Never under-estimate

I should know this by now. I have been "managing" a hormone imbalance brought on by a pituitary tumour for the last 15 years. I say "managing" because I am actually not that good at managing it. I tend to ignore it until it all gets so bad I can't ignore it anymore.

Anyway I finally did something about it -again- and what do you know the world seems a much better place!

Spy Wizard

Thomas has a problem. He can’t chose on which career to take up. Spy or wizard (or lifeguard or tri-athlete) What I really enjoy about this is he is nine (and the size of a 12 year old) but he is still fully engaged in imaginative play involving him and sometimes-small toys…

The thing is spies have gadgets…

He has been into all things spy for sometime now. He especially enjoys stories about kids who become spies and ‘save the day.’ He has been reading a series of books about a boy called Z@c Power who has joined a spy agency. In the books Zac’s code name is ‘Agent Rock Star’ and the boss is ‘Agent Big Boss’. Z@c’s brother makes the gadgets (a bit like Q in the Bond movies). The most recent series of the books (mega missions!!!) came with Z@c Power gadgets attached to carabinas – a small compass, torch and magnifying glass. Last weekend Thomas and his friend who was over to play packed up these and other spy gadgets and went ‘spying’ writing notes about what they saw and heard. They had a great time.

Anyway, clearly Thomas has been talking all things spy with his Dad too because last night at the dinner table he suddenly turned to me and said ‘hey Mum did you know that my Dad’s dad used to be the boss of the spies?

I said I did know that and that I thought that perhaps his Dad and I had been to his office once. He hammered me with questions ‘were there gadgets in his office?’ ‘how did he become the big boss?’ ’did you see any spies?’ ‘was there a room to make gadgets?’ ‘did he have a code name?’ ‘did he have guards like Mr How@rd?

My lack of knowledge did not impress him all that much (particularly my comment about working hard to become the big boss of something). But in the end he decided that his grandfather would have his gadgets hidden from (the likes of) us anyway, probably in an underground room.

Then again wizards have magic…

When he is not being a spy he is being a wizard. A couple of weeks ago when we were walking his dog he went and sat in a tree in the park (while I actually walked the dog) and he pulled out all of his ‘wizard stuff’ from his ever present small yellow and blue bag which he carries everywhere these days with whatever is important to him of the moment. After he had sat in his tree and played for awhile he and I walked around to the shops to pick up a few items. The conversation went like this “Mum you don’t believe in wizards do you?” “Sure I do honey” "No mum you don’t but that is okay because people who can’t be wizards just don’t know about it. Do you think you would be happy if I were a wizard when I grow up?”

It must be the spring before I turn 40 because

• we are eating our dinner out on the deck most nights - thou we do eat our dinner at a kid friendly time (we have always been a one meal eat all together type family rather than the kids meal followed by the grown-up meal type of family);
• my washing line is full of Al's all-in-one short and top thingos instead of little cords & cardigans;
• soccer season is over so our Saturday mornings are free of driving around this crazy city at peak weekend time finding remote soccer fields (shhh as I say a small hooray at that, thou I will miss the weekly catch-up with the team and enjoy watching the kids play);
• "nippers" season has started (and Thomas was keen to do it again for the first time in a number of years) and so our Sunday mornings now involve a trip to the beach - which is completely gorgeous;
• my oregano is 30 cms high, the newly planted basil is about 20 cms high, the tomatoes and the passion fruit are flowering and if half the limes and lemons that are budding come out we will be able to supply all our friends with fresh lemon for their summer g&t's;
• we have booked our summer holiday - four whole weeks off work for me and more than two whole weeks for us all up north in a cabin near a beach and a pool and a low-key-but-groovy-enough-to-have-good-coffee small town;
• the jacaranda are flowering outside my window at work. A view I will miss ALOT when I move to my new building in two weeks;
• Thomas has started swimming lessons again - his face when they told him he had 'finished learn-to-swim' and was 'ready for squad' was priceless and reminded me what a little boy he still is in some ways
• we are doing the picnic regularly as a socialising event. In the next few weeks we have a halloween picnic (Thomas) , a masters attainment celebration picnic (for Gaye and our friend Gary who both finished their masters this year) and a 10th wedding anniversary picnic (for two dear friends) planned;
• and that last one sort of ties into the next one cause at that wedding I was lovely and pregnant with Thomas and right now I am seriously thinking of having another baby.

First pair of big boy shoes

 

I am told that Al was so thrilled at getting his new shoes he hugged the man at DJ's who fitted him followed by walking around the store arms above his head calling 'oohh oohh' until all and sundry commented on his new shoes.

Cousin time

Thomas is having a lovely school holidays and none of it has anything to do with me. My niece is in town - after taking her first plane flight on her own to get here, and they are having a lovely time together. Beach trips and ferry rides. Later on we will probably go to Luna Park. They have always been good friends these two and really enjoy each other's company.

On Monday when we picked her up from the airport he walked her to the baggage pick up (after standing face pressed against the window as her plane came in) and insisted on carrying her bag to the car for her. So sweet.

Walking Boy

Al is walking all the time now. He only returns to his hands and knees to go up stairs or down stairs. He still insists on carrying things around in his mouth - we are a bit scared he models more on the dog than the other people - but also walks around the house 'singing' alot of the time.

The books say he should have six words by now. He has none. That is not to say he doesn't know what is going on - he certainly does. Or that he can't get what he wants - he certainly can. He has a raft of signs and grunts to inform and engage. He has started throwing the most wacking tantrums too. Fun times ahead