whew!

What a whirlwind week this has been! Not only have we been preparing for the start of school today, but on Sunday we had friends arrive.

Simmy and I met through her blog (which sadly she no longer writes). Last year, she and her family came to stay for one night while doing a trip around the North East of America. We got on so well that this year when she announced she was doing it again, I didn't hesitate to invite her to stay again-and for longer.

It is so nice to be with a family that just clicks with your own. Her kids are lovely and the same ages as my older 3 and they all get along so well. And Simmy and her lovely husband Tom are just fun, interesting people to have around. Needless to say there were late nights talking, playing rock band on Wii, and generally having fun. The boys played heaps of cricket and got on fantastically. We had a big day in the city on Monday, more than Kit and Ella were up to at that stage, and a fun dinner together on Tuesday night. So lovely, and we already miss them so much and hope that we can get over to England at some stage to stay with them.

As for school starting...it hit me this morning that I don't have any little school kids anymore. Oscar's off to real American high school (a freshman of the class of 2012), Remi's moved on to grade 7 which means in Australia he'd be starting high school, Kit's in grade 4 and Ella grade 3-in Australia they'd be in primary not infant school. When did I get so old!!!!? They all seemed very positive this morning, so hopefully we will have a good year. And now I am in a quiet house for the first time in 2 months...what ever shall I do?

Kit and Ella posing before school

Waiting for the bus that was nearly 15 minutes late.