MP, good luck with the auction today. Hope you and N have a good day.

MD, bummer about being solo for 2 weeks! I think your DH might be in my old neighborhood - gee I would like to go back for a trip down memory lane. Pet day went well - A was totally in her element with all the animals to look at. She managed to snag herself a little teacup fluffy puppy to cart around for a while, had no qualms about draping herself over the pit bull(!) and kept sticking her fingers in the cage with the chooks that kept pecking her lol. W isn't that animal focused so it was a bit ho hum for him.

G, glad you had a good trip. Did your MIL behave herself? DH keeps talking about camping by the river but it isn't overly relaxing being so close to water. I know W would be fine but A tends to have no fear and is sooo clumsy I could see her falling in.

Trill, how did your teaching maths exam go? What are the basics in teaching early maths skills? W's kindy teachers have noticed that some of his maths concepts are ones that most kids develop around 7 and he is certainly interested but I don't know where to start. I am really struggling for ways to keep him stimulated (bored W = brat W), he is halfway through reading eggs but still seems like he needs more. I probably sound like a hot houser, but I am just trying to keep him occupied with stuff he is interested in and very capable of (I don't force him to do it, he nags and nags to do it). He has always had an obsession - bugs, biology, volcanos, space etc - but for the last few months he has had nothing of interest to think about and role play. It is making life difficult!

My father's visit went well. Not awkward like it used to be so that was good.

What are people doing for xmas this year? We got the kids a mini quad bike to share and might get a couple of little things each. We are going to the beach for 10 days and DH's family are coming up to join us. They are staying in a separate house so it is the best of both worlds