Year 4 Camp

Today Hayley went off to her Year 4 School Camp at Warrawee.  Hayley carefully helped me pack her bag on Tuesday afternoon so that she would know where everything was.

We had mixed emotions about camp this year as she was only allowed to be with one of her friends and the other girls she didn't know well.   Last year her whole group of friends were together, all 6 of them
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They are in for some fun including Canoeing, Indoor Rock Climbing and Archery.  The first two I am not so worried about, but Archery!!!

Once the bus was packed they were off at about 9.30am.

Talent Show

Hayley and her 4 friends decided to sign-up for the school talent show.  After many weeks of rehersing at school and two visits to friends houses and countless costume changes they were ready.  There were 4 acts for Year 4, a singing group, a magic act, another singing and dancing act and Hayley's group.

The girls did a great performance and were rewarded for their efforts with a first place.  So we are now off to the grand finals in 8 weeks, with the same dance (i hope), just a little longer.
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The Volleyball Jersey

Emma is currently participating in the Volleyball Excellence Program at high school, and this is the team jersey.  They were able to choose their own numbers and have their names printed on the shirt as well.  We had to ensure that payment was made quickly so that we got the number of our choice.  Once the jersey was ordered we had about a 4 week wait, then we had to wait for the teacher to return from holidays and was able to hand them out.  But Emma was quite excited when she finally got it.

Christmas Creek

Today we decided to take a trip out to Christmas Creek, with David's family.  We arrived just after lunch and had taken afternoon tea with us.

 Emma fell in love with the horses from the adjoining paddock.  The girls had fun playing with their cousins.

Just a really nice, quite place.  The girls expressed their desire to camp there sometime with their dad.

Day out with Dad

Yesterday Emma had a sleep over at her friends, so David took Hayley out in Grandad's boat.   Hayley was very relaxed and totally at home in the boat, with her feet up and fishing rod in hand.

 

Hayley was lucky enough to catch a little flathead, all on her own (except for baiting the hook and casting the line).  She did it without any fuss, Dad and Grandad only realised that she had caught the fish with she had almost reeled it into the boat.  She was very proud of herself and the fish was released back to the water to grow bigger.  

Grandad let Hayley drive the boat for awhile.  When Hayley wasn't fishing she was entertaining everyone with her opera singing and serving up the bait, because she was the baitshop girl.  A fun day was had by all, so I was told.

Sports Day

Today was Hayley's Sport Day.  Earlier in the week I wasn't sure that the weather would hold out, but it did.  Hayley wasn't to excited about the day, but came around in the end.  All her friends are in Blue house, except one.  She decided that it would be fun to spend the day with her friends. She played ball games, tug-a-war, sack races and 100m sprints.  Hayley came 4th in her race, she was a little sad because she would have liked a ribbon.  Her friend Chloe let her wear one of her ribbons for the day.  It was a great day.

How to be a Friend

Nannie bought Hayley some books from the local charity store when she was staying with her over the school holidays.  How to Be a Friend by Nancy Wilcox Richards was one the three books purchased for a very expensive 50c each.

Lexie is new to grade three and she has a secret. She has epilepsy. Worried that she'll be though of as different, she shyly avoids class discussion and recess (where she fears she will be teased for wearing a helmet).

But hiding her condition proves to be dangerous when she is pressured into eating food that her treatment diet doesn't allow, and must stay home for several days.

As time passes, Lexie gains confidence and makes friends among her classmates, even giving a presentation about epilepsy to the entire class. One dreaded day she actually has a seizure in the schoolyard — and learns that good friends can be trusted to understand and accept who you are, and even help out in times of trouble.

Hayley liked this one the best and has read it several times since.  She has expressed her desire to read some more books from this author.

Paradise Point

On Sunday went packed up and went fishing for the day.  We ended up at Paradise Point on the Gold Coast (along with a few other people).  The weather was gorgeous, the sun was shining and only a little wind.

David and the girls set about fishing.  Emma was the first to catch something.  A little Butterbrim, which of course had to go back for another time.

The girls relaxed in their camp chairs whilst fishing, until their cousins arrived, and that was the end of the fishing.  The kids played in the sand and had a great time.

David and Gary continued to fish and then David made the "BIG CATCH".   He had a good sense of humour and let me take a photo.  The fish of course had to go back in.  Better luck next time.

A Ferry ride to the Qld Museum

Today we caught the the City Cat from Bulimba to Southbank.  We took a very scenic route, down the river under the Story Bridge, past the Kangaroo Point cliffs and onto Southbank.

We wandered through Southbank Parklands and were drawn to the pool/beach.

We then continued onto the Museum.  We all really enjoyed the  underwater section with the turtles and sea life.  Then all the way down to the dinosaurs.

The ferry ride home was a quite and relaxed trip.  A big day but a great one.

Self Portraits

Today we went to the Logan Art Gallery for another School Holiday activity - Self Portraits.  We started by looking at an exhibit from Chris Martin on show at the moment.  The teacher explained how different colours were used to make the shapes on faces.

We then went onto the art room where the everyone learnt how to proportion a face.  A few charcoal pictures were created.

We then went onto draw another self portrait on white paper, which was to be our painted copy.

Emma had a really good go and this was her effort.

Hayley struggled to just let go, but I think she made a really good effort.