and every visit since. Nothing like small people for exuberance, these small people particularly!)

6 on the Sixth of the Sixth...happy birthday a deux!

A few days ago (okay okay, 12 - it's been a little busy around here!!!) we celebrated the birthdays of these 2 tiny creatures. Six. And boy did we all celebrate! Family and friends near and far remembered these 2 munchkins, and there seemed to be a week-long list of festivities, wrapping paper redistribution, and retellings of *the day you were born* (*oh boy, here we go again!* uttered my youngest, complete with eyeroll...the accompanying cheeky smile and devilish giggle only just saved her that time. Little stinker!!!) and even a massive party (so many children! And adults! and siblings! at home! children everywhere! sugar!!!!!! Why oh why do I do this? Thank gawd it was dry!) to boot.

Except, in the interests of full disclosure, I should note that those little itty bitty 2.6 and 2.58kg (5.73# and 5.69#) nibbles now look rather more like this: (and no, I have no idea where they get their flair for the dramatic either, ha!)

The week that was....

Oh man, that seemed to be quite a week. And it's only just Friday! Sorry for disapppearing on you but the last few days just completely overwhelmed. Forgive me, possums? (Irony - I was in the midst of writing this post last night when we decided to go hang out at the hospital!)

On Wednesday Cole and Immy had their school cross-country/Easter parade/fundraising raffle/Grandparents' Day/ end of term show and BBQ. Phew!

 

The kids each garnered several comments at school on Thursday from teachers and bigger kids who were genuinely surprised they were still standing - they not only ran the whole course, but each did a couple of extra laps to boot! (They have promised to train their mother in running. Wish me luck! and yeah, I don't blame you for laughing at the imagery there, ha!)

 

 

 

 

Any preconceived ideas I may have had of particular designs for their Easter bonnets were soon pushed aside when 2 small people arrived complete with sketched - and very detailed and particular - plans of their intended creations. Oh yes, these 2 are very clearly my children! (and a good -continual - lesson in letting go of control!) Sadly for my little designers, I nixed the plans that involved metre-wide woven baskets and insisted instead that we use the hats from last year's tap concert. (meanie!)

 

But I think they enjoyed themselves!

...back as soon as I can get this pile of crafty things photographed to share...

Eight

 

Today was Atticus's birthday. Our firstborn would have been eight. Eight. That just blows my mind.

We set free some helium balloons in Addy's honour. Well, I'd picked up 8 with the intention of letting them all go, but Cole and Immy informed me that Addy - being the ever-generous and loving elder brother - would have been happier if they could each keep a balloon, so we took that route instead - I could hardly refuse what the munchkins were so adamant was the birthday boy's wishes, now could I?

 

 

Cole and Immy decided to write their wish on a balloon each, which was pretty gorgeous.

 

Immy drew a picture of her and Atticus playing together in the clouds, and Cole's balloon was a veritable ode to cool modes of transport - speedboats and racing cars and jet planes and rockets and all things that his big brother would have liked. There were plenty of hearts on both, as well as their names, so Atticus could easily tell who each balloon was from.

 

Singing happy birthday to Addy again was bittersweet, watching my younger 2 make a wish and send a message to their big brother as they let go of their balloon was very special, and having Cole spontaceously yell out *I love you so much baby Atticus that my heart will burst, and I hope you have a happy birthday and have fun playing with Nana Mary* just about did me in. There were tears, but there was also joy. And affirmation. And much watching of balloons in the big blue Australian sky until even the tiny dots disappeared.

 

Happy birthday my dear sweet Addy. Mama loves you. And she's not the only one.