Baking

I have always enjoyed baking. I remember many happy hours as a child, baking cookies with mum and as a teenager, baking for my family. Ginger nuts, ANZAC cookies, chocolate cake and the such were my favourites. Still today, spending some time in the kitchen will lift my mood. It's not surprising then, that my children love to cook already. I hope too, that they will have wonderful memories of spending time in the kitchen making cookies and cakes and other delights.

Both come running at the suggestion of cooking. Isaac loves to measure and Lizzy loves to tip. They take turns stiring, and generally manage to create a big but fun mess. However, I think for both of them their favourite time is at the end when they are allowed to lick the bowl.


Today we made chocolate cookies.

School

Lizzy has been having a tough week, and many things have brought tears to her eyes. But her saddest moments have been when Isaac has been going to school.

"I want to go to school" has been said numerous this week. On Thursday, Isaac had a teddy bears picnic, and had packed his favourite bear into his school bag. Lizzy was so excited and went searching for her bag and teddy. I was told "I love my teddy so much" as he was stuffed into her backpack. The disappointment was great when I told her that only Isaac was going to school.

Today was Lizzy's preschool day. The smiles lit the room when she realised it was Friday and her day for preschool. Luckily, Teddy had been forgotten as she happily skipped off to class.

As Overheard in the Backseat

You may remember the other day I posted that Isaac wanted to be a race car driver. As a continuation - this is what was overheard in our backseat.

We had all been talking about the moon, and Isaac starts out with a well known fact.

"I don't want to be an astronaut. I want to be a race car driver and drive really fast on a race track."

Then Elizabeth joins in: "I want to fly in a space ship."

"You want to be an astronaut?"

"Yes. That would be very fun."

So it looks like we may have an astronaut after all. Well, at least for this week anyway.

Emotions

You would think, being female, that I would have anticipated the sensitive, emotional response a little girl might have to daily situations. However, I was quite unprepared for today's emotional outburst.

We were at Mommy & Me - when suddenly Lizzy ran over to me crying. As I hug her, I ask what is wrong.

"Nobody wants to play me with."

Ahhh. I have to admit I didn't anticipate that one for another year or two.

I quickly glance at where she'd come from, and realise that "nobody" are the 5 & 8 year old sisters who are happily playing together and appear to uninterested in the play of a 3 year old. It was not really surprising they didn't want to play with her, as they were doing "big kid" stuff.

As I bumble over an answer, I point her in the direction of another little girl, closer to her age. She happily heads off, emotions in control. For now.

Girls only

Lizzy refused to give Ben a goodbye hug and kiss today. She refused with great charm and sweetness. So naturally Ben pounted and said "I'm sad".

"No Daddy. Only girls can be sad".

Ummm...I'm not sure on how well this reflects on her & I.

When I Grow Up....

Today, Isaac & I were looking at his Atlas of the Universe book, reading about space probes. It's one of his favourite books right now. I decide to cast noble thoughts about his future. "One day Isaac, perhaps you'll be an astronaut." Then I remember he's told us that he wouldn't like to be an astronaut, so I add "Or maybe a scientist who makes those space probes?"

"No. When I grow up I'm going to be a race car driver because I want to drive really fast".

So for now my super cautious boy want to drive fast.

My Favourite Man

Ben rarely gets a mention, let alone a whole post here. So I thought I'd share my favourite man with you.

Praise

Who ever said that being a mother was a thankless job never had Elizabeth as a daughter.

Her latest saying is "Great job Mummy". Today's praise was because I managed to find her pirate patch and helped her put it on.

It's those little moments which make you think that you are doing something right.

I Spy

We often play the game "I Spy" with Isaac and Lizzy. We usually play it with colors (eg "I spy something yellow"). Today I upped the stakes and used letters.

"I spy something beginning with B. What starts with a b sound"

"Table" shouts Lizzy.

Ben & I grin at each other, but when I grin a flood of memories come back.

I remember driving in the car, when Anita was Lizzy or Isaac's age, playing the same game. She would say "I spy with my little eye something starting with B". We would reply with words like "bird", "balloon", "book" and so on. Finally we'd start saying "tree", "road", "flower" - to which she would exciting laugh and say "Yes, it's a flower" or we'd give up and she'd tell us it was a mailbox or some other object which definately did not start with B.

I loved having a little sister. Now it seems strange to be playing those same games and seeing the same responses from my own daughter.

Quote of the Day

"My hungry tummy could eat as much as an eleven year old hippo."