How to Catch a Monster

Chocolate Chip Cookies.

That's how.

More precisely, a super-duper, yummy tummy chocolate chip cookie.

Oh my. I don't believe in spoilers. But there you are. You now know the answer to the title of the book. Don't be disappointed, you'll still enjoy the story if you ever read it to your kids. And I highly advise that you do. Such a delightful little tale with totally bewitching illustrations. I got so caught up examining them that Trent was finished and begging me to turn the page.

The lovely people at Scholastic have been surprising me by sending me boxes of books. It has been totally, completely, utterly divine for the this little book lover. I thought it would be nice to share some favourites, because who knows, if they pop up when you are browsing a book club catalogue or see a title on the shelf, it's always nice to have heard a recommendation.

I thought I would start with what has certainly been Trent and my favourite. "How to Catch a Monster" by Christina Bollenbach.

It really captured Trent's imagination. Lukas is often scared by a monster at night, but decides to catch him by baking cookies, which of course are irresistible to monster taste buds.

I tell you, the delight that literature has brought my little boys as portrayed on his face in this picture warms this book loving mother's heart. 

After seeing the entrapment, Trent was very insistent on baking his own batch of cookies. It hurts me to say that this is terminology he uses to refer to chocolate chip biscuits. This is the only drawback of the book. I have long insisted my children say 'biscuits' or 'bikkies'. It's the Australian (or British) way.

Anyway, personal quibbles aside, the story is really lovely. Not only does Lukas catch the monster, but they also have a frank discussion about scare tactics and they end up being the best of buddies. And you know it's good because the story remained in the mind of a three year old enough that in a totally different context, with quite a gap of time between reading the story, Trent has wanted to make biscuits like the boy in the book.

We haven't read the book for a little while, but today we made (white) chocolate chip cookies biscuits (there was the normal argument over semantics). This evening, I noticed that Trent had retrieved the book for his father to read him during bedtime stories.

So nice.

So. What do you say, biscuits or cookies?

Scholastic gifted me the books, but did not pay for me to endorse their products. My opinions are my own.

Road Trip! With 1 Year Old Triplets, 3 year old Boy and 6 Year Old Boy

Sometimes, when you have a lot of children, especially at such young ages, it's tempting to crawl up in a hole and stay in safe places and wait it out before entering the big wide world until they are more responsible and less inclined to run away and in need of a parent in eternal pursuit of mischievous bodies. Being a homebody, it hasn't bothered me all that much that we have spent a lot of time at home in the past year. However, in December, we choose to venture out into the big wide world in spectacular fashion.

A good old fashioned road trip. Only with air conditioning included. Oh, and DVD's and Nintendo DS. No sense losing some sanity to go completely vintage. Except for our youngest passengers. Poor kids had a brand new DVD player to watch and it stopped working by the 2nd day. They travelled 5 other days keeping themselves entertained with toys. Bravo babies, bravo.

The journey was a December trip from our home in South East Queensland to have Christmas with family at Cairns in Far North Queensland. We drove an impressive 4,405 kilometres (2737 Miles) from start to finish. One van, (our Kia, Grand Carnival), and seven people packed into it. Three 14 month old babies, a 3 year old, a 6 year old and a very brave Daddy and Mummy.

Our trusty Kia Grand Carnival. We borrowed the pod, and it was fantastic! Exactly what we needed for this trip.

It was actually so much easier than I had thought it would be. I had imagined a lot of screaming and crying, getting into places late at night because of so many stops to let children stretch their legs and having to provide endless in-car entertainment.

Our children, as it turns out, are awesome travelers  Unlike a memorable road trip to Sydney and Canberra when Trent was a three month old baby and had cried/screamed the majority of the drive time, and I came back needing chiropractic assistance to the damage done by twisting my arm back to hold a dummy in for hours. This time, all five children were content to travel the long distances with minimal fuss.

Our strategy was to get in the car and drive. (Profound, huh?) Minimal stops. It became apparent that our kids would just get in the 'travel zone' and we knew that it would start getting tricky getting them back into the car if we started letting them out too often. Mainly our only stops were to get petrol. Most toilet stops were on the roadside. (So easy with boys... and nappies for the babies) Our goal then was to let them have a swim in the morning before we left, so we didn't leave ultra early. This made them nice and tired to start with. Then we would go hard during the day driving virtually non-stop in between 6-8 hours during a day and mostly arrive in time to have a swim in the late afternoon as a reward for getting there.

The Christmas mobile all packed and ready to go!

Our travel itinerary. The time is the estimated time to travel without stopping, so of course it took us a bit longer. It was pretty well a good break up of time for the age group we were travelling with. Next time, we will probably take two days (one night) to get there if we drive again.
1. Toowoomba - Rockhampton (6.4hrs)
2. Rockhampton - Ayr (6.4hrs) - Took a lot longer this day to get there because we stopped to visit my Uncle and his family in Mackay.
3. Ayr - Trinity Beach (Outside of Cairns)(5.13hrs)


On the way home:
1. Trinity Beach - Townsville (4.17hrs)
2. Townsville - Yeppoon (7.55hrs) This was the biggest travel day we did - no time for swimming that evening!
3. Yeppoon - Bundaberg (3.6 hours) We stayed in Bundaberg simply because there is a barber who has become a family friend there. The little boys were getting scruffy and I simply wouldn't let anyone else to give Jayden and Toby their first haircuts!
4. Bundaberg - Toowoomba (4.19 hrs)

OK. So even with an ultra nice barber, first hair cuts can still be very scary. I love it that Matt cut the two boys hair at once. He was literally snipping a bit from one head and then going back and doing the other!

If you are interested in the details of how we travelled with the five kids, I've put it under headings below.

A common sight travelling with kids!

Food

We would get takeaway and keep driving for lunch. I know it's not fashionable to admit that, (espcially on blogs, which you are more likely to hear the virtues of organic homemade meals!) but I have an everything in moderation policy. Plus, it was a treat for the kids and it made the trip more exciting. (As well as being great for bribery during the day!) Because my children don't get junk regularly, it really did make the trip more of an event.

I packed an insulated lunchbox full of snacks for the big boys each day. They also had water handy to sip on throughout the day. That way they could just nibble away when they were peckish or bored. I packed packets of several sized zip lock bags, this way I could pull them out each morning and fill them. I had a rule that fruit always needed to be eaten first.

Travel snacks suggestions are:
GRAPES! (By far the babies favourite!)
Cut up fruit, (that wouldn't mush) for the babies and Jonty. Trent prefers to eat his uncut. I wish Jonty did also, it would save so much time. ;)
Crackers
Yoghurt Buttons
Dried fruit
Tiny Teddies
Muesli Bars
Pretzels
Smarties
Cut up sandwiches. (I also brought a jar of peanut butter with me.)
Chips
Fruit nuggets
The packaged lunch box items are great, because they are easy to store, especially in the heat, with minimal preparation.

I had bought the triplet's "gyro bowls" for the trip. They turned out to be the best thing ever for travelling. Basically the bowl is designed to minimize food being tipped out by having two bowls that swivel, encased in a larger easy to hold casing  They look like a little alien spaceship, and I was worried they would just be a gimmick, but turned out to be spill proof for big brothers to pass around the car. I had an insulated bag of triplet snacks near my seat, so at regular intervals I would fill a bowl up and pass it to Jonty, who would give it to the two babies sitting next to him. Then the third one would get passed back to Trent who would lean across and give it to the baby who was relegated to the back seat. (The babies don't have set seats, so we always made sure they had turns at sitting in the different postions.) Any bowl that can be passed by a six year old and a just turned 3 year old and still make into a 1 year olds hands with the food still within, really does deserve to be applauded. And I have spoken the gyro bowls praises loudly to all who care to listen.

This picture was obviously the first day - the only day the triplets had working DVD players. We've since solved the problem (why couldn't we figure it out en route?) and they are now developing a set of square eyes during trips. But anyway, check out their groovy gyro bowls! Perfect for containing special travel treats!

Entertainment

 To be truthful, I had organised a whole lot of activities to keep the children busy, but we didn't do most of them. The two older boys were more than content playing their DS, Leap Pad and watching DVD's. Of course we didn't let them do this all the time, and controlled their screen time, breaking it up into chunks throughout the day. In between using the screens, they were more than happy to talk and look out the window. It's quite boring to report about really. Except the boys didn't think so, and that's the main thing.

Another favourite past time for Jonty was posing for photos!

The triplets were pretty much legends. They were so patient. I did have a bag of toys always in the front with me. When they started to grizzle, I would pass them back a new toy. Whenever we stopped, I would retrieve all the dropped toys and then rotate them to a different baby. Because there was a baby in the very back seat, I got an expert at throwing soft toys so they would land in the car seat in the back right hand corner! We did get Trent to hand toys to the baby also, but the toys would often not make it.

The baby in the back. This time it's Toby.

Some 'old fashioned' things I did prepare in advance. (As in they didn't require a screen!)

1. I loved this Travel Bingo from The Organised Housewife. We printed them out and laminated them so they could be used with whiteboard markers.Unfortunately Jonty's headspace was firmly entrenched in Super Mario when I pulled this out. So I had to threaten there would be no DS until the bingo was complete. At all. Zilch. No more arguing. At all. I mean it. (etc. etc.) Eventually he begrudgingly played a game. For awhile there, he was enjoying it. Until we were stuck with bland scenery and couldn't find a dog to cross off the list anywhere. The atmosphere in the car got tense. Eventually he was able to shout a triumphant bingo and in two seconds flat the car was filled once again to the tunes of Mario jumping and catching coins.

2. Towns and Cities Lucky Dip.

I spent so much time before hand searching out little knick knacks. I then divided them into paper bags that had names of some of the towns or cities that we were travelling through. I gave Jonty a map, which he marked our route as we progressed. I was also going to give him laminated cards with various place names on. When he saw we were travelling through that place, he could trade the card in for a prize for him and Trent.

Except, I left the bag full of prizes at home. I cried when I realised. I had stayed up really late the night before getting all the last minute things in order, so I was ultra tired. So when I realised that all my carefully prepared goodies were sitting on the dining room table at home, I pretty well bawled. Which rather alarmed the boys, and they talked about Mummy crying the rest of the trip.  But anyway, if you are looking at things to do on a road trip, I'm sure it would be a great activity to fill in the time!

Some of the bags which are leftover. The others have been used for bribery..

There is no doubt that road tripping is a fantastic opportunity for hours of family time. Even if the kids are playing electronic games or watching DVD's, there is still a sense of community. We are all locked into a confined space, and we make the time pass together. (Plus, while the kids play, it's an excellent time for Mum and Dad to chatter away about grown up things.) The moments that the devices were turned off, gave us unique opportunities for in depth discussions on life. We discussed death as we passed cemeteries, the upcoming fears and expectations of the upcoming school year as we passed rural school houses, the environment as we drove through our vast country, natural disasters as we drove through communities recovering from major cyclones. We discussed our expectations of behaviour at the various places that we were visiting, we talked about how our family works and the different personalities. Road trips certainly offer a wealth of opportunities. It's a reminder that it's not just the destination, it's also the journey that will last in our memories.

Today I'm linking up with Essentially Jess

18 Month Triplets

I thought it must be time for a triplet update. My gorgeous 'babies' are 18 months!

They love drawing, but oh gosh, it's such hard work! They start well, but before long there is squabbles happening, climbing on table, and Toby will always -ALWAYS- start pegging writing implements around the room.

OK, truthfully, I wrote that first line several weeks ago. You may have noticed that my blogging is very random at the moment. I never had the time to complete the rest of the post, so it is more accurate to say my babies "were" 18 months, up until Tuesday, when they clocked into the 19 month arena. I shall still update you on their 18 month happenings. Because 18 months is somewhat  of a milestone in my opinion.

To me 18 months often marks that period where a child leaves behind the baby days and fully embraces and looks no longer like a baby, but just a toddler. I'm pleased to say that my babies still look like babies. Hurrah! I'm now wondering whether that may be because they were 2 months premmie, maybe they will stay babyish for an extra 2 months?

In any case, I'm thrilled they still look babyish. I am cherishing this time while they are little, but looking forward to the next stage also. You would not believe how unbelievably fun it is in our house at the moment! There is mayhem and ruckus, cuddles and kisses, cheeky grins, chatter and laughter. Of course, there is also the other side of the coin, which would include screaming, crying and tantrums. You can be assured of one thing. There is never, I mean NEVER, a dull moment!

So, what do 18 month triplets do? Lots! They are really perfecting the art of climbing. I have shared that table dancing has long been an art form in this house. That has not changed. As much as I am trying to keep them to stay off the table, and there has been improvement, the table is still a platform for chubby legs to run along. It was especially funny not so long ago when all three were on the table and kept stealing their big brother's lunch. Admittedly, it wasn't funny for Trent. He was rather upset. OK, very upset. Poor child. If there ever was a reason to plead middle child syndrome, Trent has every reason to claim it. I just hope it has no long term ramifications. I try to get heaps of photos of him though. I've heard that middle children often have less photos taken of them then eldest and youngest. At least this is one way I can atone for his middle child neglect.

So in addition to table climbing, we have cot climbing - by the girl. Unfortunately Immy's cot sides are lower than the boys. So the boys have not commenced attempts for freedom. Imogen however keeps climbing up the end of her cot, and then trying to get things off the shelves that are mounted on the wall above her cot. Which is annoying, because they are full of special trinkets that are supposed to be out of reach. This morning I found a broken helicopter propeller from a pewter money box. *Sniff, sniff* Imogen also climbs the screen door. Sometimes when she is sick of being outdoors, she tries to let herself inside. She's never been able to do it, so we end up with a shrieking girl stuck to the screen door like a cat. It's rather precarious opening a door with a child clawed to the outside too!

They are talking a lot better now. For awhile Imogen was by far the better talker. At the moment though it is my social bug Jayden who is now also the chatterbug. He is constantly delivering impressive words such as "gentle" and can amply communicate his desires with words such as "more", "no no" and "tank ooo". Immy also says these words, but not as often as Jayden at the moment. Toby remains a man of action, preferring to communicate by doing rather than saying. Although all three do talk, "Bronco" (our dog), "Woof woof", "Bye Bye", "Dadda", "Mumma", "No" are constantly used by all three. They are all obsessed with labelling whoever is crying, (be it each other or one of the older kids), as "Bubba". It's rather sweet. They will start saying, "Bubba, bubba" when someone is crying and come up and pat the sad persons back or head and give them a cuddle. Jayden and Toby tend to take it one step further and sit on the sad person while patting, or lie down on them to cuddle. This normally does not have a conciliatory effect, and because it is Imogen who must often receive this treatment, there results much high pitched shrieking and the noise increases a few decibels.

They all LOVE shoes! Imogen and Jayden will say "shoe" and ask for it to be put on their feet. Imogen particularly likes getting into her own shoes and insisting on wearing them when she is dressed. They all love putting on shoes that are larger than their own foot. It becomes a dilemma, because we often find it difficult to find a matching pair, as they get stomped around and deposited in the most unlikely spots. In fact this week we had a new In Home Carer start work for a 5 week stretch, and the poor lady had to go home with only one thong as we just could not find it's mate anywhere! (Thankfully it appeared the next day, although we still do not know where it had been hidden, it was just a case of catching a toddler wearing it later the next day.) I have two gorgeous memories of little Miss Imogen. The first that I know is looked into my mind is her after church one Sunday, shrieking (Have you gathered that Imogen likes to do high pitched girly shrieks?) because her little blue ballet flat came off. She went charging up to Alex who was having his Sunday afternoon nap, she threw the the shoe in his face, lifted her leg up and continued wailing until Cinderella once again had two shoes, and off she toddled! The other memory is her in the hallway, a big brother's shoe on one foot, and attempting to roller skate with a wooden toy car on the other foot.

Cuddling is also a popular past time. It warms the heart to watch them being affectionate to one another.

Anyway, that is a quick peek at life at the moment. Lots of love and laughter.
What do you think - do they still look like (bigger, admittedly) babies? Break it to me gently if you disagree...

Today I'm joining with:

Uniformly Disorganised

This morning I opened up facebook on my phone and saw a friend's status.

Ever tried to tumble dry formal school pants an hour before the bell rings? No? Never been THAT disorganised? I'll let you know what happens...

As I read it, I reflected that, for sure and certain, I've been there. (Ha! How naive for her to think that she is the epitome of an unorganised mother. Redirect attention to - moi!) In fact, I thought I had a vague recollection of sending my child to school in slightly damp clothes before. But, I took comfort in the fact that I had seen Jonty's uniform hanging in the cupboard yesterday, so today we were organised. Once I've sent him off to school I thought I'd write some comment under that post.

Fast forward an hour after reading the status. I look up and see Jonty in his PJ's at 8:00am. He is supposed to leave the house at 8:00am. Luckily Daddy (who takes him to school) was finishing shaving in the bathroom. After I admonished my son, he scampered off to his bedroom. Next thing there was a call for shorts. Out comes my son wearing only a school T-shirt. (I don't know why he couldn't at least wear his jocks even though he was missing his shorts.)
"What?" I said in utter disbelief. "It was hanging in your cupboard." Then I scurried into his room to prove my point. Except I was incorrect. The uniform I had seen hanging in readiness did not include shorts on the coathanger. 

Thinking quickly I remembered I had hung two pairs of shorts on the clothes line last night at 10pm. Surely those little polyester shorts would have dried overnight. It will be fine.

Except for the extremely heavy dew that seemed to settled this morning. The navy fabric was quite drenched. I handed them to my son sheepishly. "This won't take long to dry out, Jonty." I cajoled him, (not entirely convincing even myself.) "This fabric dries quite quickly. It will be kind of like wearing your boardshorts after you go swimming. It won't take long and it will be dry." He looked at me dubiously and then muttered, "I'll just wear my trackpants." and shuffled away. 

I felt awful, especially knowing that it was forecast to be a warm day. The Accountant hadn't started yelling yet, he was obviously running late also. I chucked the shorts in the dryer on their own. They were quick drying fabric after all. Who knows?

I walked out to the kitchen. The Accountant was standing in front of the toaster. "Your committed to your toast, aren't you?" I remarked dryly. "Absolutely." he replied with a smirk. 7 minutes late and he still couldn't leave without jam on toast. I proceeded to 'make' Jonty's lunch. It consisted of as many pre-packaged items as I could find. Can I say how proud I am that my son likes canned tuna? So convenient. 

3 minutes later I whipped the shorts out of the dryer. (I wish I was as organised as my facebook friend and had an hour to dry them.) I held them up to Jonty. "Are you sure you don't want to wear shorts?"

"OK. I'll try them." he sighed. He slipped his track-pants off and slid the shorts on. "But they're cold, and it's wet around the waist." I acknowledged defeat and handed him the trackpants. 

He seemed happy enough when I picked him up. There seemed no scarring from wearing trackpants, despite the fact that the rest of his class were clad in shorts.

Still, this guilt ridden mother took him to the ice-cream parlour after school. As we ate chocolate gelato, he chattered away. He was talking about dreams. In all earnestness, he said. "Do you know what? I can dream in the daytime, with my eyes open. I can be sitting there and then a dream will just happen." He launched into some fantastical story involving spaceships and missile launchers. I wondered during what school subject this daydream occurred. Then I had another round of guilt knowing he inherited the ability to day dream from yours truly. He will learn that the ability to daydream is a blessing and a curse. He kept chattering and shared about the wonderful dream he had 'downloaded to his brain that day', and how he couldn't wait to go to sleep to dream it. I was just thankful that he wasn't going to have nightmares wondering whether he would be clothed for school in the morning.

My boy and I. In a dry school uniform.

(Oh, and for the record. My friend's son went to school in dry trousers.)

What catastrophes have you had in the getting ready for school rush?

I am entered in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Multiple Moms contest. If you could spare a few extra moments, (it doesn't take long, I promise!). Could you click on the link above, scroll down to Caitlin's Happy Heart and press the pink heart to vote for us? Thank you very much!

There's Danger in the Silence

The thing with 18 month old triplets is that things can go downhill very suddenly.

This morning, as is often the case at the moment, there was a lot of crying and screaming. Mainly resulting from Mummy spoiling their fun since they were just getting into everything and I kept intercepting them.

Then as I was cleaning the kitchen I realised they were at last quiet. I congratulated myself for having the brilliant presence of mind to enlist the help of Thomas and assumed they were contentedly playing with the toy trains I had given them in the playroom. A few minute later I had a dawning sense of horror that they were in fact too quiet.

Oh how naive I had been.

My eldest son stores his drawing implements in a plastic tool box. I had thought I had put it up high enough when Jonty had asked me to put it away this morning.

It turns out it was triplet accessible and the two boys were getting in touch with their creative side.

I thought my little girl was innocent, but then I discovered pen on her face. The photo was too blurry before I wiped it off. Never mind. As she ate lunch I realised that the other side of her head was adorned.

And the rainbow surprises kept appearing.

Has there been mischief made in the silence at your house?

I am entered in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Multiple Moms contest. If you could spare a few extra moments, (it doesn't take long, I promise!). Could you click on the link above, scroll down to Caitlin's Happy Heart and press the pink heart to vote for us? Thank you very much!

Today I'm participating in Essentially Jess's IBOT.

Imperfections in the Happy Heart

My husband and I have been doing a lot of bickering lately. It happens from time to time in a marriage. (For most people, if you never have any fights with your spouse, share your tips NOW!)

Last night, I was really exasperated with my husband once again not being able to see my point of view. In desperation I said, "What is it? What am I doing so wrong that you can never be nice to me lately?" (Not entirely a true statement, but when you bicker, it's exactly the not entirely true type of statements that get uttered first.)

Of course, the ideal response from my husband would have been, "Oh, I'm so sorry darling. I've been awful. I'll do much better in the morning. For now, let me finish cleaning the kitchen, you go have a hot shower and I'll come in afterwards and massage your shoulders."

Are you surprised that this was not his response?

Instead, he was brutally honest. His reply expressed his annoyance that I was always snappy and always reactive to whatever he said.

To tell you the truth. I was surprised. Mainly, because this is exactly the way I would have described him - not me! Therefore my first thought was to think if he stopped berating me all the time, maybe I wouldn't be snapping. But just as quickly, micro seconds later, I had a Holy Spirit moment - you know when that quiet inner voice speaks the real truth to you?

The truth was, the truth is, regardless of who snapped at one another first, lately I've been being selfish. I have been placing my own agenda first. I have been boiling under the surface when I don't get to do what I want to do. Silly little things like read a book or watch something on TV. I've been wasting time trawling the internet or playing Candy Crush. (I can't believe how I've become addicted to this little game and I'm always finding a moment to try and pop a few more colourful little morsels. It's at the point where I'm wondering whether I should delete the app altogether.) I've been distracted wishing that I could find time to write a blog and making up imaginary posts in my head, rather than living in the moment and enjoying the people who are right under my nose.

It's all selfish. I've been all about thinking about what I want to do rather than how I can serve others. After all, being a mother requires sacrificial love. Too often these days you find encouragement to take some "Me time". "You deserve it", is the phrase that is whispered, seductive and tempting. And yes, there are moments of time we can use to do something for ourselves to refresh the soul.

In reality, there needs to be more encouragement for us to push aside seeking self pleasure, and laying down our own wants in order to make someone else happy. Playing in the sandpit with a child rather than sitting back and basking in the sunshine, spending a little more time to make a special dinner rather than whipping together the quickest meal possible. Taking the time to discipline by patiently and calmly correcting the behaviour rather than yelling in frustation. Tidying up before the husband arrives home so that he feels contentment as he walks into an organised home rather than checking facebook for the upteenth time. Choosing not to get angry about the mess that has just been made, but rather to be grateful for the little person who made the mess being in our life.

It's all about priorities. If I say my family is the most important thing in the world to me, then I should have the actions to prove this sentiment. I don't want my children and my husband to feel that I love them only when it is convenient to me. I want them to always know that they are always the greatest loves of my life.

I am not perfect. Already today I have fallen short. But I learn. I grow. I keep listening to the still small voice within and let the Holy Spirit guide and lead me, helping me to the best mother and wife I can be. It is in this service as a mother that my heart truly is happy. Caitlin's Happy Heart is dependent not on fulfilling selfish desires, it's by submitting to the higher calling, living my destiny to be a mother. Laying down my life in order to serve others. To do this is to follow the example which is in the gospels. And today I choose to follow it and be more Christlike.

Do you struggle to overcome selfish ambition?

So blessed to have such a wonderful family. They will continue to be my motivation to being a better person.

Teaching Our Children to Remember

Our family has just returned home from attending a local ANZAC Day service.

For my readers outside Australia, ANZAC Day is an Australian and New Zealand public holiday. It is a day of remembrance for those who have fought and died for our country, and especially remembering those who fought at Gallipoli in 1915. At dawn on the 25th of April, 1915, boats carrying young Australian and New Zealand soldiers approached the rocky shores and cliffs of Gallipoli. There was an intense battle while the men clambered from boats as the Turkish soldiers fired from the clifftops. Many men died before their feet even hit the water. Those who did make it to shore had to negotiate their way up the rugged terrain under heavy artillery and fighting. The casualities were high, but it is thought that the campaign at Gallipoli signified when our young nation reached adulthood.

So today is a solemn holiday as we remember not only Gallipoli, but all the brave men and women who have fought for our country and its freedom.

This morning Alex went to the dawn service with Trent. Unfortunately Jonty had gone to watch Daddy play futsal (indoor soccer) last night and was absolutely zonked. It was impossible for Alex to wake him. There will be other years though, as there are always services at dawn at war memorials throughout the country because it was at dawn when the Gallipoli campaign began.

Later in the morning there was another 10am service so as a family we all walked and rode bikes up for this commemoration. Our children are still young, but Alex and I still consider it worthwhile to participate in these services when possible. In time, they will grow in understanding of the history and knowledge of the consequences of war. For now, we encourage them to be respectful of soldiers and to know that there were many brave men and women who died so we could have a free country. We explain things in very simplistic terms. We whisper why the flag is at half mast, why the soldiers standing at attention, instruct boys to remove their hats during the national anthem. Although it is difficult, we encourage them to stay as still as possible throughout the service. It is important for them to learn there are times which require us to show respectful behaviour.

Because we were up the back, I found it alarming the amount of parents who let their children run around, rolling down the grassy banks and making a great deal of noise. I know it's very hard to keep very young children still for long periods of time, and sometimes it just doesn't happen, despite your best efforts. In those instances, I think parents should be applauded for at least making the effort to come. But letting children, especially those over the age of three run around with no mindfulness of the ceremony that is taking place, I feel is showing great disrespect. Mothers yelling at the kids in the middle of ceremonies or worse still, lighting a ciggy in the middle of the national anthem and having a smoke are not teaching or demonstrating to their children how to honour the dead and the sacrifice that has been made.

At one point, there was a group of children take leave of their parents and start to commando crawl up the grass banks. (At least their play was an indication of them being aware of the occassion!) It didn't take long before the father realised his kids were on a mission and he re-directed them, as quietly as possible back to stand with the family. I think this show good parenting, recognising that kids will be kids, but quietly and firmly insisting on appropriate behaviour. I just wish a few more parents surrounding us had the same control over their children.

I think for the most part Australian are teaching our young to be mindful and remember those who have gone before us. Record numbers turn out to celebrate ANZAC Day every year, young and old. For the most part children stand with their parents, little fists clasping flags or little ones with tired eyes and heads nestled into a parents shoulder. For most Australian families, we will keep their legacy alive, we will not forget.

Our family at the ANZAC ceremony.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

How does your family remember on ANZAC Day?


PS.