Let me back in the box!!!!

Okay, so we missed blogging Day 3 because mum and dad were knackered!!! So here is the wrap up of the last few days....

On Sunday the whole family went to see Grug and then Maya & Kihi got to do the flourpot workshop. Grug was amazing though the kids were initially wary about sitting separate from us and Eliakim (the youngest) decided to sit with us instead. The set was so simple and yet really creative and innovative. Timing was impeccable and it was a really beautiful set of stories. I was interested in Eliakim's reaction - basically once he saw the big apple he started complaining that he was hungry. Unfortunately one parent took a phone call during the show and proceeded to have a conversation in the theatre space rather than leaving the room - unfortunately for us it was right where we were sitting. It was nice to see a show for the younger kids and it was a really pleasant start to our day. From there we headed to flourpot with the two older kids while Dad and Eliakim roamed through Southbank. This was the best of all the workshop activities (excluding Sand Song) that we did according to Kihi. We started by making our own muffin loaded with lots of herbs that we mixed in. From there we broke up into groups and looked at chickens, worms and herbs. The facilitators were all lovely people - though the 'helicopter' parents seemed to get in the way of the Chef quite a bit and he seemed to have more difficulty in getting them to back away so he could engage the kids in the activity.

It was great to get to take away our warm muffins - they smelt and tasted yummy (mum and dad enjoyed them for morning tea). Afterwards we lazed on the grass at Southbank (pretty much like every day at OOTB) - I really came to appreciate the open green spaces at the cultural precinct - it was so nice basking in the sun on a cool winter day. We wrestled and rolled and wrestled some more.

On Day 4, we ended up catching the train and Dad was subbed with Nanna Watego. We went to see Pirates for our final show. Maya happened to be sitting next to one of the Pirate children planted in the audience and she got freaked out by the lady screaming and pushing the kid beside her and sat on the ground crying in fear. We soon recovered and sat on mum's lap for the rest of the show. Kihi loved the pirate show and Eliakim sat through the whole show so I think he enjoyed it too - Nanna thought it was the best. I was absolutely amazed at the show, the young people involved and how the music & sound effects were created in front of our very eyes. I can't imagine remembering all of those moves as there were so many chaotic and frantic scenes - those guys were amazing!!!

Kihi rated Sand Song as his favourite activity and when I asked why he said, "Because it was Aboriginal stuff" which was quite funny given my position. The following day after Sand Song, I was awoken by a beautiful Kookaburra and now I have to light their dream jars so they can dream about wonderful things. Maya loved Flourpot & Mr McGee because of the cooking and the naked man. Maya took her Dream Jar to show and tell today. Eliakim loved the train ride and changing seats every 5 minutes. My favourite was More fun than a WII - never laughed so hard and Kihi and I still reinact the "All nans are ninjas, ninjas, ninjas, ninjas" bit as well as yawn off, ultimate sandwich etc, etc, etc...

While I've been to OOTB before, I had never been to a ticketed activity. The cost of events wasn't all that appealling to me initially particularly for a family of 5. Though having now seen a number of shows, I can honestly say that I will come back and pay to see shows next year (probably not as many!). All of the performances were of a really high quality and there was something to suit all types of children. I wasn't as impressed by the workshop activities as I was by the performances however, and may not necessarily do paid workshops (some of the free activities were just as good really). All in all, it was a great opportunity which I'm so very thankful for and it has been a unique and exciting experience for the kids and our family as a whole. The whole festival was really well organized - lots of helpers & volunteers (I want one of those shirts!!!) and a really great vibe around the whole cultural precinct. Thank you so much to all of the performers, facilitators, organizers and volunteers!!!

Day Two OOTB

Okay Day 2....well we missed the train, so we drove in. Mum, Dad, Kihi & Maya headed in to see Mr McGee and Sand Song as well as sample some of the free activities. The start of the day with Mr McGee was a fantastic start. It was Ms 5's first theatre experience and she was a little wary of the lights going out and cuddled up to mum for most of the show (dad is in the background if you look close). The MrMcGee head and singing freaked her out a bit at first (and a couple of other younger kids seemed a little frightened too). Dad took one for the team and switched seats with Kihi to sit behind the extraordinarily tall person in front (we should of brought cushions like the clever people behind us). The show was in Maya's word's "brazilliant" (I think we were thinking of brilliant and magnificent???). Kihi loved the fact that he knew the stories but most importantly, the nude scene had him in stitches. It was a great vibe in the theatre and was a whole lot of fun for both kids and adults. The stage, the performers, the stories - it was all fantastic - makes me wish I had a career in the arts really.

Now as for Sand Song I have to confess that I was a little nervous - I do tend to judge harshly any representations of 'Aboriginality' particularly when it is "the" Indigenous bit of the festival. While my husband and children are involved in traditional dance, I kind of get a little frustrated by museum-like notions of Aboriginal culture. However I was pleasantly surprised by this performance/workshop. Sand song had a beautiful blend of the traditional and contemporary Aboriginal experience and was respectful and sacred as well as fun and interactive. The use of Aboriginal language and contemporary Aboriginal english was relatable and not too kitsch or cringe-worthy. The noodle boxes were also a nice take on the dilly bag.

The facilitators/performers were inclusive and engaging - and Aunty did the best Kookaburra true! From there we headed upstairs to a beautiful set and we were part of the corroborree. We were the audience but we were part of the ceremony. The dancers were truly beautiful and very engaging. It was a very intimate setting and it was a joy to see them enjoy what they do. The sociologist in me also enjoyed watching others watching the performance. I could sense some uncomfortability with the intimacy and at times confusion about what was happening. Though, once tunnel ball and leap frog started all could relate. The final part was absolutely beautiful and mystical. I think different people would have taken different things from Sand Song and I liked that possibility. I'm not sure what the kids took away - they said they liked it - but it was a very different experience to the other performances and workshops - they kind of sat there in awe. We rate this one - too deadly :)...

We sussed out other activities in the cultural precinct - we went over to the library and checked out the Torres Strait Islander space though it was quite crowded.

We went to the art gallery and Miss Maya made a hat - big line and hard work for mum as she directed me how to correctly make roses for her headpiece. The boys hung around outside waiting patiently for the ladies to make hats. I heard a loud noise, and of course it was Kihi who had dropped his dream jar on the stairs - nice echoing sound as it landed on each row of stairs. Dad was thinking "okay it's going to smash" each time it fell. Though they caught it and his dream jar was in tact phew. They were soon shooed away from using the stairs as seats and went away to check out the naked statues. Before heading off, we checked out zoom where we got to draw on walls (thanks OOTB for that one - I've been fighting a war against drawing on walls in my house for years!!!). Though it was nice to get to interact with the visual arts in a fun, and creative way, rather than being merely observers in a cold and at times unwelcoming setting.

We missed a fair bit at the world stage and I kind of wish it was bigger as there was stuff I would've have loved to sit down and watch for a bit and to have a rest.

I'm looking forward to the next two days - with Grug, Pirates & Flourpot and bringing Eliakim the 3 year old along to see how he engages with the festival.

Before I go, I have to give a shout out to the volunteers and workers - there are heaps of people around to help with directions, programs and information. I have found in particular the volunteers to be really embracing the fun of out of the box in what they do and how they do it - I can't for the life of me, imagine giving up a long weekend to deal with so many kids, prams and crazy parents!!! Too deadly too....

Kihi's First Review of OOTB

Our first review of OOTB...and don't be deceived this boy does have some moves!!!

Our first day - mum needs to lay down now....

Okay, we had our first big day at OOTB festival and is was a great day!!! Westside reprezent...
More fun than a WII was the best show ever and was more fun than anything we could imagine.
We love the list operators - and they make the top of our list. Kihi made the big call rating it 10/10. We loved the rude words and how 'art' could be turned into 'fart'. Kihi suggested taking the 'L' out 'Blogger' to get 'Booger'. We had to do a quick toilet stop mid show - naughty mum for not sorting that out beforehand - I normally only worry about that with the 3 year old so lesson learned! Anyway we ran (yes ran) around to the 'My Place' workshop straight afterwards - Kihi rated this one boring - he said that they didn't get much time to do the things they had been instructed to, "it stopped and started, stopped and started - they should've let us just play on it". The computers were shared and he was among a school group so he kind of felt a little left out. From there we got food - Kihi's second best part of the day and I shielded his food from the stinkin Ibisis (is that a word?). From there we headed to the 'Flight Deck' workshop. Upon entering with my hot chocolate in hand (by that time I needed something and I don't drink coffee!), a lovely lady advised me that I should handle my drink responsibly around the children which I very much appreciated because as a mother of 3 there is a part of me that really enjoys pouring hot beverages over defenseless children and/or leaving them close by so that they can do it to themselves! The workshop was cool - great facilitator who engaged with the kids and parents really well. We were with a school group again but it worked a lot better than the previous workshop. The best part for Kihi was flying his kite and he certainly got some good air with that thing. Check the photos and our little review and yes, I realise I need to hone my interview skills with a boy who doesn't like speaking to a camera when there are other people around. Tomorrow we are doing Mr McGee (okay seeing Mr McGee) and going to the Sand Song workshop with Mum and Dad and sister Maya - the baby is coming Sunday & Monday. We are catching the train from nan's house (where we are dropping Eliakim) so I'm really looking forward to seeing how the others respond to the festival. I'm so wishing I booked in to Amorocco - biggest line up ever - though great to see performers entertaining the line up!
So, so far - we are loving out of the box and sharing our experiences of it.

Hi-yo silver it's the free ranger....

okay - so my ootb experience started yesterday at the Changing Habitats symposium.
It was an amazing day - Lenore Skenazy, the founder of the free range kids movement skyped in and was fantastic. I'm following her blog on my blog so check her out. An amazing woman with a perfectly logical position. Anyway, I'm indebted to Lenore for creating a space which gives permission to us parents to do what we know instinctively is the right thing to do re: letting children grown, learn, fail & succeed. I got the honour of delivering the Australian response to the free range kids idea and also do some popping with MC Candy Bowers - the husband and I are now officially her no. 1 fans. Anyway, all I have to say is artsworkers make the best audiences!
Now for the kids - my first official RDO is tomorrow (since starting full-time work) and I'm spending it at OOTB (ah, middle age....) So me and my oldest can't wait for tomorrow and I'm hoping I can find a close library to borrow My Place to read tonight before tomorrow's workshop - nothing like good planning people. It should be an interesting day - I've got a meeting with a funding body for the community organization I'm involved in so immediately after our flight deck workshop so I'm packing a change of clothes to go from you mum to board member all in one day. superwoman I know!!!

okay 3 more sleeps to go to OOTB for the bondies - and just one more before mum get's to talk about Australian free range kids as part of the changing habitats symposium - arghhhhh!!!! You'll hear about it tomorrow I'm sure....
anyway, last night we checked out our blogger id passes and tickets (very exciting) and read through the program and yarned about the things we might be seeing and doing this weekend.
Maya - my daughter, the 'middle' child is ecstatic that she has next week's show n tell item lined up already (her id badge & the program booklet). This girl lives for show n tell - or rather she lives for an audience. The ultimate performer, maya is currently exploring the art of dance - we do some hip hop at school, traditional Aboriginal dance in the community and we just passed our first ballet exam! After seeing many of her performances, I'm keen to see how she will go as an audience member....
Kihi is looking forward to some one-on-one time this Friday with mum - this kid is a real thinker and is fascinated by how the world works and I'm just fascinated by how his brain works!!! He is curious about the whole blogging experience - "do I tell them about cutting my foot at football?" he asks... kihi loves to take photos so I'm sure we'll have lots to share over the weekend!
As for the baby boy - we are packing a spare pare of jocks and just hoping that we don't have any accidents!

Ready, Set, Out of the Box....

okay first official posting from the bondies....
out of the box has already started and well, for us it is another four more sleeps til our first event. you know you've got kids when every life event is measured in 'sleeps'! anyway, friday for us involves mum & kihi having the day off (from work & school) to check out - more fun than a wii, my place your place & flight deck. I remember reading Nadia Wheatley's story My Place when I was in primary school and I loved it (particularly the acknowledgement of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal family life) so I was really excited about introducing kihi to this story. As the recent owners of a wii and a child who wishes he could play it more often than mum & dad allow I'm also keen for my son to experience things more pleasurable than that machine. And, lastly, I chose flight deck because kihi loves making paper planes and inventing and creating stuff. We are "out of the boxing" it on saturday, sunday, and monday too with dad, maya, eliakim and nanna watego too but we will you fill you in over the weekend. We've strategised the staggering out of our family's participation at OOTB because sometimes taking a 7yr old, 5 yr old & 3 yr old out with a stressed out dad can be far more traumatic for mum then it needs to be. So some events are with the whole family and others are for just a couple of us. We will keep you posted on all of our adventures!!! Bring on the long weekend!!!!