FABJ's eventful day

Last Thursday was an eventful day for FABJ indeed.  After dinner, FABJ was going to practice biking in the lane (i.e. alley / shared driveway), as she sometimes does on pleasant evenings and weekends.  However, LBJ thought it would be good for her to get a bit of practice in our garden (i.e. backyard). That way, she might be a little less scared because any fall would be on grass rather than pavement.  Clearly it worked, as FABJ was able to cycle down the lane without any assistance beyond a gentle push to get her started.  She still struggles with that one, but it's great that she can now ride her bike.  Needless to say, she was very excited.  LBJ was also quite pleased with herself (rightfully so) for her expert instruction.

ORBJ was practicing on her scooter as well, and she was going pretty fast.  However, unlike FABJ, ORBJ still has not mastered the art of using the brake.  This is a bit of a concern, as we live near the bottom of a non-trivial hill (at least by Dublin standards - for SF, it would be pretty wimpy).

But wait, there's much much more.  (Imagine a ginsu knife commercial from the late 70s / early 80s....)

FABJ was also in a good mood last week because she had her first wobbly tooth.  While brushing her teeth (while getting ready for bed), the tooth fell out!  You should have seen the expression on her face - a combination of complete surprise and excitement.  Sadly, it turns out that the tooth fairy in our house seems to pay less than in my colleagues' houses, but I didn't discover this until the next day.  Besides, the money really isn't the point.  In fact, I suspect she has no clue where the money is now anyway.

Another efficient market transaction by the tooth fairy!

 

Cops, Robbers, FABJ, and ORBJ

On Friday, FABJ pointed out a flyer at Orla's daycare about an open house at the Garda (Police) station.  She mentioned that she saw the same flyer in her school.  She really wanted to go, but ORBJ really didn't want to go.  I think ORBJ was worried about being locked up in a cell (as we talk about the police station being the place where we put baddies), and she was also being 3.  So, we decided to risk the wrath of ORBJ and go.

We started out with snacks and a hi-vis backpack cover (the latter for FABJ).  Next, we explored the garda vehicles on display.  (Note LBJ in the background talking with another parent from ORBJ's daycare - in her America's Cup.)

Putting those horse riding lessons to good use

Note the evil grin on the face of "the Juice"

Then, LBJ took the girls upstairs so they could see the cells and the fingerprinting, etc.  They got fingerprinted (so to speak) and helped the garda keep the peace.

FABJ keeping order (with ORBJ observing)

Meantime, the garda band provided some background music when kids weren't sounding the sirens on the various patrol cars, etc.

My tax euros at work?

Perhaps the highlight, at least for FABJ, was the opportunity to put on some riot gear, although she did complain that the helmet was too big.

Don't mess with FABJ or else!

The regular garda outfit wasn't nearly so exciting for her, but she still enjoyed it.  In fact, this outfit was supposed to be for another kid, but she commandeered it.  Fortunately, the other kid was very patient, and FABJ handed over the outfit after these pictures.

Future career choice?  She does like rules.

The girls had a great time.  In fact, LBJ almost missed her flight to London because it was so hard to tear away the kids!
 

Camp Dada / First Day of School

FABJ's first day of school was on a Thursday.  So we (I?) decided, rather than trying to find some camp or activity for three days, that she and I would have a couple of days together.  Thus, we called it "Camp Dada".

She seemed to enjoy the camp, more or less.  I took her swimming twice.  We went to see Monsters University in the cinema (as they call it here).  The highlight for me was the Dublin Bay Cruise, although FABJ seemed to prefer the two playgrounds we visited that day.  We took the cruise from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, taking the train from home to Howth.  It has great scenery, although it was a bit windy.  I was hoping for a touch more commentary beyond the three recorded statements.

I think there's a smile in there somewhere

An hour later...

As you can see, FABJ grew tired of the cruise.  But she didn't get seasick at all (unlike her propensity to get carsick).  And she seemed to enjoy her lunch, along with the playground in town before the cruise and playground in Dun Laoghaire after the cruise.  All in all, I thought was Camp Dada was a success, although I need to put a bit more thought into the activities next year.

She wasn't nearly as nervous as we feared on the first day of school.  She woke up on Wednesday morning convinced that school started that day.  She was quite disappointed not to get to wear her uniform.  Of course, she does look quite cute in it, as does the rest of the family (or at least the ladies):

Ok, perhaps a little nervous here

Dada and FABJ in their "work shirts"



 FABJ was concerned about having a boy teacher for the first time.  But by the second day, she was convinced that her new teacher was "not as fierce" as her teacher last year.  LBJ thought as much - her first reaction upon seeing him was that he was a total pushover.

The rest of the family in their work clothes