FINGER PAINT IS FOR FINGERS

When I was in LA with the grands we had a finger painting session.

I tried to get Fox to make patterns in the paint with his fingers. He was more interested in experimenting with the texture of the paint on his fingers. I said you are supposed to rub the paint on the paper and then make patterns in it. he said ,"No, its finger paint its for fingers!" He did enjoy mixing colours on the paper.

 Little brother, Banjo, copies everything Fox does. Wet wipes are the best invention since sliced bread.

"NUMBER FOUR ENGINE WILL NOT START."

That is just what you want to hear the Captain of the Jumbo Jet to say when you are sitting on the plane at midnight ready to take off to the other side of the world after waiting two hours in the airport lounge. This is what happened when I was excited to be going home to Brisbane, Australia after spending three weeks in LA helping out my daughter with the toddlers while she went to work.

We taxied back to the gate where the technicians established that the starter motor had blown up. We were told it would take about 2 hours to fix. So we were off loaded. It was a slow process as we had to show passports and boarding passes again. and we waited again in the lounge. We were supplied with snacks and water and kept up to date with proceedings. Luckily I had a good book to read and time passed fairly quickly. We were reassured by the captain that the plane was fixed and perfectly safe. He wouldn't be flying it if it wasn't 100% safe. I was too tired at 2:00am to really be worried, I just wanted to sleep.

I didn't think that I had been asleep long when I was woken to have dinner. I fell asleep again after dinner for a while but then I seemed to be wide awake so I watched movies and read my book for the rest of the 13 and a half hour flight. I was happy to be home soon.

After a five minute wander around the car park to find the car we were eventually on our way to the door of our house. It was great to be back with TOH and to have my own bed.

However, it won't be long before I am missing my little grandsons and their parents again.

 The boys have learnt that when visitors come , it usually means "special treats". Papa helps unpack "Monsters Inc"

 Fox playing monsters with Papa.

 Banjo is watching, listening and learning.

Mummy has time to read a story before she goes to work.

ACTIVE TIME

When it is not quiet time it is full on active time with two little boys and one big boy. Bernie and I took the boys to the park not only for swinging, climbing and sliding but for riding and running too.

 Up the hill, Banjo in the car and Fox on is bike.

 Then down hill weee

Concentrating and travelling quite fast.

Speed demon.

Then it was playing chasings with Papa.

"Caught you Papa"

"Now where have they gone!"

"There they are!"

A nice moment with Papa.

"C'mon boys give me a nice photo together."

"Lets have a photo together."

" No way!" says Banjo, "I'm off."

"Okay then just Fox and me"

"Let's try again , Grandma and her grandsons."
"No I want Papa." says Banjo 

Oh well thats how it is trying to photograph kids.

Only one day left to have fun with these two dynamos. I leave for Australia tomorrow night.

THE BEST ENTERTAINMENT FOR KIDS

Bernie has returned from filming for a week. It is so much easier to look after the toddlers when one parent or the nanny is here. A few days ago Bernie and I took the boys to the Zimmer Museum for Children. It is the most fabulous place for kids to play and learn. It is in a city building and takes up two floors. There are all different rooms for the children to play in. I had as much fun as they did. As soon as we arrived the boys were off, they knew their way around well as they come often.

First stop was an aeroplane.
I'm sure the sweet girl passengers are in safe hands of the Curry boy pilots.

Pilot Fox

Then they enjoyed a touch screen music program.

Then downstairs to the water play tanks but they had a leak
so they were turned into sand trays, with lots of toys to play with.

Banjo loves the coin slots.
 Put it in at the top and it rolls out the bottom.

Then it was shoes off and placed in a special bin so you can play
 on the pirate ship and jump into the sea of balls.

Fox is drowning.

Banjo has been to the supermarket and 

is going into the house.

Then it was time for a drink and a snack. There is a special snack room. We took our own snacks but there are vending machines there too. Here Fox shares his yogurt with Banjo.

We had a relax in the reading room,
where Fox made his name
with the big rubber letters and

listened to Papa read him a story.

There were many more rooms and activities. Too many to show here. The kids all have a great time there. They can run from one activity to the next when ever they please. They never get bored but they can get tired.