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."

Wisdom

Isaac's friend from preschool came over to play today. They come each Wednesday but today she was feeling a little out of sorts, and pushed Elizabeth a couple of times. As a result my friend took her daughter home.

Isaac was very sad that his friend was going home, and decided to dispense his wisdom...

"Lizzy, when (my friend) tries to push you, you should just lay down on the floor, like I do. Then she can't push you because you're already laying down."

Smart boy.

Voices

"Lizzy, who do you want to read books with tonight? Mummy or Daddy?"

"Daddy."

(Ben is madly pointing at me)

"Are you sure you don't want Mummy to read books? She loves reading you books."

"No. I want Daddy. He has a nice voice."

Well - you got me there. Who can resist that deep voice :)

Nuts II

Today Isaac had his allergy test. And the verdict...

Cashews. He didn't react to any other nuts or peanuts. However, cashews was pretty severe. We have been told to avoid all tree nuts but he can have peanuts.

The amazing thing with Isaac is that he giggles through the allergy testing and doesn't even try to itch. I asked him if the welt was itchy. He said it was a little but it was OK. If that was me, I'd probably be wanting to rip the skin off my back.

Nuts

After spending a pleasant morning with Lizzy at playgroup, I come home and notice that I have a message on my answering machine.

"We have Isaac in our health room. We believe he is having a reaction to peanuts. We have called 911..."

Have you ever seen a mother in panic mode? Well that was me. (And Ben tells me that he drove to the school in record time, so I don't think I was the only one!)

When I arrived, Ben was already there and Isaac was doing well. He was quite happy because three firemen had been to see HIM but was still feeling a bit uncomfortable.

We now have an epi-pen which we are to carry with us at all time, and an anxious son.

Today, I asked Isaac if he wanted to have something from the bakery. He didn't. He wanted to go home and eat something at home. My jaw drops. My kids never refuse a treat from the bakery.

"Isaac - are you scared to eat something from the bakery?"

"Yes. It might have nuts in it."

"Maybe we could ask them if they have nuts in them?"

"No - I want to go home and eat."

I start feeling concerned. I don't want him to fear having an allergy and want to teach him that he can have the freedom to eat what he wants, all he has to do is ask first.

"Isaac, will you be brave with mummy and we can ask the bakery which foods have nuts in them. I'll need you to hold my hand."

"OK Mummy"

So we go in, and we ask. She pulls out a nutrition book with allergy information. And Isaac is grinning from ear to ear when we find out that plain bagels with cream cheese do not contain nuts.

"Thank you for holding my hand Isaac. We were brave together and now we know we can eat here."

Pain

Today, Lizzy got a splinter in her hand. Getting it out involved much crying. Her reward for surviving the ordeal was that she got to choose her band-aid. She chose the big Dora band-aid for her big owie.

Fast forward to bedtime. Each night we read a story from the bible to Lizzy. She wanted the "grape story" which is the story of Job. (It has a picture of grapes hence the name). Ben was reading the story....

"Once there was a man named Job. He loved God very much. But God let him get sick. Job hurt all over..."

And a little voice pipes up with "Just like me!"

The final line in the story is "But Job still loved God"

Ben then asked "Do you still love God?"

"Yes".

So despite the fact that Lizzy hurt, just like Job, she still loves God. And for now we'll let her think that Job just had a splinter in his hand.

Conscience

I have a conscience. It talks to me, usually from the back seat. My conscience is 5 years old.

My Australianess comes out strongest in moments of stress, hence why my conscience is usually heard from the back seat.

As I yell "Come on mate! What do you think you're doing?", my conscience begins to talk....

"Mummy, why did you say that?".

Ah. Because the car in front of me is being an idiot! No - I can't say that.

"The car infront of me, didn't notice that the light was green and now we are waiting at the red light again. Mummy talks to the other cars alot, doesn't she?"

"Yes."

Our Family

Lizzy drew a picture of our family last night. She conveniently left Isaac out - I'm not sure if there is a hidden meaning in this.

It's quite obviously which one is Cleo (our cat). Lizzy is next, in the red. I'm the leggy one on the right. And yes - she's already recognised the fact that she has a hairy daddy.

Grandad's Yucky Yogurt

My kids love yogurt. If they had their choice, they would probably choose to eat yogurt at least 3 times a day.

Right now one of their favourite flavours is called "Boston Cream Pie". However, it took me some time to discover that, according to Lizzy, it's also known as "Grandad's Yucky Yogurt". The only thing I can think of is that Dad did not like this flavour when they visited us, and that he said that it was yucky. Hence we now have regular requests for "Grandad's Yucky Yogurt".

Sharing

We are a sharing family. We've obviously have taught our children well, by example. Lizzy has kindly shared her bug with me, I've shared with Isaac and now he's shared it with Ben.

I've got to say though - when Ben gets sick he gets sick with flair.

Tonight he tells me that he's feeling queazy - not the news I wanted to hear. Within half an hour he tells me that he needs to go to the bathroom because he's going to be sick. Delightful.

I follow him, and ask if he would like company while being sick. He's not sure, so I decide to follow. Lucky for him I'm a caring wife, who's seen so much vomit this week that I'm feeling pretty immune. Next moment he sits on the footstool and annouces that he's going to faint - and promptly does so.

It was a new experience for me - to catch someone fainting. And of course he had to fall backwards. I have a secret to share with you - this husband of mine is no lightweight.

He's not been sick yet - he's just a ticking timebomb.

Adventures in Reading

Lizzy read Ben & I a book tonight. It was called "Can you Cuddle Like a Koala?" by John Butler. It's a lovely book, which was given to Isaac by Jan & Joe.

It goes like this...

"Out in the wild, what can you be? Can you copy these creatures? Are you ready? Let's see. Can you cuddle like a koala, holding on tight? Can you creep like a mouse in the pale moonlight? .... Can you wink like an owl, hiding in the leaves?" and so on.

Lizzy's version went like this...

"Can you do all these things? Can you hug mummy? (the koala...we usually cuddle for this page) Can you do that? (the mouse) It's the owl! Can you close one eye?"

It was very cute to see how a 3 year old translates a book into her own language.