It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The countdown is on!  I love this time of year.  

 My gingerbread house

 Santa arriving at nippers

Reindeer doing nipper board training 

Tess and Tom had their final day at Balgowlah Heights Public School.  They're putting on the sad faces for the photo - they're both very ready to move onto their new schools.  I was expecting to cry but I'm excited for them both and feel that we're doing the right thing moving Tom.  

Tess had the Year 6 formal for which the theme was Harry Potter.  The decorating team did the most amazing job transforming the school hall into Hogwarts.  

The kids dressed up in their finest and there was lots of picture taking.  

 I love the expression on Tess' face

 Tess with her "group"

 Tess and Olivia

Tess and Ruby

On the last day of school there is a "Clap Out" where the rest of the school make up a tunnel that all the Year 6's and then any other children leaving the school run through.  The Year 6's then run down to Clontarf and jump off the sea wall in their school uniforms.  It bucketed down with rain for most of the day and we were worried that we might not make it to Clontarf but at the last minute the rain cleared and the kids had a lovely afternoon whilst the mums and dads drank champagne and reminisced.  

All lined up waiting to jump off

Tom had an orthodontist appointment and turned up in his wetsuit because he didn't want to waste any time getting to the beach.  His orthodontist declared it a first in his career treating someone in a wetsuit!  

There has been lots of beach action and Tom has had fun playing with his new Albacore (he bought it himself with his birthday money) which is a finless foam surfboard perfect for doing 360's and other tricks.  

We got the outdoor shower installed just in time for the holidays and it's been getting a good workout.