All Full of Hot Air

5 am starts are NEVER fun......but today it was!  Mum and Dad have been visiting us this week in Canberra and it was just in time for the Canberra festival.  There is sooooo much on and this week is the Hot Air Balloon Spectacular.

We rocked up at the lawns of Old Parliament House at around 5.30 this morning and were greeted by THOUSANDS........seriously THOUSANDS of people flocking to exactly the same place.  We nearly didn't get a park!!  I couldn't believe it.  I had this picture in my head that we would be sitting quietly in the dark with a small group of people, on the grass and waiting patiently for the balloons to lift off.  Nuh-uh!  Thousands of people, breakfast tents, coffee vans, music playing, people booking balloon rides.....totally crazy but such a nice surprise.

Ayla really enjoyed herself too.  I think she was people watching more than balloon watching but she seemed really happy with all.  And who wouldn't be ......check out the photos.

Houston - We a have Kindy Girl

Okay...Everyone take a deep breath in.....hold it.....and give a big sigh of relief out....Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh. Houston, we have a Kindy Girl!

I am so relieved right now. In the lead up to this week I have been wondering what little unpleasant surprises would be awaiting me on Ayla's first day at Kindy. You know, things like "Would they change their mind about her enrolment?", "Would inclusion support add just one more requirement that sent the kindy over the edge...never to enrol Ayla again?", "Would Ayla get so upset and not sleep and completely disrupt ALL of the other kids and the kindy tell me she wasn't ready?". I even rang Fingerprints the day before just to check that Ayla was "All good to go tomorrow".

Nothing.....no changes to her enrolment, no more requirements from Inclusion Support, no tears....just a little disruption at sleep time on Day 1.

But Day 2 was even better! Ayla actually went to sleep! It was only 30 minutes but she went to sleep. No tears, no frustration. She just quietly played for 10 minutes and then went to sleep. The kindy called my phone at 1.45pm, which sent the butterflies madly spiralling around inside me...just for a moment, but only to tell me they were so excited because Ayla was asleep and to TAKE MY TIME getting back there....Really? Cool!

Aaaahhhhh. This really could be a fantastic year afterall.

It also appears that Ayla is really loving Kindy, despite us not being with her. The teachers said that she had a great time. At home, there were big smiles at the mention of Kindy and on Day 2, Ayla squealed and giggled all the way there.

On a side note....I had a really good day too. I did the grocery shopping all by myself and actually finished it in one go. Kinda like a mother who has a 4 year old that goes to Kindy...Life is Good.