Paint a little birdhouse in your soul

A fun weekend started with me taking Lily to the cinema to see Happy Feet (she danced throughout) while my mum took Bella for a walk by the River Cam. This gave Anne a break on what she's dubbed Mother's Day Weekend.

Mother's Day Proper started for Anne at 8.30 as the girls presented her with beans on toast and coffee in bed. I should really get the credit for this as I prepared it, but I graciously let the girls lie. They then presented her with a birdhouse they (mainly Lily) had painted. Garishly. But probably better than I'd have managed.

It was a really nice sunny day, which was a pleasant change after all the cold weather we've had lately, so we headed out to the Magog Downs, one of the few hills in the area for a run around (i.e. to wear the kids out). The girls had a great time, having seemingly been shut in the house for three months (at least that's how it feels).

Lily picked up a stick and said it was a gun, and kept running round saying "Shoot gun!" No idea where she's got that from, but I wasn't overly concerned. I was more concerned later when I heard her say, in a sweet manner, to Bella "I have a gun and a sword. Do you want to be cut up or killed?" Oh boy.

A further trip to a playground this afternoon and I'm expecting the kids to sleep well tonight. They'd blimmin better do, since I'm shattered.

 

 

 

 

Wicked ball skills

I'm not usually one to boast, but Isabel, at two, has the soccer skills of a 35 year old man.

Unfortunately the 35 year old man is me.



Also here

Mother's (Short) Day

Wednesday evening when I got home from work:

Lily approaches me, conspiratorially.
"Daddy, on Sunday please can we..."
Lily pauses. She turns to her mum.
"Mummy, I've forgotten what time."
Anne whispers "Half past eight."
Lily turns back to me.
"Daddy, on Sunday please can we take Mummy breakfast in bed at half past eight because it's Mother's Day?"
I am suspicious. "Did Mummy put you up to this?"
I feel rather bullied.

Anne will probably get her wish, even if she did go about her request in a nerfarious manner. If she's lucky I'll even stop Lily and Isabel from preparing the breakfast and do it myself.

In retrospect half past eight isn't an unreasonable request. It says something that Anne's dream is to be allowed to sleep in until half past eight, and then be given breakfast.

At what age can kids be trusted to get up by themselves, make their own breakfast and watch The Wide Awake Club, leaving their parents to sleep?

Birthday weekend

Isabel effectively had two birthday weekends. We visited my mum the weekend before her birthday, and she had a cake there, and gifts from my mum and sister. Then Anne's sister and her partner visited last weekend and we had more cake and more presents. These kids' birthdays are mainly for the benefit of the grown ups and their tummies.

Isabel even managed to blow out the candles on this second cake. I think Lily was a bit miffed at that as she was hoping to help out there. Having hit two, the younger one seems to be attempting to grab some of the spotlight the elder has been hogging for the last two years. Lily's enjoying this more-bolshy younger sister so far. I wonder if there'll be territorial issues later...

 

Happy Birthday Bella!

Here we are again - another one turns two. Two years ago since Isabel was born in our front room, followed by an earthquake. And, other than a bit of teething, Isabel seems to be enjoying herself at the moment.

Lily was ill for a few days following her fourth birthday in January, and with a quieter elder sister for a change Isabel took the opportunity to step up. Almost overnight her language came on a lot. Having shown no interest in joining words she suddenly figured it out. A month later and we can barely shut her up. It's a lot of fun.

She can say a lot of words pretty well, but refuses to call Lily Lily. Lily is "Eee" according to Bella. Lily has no problem with sharing a name with a Tombliboo. At the moment Bella's main love is Peppa Pig, and Lily has no problem with that either. They both sit there watching it whenever they're allowed. Lily will laugh at the funny bits, and Bella will mainly just make snorty pig noises.

I can't wait for the next year as she communicates more. She and Lily get on really well (long may that last). The occasional disagreement, sure, but that's only to be expected. It's so much fun having Bella at the breakfast table, as she barks instructions at us, makes us each take a drink our drinks in turn, laughs at her own private jokes, and sings to herself.

I've put together a video of bits of her second year, ending in one such sing song from Wednesday morning this week.

Here's a link if the video doesn't display.