The joy of giving

Today I got to breath in the crisp winter air on a glorious June day as Jervois Primary years 2/3 and 6/7 went tree planting. I missed out last year as my daughter and niece undertook this wonderful community and environmental service and this year it was purely by luck that it fell during my annual leave. We had 300 or so trees to plant and my daughter and I with a duo of young men managed to plant (maybe) ten of them. Today has been a true test of my sense of humour but thankfully I've a good one. I also think I made a great decision by planting the trees away from everyone else. My three 'helpers' spent most of the time bugging each other and stealing the poor little trees and shrubs we were trying to plant. Thankfully the other groups were faster planters and we managed in a few hours to get over 240 native shrubs, trees and plants into the ground... Hopefully the majority of them take root and flourish...

Tomorrow we (my beautiful wife and I) get to give again to this amazing school. Casa de Law's delicious and healthy pizzas are on the menu and have proven to be more popular than ever. We will need all our wits about us as the canteen kitchen becomes our pizzeria. We love a challenge!! I'm sure we'll handle it!!!

I just love the chance to be involved in the three kids' school lives... Their friends know us (and like us too I think) and the kids are so happy for us to be there and be involved... Loving this time of our lives...

Thank you to my wife and to Children's University Adelaide for a magical Sunday

Yesterday was family day... Both my wife and I had the weekend off and as an added bonus I had the Monday off as well. My amazing wife was working the Monday Public Holiday (Queen's Birthday) but she decided to organise an epic family day out anyway... We could not have asked for a nicer day... Perfect blue skies and sweet sunshine... My son has signed up for Children's University, a thing run by Adelaide University where kids are rewarded for undertaking educational outside of school hours activities and at the end of the year if they record enough hours they are awarded an official document (degree, certificate etc.) with a full blown graduation ceremony (cap, gown and everything)... Very excited...

So anyway, on this brilliant Sunday we (#TeamLaw5) headed to Port Adelaide and the Aviation Museum hoping that Master 12 would answer all the questions and get a stamp in his learning passport. I loved the museum, all the old planes, drones and helicopters, the displays were all very interesting and yes 'we' did finish off the worksheet and (eventually) got all the questions correct!! One and a half hours in the passport and one very proud mum and dad...

After a quick lunch at the golden arches (luckily we had vouchers for free burgers, thanks again to my amazing wife) it was decided that we were so close to the Rail Museum and it was still so early in the afternoon that we should visit this too... Master 12 was reluctant to tackle another worksheet so Miss 10 (almost 11) undertook this one... The Rail Museum was so much more interactive with touch screens and displays that light up and even a little steam train that we took a ride on (5 crammed into a tiny carriage was indeed an experience)... With 20 minutes to go before we hit the road bound for home Master 12 decided he did want to finish the worksheet and so a whirlwind of discovery later he now has his train stamp in the passport too... Another one and a half hours toward the end of year tally... Woohoo!!!

A truly wonderful day of family filled fun... Thank you to my wife and to Children's University Adelaide for a magical Sunday...

Aviation Museum - 8.5/10 (great price for family of five, massive planes, friendly service)

Rail Museum - 7/10 (even with discount from visiting Aviation it still seemed expensive, great displays and lots to do, service a bit unusual)

Feeling proud

Yesterday was our school sports day and I could not be prouder. I am so proud of my three kids and I only wish that I could split myself in threes so I would have had more of a chance to see everything from the day... The weather was perfect and it was so great to have a great friend along to support as well (thanks Larissa) and my dad too... I am also proud of the students of the school and the teachers, so many people working together so that the day ran smoothly, everyone seemed to give everything their best efforts...

Our team did not win for the first time since our kids began attending JPS but the team that did win has not had success in over twenty years... Sweet victory goes to Team Red... Maybe it will be Yellow's turn again next year...

Such a wonderful day... As always after sports day I struggle with my voice... So much shouting and cheering... For the kids, for the team and for an amazing school... Oh so very proud...