Our Last Day Of “Freedom” and What We Did With It

What do you do when your oldest baby is about to put on her uniform for the first time and head off to big school?  Well, let me tell you – you have a flipping epic last day of holidays, that’s what!

Look, it’s quite possible that I was having an ostrich in the sand moment – not wanting to accept the inevitability of sending off my biggest baby to school, but instead of marking clothes and stationery and exiting whatsapp groups, we packed into the car to spend the day at the Waterfront.

I’ve realised that we spend a lot of time at the Waterfront, but it has the most options on fun things to do that it’s a bit of a no brainer for us.

We started off with a bit of Art Jamming.  We’d never done this before so I wasn’t really sure what to expect.  This is probably obvious for most other organised parents, but you shouldn’t wear new clothes.  Seth asked if the paint comes out and after hearing that, no it definitely doesn’t, he managed to squirt a whole lot all over himself while helping Knox to get his paint on his tray!  Man, it wasn’t funny, but it was so flipping funny at the same time.  Oh well.

The girls had a ball – Kyla opting to use a stencil and Riya just winging it.  Knox, well Knox enjoyed it for about 5 minutes and then was bored – but that’s Knox for you.  And most probably every other 3 year old boy in the World.

Every time we go to the Waterfront the kids BEG us to go on the big wheel.  We always put it off because it’s not exactly cheap.  But we happened to get a few free tickets through birthday gifts and so we decided to take them on it.  I expected them all to be terrified of the heights but they could not have given less of a crap.  I was there clinging to my seat, sweating even more than I was outside of the airconditioned car.  I’m a little bit afraid of heights.  OK, I’m a lot afraid of heights.  But the funny thing about parenting is that it’s just not on to let your kids see that you are absolutely almost pooping your pants.  Kids have this funny way of picking up on our little fears and making them their own, I don’t want them to have this fear.  So I sucked it up, and only around the 3rd time around without plummeting to our death, I loosened up and actually managed to look around without passing out.

Look I know it seems that I have been sponsored to tell you about this, but honestly I haven’t.  I just feel the need to share an amazing deal when I see one.  If you are on Multiply you can go to the movies for FREE.  That’s right, you heard me.  For free.  So all five of us went to see The Good Dinosaur for FREE!!  It’s only till the end of January, so go and milk it now while you still can!

The Good Dinosaur was a bit hectic.  Like all other kids movie there was a substantial loss to the child in the form of a loved one in the early phase of the movie.  Sensitive littles would have an issue with this – Knox didn’t want to accept what happened.   And there are a few other little scenes where it’s a little bit scary.  Kyla was totally fine throughout the movie, Riya had a few moments where she was curled up on my lap and Knox had a lot of moments where he needed a bit of comfort – BUT I’m still going to say it was worth it.  It was a beautifully animated movie, really – they nailed the animation, everything looked so real!  The story line was great and we had so many laughs, for both us as parents and the kids.

My favourite moment though – when this snake jumped out at them and Knox shouted at it even louder than the movie noise.  Shame he was pretty shocked, but man, it was so funny.  I’m still giggling thinking about it now.  Bad parent.

Guys, I know this seems like an awful thing to say, but this is the first time I have truly enjoyed a day out with my family in six years.  Obviously we’ve been out before and it’s been good, however there were always moments of fighting or tantrums or accidents.  Moments that make you want to pack it all up and head home.  There were no moments like that yesterday!  NONE!  I have been praying for this day for a long time and I am so thankful that it is finally here!

Here’s to many, many more days like this to come!

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