In between two books, Samantha Sotto's Before Ever After and David Nicholls' One Day, I managed to get a quick power nap and blog :-) happy :-)
Finally pushed thru with our long overdue plan/project of opening a bank account for the kids. Hubby and I, of course with the kids, went to Rouse Hill today to open a SA account for each of them. We opened a Kids Rewards Savers Account with Westpac. It is for kids ages 0-11. We can't withdraw for them. They can only get the money when they turn 11. Its interest rate is 1.25% p.a. but they get a bonus interest of 4.5% p.a. if we put in $50 a month and they make no withdrawal. Not bad. At least now I can really put the money I intend to use for buying them additional (but unnecessary) clothes and toys :-)
Can't help but be amused with Sam's latest tricks! She's becoming more talkative, saying: bye-bye, look, Santa, papa, mama, bird. She can now associate words with the objects like head, feet, Christmas tree, shoes, ball, eat, go out, sleep, and NO. :-) She has monster Sam, she does the sign of the cross, she stands up now when I give her a bath, she knows what she likes and she does not like. Happy :-)
Next term will be quite busy for me and the kids. Mondays and Tuesdays, while Liam is at pre school, me and Sam will be having her swimming lessons on Mondays and her Gymbaroo sessions on Tuesdays. Another avenue for her to develop her skills :-) and to bond with me. Wednesdays will be for Liam's soccer lessons and Thursdays will be for his swimming lessons. I actually asked him to choose between soccer and piano lessons. He of course chose the soccer lessons. It is a bit expensive to send them to these activities, but what the heck, they are the main reasons why we migrated in the first place, so why not spend for them. It's for their own development, so we know the money is not put to waste.
School year is about to finish here, so for this Summer, I chanced upon the Summer Reading Program for kids ages 0-18 at the Black town libraries. Again, I think this is a good way to spend their summer vacation. After completing the program, they will be attending a presentation night and will be awarded with Certificates. I have to do this one with them though. But it's alright with me. It's just reading books with them. Who knows, it might instill in them the love for reading...keeping my fingers crossed :-) I already registered the two of them this morning and each of them have their own library cards now, how cool is that?!
I have finally started fixing my papers again to re-commence my teaching career. Nope, we really haven't decided yet when exactly next year I'll go back to teaching, but at least my papers are ready. Was finally able to fix it after receiving my certificates last Wednesday, during my graduation day :-) happy and a bit proud of myself for having to juggle my studies, career and family life :-) thank you, Lord :-) Now that I am done, it's Alvin's turn to study. No, he really doesn't have to go back to school especially that his Master's degree in the Phil's is recognized here as comparable to an Australian master's degree. But we thought that it would benefit him if he continues to improve on himself, so he has better chances of promotions/landing a better job/position. Good thing, hubby is OK with it :-) Like what they say, it's a very competitive world out there :-)
For over a week now, we have been experiencing a cold snap. Considering that it should be summer now here, down under. I am actually enjoying it because I get to feel Christmas more, just like in Manila :-) For a change, right? Only, the real Aussies are not happy with it because they are so excited already to go out in the sun!
Think I wrote longer than what I had planned :-) hehehe more on blogging next time, back to my reading :-)
