Milestones for Angus and Sean

A big day for Angus today as he graduated from pre-school nursery at Pentland then went on to spend the rest of the day at Fairmile Nursery, which was also his final day. He said he felt proud to be going on to P1 and certainly didn't seem in the least bit sad. He's enjoyed his time at Fairmile and made lots of friends there, as well as been very popular with the staff. Only last week though, he was climbing over the safety gate from the back garden when I went to collect him so it's fair to say he's outgrown Fairmile!

At Pentland he'll only be moving a short distance into the P1 corridor. There's a big intake this year and he'll be part of a "tag team" class of 40 which will have two teachers. His graduation today was attended by Sharon and Linda and Angus was reportedly very pleased with himself, his chest puffed out as he received his certificate dressed in his robe and mortar board. Sean saw him too outside, so the biggest and the smallest got to pose together before one leaves Pentland and the other starts.

Last week Sean had his three transition days up at Firrhill High School and loved it (apart from the one or two disruptive influences in his class, trying it on even in the three days they were attending). There's not many from Pentland in his class, 1A2, but he said he made friends with someone from Bonaly and someone from Craiglockhart so I'm sure he'll find peers of a similar mindset to his soon enough. He enjoyed the classes, especially making pizza in Home Economics! The earlier start is going to be a challenge however, and he's going to be tired after the later finish. He also had a busy Tuesday this week, with his P7 leavers' trip to bowling and to the cinema to see Godzilla, then to Mhairi's for an after-school party, then back to the schhol for the P7 leavers' disco and finally over to Portobello to join Finn for the last half hour of the gymnastics class. Finn was showing off his "front summies" into the foam pit while Sean was doing back somersaults off the vault and practising his walkovers. "Why walk when you can cartwheel?" seems to be Sean's motto at the moment.

Rowan got his 15m badge at swimming last Saturday (and was a bit miffed because the rest of his class got their 25m badges, but he doesn't work hard enough to be hones, he's more interested in mucking about) and Angus was delighted to get his 5m badge as he powered his way along the pool with no armbands. He's very close to being able to swim all the time without them. We did more swimming in the afternoon, as I took the four lads to Dunbar swimming pool where the slide (with timer) and wave machine are big favourites. Sitting in the shallow end where the waves were breaking was adjudged to be the best option. We picked Sharon up from doing a show in Ballencrieff and headed to the East Sands at North Berwick for the midsummer evening. It was dry but a little cloudy, but that didn't stop us having a fab time on the rocks, cooking up a barbecue tea and watching the tide come in and the sun slide down. It's great being able to take the whole family out later now that Angus is five and less reliant on an early bedtime (though he did have a nap to sustain him earlier in the day). The boys found a new sweetshop in Dunbar to rival Sugar Mountain in North Berwick and were pleased with a rare haul of sweets - as a rule Sharon and I don't buy them and to the boys' credit they don't usually pester us to. Sean does have a sweet tooth though!

So it's been a busy end to the summer term. I golfed with Scott and Steve at Braids last night, a definite blast from the past, before we had a drink in the rarified atmosphere of the (jacket and tie) New Club on Princes St. Steve is now a member. Far removed from when we first met at St. Andrews thirty years ago, but Caldwell always had the social-climbing pretensions!

Star pupils

Sean has moved up to the Cubs now and, along with Finn, has relocated from the 78th Pentland troop based at St. John's in Oxgangs next to the library to the Fairmilehead Parish Church. This means we can walk the boys round although the Beavers and Cubs are on different nights. Sean was a bit reluctant at first but pronounced it "brilliant" when I picked him up afterwards and we walked round the road. Finn was much more awkward, refusing to go into his new Beavers group even though plenty of his classmates were in attendance. However, he was adamant that he wouldn't go back after his first ever night at Beavers but subsequently went on to really enjoy it, winning the Beaver of the Week cup and being one of the best Beavers in his term there, so we can only hope he's behaving the way Finn does and now, having made a point, he goes along more readily in future.

Sean was delighted to get a "Star Pupil" award the other week at Assembly, having submitted very good homework for his "water" work (with much heavy prompting from his mother) and for his general diligence in class. The reports on all the boys were favourable at Parents' Night with Sean described as being an "asset to the class," Finn keen to make his teacher laugh (and doing well academically too) and Rowan settling in well to pre-school life. We do need to encourage Rowan with a pencil or crayon in his hand. He is very reluctant to do any drawing or sit and attempt letters and that is something I'd like to help him with. It can be very difficult to get Rowan to concentrate on things he finds hard or boring, as exemplified when we are sitting watching "Strictly" and he is clambering over Sharon, the couches, his brothers - anything rather than sit still.

Angus is getting bigger and louder by the day. On Sunday afternoon I took Rowan and Finn out to Leadburn soft play leaving Sharon with Sean and Angus. Angus was a torment, turning the place upside down as the other two tried to rationalise the toys in anticipation of more arriving at Christmas time. Throwing books, shouting, grabbing the biggest, baddest knives from worktops, going wild if he isn't allowed the run of the fruit bowl, dipping his hand in his yoghurt and then trying to feed himself with predictably messy results - all these are the joys of a boisterous 18-month-old. Yesterday morning we had a reasonable lie-in. When Sharon did get up, she found Angus sitting on the kitchen table trying, with a little success, to lever the flesh of a banana out of its skin using a toy spanner!

The Joe Gormley Gene

We are convinced Rowan takes after my Grandfather, Joe Gormley. And just like his greatgranddad, Rowan can talk the hind legs of the proverbial donkey! There are days when he wakes, starts blethering and thats pretty much him for the day. Non stop. I picked him up from Nursery yesterday and it seems he had quite a fun day, all told. The girls derive a fair bit of entertainment from Rowan's antics too. Seemingly, he was telling his classmates at lunchtime as milk was being served, that cows make milk and it comes out their bottoms! Not bad considering some kids in Sean's class couldnt tell you where milk, eggs, etc., come from.

And then later on, one of the wee girls was playing with a baby doll, and Rowan started going on about the baby in Mammy's tummy getting bigger and bigger and Mam getting fatter and fatter and then she was going to have to "squeeeeeeeze" really hard to get the baby out! Where this came from is anyones guess.

I've been trying to avoid the whole childbirth conversation for now, to be honest. Finn is by far and away the most interested in the baby. Sean came up with Naomi and Matthew as suggestions for names the other day. Sadly, Dad and I cant seem to make much headway with the boys names, girls names are down to a shortlist and thats fine. But given the high chance of this being another boy, we could do with getting it sorted soon.

Back to the boys

Finn crept into the room on Tuesday morning, delighted to see us back. Sean wasn't far behind. It was good to see them, and Rowan, who looked a little surprised that it wasn't Nana or Papa opening his door. Did they miss us? It's doubtful, given the attention they're usually spolit with when we're not there. It sounds as though Michael must have read every book in the house to Rowan and Sean had been trying the "Mum always buys us a sticker book" trick when lunching at Klondyke Garden Centre. Finn didn't miss out on his Friday morning regular hot chocolate at the "Zebra Cafe" (Zulu Lounge) in Morningside and they were all driven to Bonnyrigg soft play by Michael for a sweaty runaround.

Marie did a sterling job as ever in cooking, cleaning and changing nappies. Both her and Michael looked a tad relieved that we had returned!

Finn enjoyed his Sports Day on the Tuesday afternoon and came home with a medal, as everyone does these days. While he has been enjoying himself at pre-school he no longer seems particularly happy on a Thursday so we've arranged for Alison to take him instead of him going to nursery all day. While out the other day, Finn whispered to Mammy that the lady on the bus was a bit fat. Sharon explained she had a baby in her tummy. On then seeing a rather rotund gentleman Finn exclaimed, "He must have TWO babies in his tummy!"

Rowan is still very happy at Fairmile, leaving us with nary a backward glance and reluctant to come home in the evening. He is noisy and loves stomping about with his brothers or playing on his own or pulling the trousers off us in an attempt for us to join him in playing choo-choo or doing a jig-aw. His hair is getting ridiculously long but we are loathe to cut it in case he loses some of his character.

Unbelievably, Sean has finished Primary One. He had some assessments towards the end of term which highlighted his prowess at solving logic problems ("I think I got them all right" - not far off) so they'll tailor his maths work next year so that he continues to be challenged. He's a bright lad! His first year at school has just flown by. We'd better not blink or there will suddenly be a line of graduation photos on the sideboard (by a comfortable, upright armchair...).

First report

Sean got his first school report today. Key for us was in his "Personal and Social Development" where he was rated excellent in all aspects and his teacher began by writing "Sean ... has been an absolute pleasure to teach." He was rated Skilled or Competent in all the aspects of the subject areas English Language, mathematics, Environmental Studies, Expressive Arts and Religious and Moral Education with his stand-outs being all aspects of reading, writing and language and his numbers and problem solving. Well done young lad on an excellent report! We might need to frame it!

Finn also got his pre-school Record of Achievement. He too has settled in well and had the note "Finn has a good sense of humour and is becoming more confident chatting to the other children." He sounds similar to Sean at that age, rather reluctant to take part but happy in himself and with those he knows well. I suspect he doesn't display the range of skills and knowledge we know he has but I'd agree that he's not the arts and crafts lover that his big brother is!

Rowan continues to amaze the girls at Fairmile with his stream of chat, jumping at the chance to repeat any simple words and phrases and remember them for later. He certainly knows how to demand attention however, being very insistent when he wants me, or more often Sharon, to play with him, get him something, take something away and so on. He's very definite in his requirements that boy. If he doesn't fancy a book it gets the swift "all done" treatment followed by an attempt to close it and cast it away. This is usually followed by a request for "choo-chew" or "baw-boos" (Thomas) instead.

Fortunately the efforts of Wednesday in securing a babysitter were worthwhile as we won our Parks Trophy tie. Sharon had a really good team meeting too so we were both in fine mood that evening. A rare event, us both feeling we've come out ahead by the end of the day!

Hello Man

Things have been hectic the last wee while. Mind you, things have been increasingly hectic since we had a third child. I don't suppose life is going to calm down anytime soon. Today's mini-crisis was a search for a last-minute baby-sitter to enable me to play cricket as the team had a late call-off and Sharon has her team meeting tonight. We seem to have managed it. Let's hope it was worth Sharon's generous efforts to enable her husband to play a bit of sport.

Finn has his pre-school nursery day-trip today, to Almond Valley Farm. He left in his smart red nursery sweatshirt, clutching his lunch-bag. They didn't have partners, he told me, they were to go on the bus and find a seat anywhere. As a parent, part of you wants to see Finn as part of the bigger group, how he interacts and behaves. However, the potential mayhem of two classes of 3 and 4 year olds is enough to make me glad I'm at work!

Sean enjoyed his P1 school trip last week to Butterfly World and then on to Vogrie Park where he had his picnic lunch. He touched a snake at Butterfly World so his bravery must be improving in the company of his peers as he wouldn't join me and Finn in doing the same last year at South Lakes Animal Park. There were some issues with regard to the bus for the trip (too small, filthy and with material unsuitable for minors left on the bus) but that seems to have passed Sean by. Quite a few parents weren't best pleased however.

Sharon managed a 22-mile training walk last week and found it hard going but is confident she can make the marathon distance, although the walking through the night bit and the weather will be the unknown factors. For someone who used to waken herself up in the night to do 2-hour stints on the rowing machine when training for Atlantic Endeavour, I'm sure her mental strength and stamina will pull her through. She got soaked taking down the stand from Gardening Scotland on Sunday after we had enjoyed a (wet) child-free afternoon at Taste Edinburgh in the Meadows sampling some food and listening to some chat and demonstrations. I'm not convinced it was worth the rather steep entrance fee, however.

Having battled through a bypass jam to Gardening Scotland on Friday Sharon had to turn round and head home as Fairmile Kindergarten was having to send the children home because the water was off. She managed to arrange for Sharon Munro (who had just called looking for help because she had a burst tyre in the vicinity of our house) to pick up Rowan and by the time Sharon found Rowan he was quite happy being looked after by Neil in a local playpark. "Hello Man" was Rowan's matter-of-fact response to being greeted by someone he did not know. He really just gets on with the job.

Literary giants

Bee. Beep beep. Moo. Baa. Slowly but surely Rowan is extending his vocabulary and his independence, being reasonably adept at feeding himself with a spoon now. But, oh!, can that boy make a mess! Father Jack, as he is known, after the legendary Father Ted character who sat in a chair surrounded by detritus, can generate a phenomenal amount of torn bread, squashed fruit, half-chewed meat morsels, Weetabix smears, yoghurt drips and biscuit crumbs. The tiled floor is encrusted with his legacy and there are parts of his wooden high-chair that have developed a patina of purees. Steam cleaning seems the only answer - and that's just for Rowan!

Sean went to school dressed as Moon-Face (from the Faraway Tree) for World Book Day last week. One of the teachers was dressed as Saucepan Man, apparently, and Sean's costume was cited as "really cool" by an older pupil.

Finn went to Fairmile Kindergarten dressed as a skeleton (without the mask) to complement his Funny Bones book, only to find out that they weren't doing anything to celebrate the day. Unperturbed, the bold Finty enjoyed being the centre of attention as the other children crowded round him. "Are those your real bones?" "Yeah." "Can I see your book?" "No, you can't read, I'll tell you the story..."

Finn moves on to pre-school

The last two days have seemed quite eventful in the Wallace household. For a start, yesterday was Finn's last day at Playgroup at St Fillans. His teachers seemed genuinely sad to see him go, especially Jackie Selby. Herself and Finn have a bit of a "thing" for one another, each the others favourite. Helen Cackette's parting words "if only we could have a room full of Finn's!" were enough to make me raise my eyebrows! What's the phrase? Street angel, house devil!

While he was enjoying his last morning there, Rowan and I headed off to Clarks at the Fort to get the Wee Man's first proper pair of shoes. He has been walking long enough now to warrant a pair. So he was fascinated with all the attention his little feet were getting in the shop! A suitable pair picked and paid for, Rowan kicked up his heels and just legged it out of the shop, wearing his new shoes, hung a sharp left and headed towards Early Learning Centre at high speed.

When we got home, I realised I had forgotten to stop and get milk. As my need for my morning cuppa was so great, Rowan and I decided to walk around to the shop to get some, and break in the shoes. He was thrilled at the newfound freedom. The only flaw in the plan is that he seemed intent on turning and heading in the opposite direction at 30 second intervals! We also need to work on the old hand-holding as well, me thinks. The trip to the shop took half an hour!

Today, Finn started with his Pre-School Nursery, adjoined to Sean's school. He didn't seem bothered about me going, played with jigsaws and playdo, and when I returned he was on the space hopper in the outdoor play area with the rest of the kids. It is weird to think that two of the three boys are now in the official "system". I was delighted to find out that Katrina McBrierty was Finn's key worker, as she had taught Sean and I still hold her in the highest esteem. A wonderful teacher and a great way with kids. She also seemed to be pleased to have Finn in her class.

So just as I was getting into the swing of the school/playgroup routine, it's all change! The day will be busy enough with three trips to the school each day - drop Sean at 8.50, Finn at 12.30 and collect both at 2.50 and 3.05 respectively. I feel a little bit bad that poor Rowan just has to fit in around it all, and wont be able to get as full a daytime sleep as he might otherwise have.

Our boys are growing up very fast. As Ian said the other day, he turned and looked at all three having breakfast and the realisation that they are all very much boys now, Rowan isn't a baby any more.