Night Time Visitor

I thought someone was knocking on the door. It was 10.30 at night and the door started rattling...

 

 

I'm glad I was in the lounge and not in bed. My imagination could have leaped to some other conclusions. 

Reward

We introduced a reward / sticker chart for K to try and address her clingyness on school mornings. To get a sticker, K had to say goodbye nicely to Mum/Dad and move to the mat with no dramas. She has done superbly well and after 10 stickers, got to choose an outing of her choice. The 'animal farm' was something she has been eagerly anticipating for the past few weeks. She has been talking about visiting the guinea pigs all this time, but once we arrived, all the animals were greeted with equal enthusiasm. We have been to this simple animal park a few times, and K still has not tired of it.

 If we weren't moving in a few weeks, a couple of these would have been coming home with us today. Dad has build a chook pen, but it is yet to see any residents.

 We weren't able to hold these babies, but there were others in a larger enclosure that K managed to get her arms around.

This sole calf was cute. K learnt that he had a very long tongue. The animal farm takes in  orphaned animals and raises them.

 K was overjoyed to pat the two resident border collies. They were very friendly and well behaved, sitting or laying for a pat. They are of course clever - hanging around near where you are feeding the animals and scooping up any dropped bread.

There were many friendly sheep.

These three were a favourite. They are incredibly gentle taking the food from your hand and stretching out for a scratch or pat.

 

This rooster followed / stalked us for half an hour. Anyone who knows me, knows that birds and in particular chickens, scare me! I was not impressed with the antics of Mr Rooster above. He kept a close eye on our food buckets and didn't let them leave his sight.

K hasn't yet built the confidence to feed Stormy. I think his sheer size is still overwhelming.

Goats are always cheeky. This time, the goats have been moved to a paddock towards the back of the farm. This meant the visitors didn't lose all their food too early on in the walk.

 K's favourite for the day were the rabbits. They took a little bit of patience to draw them near enough to catch and hold.

 More baby chickens - these ones were noisy and hungry.

There are many Ibis at the farm, as there are in the whole region. There is a sign that outlines that these birds are wild, though they don't think they are. Most have lived at the farm their entire lives. They will sneak food from the feed buckets if they are left unattended.

 Although K has been talking about the guinea pigs all weeks, these ones were too quick and not happy to be touched or held. I think K clapping and trying to grab them probably didn't help!

 We won't be back to this farm for a long time.

Maybe the next time we come back, K will be as tall as the tractor tyre.

 One the way home we called into a candy store which has 'cows' as a theme.

 The town has dozens of cow statues in front of shops, in parks and free ranging everywhere. 

K chose one lolly - she chose a tube of sherbet or 'sugar' as we call it. Sherbet is normally reserved for a once a year treat as K's behaviour usually takes a steep dive not long after consuming it.

 

The morning was a nice one. I'm glad the outing has helped focus K's behaviour at school and although we are super busy, we could make time as a family to have some fun. K's already talking about what she wants to do when she finishes her next reward chart!

Our Artist

With our house move drawing closer, it has come time to reflect and dispose of the several boxes of K's work I have kept for the last few years. I haven't held on to everything - but I normally will put something in her 'art box' if I can see she has put a lot of effort into it or I can notice some improvement in skill. I know however she is only 5. I have many more years of art and school work to go and I simply can not dedicate a whole room to pieces of paper and construction box creations.

So, with a deep breath, I have photographed some of it, and thrown it all (well, most of it). Here is a (long) post outlining the fun K has had in the past with her art.

 A letter to Father Christmas, Dec 2012. K aged 4, nearly 5.

 A large amount of time during Kindy was spent learning about dinosaurs. K has always enjoyed playing with dinosaur figures - they are her standard bath toys that get played with most nights.

 K and friend are dreaming.

 This picture is for Dad - I think the figure is actually Jack climbing the beanstalk.

 This is Spiderman. I love it - especially the spider on his chest.

 At a Kids Festival in early 2012, the children were encouraged to write their own story. The stories were photocopied and added to a library of stories for everyone to share during the event.

 Mother's Day 2012

 It is always interesting what 4 year olds say when asked about their parents. Listening to the other Kindy families, I learnt that what is said, is normally a mixture of fact and fantasy. I don't think I have ever made vegetable soup - and we all know how K is with eating her vegies!!

Term 2 in Kindy (2012) was spent exploring nursery rhymes. Goldilocks and the 3 little pigs were a favourite. The class built three cubbies made of straw, sticks and bricks.

 K's first art work at Kindy, 2012, aged 4 (just)

 K's 4th birthday (Jan 2012) was a monster party. We made monster playdough creations and decorations for the party.

 This weather chart was treasured and used for weeks.

 2011

 2011

 Mum and K made a 'farm' picture at home. I generally don't enjoy craft time - I think K has plenty of opportunities at daycare and school. I must have felt particularly motivated this weekend.

 I love K's early family pictures. They are so cute. Ears, eyebrows etc have just started to appear in this picture.

 May 2011, K aged nearly 3.5

 K doesn't have bodies in her other pictures around this time. I think this may have been a picture where Mum said, "How about we try drawing a body, some clothes, some fingers etc". The character doesn't look all that happy with his situation though. Maybe he didn't want a body after all!

 Soooo cute xxx

K is definitely not the best artist on the block. I have seen pictures drawn by other kids of similar age that far exceed her skill and patience. K will also only draw for pleasure sometimes. This is something I could encourage more by making the time to sit, and draw with her. She is a practical child though. If there is actually a reason to draw (her favourite being we need to draw a map in order to play a game of 'treasure hunt') she will persist and draw for as long as possible. Note to self - I need to do more of this as well.