Charlie is now SIX !

It’s a few weeks ago now, his birthday is actually June 28th – but it’s been a busy few weeks in our household (when is it ever NOT !?)

It’s actually mid-July now, and I’m typing while watching the Tour De France – and have a bunch of photos to share, and celebrate Charlie going “double hands” (needing two hands to show his age !).

Charlie has some blog posts for his previous birthdays, check them out here : ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR and FIVE.

Charlie has started school !

While finishing up at kinder in late 2014, Charlie began doing some ‘transition classes’ at school. With two big brothers already at school (Knox Gardens), it was a very familiar environment for Charlie, so he took to it like a duck to water.

Seeing him in his school uniform, with a big school bag, was lovely to see – and a few (proud) tears from Mum.

It was great to be able to take the morning off work, and see his first day with his new classmates, and Mrs.Marletta, a great FIRST teacher.

The first few months were tiring and difficult for him, but he soon found his place, and the routine of school days, and special fun like ‘lunch orders’.

He’s doing great at reading, and very excited to learn more words – and has had some great fun with his “word pockets”.

Dressed and ready to go !

Proud brothers – and Mum !

Family selfie !

Large, medium and small – ready for school…

First day for Ashie too – best friends !

Starting school with a puzzle activity

Having fun at the school sports night – check out that happy smile !

Best Friend : Ashie

Charlie has a wonderful best friend, who he’s known since activity group + kinder. During school pickup for their brothers, they’d often hold hands walking to/from the car – talking away to each other – and they would even write notes to give to each other. Hopefully their lovely friendship continues, and survives through primary school…

Holding hands walking to school/kinder

Snacks during a working bee at kinder

Happy faces drawing, note from Charlie to Ashie

Playing MineCraft, sharing a chair – LOL !

Easter hat parade at Knox Gardens

Charlie and his brothers

As the youngest of the family, Charlie gets to experience some great conversation, and awesome games, with two BIG dudes to look up to, and laugh with – and fight with (sometimes).

They are a close bunch of lads – we couldn’t be happier at the way our family is growing together.

Cameron and Liam play a lot together, and they still share a bedroom – and Liam often reads a bedtime book to Charlie, tucked up in bed together.

They play a lot of video games together – MineCraft, Terraria, BattleBlockTheatre, Skylanders, Mario Bros – and Charlie loves the Kinect Sports, and Fruit Ninja on the XBox.

He’s also getting VERY good at playing UNO – and often wins – much to my surprise !

Playing in the cubby house – which is now gone – replaced with a basketball court.

Three brothers, ready for School Sports Day – L for LAWSON !

Hugs for big brother Cameron, who turned 10

Playing games on the iPad + iPhone – snuggled together !

LOL – there’s TWO empty couches too…!

Chatting to a goat at the Collingwood Children’s Farm

Laughing like a crazy man, in the mirror at Pancake Parlour

PJ shenanigans with Liam

Liam reading a story to Charlie – such great friends…

Happy smiles at Christmas – such a lovely trio…

Fun with family

We’ve had a lot of great activities and family outings over the last year or so – camping, zoo/s, aquarium, footy, Christmas lights, movies, country holiday in Avoca, play days at the beach – and lots of board games.

Charlie kicking butt at UNO

Riding the skim board – getting a tow from Dad

Reading a storybook with Nanna

Crazy selfie photo on Father’s Day

Comparing EYE colours with Mum and Dad (Mum wins this round !)…

Playing Snakes & Ladders on the patio (Avoca)

Selfie pic with Dad – out to see THE BOXTROLLS

Family photo with SANTA !

With Mum, on a Melbourne city tram

Fish & Chips while camping

Flying a kite on the beach

Watching a helicopter taking off, on the way to….

…Melbourne Aquarium – with the penguins

Charlie’s Activities

During 2014, Charlie was doing regular swimming lessons, and progressing very well, with great confidence. Over the summer period, he enjoyed a few swim days at friend’s houses – great to see him enjoying the water.

He also finished up at AusKick after one year – Liam completed three years at the end of 2014 – Charlie just wasn’t as keen, and so he didn’t sign up for 2015.

With Charlie commencing school, we skipped any after-school activities, just to make sure it wasn’t all “too much” for him – but he’s now started doing Karate – and having his first grading in a few weeks.

Charlie loves DressUps !

Like his brothers, Charlie loves to get a face-painting, or into a costume for a school disco, or crazy-hair-day, or halloween !

Dressed as a ZOMBIE for Halloween + trick-or-treat

Crazy hair day at kindergarten

Not sure what this is ! SpongeBox ? LOL !

Dressed up as dragon from “How To Train Your Dragon”

Ron from Harry Potter – for the school disco

Charlie loves riding bikes

Over the summer, we were able to go riding a LOT – either on the back of the half-wheeler (double-decker, as Charlie called it !) – or with his awesome black BMX that we got for him just before our holiday in Avoca.

Ready to go – before *I* am !

Half-wheeler stop-off at Jells Park

Smiling away, and pedalling fast !

Charlie’s drawing for show+tell

Charlie’s awesome new BMX – was a $40 bike, on GumTree !

Riding the bike path near home

Stopped for an icy pole, with brothers, and cousin Michael

Riding at the Lewellyn Park hill

Bushy trail at Lewellyn Park – known as “hidden track” (LOL)

Charlie brought a notepad, and stopped to do a drawing of a rock – LOL !

Riding the trail at Avoca – that *WE* created – Geronimo Swing Dipper !

He’s just awesome

There’s not much else you can say really – Charlie is an amazing little guy, with lots of laughter – and a developing personality – school is doing him well…!