Rachel inducted as school leader

Rachel was today inducted as a school leader for 2014. How proud we are of our young lady!

Another on Wheels!

Rachel made the journey down to get her learners permit today. Another driver on the road in the family...

Premiers!

Rachel's basketball team stormed the Grand Final yesterday, bolting away in the first half before winning 23-18 against Eltham. The girls played ferocious defence and patient offense to cap a fine performance and do what no VFL/AFL team could ever do in the old final four system - win a Premiership from third place.

The girls played most games with only five or six players, and played a magnificent finals series. Celebrations followed!

How they have grown!

Christmas is a good time of year to mark the growth in the family. It's not easy to mark the growth in maturity, thinking, responsibility and awareness, so I'll just resort to a photo. This may be the last Christmas in which I can look over Caleb's head!

O Captain, my Captain

Congratulations to Rachel who has been appointed Choral Captain of the Junior School for 2008. She was formally handed responsibilities at the graduation of this year's Year 6 group today. Rachel has been happily singing as we have been decorating the house for Christmas!

Sob sob

Rachel headed off to camp this morning - for the whole week! We're going to miss her greatly...

Basketball Champions!

Congratulations to Rachel's Bulleen BT8 team who capped an undefeated season yesterday with a 38-34 win against a valiant Banyule team in their U11 B1 grand final. The girls were all brilliant - a great team!!

On the Stage

Rachel managed to climb out of her sick bed for her first lead role in a musical last night - her performance as the butler in her school production of Joseph. It was a fantastic night, despite the fact that three of the leads had been off school with flu, and another injured in a sporting accident that afternoon. The kids were fantastic, but the butler stole the show (totally unbiased opinion, of course!)

Technology: In the Wash Up

It takes some time for children to get used to the processes of washing clothes, such that over the past months some of their technology has spent some time in the washing machine - connected to the Drive washing powder. Caleb set the ball rolling when his USB key found its way into the machine... when discovered it continued to work perfectly, and continues to do so two or three months on. His efforts have now been surpassed!

Rachel's mobile phone appeared in the ironing pile late last week, having survived the same wash-spin-rinse-spin cycle before an hour or so in the drier. Early signs were not good, as pressed keys brought no response and the screen looking somewhat psychedelic even in its inert state. I finally plugged it into its charger, whereupon it began vibrating - the first signs of life. I consoled Rachel with the thought that she now owned her own personal massager. With perseverance (and heat) I was eventually able to switch the phone on and connect to the network, and even make a call, the phone continuing to vibrate mercilessly. Rachel set off with said phone in her bag yesterday, battery disconnected so that it didn't vibrate in her bag all day. At three this morning, Ev woke me to ask how to turn off the vibration as the noise from her school bag had kept her awake. In the darkness and drowsiness of semi-consciousness I disconnected the battery and went back to sleep.

This morning - after the kids had gone to school - I noticed Rachel had left her phone behind. I reconnected the battery... the phone vibrated again for a few seconds, then stopped! Six days after its journey through the Fisher and Paykel, it is now apparently none the worse for wear, and clean! Isn't technology marvellous!

It's birthday month (1)!!

Yes, it is birthday month in the Heard household, with Rachel leading off the pack. Our princess celebrated in style, and now has begun that habit which will dog her for a lifetime!! Sweet legs 11!