Accents

We recently purchased a learn to read set called "Hooked on Phonics". Both Isaac and Elizabeth seem to really enjoy it. Elizabeth is still learning her letters, and Isaac is learning the letter sounds. He knows most of them, and I'm sure he'll have them all down pat soon.

Hooked on Phonics has also taught me a thing or two. One of them is that Isaac definately has an American accent. (Yes...grandmothers are permitted to groan).

I decided to turn off the CD and say the letter sounds together. We were saying "A", then making the "a" sound, then saying the word apple. I said the sound, when suddenly Isaac stops and says "No - it's aaah". My ears are hurting. How did that sound manage to get so butchered? But - good mother that I am I say "Yes Isaac - it's "aaah". And we move on.

I've always struggled to put on an American accent - maybe this is my chance to get it right.

Gluten Free Custard Kisses

My lovely husband rarely gets a mention here, but these were made especially for him. I thought I'd share them with you too.





Gluten Free Custard Kisses

Ingredients
1 cup Icing Sugar
2 tablespoons Sugar
8oz Butter
4 tablespoons Milk
1/2 teaspoons Salt
2 1/2 cups Gluten Free Flour (I used a mix of 2/3 rice, 1/6 tapioca, 1/6 potato rice flour)
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 cup custard powder (not all custard powder is GF, so check first)

Ingredients for Cream
2 oz butter
2 tablespoons custard powder
2 tablespoons icing sugar

Method
1. Cream the icing sugar, sugar & butter
2. Add milk and salt. Mix.
3. Sift in GF Flour & custard powder. Mix until blended
4. Form mixture into small balls and place on cookie tray
5. Press each roll with a floured fork
6. Bake in a moderate oven for 10-12 minutes (350F or 175c)
7. Allow cookies to cool
8. Blend the ingredients for the cream together.
9. Use a knife to "butter" the cream onto a cookie, and then join.

Enjoy!!

A Christmas Letter

Last night, we asked Isaac & Lizzy to write a Christmas letter to Santa. They were both very excited about writing their letters and quickly sat down with their paper and pencils.

Within a few minutes Lizzy exclaimed "I'm finished" and proudly showed us her christmas letter.

She has been learning to write her name - and had written an "E" for Santa. It was her Christmas Letter.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To get to the other side!

Yes....this is when you need to start laughing.

Isaac has started to tell jokes. Over the last few days we have heard many variations on the same theme.

My favourite has probably been "Why did the silly man climb to the top of the tree?" "So, he could be at the top".

It quite often followed by "Was that funny?" "Yes, Isaac - that was funny." "Why?"

Well dear...it's because you are so sweet and giggle the whole way through more so than actual words of the joke but we won't tell you that for a number of years to come.

Here's a photo of my jester, with a monster he made (thanks to Owen & Helen - this is a hit!).

A Star is Born

Well...actually she was born just over 3 years ago but she decided to shine last Thursday night.

Last Thursday was the infamous Christmas Concert. The pre-three preschool class was first on stage - there were only three little dears all ready to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", "Away in a Manger" and "Jingle Bells". Lizzy walked up with her class mates and looked at everyone in wonder and smiled.

Then the music starts. I should have known - earlier in the day she'd already told me that she was going to dance at the Christmas concert. I had confirmed with Miss Tracy that they were doing actions, so it didn't make me even blink an eye. So back to the music...the three start singing so very quietly, doing their actions when Lizzy suddenly starts to dance all over the stage. Spinning and jumping whilst doing the actions to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Everyone is laughing and I'm almost crying with laughter. The other two stoically carry on, while occasionally taking glimpses at Lizzy.

Let's just say, she definitely enjoyed herself on stage. Here are some photos of our enthusiastic star in her more sedate moments.

I'm back again

But just give me a few days to thaw out.

We've had no power (read heat!!) for 4 days.

Lizzy who?

Ben & I put alot of thought into the names of our children. Many names which I liked were discounted because of their meaning. We finally settled on Isaac, which means "Laughter" and Elizabeth, which means "God's Promise".

One morning, early in salmon season, we were on one of our walks. We met three ladies who were on their way to Oregon but had stopped to see the salmon. We got talking, and one of the ladies asked Lizzy what her name was.

Elizabeth proudly told her, "Lizzy". The woman then responded "Lizzy! Are you named after Lizzy Borden?" A moments pause, and Lizzy says "No - I was named after Elizabeth in the Bible".

Ummm....Lizzy Borden, the murderer or Elizabeth, the mother of John. I'm glad our girl knows who she's named after.

Ballet Slippers

Today we went to Target to buy Elizabeth a pair of black shoes.

I told her in the morning that we were going to look for black shoes, to which she responded "I want pink ballet shoes". I let it slip, hoping that it was just a passing whim and that she would forget about it.

Come shoe shopping time...

"I want pink ballet shoes and I want to dance."

We continue looking for black shoes. We see a wide range of pretty black shoes, but Lizzy tells me that she doesn't like any of them. Then she sees them....pink, glittery ballet looking shoes with a tiny heel on them. Her excitement is overwhelming, and they are the shoes she wants.

At a quick glance at the price, I decided that she could have her pink ballet slippers, as well as the black shoes. You've got to love Target some days.

So now, the pink shoes seem to be glued to her feet - and even better - they make a grand noise when you stomp on the tiles. Could live get any better?

Sweet Boy

Happy Birthday to my sweet, sweet boy.

Isaac turned 5 today, and he was so excited. He woke up this morning, and walked down stairs in a very sleepy state. I asked him if he knew what day it was, and he responsed in the negative. I then said "Well...it's the 10th December". Suddenly two little eyes lit up as he exclaimed "It's my birthday!"

Isaac wanted a train birthday party today - so I made a Thomas cake. Last night I asked him if he wanted just a Thomas cake, or if Thomas should pull a carriage. His response was that he wanted 10 carriages. Unfortunately, mummy wasn't quite up to making 10 carriages (nor are our waists up to eating 10 carriages) so we settled for Thomas pulling just one.

It was a very happy birthday.

A Plan...

Today is my birthday. 7 December 2002 never occurred for me, thanks to the time change when we came home for a visit, so you can all wish me a happy 31st birthday.

This morning Isaac & Lizzy piled into bed with me. Ben led them in singing Happy Birthday. As soon as that finished Isaac lent over and annouced ...

"I have a plan."

"Oh - a plan? What's your plan, Isaac?"

"We can make a cake!"

"Oh, that sounds nice"

"Mummy, you can put in the first ingredient."

I think hearing "The Plan" has been my favourite part of the day.

Swimming

Isaac & Lizzy are taking swimming lessons, which they absolutely love. It's funny to watch them having their lesson because they are so different.

Isaac is my rule follower. If the teacher says to do something, he'll do it. He laughs and giggles the whole way through swimming lessons, except for when it comes to floating on his back. He does not like back floats, I think perhaps because of the sensation of water in his ears. Recently we started using ear plugs and it's making quite a difference, but he still isn't keen about it. However, he has learnt to dunk his head under water, and is so proud of the fact. He enjoys making "icecream scoops" with his hands and he loves playing games in the water. I'm so happy to see Isaac learning to swim, not just for the sake of being able to swim but because I believe that it's really helping his overall co-ordination. Since starting swimming he's suddenly mastered riding on his bike, and on Sunday he jumped off two feet for the first time. I beamed, and so did he.

Elizabeth is my independant, free spirit. The most used words during swimming lessons are "No!" and "I can do it myself!" Lizzy wants to spend most of her time floating on her back, but she does not want Misty to help her. She would much prefer to use a noodle, and just cruise around on her back. She also loves to jump in the water but not off the side of the pool (a fact which I am very thankful for, given how independant she thinks she is in the water). Today at swimming lessons, Misty decided to let her discover how deep the water was because she kept on walking into the deep part. She walked until she couldn't touch anymore and went under slightly. Misty then picked her up and explained that it was too deep. That didn't disturb her in the least - I suspect that she'll probably learn to swim one day because she goes too deep and suddenly realises she needs to kick her legs to stay afloat. Contary to Isaac, Elizabeth does not like to put her head under the water. Misty lets her go underwater a few times each lesson, and today she came up spluttering but saying "I'm a big girl now". Everyone knows that going under water is what makes a 3 year old "big".

Here are my little swimmers, demonstrating what they do best...

The Real Deal

Growing up, I remember looking at our artifical Christmas tree and thinking "oh boy, it looks so fake!" Since living here, I have changed my mind. It looked fake simply because they are not the type of tree which I was used to seeing.

Today I went Christmas tree shopping. No, not for a fake one, but the real deal. Along side the road, people set up Christmas tree lots. It's a little squared off area, all muddy from the recent snow and rain, with christmas lights strung around the outside. Inside the ropes, there are all sorts of different trees. Noble fir, Douglas Fir, Norway Spruce and more. They come in all sizes, from little tiny trees to ones that are around 10 foot tall.

I came home with a 7 foot Noble fir. I chose one that was very dense in needles and smells divine. We removed all the decorations from the artifical tree we'd put up the other day, and as I looked I was surprised to see that I'd chosen one that was considerably larger than our fake tree - I hadn't been able to tell that looking at it in the open space that was the tree shop. Luckily, we'd shopped the post-Christmas sales last year, and had picked up lots of tinsel on the cheap and it was still packed away.

So now, shimmering in the corner of our living room, is a beautiful real Christmas tree. I'm happy, and so is the cat.