On Saturday, we just made it just in time for The Wiggles at Qudos Bank Arena.

I thought I was being smart having lunch at Ikea beforehand and leaving an hour to get from Rhodes to Sydney Olympic Park. A 10 minute drive (if that) under normal conditions.

Heads up – these new sparkling fruit juices at the Ikea cafe are very refreshing indeed.

I made the tragic mistake of missing the turn off Homebush Bay Drive and spent forty minutes trying to get back on course for the stadium.

I almost kissed the steering wheel when I rolled up in front of the car park.

I wasn’t the only one who struggled with the traffic.  Our concert was delayed 10 minutes to give everyone extra time to find their seats after they too got stuck in traffic.

It was all worth it in the end.  We had excellent seats and Preschooler SSG was entranced from the moment he saw the Wiggles drive in their Big Red Car right in front of him.  Here’s an action shot of the gang.

His beloved Captain Feathersword and Henry the Octopus were centre stage for quite a few numbers and he sang and danced his little hear out.

Jeff and Murray, two of the original Wiggles were in the audience and I joined the ‘Wake up, Jeff!!!!!’ chorus with gusto.

Emma danced her way around the ‘mosh pit’ trailing balloons behind her.  There was a sea of Emma fans in the audience with yellow bows in their hair wearing yellow tops and black tutus just like their heroine. It made me want to buy a yellow bow head band myself.  For next year’s concert.

There’s something very special about seeing the Wiggles live.  You can’t help but feel that the world really is a good place when you look around and see the joyful smiles on the little people around you.  You can’t help but smile and dance with as much passion as the little ones you’ve accompanied to the show.  You can’t help but  wave your mobile phone in torch mode along with the rest of the audience for a rousing finale of ‘Twinkle, Twinkle’.  You don’t even think about the traffic and the time it’s going to take to get home because you just know that you’ll be driving home a very happy little preschooler.  One so happy he takes a lovely long and very restorative nap in the car during the drive home.

And on Sunday, we Sydney Santa Spectacular-ed at Rosehill Gardens.  The Santa Spectacular is a combination of food, fun and Christmas festivities that is a perfect way to dip your toes into the world of fun fairs and theme parks with young children.  An all inclusive entry ticket gets you all the rides and fun you could possibly want over a 3 hour session.  Food, some games and novelties  have an additional cost.

There were even show bags!  Since when have show bags cost $30!?!?!?!?

Seeing Preschooler SSG at the Monkey Fun ball game brought back memories of my own childhood and the Perth Royal Show.

Many of the attractions were undercover which made it a very pleasant way to spend a cold and wet Sunday afternoon.

Preschooler SSG and his bestie couldn’t resist getting up close and personal with this gingerbread man.  The Gingerbread Man story is one of Preschooler SSG’s favourites.

And he really enjoyed riding on this reindeer.

I don’t know what these ride ons are called but you need to push the pedals down and stand to make them move.  They also have wheels on them so parents can help steer.

But the star attraction for the boys were the rides.  There were three or four that they managed to take.

I sat behind them on the aeroplane

 but they were happy enough to sit on the elephant ride and also a couple of trains on their own.

The lady running this elephant ride very kindly gave them an extra go because there wasn’t anyone else in line after them.

There was also plenty of indoor seating outside the main activity areas which worked perfectly for us.  We had afternoon tea from one the kiosks and the boys got to exchange early Christmas gifts.  Then it was one last dare devil go in the bouncy castle (the two of them have no fear, not even of older boys playing in the vicinity – they just jump straight into whatever’s going on) before heading for home.

It was such a pleasant and successful afternoon that the impossible might happen.  2017 could be the year we take the boys to their first Royal Easter Show…..