Be a kid for 60 seconds

Jump! by Cuellar

I recorded this tune today just before Sunday Lunch.

Being a kid is a lot of fun, and sometimes you enjoy music more when you suspend your "grown up" mind and just be a child again - even if its only for sixty seconds.

This is a three-part tune I did on the WX5, using Trombone (8), Clarinet (99) and Trumpet (5). If you can pick the tune before the trumpet comes in at 35 seconds, you're truly a kid at heart!

Enjoy!

Rocking Horse Poo

Rocking Horse Poo. A Geocache in Petrie. So that's what it looks like :)

We had fun finding a Geocache today entitled Rocking Horse Poo. Lilly and Sophie had fun and even picked some of the stuff up.

The imagination of Geocachers never ceases to amaze me!

If you've never tried Geocaching, our family would recommend it. It's a great way to get outside on a Sunday afternoon and have fun.

The Secret Pony

The Secret Pony

Lilly came to me today and read me her partially completed story.

"What else should I write, Daddy?" she asked.

And I replied, "Kids understand magic when they're your age, but as they grow up most adults forget about it. So I'm not the best person to ask about what to write. You know much more about magic than what I do".

"But what about Doctor Seuss and Mem Fox", Lilly retorted. (She's very astute for her age).

"Ahhh. Doctor Seuss and Mem Fox never forgot what it was like to be a kid", I answered. "That's why they're both so good at what they do".

Seems like I've got a lot of "remembering" to do. Adults are so boring, and such a large part of our lifespan is devoted to being "grown up". Childhood is so brief....

So brief it makes me want to cry at the tragedy of it all.

"The Secret Pony by Lilly Ennis

Onec upon a time there lived a butyful
girl named cloe. One day when cloe was in the
garden picing strorbries she
found a secret passag throe the garden. it was so butyful. So she wen throe it.
When she got to the end of the secret passag sge sore a pony. It was so butyful.
It had long heir and sparkerling blue eyes. The pony gace her lots of spechal
yummy treats. They played together to but the most imporint thing is that there
friends. The End."

Don't forget how to be a kid, Lilly. Once you forget, it's a long time being a grown-up.

Lilly - our long jump champ

Congratulations, Lilly, for coming second in long-jump for under-seven year olds yesterday at the school sports day. We're very proud of you!


Lilly - Our long jump champ! on 12seconds.tv

Harrison - our shot put champ

Harrison, we're really proud of you for coming second in the school shot put competition for 9 year olds. Well done mate!


Harrison - our shot put champ on 12seconds.tv

"Jhon and the Tooth Fairy" by Lilly

"Jhon and the Tooth Fairy" by Lilly

Once upon a time there lived a little boy named Jhon. Jhon really wanted his tooth to come out but it wasn't going to come out. He tride and tride to pull it out but it still didn't come out.

But one night when he was eting dinner he felt somethink wead (wierd) in his mouth, His tooth came out. He was so iksited. When he went to bed he put it under his pillow and the tooth fary came. She gave him two dollas.

The next day when he woak up he saw that his tooth was goan (gone).

He saw his two dollas. At school he spent it on tuckshop. He bort himself a slush puppy. It was dallishus.

The End.

The 110 Pound Weakling

Here's a video the boys made this afternoon.

A skinny 9 year old boy discovers the wonders of Steroids.

Great stuff, guys. When is the feature length film coming out????

Kids on a Trampoline

Kids on a Trampoline

Our kids and their friends having fun on the trampoline at our place while the adults were upstairs.

Fun with genetics

Party sparklers on steroids. Lawnton on a Saturday night :) - 12seconds.tv

"What's a sparkler bomb got to do with genetics", you ask.

Towards the end, after the "sparkles" there's a whispery high pitched laugh, a bit like "Mutley" on 70's cartoon "Whacky Races". That's me. But what's wierd is it's how my Dad laughs too, especially at something "Naughty". I'm sure if he had popped over here last night, we both would have been laughing like this!

I love Dad, so it's always fun to discover something else I have in common with him.

Oh, and by the way, well done on the fireworks boys! The neighbors probably think we're forcing down the price of real estate in the area, but you demonstratred a good grasp of physics and chemistry to pull off such a spectacular display.


Part time models - Youtube

And Jonno, my son, I'm really proud of your most recent bass guitar performance on this video. Nice to know we share some music genes, although yours seem to have mutated from Jazz into Heavy Metal.

I should mention that your bass guitar broke shortly before this performance, so you were playing on a totally unfamiliar instrument.

Well done mate.

Genetics can be nightmarish at times, but I think these two videos demonstrate that it can be fun too!

Nit Picking

Nit Picking, originally uploaded by MagicTyger.

Enough said!

Glad you're here, mate.

Dear Harrison

We're so glad you're here.

Nine years ago as a new-born you almost didn't make it.

But thankfully you did, and today we can't imagine what life would be like without you.

Live long and prosper, dear boy.

Your adoring Mum and Dad.

Our hero

Steve couldn't have two more adoring fans!

I took this from our back deck this (hot) afternoon during Harrison's birthday party.

Arrrrrgh!

Arrrrrgh!
Originally uploaded by MagicTyger

Lilly and I are having fun at a pirate party tonight!

My first bubble!

Lilly has acquired a new skill in the last 24 hours.

Glandan (Bruce) reads "The Gruffalo" at bed time

He may not be the world's best reader, but I think he's the world's best grandfather. "Glandan" (Bruce) read this bedtime story to the kids a few years ago, and we were lucky enough to film it. Contrary to what dad says, the monster in the story is a "Gruffalo". It's a delightful story by Julia Donaldson which is available at Amazon:

Here's the bedtime video:

We love Geocaching!

We love Geocaching!
Originally uploaded by MagicTyger

We've had a great time today finding some geocaches in Toowoomba. Here's a picture of us all relaxing after the third find of the day!

Fun with Glowballs

(Click on one of the thumbnails for a bigger picture)

1. Put the camera on a tripod
2. Give the kids some glow balls
3. Stand back
4. Enjoy the fun!

Kid Magic

Kid Magic
Originally uploaded by MagicTyger

An attempt to placate kids before bedtime turns into a magic trick that goes funnily wrong.

We demolish a Piñata at Xmas

Here's a quick video of the demise of a Piñata that our friend Jo Smith gave us for Xmas 2007.

Everyone had a whale of a time trying to crack it open.

It also records the demise of our broom handle, which was never the same after everyone used it to bash the living daylights out of the poor hapless piñata.

Xmas 2007 on our deck was a lot of fun, and low impact for everyone because we bought all the food (cold meat and seafood platters) rather than cooking a roast. (What crazy person decreed that you had to have a hot roast for Xmas in Australia in the middle of summer?)

Full marks to Josh for busting it open. We knew you would, Joshie.

Fleeting glimpses of childhood

I spent most of my Sunday playing around on my computer.

It was almost over when I came to my senses and asked the kids of they'd like to go for a walk to the creek.

It was great watching them splash around in the water and listen to their impish laughter.

How beautiful to be there.

How sad that childhood quickly passes.

Please may I have more afternoons like this!

Click here to see the complete set of photos.