Christmas Surprises!

My pictures download backwards, if you know the reason for this please let me know.  So here is a run down of our very fun Christmas Day....Backwards.....  

Robs family came over to our house for Boxing day and helped us assemble our new trampoline.  We enjoyed a big meal and had heaps of fun with our little gang of boy cousins.  We laaaaahhve this trampoline and the boys jump off the tramp and into the pool and back again.  No other gifts compare.

At lunch at Robs parents house with all the boy cousins.  Karyn gives out Christmas sample bags, these are a hit. Robbie surprises us by loving a new green dress!  Yes, I said dress!  He wore it all day and looked every bit the beautiful little girl, including necklace and headband.  The whole family enjoyed the joke and he quite liked the attention and laughs it created.  It did however, confuse poor old Uncle Davie (who has Downs Syndrome) and had no idea who Robbie was when he kissed him hello.  When we told him it was Robbie dressed up as a girl he shot back "ooooh, I'll just call him Klinger then!" That guy from *M*A*S*H* that dresses up like a girl to get out of the army. A close up of our handsome young man.  Or as Rocci puts it the She-man.  Robbie had been talking about getting a dress for months and we are so glad he was brave enough to follow his little hearts desire all the way to the In-Laws house. Rocci enjoys putting his lego together.  This one has lots of men in it, a big plus for any lego ship builder of this age. A new home excersize machine that will enhance the rest of Robs gym work.  He Loved this! And his new electric razor.  The old one he got when he was 21 yrs old finally gave up.  Now he'll look extra buff and clean shaven. Robbie gets his own mobile telephone, with all the bells and whistles, this is the best for calling your girl friend.  She was the first person he called on Christmas day, I'll bet he doesn't tell her about the dress though. Rocci's favourite thing for christmas is a dress up.  He got this one and a batman suit.  Here he shows off the gun and his mobile phone, his is muuuuch cheaper than Robbies. The boys open their stockings on Christmas morning and love their novelty gifts.  A big favourite is the automatic rotating ice cream cone, you just stick your tongue out the the cone turns around all on its own.  The stockings were full of such great things that they didn't even ask to open the big presents until 9 O'Clock.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Happy Birthday to my favourite brother!  I think it is well known in our family that David is my personal favourite sibling (and lets face it, everyone's got a favourite).  And going by this picture, I always thought so too.  He is happy, easy going, stress free, eager to please people, easy to talk to and more importantly.....easy to love.  I couldn't let the day go by without wishing him a very happy birthday and express once again my excitement that he is bringing a new little mini-Dave to the family.  This miracle child is my tip to be the cutest Comber yet.  Look at that face, any replica of this would do me just fine.  Albeit a little chinesey, this cute little grin continues even in his old age.  Happy birthday Brother.  Lots of love from big sister X X X X X X X X X and hundreds more.

GRADUATION!

Grade 12 is not the only year you can graduate it seems.  With the introduction of prep, infant school, junior school, middle school, senior school, the ceremonies for moving onto the next grade include a big evening graduation.   So this year, I not only had to provide the school with numerous musical items for presentation at each graduation, but I had to attend a full week of "Special" evenings.  (I used up all my best outfits, my best songs and ran out of patience by the end of the week.)

Robbie graduated this year from grade 6 and is moving on to middle school.

He also sung at his own graduation with my little group of Grade 6ers.  They did a great job.  I was very proud of his solo part, but because I was conducting I couldn't have a proper mummy moment.  

(Tried to download video here.  Sorry it didn't work) 

Also graduating this year is Rocci from Pre-prep into Prep.  He sang with his class and was presented with his certificate.  It was such a hot day the kids didn't seem to enjoy it very much. But boy are we ready for 'Big School'. (Pictures are at the start of this page.)  But please, no more graduations.

BIG END OF YEAR CONCERT!

Presentation of flowers at the end. Big show finish Building to a crescendo

Keeley showing up a fabulous jazz number Robbie fitting in beautifully with the sopranos and loving it Rocci handed out programs and showed people to their seats.  Then beautifully ran up and down the aisle throughout the show, pulling the seats up and down, expressing his boredom and testing the students focus. (Mental note:  Every year is another year older!) My students performed last weekend at my big end of year concert to an enthusiastic audience of parents and friends.  Everyone did sooooo well, with some students even managing to bring extremely high performance techniques that showed a conquering of nerves.  They showed massive amounts of encouragement to their fellow performers, even giving standing ovations.  

We started the show with a mini musical showcasing excepts from 'Godspell' along with bible readings.  Robbie was the narrator for the show and spoke clearly, with good volume and from memory.  He didn't look nervous at all.  

Our concert included presentation of certificates to all students who took vocal and piano exams this year.  All of my students received Honors results and were extremely excited by the presentation.  There is always an award for the highest achiever in the exams out of all my students and this year I had a child awarded with 'First Class Honors'.  A very rare award for outstanding results.  She got 98/100.  Good girl.

The concert ended with a big group number that blew the roof off with volume and choreography, harmony and rounds.  Boy was the new music director impressed.  He even felt compelled to thank me and say gushing words of gratitude (which made me fake smile and hold back puke.)  but this was over shadowed by a beautiful presentation of flowers, giant card, gift vouchers and a big box of more gifts, and a lovely speech by two of my little stars.  Their generosity was such a surprise and their kind words I wish cherish forever.  What a great job I have that these little ones feel so compelled to show their appreciation so articulately.  It makes me want to teach them forever.

A TASTE OF WHAT'S TO COME

What makes a big boy sleep like this?

Robbie has been enjoying the surf this summer already, not needing Dad to help him or even take him.  He and I woke up early last weekend and braved the morning heat (35 degrees at 8:45am) to have a quick surf.  The waves weren't huge but the enjoyment certainly was. With actual surfing lessons through school and an in-built genetic 'surf love' he was smiling every second.  I can't wait to see him on Robs old and enormous surf board in the coming weeks.

WORK! WORK! WORK!

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, instead we are amidst a lot of changes both at home and work.  Last week the brand new school music department finally opened and I was able to move all my things into my new room.  Conditions are much better, but it is a tiny, tiny space with no windows (for sound quality).  Thankfully my room is closest to the main door so I can get some fresh air into the room between students.  I am thrilled to have my own air conditioning thermostat (set to my temperature) A piano of my very own and a huge white board.  Now all I need is a lockable cupboard to store all my things.  There are about 8 other rooms like this one, all full of music teachers and eager students and at the end of the corridor is a kitchen and seating area.  It's great to be in the new building.  

I have been preparing the students for exams and this Saturday is a full day of  examinations and most importantly a full day of accompanying students on the piano.  Eeek, must go and practice.

DREAMWORLD!

Rocci - getting used to life in jail. Robbie - doing his best to be evil and agro. Rocci - on a ride all by himself. Robbie - strongest man in the world. Yesterday the boys and I went to Dreamworld and we took cousin Kody who is the same age as Robbie.  School holidays are the perfect time to go for us, but, it is also the best time for the rest of Australia.  And believe me, everyone was there.  Theme parks for adults are confusing places, do we feel joy or pain? I was littered with all sorts of emotions during the day, like, Confusion about the map - Exhaustion from standing - Hunger (junk food city) - Dehydration (very hot day) - Dizziness (having to go on every ride with Rocci) - Boredom (standing in lines) and just plain old muscle pain from carrying food and water all day.  We waited in lines for hours and hours, it was very hot and I recommend that in future all stinky people should go to the water park instead.  The great part was that Robbie is old enough to walk around on his own (with his cousin), so I only had to be with Rocci.  My lovely boys kept checking to see that I was 'having fun' and I did my best to pretend it was the best day ever.  The truth is, on the trip home we stopped in at IKEA and had a nice healthy, clean meal, a cup of tea, and a bit of shopping.  That was the best part of the whole day.   But if the boys ask, the best bit was when Rocci went on the last ride of the day all on his own and I got to watch his excitement, he went on it 3 times and screamed with delight till he was hoarse.   Everyone like to hear screams of delight.  But, please let that be the end of rides forever for me.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Rob and I have been married for 16 years from 19/9/1992.  I have almost spent 1/2 my life with Rob and 1/2 with the Comber family.  This is an exciting milestone and our relationship is clearly in it's teens and I suppose the only thing we haven't been through together is a divorce.  We are very happy and still dating and still madly in love.  He doesn't complete me and he is not my other half, (as we are individual people) but we are a great match.  I love him dearly and we are looking forward to spending some alone time together next week in Melbourne.

Doing The Dishes!

Do you grow up faster when you're in a big family?  Do you become more independent because your parents aren't available for every little thing?  My husband doesn't believe me when I tell him I made my own sandwiches for kindy, and he thinks the stories of being able to slice bread in grade 1 are exaggerations.  But when you look at our family albums, you will find photos of kids washing and drying dishes before they could reach the bench.  Kids painting houses before they were in high school.  Kids mowing lawns, cleaning toilets, making dinners, baking desserts, in fact the only thing we didn't do, was clean our own rooms properly.

So I made the executive decision yesterday that my children should be learning to be independent too.  And boy, was Robbie thrown off guard when I said he would be doing the dishes......All of them.  He thought it was a joke at first, and he also thought I should help.  I did my best to have a long shower, with hair treatment and shaving ritual, also took the time to moisturise before I came out to see the damage.

What a delightful surprise to see him doing a wonderful job, washing, scubbing and rinsing!  Albeit with a giant crockery construction, but, whatever it takes to get the job done.  I was impressed.  An 11 year old doing the dishes....what an achievement!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Rocci and his 'wife' Abbi.  She gets pride of place next to him at school too. Party food yeah! The kids get to serve themselves. Disco.  Loud music, Lights off, Bubble and smoke machine.....Very cool. PARTY TIME!  Rocci turned 5 this week, bringing back memories of a 6 week early, extrememely painful labour, that just about ended my life.  He finally peered his little head into the world in perfect health, to be greeted by his adoring father (while his mother quietly bled to death) who held him as he looked around.  During his time in hospital he admired everything, and spent little time sleeping.  He sat on the counter of the nurses station looking around and being very cute, and seemingly helping them them work.  He never complained, but took the time to look at every face carefully.   Five years on, nothing has changed, he is a social little bunny with time for everyone, and he is a great helper.  And just as he was premature, he has covered every mile-stone before I was ready.  He is a loud surprise package with a massive personality that makes an impact on people very quickly.  We celebrated this beautiful baby with a party at Maze Mania and his friends from school.

Master Mum!

I have been off school with a bad case of tonsilitis.  I can't talk, can't swallow, can't move my head, can't eat and consequently, I won't cook.  So that leaves the kids to fend for themselves, I can't even give instructions to Rocci as he doesn't quite understand my basic sign language, so I write things down for Robbie so he can translate for me.  Rocci thinks he's old enough to do everything, so when he said he would chop up the vegies, I just let him go.  Note the bandaid!  What's a caserole without a little blood in it!  The casserole didn't work out too nice, it had an overpowering taste of carrots and beans - apparently.  As this is all I was going to allow him to chop.  Perhaps next time I should introduce him to other vegies.

A picture tell a thousand words!

When Rob goes away he sends home little packages for the boys, they get so excited.  Unfortunately I couldn't contain my laughter at the dissapointment when all Rocci got this time was a shirt.  "He should know that this is not what I would want" he cried, before calling Rob in Adelaide to impolitely refuse to accept the gift.  He won't wear it, even if Kung Fu Panda is cool!  The difference in the their two faces is priceless.

SOMETHING IS MISSING!

CAN YOU SPOT THE CHANGE?

Once again one of my children is the first one in their pre-school class to lose a tooth.  We are Gold Medal winning tooth losers up here.  I hope the tooth fairy remembers to come.  Rocci drinks water in the night and he always puts a glass of water by his bed.  He hopes he doesn't drink it.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Here I am well over dressed for the Sunshine Coast Junior Vocal Eisteddfod.  I dress for my students performances the same way I would dress for any paying show, so that the students can see that I think that their performance is as big as they do.  Keeping up the heels for a 12 hour day is particularly difficult, as is the pressure to have consecutive skinny days.  I am having lots of fun watching my students and they are all doing so well, with lots of winners and lots of milestones.

THE HOUSE SOLD LAST WEEKEND! YEAH!!!

SOLD - SOLD - SOLD - SOLD - SOLD SOLD - SOLD - SOLD - SOLD - SOLD 

In the end after all the waiting and no viewings or potential prospects, we had two buyers battling it out for ownership on Saturday.  We ended up getting more than what we were asking for with the added bonus of a quick settlement with the added option of renting the house back until December.  This is perfect for us as I don't want to move until the  Christmas holidays, so it has all worked out very well.  Once again, luck strikes us again.  

Movie World.

We went to Movie world this holiday.  Rocci's first roller coaster experience was a nightmare, likewise the little boat ride was a screaming crying nightmare and the dodgems........just don't go there!  We found a few things we could do instead.

 The up and down thing was waaaaaaaay better.

And the carousel was a real hoot....for me!

Donald and I tried 10 new positions before I was asked to get off.

Music Matters

I'm hard at work at the moment organising students in the Sunshine Coast Vocal Eisteddfod.  I have 63 individual entries and 5 duets, 3 trios and 2 vocal ensembles.  I still have piano students and a few of them will be performing the very next week too.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone participate and I wish all of my students well.  Still two weeks to go, but we are well on the way to many winning performances.  Good luck to my little ones.