Lizzy has suddenly found "potty" jokes extremely funny. I should have known it would happen, as I think every child goes through this stage. I blame Ben entirely. He started it at dinner one night when she dropped some peas on herself and he commented that she had peed on herself. That resulted in fits of laughter and the joke has continued most nights that we eat peas. Another fun game we have is we make up silly rhyming words. So of course, when I told her to put on her shoes, she replied "you mean my koos or how about my poos?" When she realised what she had said, the laughter began again and she had to go and repeat her ryhming word to daddy.
Ahhh..hopefully this stage won't be too long in passing.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Echo
The other day Lizzy was walking along screeching. She had a huge grin on her face as she'd loudly yell "eeeek". I couldn't work out why she was doing this to start with, until I listened very closely - there was a slight echo.
"Lizzy - are you trying to make an echoing sound?"
"Yeah - and the world answers back."
I love the perspective of a child.
"Lizzy - are you trying to make an echoing sound?"
"Yeah - and the world answers back."
I love the perspective of a child.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Weight of Responsiblity
Our scholastic book order arrived today. A virtual pet came with one of the books Lizzy chose.
She was eager to turn it on and play with it. She mananged to turn it on, and was asking me how to use it. I started going through the different things with her, such as feeding, playing, cleaning and health checkups. It was OK for about half an hour. She carried it around with her and occassionally chose to do something with her pet.
Then the tears started. "Mummy, I want you to turn it off". Unfortunately you can't turn those things off, so I said she could just put it in her toy box. More tears. "Why are you feeling so sad?" "I might forget about my pet. I want to call Daddy. I'm so sad and I want to tell him about that thing I don't like."
Oh dear.
She was eager to turn it on and play with it. She mananged to turn it on, and was asking me how to use it. I started going through the different things with her, such as feeding, playing, cleaning and health checkups. It was OK for about half an hour. She carried it around with her and occassionally chose to do something with her pet.
Then the tears started. "Mummy, I want you to turn it off". Unfortunately you can't turn those things off, so I said she could just put it in her toy box. More tears. "Why are you feeling so sad?" "I might forget about my pet. I want to call Daddy. I'm so sad and I want to tell him about that thing I don't like."
Oh dear.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Valentines
Can I make a confession?
I really dislike Valentines Day in America.
Valentines Day in America is so commercialised and it's all about telling people how much you love them, even when you don't. Spouses get Valentines (I'm OK with this one), parents & grandparents get Valentines (sorry grandparents - my kids are 1/2 Australia - you get the Australian treatment!), children get Valentines, all your classmates get Valentines, all your teachers get Valentines and you can even send Valentines to your friends. Valentines might be small or you can spend a fortune if you wish.
A typical valentine to give to classmates is a card with a lollipop threaded through it. You write the recipents name and your name on the back of the card. However, it seems quite wrong when Isaac is completing his school valentines and says to me "Ana is mean. Which valentine should I give to her?"
I really dislike Valentines Day in America.
Valentines Day in America is so commercialised and it's all about telling people how much you love them, even when you don't. Spouses get Valentines (I'm OK with this one), parents & grandparents get Valentines (sorry grandparents - my kids are 1/2 Australia - you get the Australian treatment!), children get Valentines, all your classmates get Valentines, all your teachers get Valentines and you can even send Valentines to your friends. Valentines might be small or you can spend a fortune if you wish.
A typical valentine to give to classmates is a card with a lollipop threaded through it. You write the recipents name and your name on the back of the card. However, it seems quite wrong when Isaac is completing his school valentines and says to me "Ana is mean. Which valentine should I give to her?"
Nerves
Last Wednesday, Isaac's grade did a "President's Wax Musuem". Each child was required to research their president and memorize a small speech about them. Isaac was Andrew Johnson, 17th President of the USA.
On Tuesday night, halfway through dinner, Isaac annouced that he really wasn't hungry and wanted to go to bed. It was close to bedtime, so I said he didn't need to finish dinner and could go and clean his teeth and get ready for bed. Much to my surpise, he did this. Usually the only time my kids don't want to eat dinner is when they have something else they want to do that is more fun.
I went to check on him, and asked him if he was feeling sick. No. I thought for a minute. "Isaac, are you worried about the Wax Musuem?" Yes.
Ben came in at this point, and reassured him that it was normal to feel a little bit nervous about speaking in front of people and that he remembered getting nervous doing it when he was a boy. We also reassured him that he did great whenever he practiced his speech. A smile came back to Isaac's face, and it seemed like he was less worried.
And just so you know...on Wednesday he did wonderfully.
On Tuesday night, halfway through dinner, Isaac annouced that he really wasn't hungry and wanted to go to bed. It was close to bedtime, so I said he didn't need to finish dinner and could go and clean his teeth and get ready for bed. Much to my surpise, he did this. Usually the only time my kids don't want to eat dinner is when they have something else they want to do that is more fun.
I went to check on him, and asked him if he was feeling sick. No. I thought for a minute. "Isaac, are you worried about the Wax Musuem?" Yes.
Ben came in at this point, and reassured him that it was normal to feel a little bit nervous about speaking in front of people and that he remembered getting nervous doing it when he was a boy. We also reassured him that he did great whenever he practiced his speech. A smile came back to Isaac's face, and it seemed like he was less worried.
And just so you know...on Wednesday he did wonderfully.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Pokemon Cards
It was frustrating me that Isaac wanted to play Pokemon on his gameboy for alot longer than he was allowed. It was a constant battle of "Isaac, you need to put away your gameboy for a little while and do something else" or "Isaac, your electric time is up for the day. How about you go an make something with your lego". I really don't like being a nagging mother, but I also didn't want him playing Pokemon all day.
Since Elizabeth has turned 5, she's been allowed to play Pokemon as well. She's picked it up very quickly, and the two of them will happily play a Pokemon card game, which I'm much happier about than them playing on the gameboy.
However, there's been a recent development which makes me even happier. Isaac has started making his own Pokemon cards. I love the thought and creativity he uses to come up with his new cards. Jan A once said to me that you need to use kids' favorite things, and incorporate them into learning. Pokemon is still an obsession, despite my trying to branch out this past Christmas - but now I'm happy to say he is learning new skills through it. He spells out his own words, draws his own pictures, and creates cards that are "realistic" in regards to strategy (although Ben did have to sit down at the beginning and explain that a card with 700 health points was not fair to other players)
Since Elizabeth has turned 5, she's been allowed to play Pokemon as well. She's picked it up very quickly, and the two of them will happily play a Pokemon card game, which I'm much happier about than them playing on the gameboy.
However, there's been a recent development which makes me even happier. Isaac has started making his own Pokemon cards. I love the thought and creativity he uses to come up with his new cards. Jan A once said to me that you need to use kids' favorite things, and incorporate them into learning. Pokemon is still an obsession, despite my trying to branch out this past Christmas - but now I'm happy to say he is learning new skills through it. He spells out his own words, draws his own pictures, and creates cards that are "realistic" in regards to strategy (although Ben did have to sit down at the beginning and explain that a card with 700 health points was not fair to other players)
Friday, January 09, 2009
Comparisons
We recorded Lizzy's Christmas pageant and were watching it the other night. Lizzy was one of the last children to come on stage to say her line. As soon as she came out, Isaac exclaimed "Lizzy, this video makes you look so much taller than you really are!"
He has always has compared his sister to himself and his friends and has rarely seen her against children of her own age. As a result, he's never really thought of her as being tall. So it was quite a shock to him to see how much taller she was than all her classmates.
He has always has compared his sister to himself and his friends and has rarely seen her against children of her own age. As a result, he's never really thought of her as being tall. So it was quite a shock to him to see how much taller she was than all her classmates.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
A Yearly Glimpse
I don't often post pictures of myself. It must be becoming a tradition though, as I showed you a glimpse of me around this time last year. I forced everyone in my family to do a "self-portait" with me in the snow yesterday and here are the results.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Shovelling Snow
Last night, Ben & I were outside shovelling snow off our driveway. Every few minutes, Isaac would come outside to talk about Pokemon with Ben. Each time, he'd open the garage door and let the cold air into the house and I'd have to close it straight away. After a few times, Ben came up with a condition to slow down the opening and closing. "Isaac, before you ask me a question you have to shovel some snow." I was surprised that this didn't deter him. He'd come out, shovel about 5 scoops of snow and ask his question.
Isaac is allergic to grass pollen - so as a teenager he won't be given the job of mowing the lawn. However, I can see the future. He'll be shovelling our driveway each year.
Isaac is allergic to grass pollen - so as a teenager he won't be given the job of mowing the lawn. However, I can see the future. He'll be shovelling our driveway each year.
Beanies
We had snow yesterday. Lots of it, for us anyway. Ben & I measured 7 inches just before shovelling the drive way.
Of course, the kids wanted to go outside and make a snowman. The only condition was they rugged up, because the temperature was below freezing. I suggested to Lizzy that she should wear a beanie under her snow jacket because she'd feel warmer.
A few minutes later she came back and said "I found a beanie". I could see something under her hat but I wasn't quite sure what it was. It definately was not a beanie. Instead she had found a ziplock plastic bag which I had filled with dried beans the other day. She had carefully put it on the top of her head.
I was not surprised when she asked me "What's a beanie?" after I removed her bag of beans. "A winter hat, love - go find a winter hat. That's what I call a beanie."
Of course, the kids wanted to go outside and make a snowman. The only condition was they rugged up, because the temperature was below freezing. I suggested to Lizzy that she should wear a beanie under her snow jacket because she'd feel warmer.
A few minutes later she came back and said "I found a beanie". I could see something under her hat but I wasn't quite sure what it was. It definately was not a beanie. Instead she had found a ziplock plastic bag which I had filled with dried beans the other day. She had carefully put it on the top of her head.
I was not surprised when she asked me "What's a beanie?" after I removed her bag of beans. "A winter hat, love - go find a winter hat. That's what I call a beanie."
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
A Cold Snap
We're experiencing a bit of a cold snap here. The saying "Arctic wind" is a literal term right now. We've got cold air coming down from the north and we woke up to -10 this morning. I'm not expecting to see the temperature above freezing even during the day for the next week. However, much to the kid's delight, we are expecting snow. You've got to take the good with the bad, I suppose.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Happy Birthday Isaac
Today was Isaac's birthday.
He's had a great day. He wanted a Pokemon/Star Wars birthday - not exactly themes that go well together but we managed. We had pokemon plates & napkins and some Star Wars balloons. For the cake I placed some Pokemon and Star Wars figures opposite each other, and told him it was a battle between the two. He was happy with that, and told me that the Pokemon definately would have been the winners.
For dinner, we went out to Chuck E Cheese. Think pizza parlour with a games arcade. If Isaac or Lizzy are ever invited to a party there again, I'm sending Ben. I've been to two parties there with the kids. Each time you play a game, you can win tickets. The kids and I usually win about 100 tickets (if I'm lucky). Ben, however, was quite the expert and helped us win over 600 tickets. Isaac was thrilled that he was able to choose 3 prizes at the end of the night.
He told me that he had an EXCELLENT day. That's what we wanted for him, so I'm happy.
Happy Birthday to our young man. Photos to follow, hopefully!
He's had a great day. He wanted a Pokemon/Star Wars birthday - not exactly themes that go well together but we managed. We had pokemon plates & napkins and some Star Wars balloons. For the cake I placed some Pokemon and Star Wars figures opposite each other, and told him it was a battle between the two. He was happy with that, and told me that the Pokemon definately would have been the winners.
For dinner, we went out to Chuck E Cheese. Think pizza parlour with a games arcade. If Isaac or Lizzy are ever invited to a party there again, I'm sending Ben. I've been to two parties there with the kids. Each time you play a game, you can win tickets. The kids and I usually win about 100 tickets (if I'm lucky). Ben, however, was quite the expert and helped us win over 600 tickets. Isaac was thrilled that he was able to choose 3 prizes at the end of the night.
He told me that he had an EXCELLENT day. That's what we wanted for him, so I'm happy.
Happy Birthday to our young man. Photos to follow, hopefully!
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Presenting for the first time...
our newest family member - debuting in their first photo.
I love the little button nose.
Everyone has to wait until April though, to find out if baby a boy or girl.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Disembarkation
When we arrived home today, Ben announced "Everyone Disembark". And suddenly from the back, we hear "woof, woof".
Ahhh...somehow I think someone didn't hear right.
Edited to add that I've been told I've created some confusion today! Lizzy must have only heard "Everyone bark" and started to bark like a dog. No new animals in our household!
Ahhh...somehow I think someone didn't hear right.
Edited to add that I've been told I've created some confusion today! Lizzy must have only heard "Everyone bark" and started to bark like a dog. No new animals in our household!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Shopaholic
Our daughter is a shopaholic. There is no other word for it. She does not need to be shopping for herself although this is the preferred outcome. Today I went shopping for a present for a baby shower. I barely had a moment to look for something as I was being constantly told "Mummy, look at this. Do you think she would like this?"; "Mummy, this is sooo pretty - can we buy this for the baby?"; "Do you think our baby would like this one?; We could buy this for our baby and the baby we are going to see!"; "Look Mummy, it's a SALE!!!!".
Nearly every shopping expedition lately has become like this - whether it's buying clothes for me and my expanding belly ("Mummy, look this is green. Green is your favorite color - do you like it?") or whether it's for groceries ("Mummy, look it says it's on sale!"; Look Mummy, it says buy one get one free!) Ahh - the joys that come when a child learns to read!
I complained to Ben today that I don't know where she learnt to shop like she does - shopping is certainly not a favorite occupation of mine. He claims it's a recessive gene that comes from a certain grandmother ;-)
Nearly every shopping expedition lately has become like this - whether it's buying clothes for me and my expanding belly ("Mummy, look this is green. Green is your favorite color - do you like it?") or whether it's for groceries ("Mummy, look it says it's on sale!"; Look Mummy, it says buy one get one free!) Ahh - the joys that come when a child learns to read!
I complained to Ben today that I don't know where she learnt to shop like she does - shopping is certainly not a favorite occupation of mine. He claims it's a recessive gene that comes from a certain grandmother ;-)
Monday, November 24, 2008
5 years ago today
We welcomed a little girl into our lives...
It's amazing where 5 years have taken us...
Happy Birthday Lizzy!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Kindergarten Plans
Yesterday, Lizzy informed me that she was going to go to Kindergarten where she currently goes to preschool. I gently let her know that she was actually going to attend where Isaac goes to school.
The bottom lip dropped and the wail came "But they have music lessons at our Kindergarten. I want to go to music lessons."
I was very thankful that Isaac was with me when this conversation happened because he piped up and told her that he also has music lessons at school and that he went two times a week. This led into a conversation between the two of them about when they had music lessons. Isaac proudly told her that his lessons were after lunch and that they lined up outside the music room. (This is more than he ever tells me, so I was greatly interested.)
All of Isaac's information cheered her up greatly and she now wants to go to the public school again. Whew....tears avoided thanks to a big brother.
The bottom lip dropped and the wail came "But they have music lessons at our Kindergarten. I want to go to music lessons."
I was very thankful that Isaac was with me when this conversation happened because he piped up and told her that he also has music lessons at school and that he went two times a week. This led into a conversation between the two of them about when they had music lessons. Isaac proudly told her that his lessons were after lunch and that they lined up outside the music room. (This is more than he ever tells me, so I was greatly interested.)
All of Isaac's information cheered her up greatly and she now wants to go to the public school again. Whew....tears avoided thanks to a big brother.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Shake that Boody
Lizzy has a new toothbrush. It's called a Tooth Tunes toothbrush and it sings for the amount of time she is supposed to brush. Her toothbrush sings "The Bare Necessities" from The Jungle Book. It's quite a funny sight, for she now happily cleans her teeth with her bottom stuck out and a little tail shaking happening.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Who's cooking are we talking about?
I was about to cook sausages the other morning for breakfast and had just put them in the fry pan when Lizzy asked "Are they burnt yet?".
Considering Ben usually is the one who makes a cooked breakfast, I'm going to blissfully think that she was making a comment on Ben's cooking skills.
Considering Ben usually is the one who makes a cooked breakfast, I'm going to blissfully think that she was making a comment on Ben's cooking skills.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Halloween
Big brother worship is strong in our household. Once Isaac had chosen his halloween costume, there was no convincing Lizzy to be anyone but Princess Leia.
And another - as proof as to who really is under that mask!
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