thekasumovics

Every year winter we take the kids out of  school for a week to ski. We usually go outside school holidays so we miss the crowds.

Off to Perisher we go! Up the ski tube.

The boys went to ski school for three days and we all skied together for two. I was so impressed that Ethan followed all of us on blue runs, even some double blue. The poor kid has the bruises on his shins to prove his valiant effort!

This is how we got back to the lodge every day….

A bit if a blizzard

A giant snow mound…

And some indoor fun as there was live music each night at the lodge.

Over the  holidays. I took the boys to the blue mountains for an overnight stay with friends. It was a lovely spot in Blackheath, a town I’ve never been to. The house was a lovely spacious home with heaps of bedrooms and two fire places which was great at it was quite cool.
Upon arrival, the boys and I went for a hike on our own. We did a 1hour trek from  Govetts Leap to Evans lookout and back. It was a pretty steep route and I was so impressed with Ethan’s ability to navigate the rocky cliffs for a for year old.
Back at the house the kids all played, then we did another short hike from Govetts Leap in the other direction.

That evening the kids went to sleep like angels after such an active day outside and  the mums had a chance to catch up over a glass of wine. 

The next day we headed off again for one last hike, this time to a more rainforest and flat area (a welcome change the the Ricky steep slopes). Jacqui spotted an owl pellet, the very thing she studies in the field. She picked it up and shouted Tomas and I the bone bits and feathers – all undigested. Tomas was so taken with the pellet that he wanted to take it home….. Which we did and it’s now in a glass jar on my window sill!!

Govetts Leap

Listening for termites

View from Evans Lookout

The Pope’s Glen Track

I don’t know how Ethan manages to fit in these small boxes. He’s like a cat.

Rocking it! Richie brings his electric guitar to the last day of term. I truly believe this is the only reason Tomas continues with his lessons….

Where did those teeth go??

The king still likes craft time.

A praying mantis on our house.

Almost like camping – at our friends’ backyard.

Helping mum with the chocolate zucchini muffins.

Mike filleting some fresh fish dropped off by a friend…..can’t remember what it was called but it was delicious!

Love those gloves!

Reading together in my bed — a rarity!

Greta reading a bumbum story to Ethan.

Cuddles

Before their grading at the end of term….

And after….Tomas moves up to orange belt!!

Ethan ‘inherits’ yellow belt….for now.

One proud orange belt!

A mini cyclone hit NSW in May. So much sand was washed onto the coastal areas. The streets,  parks and parking lots were covered in sand! It was so windy, many trees fell to the ground and we saw smashed cars and buildings in our neighborhood. Surrounding areas are hit even worse with flooding, power outtages, and general damage.

The entrance way is a paved walkway that we use regularly. On either side is grasslands where we usually picnic – now all of it is under sand!

Our first hail storm in Sydney! What an experience for the boys! Golf ball size hail was falling to the ground, making a terrible racket! It looked beautiful, just like a fresh snow fall! The boys could barely contain themselves; they put on raincoats and headed outside to collect the hail. I had to pull them in when I saw lightening tho. Ethan still recalls the day it rained ice cubes!!

Fun fact: cars damaged in hail storms are not protected by insurance. We were surprised to see our neighbor cover his car in blankets during the storm – apparently that’s not uncommon – crazy!

When great uncle Dave visited a few weeks ago, Ethan showed off his amazing spelling skills.
Uncle Dave: how do you spell fox?
Ethan: FOX
Uncle Dave: how do you spell foxes?
Mum: ohh we haven’t delved into plurals yet….
Ethan: I know….FOXFOX

Oh the brilliance of a child….

When Mike explained the show One Piece to the boys….
Mike: when the people eat a special fruit, they take on the powers of that fruit.
Ethan: so if an animal ate a fruit with human powers, the animal becomes a person?

Me explaining the word ‘unique’:
Me: it means rare
Ethan: like a four leaf clover!

General comments that wow me:

Mum look at that creative fence!

Mum, I have dark eyes so I can see in the dark. What colour are your eyes? Oh they’re green. Can you see in the dark??? (with concern in his voice). This is especially funny as we had just got out of the car after I was driving in the dark!!)

While passing a graveyard,
Tomas: you have to be really quiet in the graveyard
Ethan: ya, or you’ll wake them up!

In the car, after much discussion about animals came to this conclusion:
Ethan: it’s a blue whale that can take down a squid
Tomas: I think it’s the humpback whale.
Ethan: no it’s the blue whale because it’s bigger
Tomas: oh ya

It was so lovely to have my mum visit for nearly 3 weeks in April! We had two weeks of school holidays during her stay and I took a week and a half off work so we had lots if time together. We spent a couple days in the blue mountains, which was an adventure! It rained off and on but we managed to see the Three Sisters, hike at Echo Point and the Wentworth Falls. We stayed at the Fairmont Resort which was ideal as it has many amenities to keep the kids occupied in the rain such as a play room, ball pit, labyrinth, and pool.

We also did some coastal walks, and went to new places together such as the Chinese Garden in the city, and Wylie’s baths in Coogee. Mum and I also got out on our own to the markets, Australian Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art.

She will be missed.

Little Bay

Clovelly Beach
We swam to the rocks across the bay all together – a bit of a challenge getting out with the waves pushing us back, but somehow managed!

Wylie’s Ocean Bath

Chinese Garden

Geologists at Work

Blue Mountains

Maroubra Beach

A lovely Sunday spent climbing along the rocky shore of South Maroubra Beach, exploring the tide pools. Learned that there is a greynurse shark critical habitat off shore.

More shells to add to our never ending collection!

Today on the way home from work/school with all of us in the car.

Ethan: dad, we’ll have to buy a new car soon because your head almost touches the roof.

Mum: don’t worry, daddy will shrink soon.

Ethan: Then are you going to die (dad)?

On the weekend…..after a particularly bad night with a mosquito.

Ethan: mum, I know how to keep the mossies away

Mum: how?

Ethan: I will wear armour to bed and when the mossies come, they will ‘ping’ off my armour.

Mum: oh that’s a good idea…

James: we should really write songs using the funny things children say for lyrics.

Mum: yesssss!

While I was chatting with Poppi on skype while Ethan played Lego nearby…

Mum: ok dad, great chatting, guess I’ll sign off.

Ethan: THAT’S YOUR DAD????!!!??

Funny how he clued into the conversation for that revelation!