Viking training

So the Dragon wanted a "How to Train Your Dragon" party. I had great fun planning it and we all enjoyed watching the vikings complete their training.
They had to complete an obstacle course, with tasks requiring balance, coordination and stamina. In other words, they had to walk along a rope, balance bean bags on their heads, leopard crawl and more.
The obstacle course was followed by an egg and spoon race, sheep tossing, dragon feeding, tug of war, pin the flame on the dragon, sleeping dragons and pirate capers.
The food on offer included dragon eyes, dragon toenails, and shield biscuits. All with labels in dragonese. And the cake was my humble attempt at Toothless.
At the end of the party, each viking was awarded a medal, sword and shield.
Whar I have been touched by is the number of compliments about the party and how much fun the children had. I love planning my children's parties, and am glad other children don't mind that this is a homemade party with a homemade cake. In fact, I have been told by some of their parents that this actually made the party better.
All in all, dragon training was a great success and now I have to wonder what the Dragon will want next. ....

Giving is better than receiving....

I love surprising people for their birthdays, so I am trying to instill the love of giving in my children....  It  doesn't always work out the way I intend, and some of the gifts Dragon has thought up have been rather unusual.....  I'm still not sure why I needed a homemade book of Dragons (but the effort he put in was great) and I have been given a paper anvil before too.....  

When I work with them to make gifts for others, they have fun and the gifts are always well received....  It doesn't matter if it is a necklace, place mat, coaster, cake, soap or whatever... and at the end of the day, my children have understood that birthdays and Christmas are about giving as much as receiving.....

Monkey Time

I keep hearing about how different countries are bringing in legislation to keep kids safe.  Laws are being passed to stop kids from climbing trees, playing hopscotch or making daisy chains.  Cartwheels have to be supervised in Australia, as I speak, and I foresee bicycles being prohibited in the near future.  WHY?  Our kids need to stub toes and graze knees.  It's all part of being a kid and learning about the world.  Not to mention, developing gross and fine motor skills.  I have seen too many kids with underdeveloped muscle tone, poor co ordination and social skills and arthritic conditions all stemming from the lack of exercise and increase in TV and gaming time.

I know I have ranted about this before, so today I am posting images of Dragon climbing trees, playing in the park, scrambling on rocks and just having good fun in the fresh air.....  Even playing rugby.....  As for the Bumblebee.....  she loves being outdoors.  Bring her indoors and she yells.   Give her some sand to play in, grass to run on or gravel to sort and she is in her element......

So my kids have holes in their clothes, grazes on their knees and freckles on their noses.  But they are fit and healthy and sociable....  so I will keep them climbing trees as long as possible......