Birthday Girl!

My gorgeous gorgeous friend Kylie (Lets call her my 'Best-Friend' - due to the fact that my real BFF doesn't read my blog), came over the other day with a beautiful surprise.  She had made me a butterfly birthday cake and came bearing birthday gifts.  It was so nice to just sit and chat with her while our children happily played together.  It's sad to acknowledge that due to a lack of time we both couldn't arrange to meet closer to February where my birthday really is, but it's great that she remembered so long after.  Thank you so much Kylie for the gifts and chocolates and cake, I really felt special.  And for someone who doesn't cry very often, this came close to a welling in the eyes.  No lip quiver, but definitely a warm and fuzzy moment for the girl who sings the "What about me" song a little too often.

George Michael???

Do you recognise the era?  Do you recognise the boy??

Yes! It is Robbie, getting down to some WHAM with George Michael and some memorable eighties classics like "Wake me up before you GO GO!" and "Careless Whisper!"  

Robbies high school had its first themed disco held at the school.  It was a fluoro and 80's theme and I had no trouble making this outfit for him.  He looked great and the hair worked well, but..........he was the only boy who dressed up!  Good one mum!  To Robbies credit though, I'm the only one who has been cringing at the thought of him walking in to a room of big kids looking like this, he couldn't care less.  He even entered a 'dance-off' where he was the only boy and won a movie pass for his "Girly Hip-Hop" routine, everyone loved his new image and he didn't care if they didn't anyway.  He won his award around the same time that my phone kept going off with texts from teachers saying they now know exactly who Robbie Clark is!  Oh dear, I wonder how un-co he was?  

Guitar Overload!

I'm sure there is no need for a full editorial description of yesterday's events.  But I'll give a little to set up the scene of this lovely pictorial - Rob went surfing in the morning and came home with a little gift for our boys.  What a delightful memory I will keep after seeing Rocci strum a full volume 'tune' (I think I will call it that) on his Electric guitar.  Seeing his face light up in a way that I've only ever seen once before - when he first set eyes upon the giant sizzler buffet.  Large amounts of food and very loud distorted sound are clearly the way to this little mans heart.

THANKS DAD. XXXXXXXXXXXX

SICK??????

I had to leave work and cancel students last Thursday and race off to the GP with Rocci as he was particularly unwell at school.  He has had mouth ulcers and fevers and malaise and headaches and persistent cold and flu symptoms but this day he had been unable to eat the day before or even at breakfast.  I dropped him at school anyway, but it didn't last and I took my little sicky out at around morning tea time.

Poor little Rocci - sooo sick!

But after a little bit of a nap and some TLC from mum, and Digger the class bear - a March miracle

He was looking brighter than ever.  Leaving me to question my ability to diagnose a sick child.

He changed Diggers clothes.

We had an inside Teddy Bears Picnic!

With Yummy waffle fingers and cups of tea!

He looked so chirpy we got to and sorted his toys - again! Apparently Digger made a mess!

Everything looks great! Including my poor sick Rocci.  Perhaps next time he is sick I will get a second oppinion.  But check out the first shot, this was only hours earlier.

12 photos for 12 years

Most impressed by my sister in-laws '8 photos-8years' blog story, I had to copy it.  The idea is to have 1 photo of your child for each year of life.  I loved looking at the photos of my niece, especially since we don't see them all that often, so I decided to do the same for my 12 year old birthday boy.  Robbie had a birthday last week and we had his big party on Sunday, a rather tiring and culinary indulgent party, but best of all - a fun one.

So here is a running photo diary of my delightful biggest boy.  He always was and still is, a softly spoken all round nice guy.  He enjoys Tennis, Surfing, Science and Maths and loves to read and read and read.  He loves to learn new things and has always had a strong desire to be an Astronaut.  We love having a child who wants to discuss odd scientific facts - and one who can answer my stupid naive questions, for example: If a baby frog is called a tadpole, is a baby toad called a toadpole?  Would you believe he patiently explained the whole metamorphosis theory.  So here is my photo tribute to our first born - using 12 photos........(NOT!)

1 day old.  Robert Clark IV with Robert Clarks' I, II, III

Nearly one and nearly too fat for clothes.

Two years old and waiting for Santa for the first time.

Three years with mum and too shy to take photos.

Getting better at nearly Four and opening up by performing on stage with fellow dancers.

Fourth Birthday Party

This five year old just loooooves pre-school!

Six years old and starting big school off with a turtle impersonation!

Seven years old with a new baby brother.  Bathtime Everyone!

Eight years old and finding his brother full of fun and goo!

Nine years old and competing in the athletics carnival.

Ten years old and he's learning so much his brains just might pop right out!

Ten years and we notice a new extra personality emerging!

Ten years old at Dreamworld!  Rude gestures now too!!!

And along comes gun wielding professionalism!

Eleven year old logic and eleven year old sense of humour - love it!

Happy eleventh birthday dude!

Sick of the same old school uniform everyday - this new high school kid decides he's had enough of school rules.  He didn't make it past the front door though!

Giant lamington birthday cake for my 12 year old lamington lover!

Special 12 year old dinner with the family!  Too much love can't kill you......I hope!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PROFESSOR!

I had a moment! A blissful moment!

This week my heart captured a rare moment of "This is what I always wanted"!  I always saw myself as the sort of parent that constantly played music and had the whole family singing around the piano after dinner.  The sort of mother that sings to her children at bed time and shares her musical skill in relaxed informal lessons.  Alas, I think this family exists in a 1950's family sitcom and not in real life.  Well, not mine anyway.  But this week I had a moment of clarity that shone brighter than any other family music moment.  

Making music - The Robbies!

Robbie was walking around the house practicing his guitar (he's having lessons this year) and Rob came out of his room playing his guitar, and they met in the halway - and 'JAMMED'.  Then they sat down and played a whole song together, no talking, just musical communication.  Can you believe it, they were actually jamming with tongues out and heads bobbing.  And they sounded fabulous (if only there was a singer in the family!  ha ha).  The moment completely took my breath away and I had to capture it on film.  It's what I always dreamed about.