tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78176336306518656162024-03-19T01:54:58.612-07:00Nikeeta IsaacAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-81249033764740510882015-08-18T12:37:00.002-07:002015-08-18T12:37:55.440-07:00The tooth fairy
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Grace lost her first two front teeth I went to a fair
bit of effort with fairy poetry, flowers, glitter pens and oven burnt paper to
provide Grace with a pretty memorable first tooth fairy experience. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So after she lost her third tooth, she wrote a lovely letter to
the tooth fairy then tucked both the letter and the tooth under her pillow
before going to bed. I went to bed soon after leaving the official tooth fairy
business up to her dad who dutifully swapped the letter and the tooth for 50p
before discarding both items in his bedside drawer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Things sort of went pear-shaped from there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Around 4am the next morning, a very disgruntled Grace shook
me awake to complain that the tooth fairy had forgotten her. I feigned horror
then accompanied her to her bedroom to strike up the hunt for the money, only
to find it under the pillow as expected. All was well with the world and a very
relieved Grace settled back down fairly quickly. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fast forward a few days and then all hell broke loose. Grace
was sobbing her little heart out and it took me a good ten minutes to calm her
down enough to find out why she was so upset. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘Didn’t she like my letter? I drew her pictures and
everything? Why would she put it in Daddy’s draw? Why would she put my tooth in
Daddy’s draw? Didn’t she think it was a special tooth?’…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The initial shock soon turned to anger with a very upset
Grace then pointing the finger at me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘You know, I thought something was wrong when I didn’t find
any flowers or glitter…. There always needs to be glitter because its pixie
dust that falls off their wings when they fly…. Okay Mum, I need to tell you something…
I know you’re telling me the fairy is real and that maybe she was so busy that
she just forget to leave the flowers but I remember the first letter. It was
written with glitter, just like the glitter from my glitter pens. I think that
maybe the tooth fairy isn’t real and that you were just pretending… just tell
me the truth! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The tears were very real and no explanation that I offered
would suffice so I took the low road out and handed her my phone so she could
hash it out with her dad. Who magically made everything better by telling her
the exact same thing as I did! Within just a few seconds Grace was giggling and skipping about like nothing had every happened. </span></div>
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*note to self: stock up on glitter, flowers and other fairy p<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">araphernalia to avoid similar events in the near future* </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-43348909559500157292015-08-17T14:20:00.002-07:002015-08-17T14:21:36.561-07:00Volcanoes are bad news. <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c;">Grace has a little bit of an interest in volcanoes at the moment. Her grandparents have recently returned from a holiday in Italy while showing her their holiday snaps, they gave her a brief lesson in the history of the volcanoes at Pompeii. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Which prompted the following conversation a few weeks ago: </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Grace to adult friend ‘Have you ever been to Italy? My Nana and Granddad have. They went to Pompeii. Do you know what happened there? Well it’s very sad story so I can’t tell you at the moment because we’re eating our pudding but I can give you the good news....the volcano stopped!'</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And then over the weekend, while driving through </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cannock Chase, Grace saw the top of
the power plant rising above the trees in the distance. ‘Hey, Look, volcanoes!' </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c;">she announced. Looking at this picture I found on google, I can see why she made the comparison.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(photo of the Rugely Power Station by Dave Hanmer - </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7706119@N04/2131414974"><span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">https://www.flickr.com/photos/7706119@N04/2131414974</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;">)</span> </span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-9215321809317009692015-08-17T13:35:00.003-07:002015-08-17T13:36:06.993-07:00Mascara versus Scarloey. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I may have mentioned in my last post that Owen was a little
transport obsessed? Well his poison just so happens to be steam trains. Particularly the engines from the Thomas & Friends series. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This couldn’t have been clearer, when the other day,
he and Grace’s had a very heated discussion in the car. Grace, who is growing
up at terrifying speed stated that that when she grows up she’ll be able to
wear pink lipstick and mascara. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Owen shot back with ‘No. You’re going to have Scarloey!’ and
this seemed to be the catalyst for raised voices that bordered on high pitched
screeches, which were far, far too loud for me in the confined space of our
little Astra. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grace ‘No, not Scarloey! I said mascara Owen. Mascara!’<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Owen ‘No, you need Scarloey’. <br />
Grace ‘No, you put mascara on your eyes, not Scarloey’. <br />
Owen ‘No! Scarloey’.<br />
Grace ‘You can’t put Scarloey on your eyes Owen! It’s a train! Trains don’t go
on your eyes!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next few minutes were a blur of mascara’s and Scarloey’s
before I almost blew a fuse and desperately resorted to quietening my children
with the eye-twitching soulful sounds of the Frozen album. We’d been driving
for a few minutes in silence just listening to Anna banging on doors and Elsa
letting things go, when I heard Owen say ‘But I like Scarloey. So you’re going
to have Scarloey’…</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-22424268157625924812015-08-12T05:15:00.001-07:002015-08-12T05:20:45.050-07:00If you didn't know...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAZFUfGgnrJMwqW69U3hqboilWDLEnp1Tl_9P9a2ZArQtUzQxD_QgZ4Xmyit3AcIZkOfwpK6VO9eSW-XrWbiPnzgPfJQeHHflQOl_Lx4yS_j_emgV0JYrLGIaepmjfcizDspRlQB06Eo/s1600/11665537_10152963195375267_1326348389443303611_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAZFUfGgnrJMwqW69U3hqboilWDLEnp1Tl_9P9a2ZArQtUzQxD_QgZ4Xmyit3AcIZkOfwpK6VO9eSW-XrWbiPnzgPfJQeHHflQOl_Lx4yS_j_emgV0JYrLGIaepmjfcizDspRlQB06Eo/s200/11665537_10152963195375267_1326348389443303611_n.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though born down-under
and raised in the West Midlands, she speaks with a very convincing American
Accent at times. With her newly missing front tooth, she’s developed an
adorable lisp that is just begging for me to ask her to say things like ‘thistle
and whistle’. She’s been attending acrobatics and dance classes for the past
six months so if she wants to do a cartwheel or a hand stand then she will. Who
cares if we are stood in a field of sheep poo? If she says she didn’t touch it,
then trust her, she didn’t! But yes, she will take some hand sanitizer or a
baby wipe ‘just in case’… <br />
At nearly six years old she considers herself to be fairly grown up since she’ll
be starting grade one soon, so this entitles her to chime in any time that I am
telling her baby brother off for anything. No, she won’t mind her own business
because she’s a big girl now and she is just practising for when she starts
babysitting Owen. Which will be soon, since you know, she is just so grown up
now. And ‘six is nearly eight which is nearly twelve’ according to Grace. <br /><br />
Also now that she is so grown up, she can dress herself. Myself or any other
adult are no longer allowed to offer advice based on the weather or
destination. This means if she leaves the house wearing sandals, shorts and a
t-shirt in the pouring rain after five outfit changes that had the whole family
running late, then I should always think ahead and pack some more appropriate
clothes just in case. She also does her own hair now which pretty much equates
to spending ages in the mirror while brushing the bits she can reach which
makes for some terrible tantrums when it comes time to actually getting a comb
through those naturally beautiful tresses. </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm5LLnt_h9x0a19rGZ8w4HcSIfMdAA2-WxO1x5JZiLN71T70_7cDuRLdFzgwba5BNj79Xc3kzYSkJDtNiH5R7oRhyCIZ-TCMgG3UP0vJ6Nvpue75aw5f57r8RiNOXuyKRpLTzS6Up9Wk/s1600/11665687_10152946181065267_4516987030495703435_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm5LLnt_h9x0a19rGZ8w4HcSIfMdAA2-WxO1x5JZiLN71T70_7cDuRLdFzgwba5BNj79Xc3kzYSkJDtNiH5R7oRhyCIZ-TCMgG3UP0vJ6Nvpue75aw5f57r8RiNOXuyKRpLTzS6Up9Wk/s200/11665687_10152946181065267_4516987030495703435_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
Grace loves musicals of the Disney variety – she tortured me by being Anna
& Elsa obsessed for the best part of two years but her current faves would
be Mulan, Pocohontas and Belle. It’s not uncommon for her to command control of
the car stereo and only she can sing the words to ‘Be our guest’ or ‘Colours of
the Wind’. Unless of course, she claps her hands together just the one time.
This is the signal that shows that you’re now allowed to join in. And join in
your must! Not knowing the words isn’t a good enough excuse to be exempt from
the Disney sing along. As punishment, she will ensure we watch each film
another twenty times. That week. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She’s opinionated,
bossy and completely irrational at times, but she’s also possibly the funniest
person I’ve ever met (though Owen is fast becoming her equal). This is Grace now. </span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidQ2EwVCY1BZgNZo0W5DmBIQ_6QrlFymLEmyz_pgT7SwjI2gTl66DNTYYFenStPJ5ZUwRip1SfFtUCArceRxbaFaWjJExciOSI2dj6pZVbxoLxF3sIrm2ccZmycDvRYw6JBEkzwidtqs/s1600/11825038_10153032596940267_4077818705618634607_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidQ2EwVCY1BZgNZo0W5DmBIQ_6QrlFymLEmyz_pgT7SwjI2gTl66DNTYYFenStPJ5ZUwRip1SfFtUCArceRxbaFaWjJExciOSI2dj6pZVbxoLxF3sIrm2ccZmycDvRYw6JBEkzwidtqs/s640/11825038_10153032596940267_4077818705618634607_n.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-30093383023440277402015-08-11T14:42:00.000-07:002015-08-11T14:42:16.409-07:00Meet OwenThis is my son Owen. He's 2 and a half, in love with all things transport and really fond of singing 'Wheels on the Bus' many, many times a day. <br />
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In the past few months his speech has been really coming along and just like his big sister, he comes out with some very funny things. Like the other morning; I awoke to find Owen laying nose to nose with me in my bed. The second he noticed that I had opened my eyes, he grabbed my face in both hands and said to me 'Come on Mummy. Let's go and drive over all of the speed bumps'. I'll pretend there was a euphemism there rather than a very literal request to get in the car and physically drive over all and any speed bumps that we can find. So sort of like my What Grace Said Next page, this page here will host Owen’s quips and conversations.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-85653123170937284982015-01-28T14:46:00.000-08:002015-01-28T14:47:31.272-08:00Her name is Grace and her cousin is Genghis Khan...For the past few years Grace has played various make believe games that involve me calling her Alice, Wendy, Ariel, Elsa, Anna, Cinderella, Belle, Isobelle, Sophia, Dora... you get the drift. But today she had a different request for me. <br />
'Mummy, stop calling me Gracie. That name is for babies. I'm a big girl so you can call me Grace & the reason my name is Grace is because I am just very graceful, beautiful and my singing is so lovely'.<br />
Now I agree on two points but if I do hear her sing 'Let it go' just one more time this week, I may just have to take an extended parental vacation. Or maybe buy some ear plugs.<br />
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Like many people in the world Gracie has a birthmark. Her birthmark is small, circular shaped, no bigger than a finger print and it is also a bright teal-blue colour (not unlike a fresh bruise). Before I met Grace, I’d never seen anything like it and so I think I can be forgiven for the attitude I may have given the neonatal staff and for the suspicious eyed looks I probably shot their way when they said ‘Oh don’t mind that, it’s just a Chinese Birthmark…’. </div>
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‘Chinese?! But that just seems so unlikely’…</div>
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I don’t remember what the nurse said after that but I do remember discounting her explanation and turning to Google, only to see that we got off fairly lightly considering how small and discreet the birth mark was in comparison to other children who had large bruise-like marks covering most of their legs and torso. But still… Chinese? (Or Even Mongolian, depending on who you ask). Picture me trying to explain that one to any babysitters, child-care staff etc who cared for Grace before her toilet-trained days - hilarious? I think not!</div>
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Grace loves her birthmark. She calls it her blue-spot and I’ve always told her that it is proof she is special (it’s never too early to prepare for those awkward teen years right?) But given Grace’s recent obsession with watching Disney’s Mulan tied in with the added bonus of her class learning about China and the Chinese New Year for the past few weeks, Grace has been asking a lot of questions - </div>
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‘Mummy, you know, today I learned about the Chinese New Year? Well all the people wear red and they set off fireworks and Mum, will you show me pictures of China on your laptop?'.</div>
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After turning to good old Google, the most sensible search result seemed to be a youtube clip that gave a really brief overview of China whilst it showed some photographs of the Great Wall and other culturally unique Chinese images. After seeing the Wall, Grace got talking.</div>
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'Mum they built that wall to keep the baddies out if China Who were the baddies?'</div>
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Obviously the simple answer is Mongolia. But previously I had told Grace about the old Genghis Khan wives tale (Any babies born with a blue birth mark are descendants of Genghis Khan - highly possible that we're all somewhat descended from him considering how much of the world he conquered back in the day). But to make the answer easier for Grace, I explained that the bad guys in Mulan were the Mongolians like Genghis Khan. Quite rationally Grace has since been stating that 'She is related to the bad guy in Mulan and she knows he related to her because he has the same blue birthmark on his bum but she wishes that he wasn't really her cousin because she didn't like how mean he was in Mulan...'</div>
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Did I mention that for the past few weeks Grace has been learning about China in school? Well one homework assignment included sharing a Chinese fact with her class. I gave her plenty - Tea comes from China, The capital city of China etc.. but I bet you can guess which 'fact' Grace told her teacher? </div>
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For anyone that has never seen a blue birthmark - Obviously I'm not going to post a picture of Grace's bum but here's lots of google pictures. You'll get the idea :) <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=blue+birth+mark+%2B+atilla+the+hun&biw=1366&bih=650&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=jmLJVJHJJY2O7AaR9YGIDA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=mongolian+blue+birthmark">https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=blue+birth+mark+%2B+atilla+the+hun&biw=1366&bih=650&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=jmLJVJHJJY2O7AaR9YGIDA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=mongolian+blue+birthmark</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-5558405302437831152015-01-28T02:38:00.001-08:002015-08-12T02:47:59.653-07:00The Lost Daughter - Diane Chamberlain<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyWUam7RM4KaegGWMrJsvjW5zEfwCvGiwjrejCml2-bsqB001Lk-IgJnv1Y8aVuuIn9HMLhvtS5v5Z8Gbi1UYAILl32mNDDL4pv_VXXiPmX_yMYJRovpfYu5B-EyNr42SbkoPRsug5DY/s640/blogger-image--1070211507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyWUam7RM4KaegGWMrJsvjW5zEfwCvGiwjrejCml2-bsqB001Lk-IgJnv1Y8aVuuIn9HMLhvtS5v5Z8Gbi1UYAILl32mNDDL4pv_VXXiPmX_yMYJRovpfYu5B-EyNr42SbkoPRsug5DY/s640/blogger-image--1070211507.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Much like Picoult, Chamberlain has a way of weaving complex morally controversial situations with the kind of fiction that will make you question humankind. Without giving away too much, my heart broke in the twelfth chapter and it took reading the rest of the novel to somehow put all of the shattered pieces back together. In my opinion, childbirth and motherhood are two of the most extremely emotional and physical experiences that a woman can have and when something as personal and meaningful as this is stolen, the world loses something magical. At times ,this book is a heavy read but one that is worth persevering with just for the karmic resolution in the end. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-20015840008040934992015-01-26T05:38:00.001-08:002015-08-12T02:44:34.997-07:00The Husband's Secret - Liane Moriarty<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4nBWutjH6s-fkCRLUkiUHwNKsaM8tnU53HgCq5dY8EhXzYSdKeymLwVqNAN37WNKyrjp60iTJDIYrTfZ2kd2C1Tp3TYb9SEsbh4dBlY76YSUXGMQ43XBJroqhO3E9Rrzr4Je7Wewxfw/s1600/FullSizeRender+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4nBWutjH6s-fkCRLUkiUHwNKsaM8tnU53HgCq5dY8EhXzYSdKeymLwVqNAN37WNKyrjp60iTJDIYrTfZ2kd2C1Tp3TYb9SEsbh4dBlY76YSUXGMQ43XBJroqhO3E9Rrzr4Je7Wewxfw/s1600/FullSizeRender+(4).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you found an envelope that contained a secret your husband intended to share only in the event of his death, would you open it? I for one, would let the curious beast within me tear that envelope open faster than light itself but not Moriarty's main character Cecelia. No, this character agonises over the decision for what seems like an incredibly long time and when she does finally open the envelope, she agonizes some more. I found the book to be an incredibly slow read up until the point that the John-Paul (Cecelia's husband) secret is out. But I battled on with the read on the advice of Neil's sister and mum, who assured me the book was brilliant. Unfortunately for me, the book then hit a point where I struggled to put it down. It was just THAT good. Be prepared :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-3254949009124338902015-01-26T03:17:00.000-08:002015-01-26T04:38:10.667-08:00And then she started school...<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Last September Grace started reception
and so far she is flourishing – learning new things, meeting new people and
enjoying all the new experiences that primary school has to offer. She’s in her
fourth week now and I think it’s safe to say that she loves being a school
girl. And while she is growing up so much faster than I ever thought possible,
she is still Grace and she still has plenty to say. Here are some of my favourite
things that she has said lately. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On her first day<span style="background-color: white;"> - <span style="color: #073763;">‘Can we go yet?
Is it time yet? I want to go now! I can’t wait to meet all my new friends…It
doesn’t matter if it is six a.m. At least I will be early and then my teacher
will know that I am a good girl. Come on mummy, get up and get out of bed’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In her first week - <span style="color: #073763;">‘My uniform is
Green because I go to Greenacres and that girl over there with the blue dress
goes to Blueacres. And girls in red go to Redacres and Mummy, is there a
Pinkacres? I think you should have sent me there because I look so much nicer
in Pink…Well… sometimes you do get things wrong. Don’t you Mummy?’<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On homework during her second week -
<span style="color: #073763;">‘I love that I have homework. Let’s do my homework now…Yes, know today is
Sunday but I want to do it now. I love homework. Will I get homework all the
time?’ (Home-work completed) ‘Is that all I have to do? Learn one nursery
rhyme? Mummy! I was singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star when I was a baby! Does
my teacher know that I am four years old?...Oh now you tell me that I have to
think about what rhymes…Ummmm Star, Are, High, Sky! There – done! But I think
you had better tell her that I am too old for baby songs… Yes Mummy. I know we
have looked at the same nursery rhyme every day this week so of course I know
the answers already. It’s called practise. I’m just practising okay?’<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-43207640960495121182015-01-23T13:00:00.003-08:002015-01-26T05:40:47.216-08:00You can call me Joseph! Before Christmas, Grace learnt about Diwali in school. As we walked home, she began telling me all about it:- <span style="color: #351c75;">'To celebrate Diwali, you have to be either a Hindu or a Sikh. And you get to wear beautiful dresses that have lots of colours and lots of glitter. You know Mummy, I'd probably wear orange and pink because they are my favourite's. And at the party, you get to see all of your friends and family and you all eat yummy food together. And it's delicious! Mr Patel's mummy came into my class room and she showed us a DVD of the ladies dancing and she gave us sweets. Did you know Mr Patel and his mummy are going to Diwali tonight? I really want to go to Diwali... Can I go Mummy? What if I told you that I want to be a Sikh when I grow up? Would you let me go then?...' </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">And ever since Diwali, Grace has been curious about religion. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">'So If I'm not a Hindu or a Sikh, does that mean that I am Christian? </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Today my teachers told me all about Mary and Jesus'...</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Grace basically covered her version of the Nativity story before asking if she, Owen and I could pretend to be Mary, Joseph and Jesus during the walk home. Naturally Owen was Jesus and Grace was Mary so I bet you can guess which one of us got lumped with being Joseph! I'm not saying he is the most boring of the lot but he really doesn't seem to have much to do in the story, or at least nothing as exciting as being Gods Son or the Virgin Mother. But anyway, there we were. Grace, Owen and I walking up the road and all the while there was Grace commanding Jesus to follow her. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">It really wasn't a problem until Grace chose the exact moment that a group of mums passed us by to announce 'Jesus! You need to listen to your mum and just look at that donkey'...All while pointing in my direction (I was holding the pram which I think was the make believe donkey?). </span><br />
<br />
Before Christmas, Grace was keen to get permission to walk herself to school. Just like she sees some of the bigger kids at school do. Naturally my answer was No. <span style="background-color: white;">No ifs, No buts. Just No! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">'But Mummy, I'm four. And soon I'll be five and that is pretty grown up you know... I don't wear nappies, I know to look for cars and if I fall over then I will be very brave!'.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="color: black;">One morning, after Grace had listed off about a million things that she wanted me to buy her for Christmas, I asked Grace whether she was going to get me anything for the occasion.</span> </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">'Oh yes, Mum. I know you like word things so I'm going to ask Nana to buy you a book that has lots of words. But not a boring book. Probably a book about princesses and fairies. Actually Mum, I'm going to make a book for you. I'll tell you what to say and you just need to write it down...'</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">While eating dinner at a local carvery, Grace announced she was full but now ready for dessert. She was told that as she wasn't going to finish her meal because she was full then she would have to forgo any pudding. To this Grace replied <span style="color: #20124d;">'Actually I have two tummys - one for dinner and one for pudding. The dinner one is full but the pudding one hasn't even started yet!'.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">One day while we were out it began to rain. The kids and I managed to find cover while Neil got drenched sorting out the car. While watching him, Grace exclaimed <span style="color: #20124d;">'Look at Daddy, the frog!'</span> Seeing as Neil is not at all amphibian-like, I queried this with her. Sighing exasperatedly, she snapped <span style="color: #20124d;">'Daddy is as wet as a frog! You do know that frogs live in water don't you? And it's raining...'</span> </span><br />
<br />
One thing Grace is never short of is an unintentional back-handed compliment. She has plenty of them and in the past five years, I have copped more than my fair share. This doozy began quite pleasantly, <br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">'I'm going to be five soon Mum. That means I need a birthday party so can you buy me a cake and invite all my friends? But I need to tell you something... Well... I don't want you to come to my birthday party because I'm going to be very grown up and too busy to play with you. Don't worry it's not because your old and boring. It's because I'm going to be a big girl and I just don't really need you there. Besides you're not famous or a pop-star so my friends probably won't want to play with you either...'</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-19758990581313980082014-10-26T15:04:00.000-07:002015-01-26T03:16:44.306-08:00Money, Bugs and Florence. <span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$4:0"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br />One afternoon after I had collected Grace from school she asked me if I knew who Florence Nightingale was. I was really impressed and excited that she was sharing what she had learnt with me until she asked if I could find her a <span style="background-color: white;">video to watch... <span style="color: #134f5c;">'I</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c;"> saw a video today but I missed out on the soldier bit because Miss Harper thought it might be too scary. She said we wouldn't like to see that bit because all the soldiers had been hurt in the war but I'm almost five. I'm big enough to see some blood...'</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$4:0"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$4:0"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$4:0">The other day Grace was colouring while sitting at the dining table. I'd left the radio on and she seemed pretty happy to be left to it. Not long after Neil and I were sitting in the lounge room when Grace came in and announced <span style="color: #134f5c;">'Daddy, the people on the radio are talking about you. I heard them say your name... It was a hospital man and he said ''Neil Jones was visiting the hospital''. And that is you Daddy...'</span> </span><br />
<span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$4:0">Neil tried explaining that maybe it was about somebody else named Neil Jones but Grace couldn't be talked around <span style="color: #134f5c;">'No Daddy, It must have been about you from when you broke your hand at football'.</span> </span><br />
<span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$4:0"></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$4:0">The same afternoon, Grace decided that she didn't like bugs (again).</span><br />
<span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$4:0"><span style="color: #134f5c;">'D</span></span><span data-reactid=".f3.$mid=11414264674093=2d7c669910626c3b141.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$4:0"><span style="color: #134f5c;">addy! There is a wasp in the kitchen. Get rid of it, I don't like it'.</span> She stomped into the living room with both hands on her hips. </span><br />
Neil replied, <span style="color: #990000;">'Don't worry, I think that's a fly and not a wasp'.</span><br />
Still behaving rather bossily, she demanded <span style="color: #134f5c;">'Just come get rid of it anyway Daddy!'</span><br />
Neil shook his head and said <span style="color: #990000;">'No I can't spray it, Mummy doesn't like when I do'.</span><br />
So Grace asked him why. Trying to pass the buck on to me, Neil said <span style="color: #990000;">'Mummy thinks the sprays are bad for you so she doesn't let me use them'.</span><br />
Pushing her luck, Grace slyly asked <span style="color: #134f5c;">'So what happens if you spray the bug anyway?'...</span><br />
To put a stop to the nagging, Neil shot back <span style="color: #990000;">'I'm not going to spray the bug Grace'.</span><br />
Keen to have the last word, Grace asked cheekily <span style="color: #134f5c;">'Well then what happens if the bug sprays you?'....</span><br />
<br />
This afternoon we aimed to give Grace a really basic understanding of money by discussing some basic chores she could do in exchange for pocket money. The cost of each chore ranges in price from 1p to 20p for each chore depending on how small or big the task is. For example, she can earn 1p for doing her homework after school or for simply brushing her teeth or even 20p for letting me wash her hair (A<span style="background-color: purple;"><span style="background-color: white;">ccording to Grace, hair washing night is the worst thing to ever happen to a little girl) </span></span>giving Grace the chance to earn up to £4.00 per week if she does every job on the list. It seemed that it was all making sense and I was confident that she was grasping the concept when she got to talking about the job she plans to have when she grows up. <br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">'Mummy, I'm going to work in a shop when I'm older. And I'll be richer than everybody else because people will give me all their money. And I won't be silly and give them any money back ever... No Mummy, it won't be their change. it will be my money...Because! They gave me all their money first! So I don't have to give them anything back. Ever... And when I'm a grown up I'll buy all my own sweets and magazines. I can even buy them whenever I want too'...</span><br />
</span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-34956003497611625622014-10-19T03:10:00.001-07:002015-01-26T03:17:00.759-08:00This one, That One, Another One, One More and The Last One <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">With my upcoming redundancy Grace and I have been talking jobs. According to
Grace I could stay at home and look after her. But she plans to pay
me with pennies. 'But not too many pennies or she might run out...' Her other
great suggestion is that I could work at the local garden centre. '<span style="color: purple;">If you
worked at the Garden Centre, I could come and visit you any time I wanted...Yes
I know I can see</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;">you at home anytime. But at the garden centre I could also see
all of the fish...'</span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Grace has a crush. A very scary yucky crush. <br />
The other morning before school, I spied her giving a little boy in her class a
cuddle. She then leant in close and gave him a kiss on the cheek. A KISS ON THE
CHEEK! Oh. My. Gosh. Just wow! And I have to say I was a little relieved when
he wriggled free of her grasp to run away. But it seemed a little pointless
since she only chased after him anyway. He managed to lose her somewhere out on
the basketball courts. She gave up the chase and then came skipping back over
to me. She didn't seem disappointed. <br />
But while I was laughing with one of the other mum's and discussing just how
grown up all of the kids seem to be when that same little boy came running over
to her. He wrapped his little arms around her then gave her a big kiss. ON THE
MOUTH... It was only a peck but I stopped laughing pretty quickly. <br />
They said they grow fast but not this fast! <br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">I think being a Diva may come a little too naturally to Grace. <br />
She had her first school disco this week and we had a lovely time getting her
all dressed up for it. With some persuasion, I let her wear
some makeup. Nothing to crazy - just a little lip gloss, blush and ummm...
mascara. Yep. Mascara!<span style="color: #351c75;"> 'Mummy can I wear mascara? Why not? I know my eyelashes
are beautiful. But with some mascara I can have pretty lashes like you!'.</span>
Because sometimes flattery really does get you what you want. But look at just
how lovely she looks! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEixUFWsj5qjIbryxnwzy9i0lLzSBGRB_6mcrz5R8Y65cmG0FOyzyiPG8NJJJhFo1EpFAKSjylkADeF4aCv3m-tKJFElPkzW7r_ik3TEYz0mRi29dSRoT6HE4lvr_gKQiv5zF56Im2vU/s1600/Grace+Disco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEixUFWsj5qjIbryxnwzy9i0lLzSBGRB_6mcrz5R8Y65cmG0FOyzyiPG8NJJJhFo1EpFAKSjylkADeF4aCv3m-tKJFElPkzW7r_ik3TEYz0mRi29dSRoT6HE4lvr_gKQiv5zF56Im2vU/s1600/Grace+Disco.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrl-clfovmTbS1fc9Um62UvyceYf0dp669u8gDd412UMswaIWGGIR8_5dIXPzoWR_uaZ9guXYKo9n9YCd0hMKn4q3J4w_9taK_2G4l8UpO05ZGivs0s2XUcV7alYgydIlRr7QuPrjgOU/s1600/Grace+Disco+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrl-clfovmTbS1fc9Um62UvyceYf0dp669u8gDd412UMswaIWGGIR8_5dIXPzoWR_uaZ9guXYKo9n9YCd0hMKn4q3J4w_9taK_2G4l8UpO05ZGivs0s2XUcV7alYgydIlRr7QuPrjgOU/s1600/Grace+Disco+2.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9se4pCl6Jy4dCmga8WrpLcW4aFWkKO1CE8UXa32zZfXkqLoGB-GYLzlvyCbItYwP-w1s99D7Mac9DwQG2AFz7NE8q3HmTh3GYg2j3GwOK-2O9O07eKOSoMm-PlfbvK3jaS5_OFGNbyKM/s1600/Grace+Disco+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9se4pCl6Jy4dCmga8WrpLcW4aFWkKO1CE8UXa32zZfXkqLoGB-GYLzlvyCbItYwP-w1s99D7Mac9DwQG2AFz7NE8q3HmTh3GYg2j3GwOK-2O9O07eKOSoMm-PlfbvK3jaS5_OFGNbyKM/s1600/Grace+Disco+3.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">
I stayed at the Disco for about ten minutes or so to make sure that
Grace was all settled in. Before leaving I gave her a couple of glow
sticks so she could really rock out. Unfortunately she burst one pretty much
straight away. It went all over my coat and I'm pretty sure my parts of my face
were glowing a pretty shade of highlighter pink! But I took that as my cue to
leave. At home I had about an hour to kill. The first thing I did was scrub my
coat because while 'You're glowing' is always a great compliment, I'm not sure
that 'Hey man, your elbow is looking so fluorescent these days' really counts
as much of a compliment. And then I spent the next forty minutes pacing the
kitchen and clanking at the clock while eating a carrot. I think I was more
than a little nervous for her. But in next to no time, it was time to go pick
her up. <br />
After the Disco, Grace was sitting eating some pasta with Neil and me. We were
discussing how her evening had gone and then we got around to talking
about boys and how you mustn't go about kissing them.
Ever. Never Ever (I really can't stress this 'never' business enough). But
according to Grace she has a 'front friend' and a 'back friend'. At first this
statement raised some eyebrows. But after some questioning it was explained...<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">'Mummy, I have five friends... Yes friends. And my friends are boys. So they
are my boyfriends. This one, That One, Another One, One More and The Last One'</span>
(Okay, just to explain that is obviously not their names but that amounts to
what I heard her say). As she listed them off she counted them each
on her hand. <span style="color: #134f5c;">'This One is my front friend and The Last One is my back friend.
My front friend is the one I like the best. And The Last One is the friend
that I like the least because sometimes he doesn't want to sit near me.
Actually I think maybe he isn't really my friend. I don't really like him at
all. So he is my back friend...'</span> (It makes complete sense if you think about it). '<span style="color: #134f5c;">And
This One is my favourite. We pretend to be firemen together. I like him the
best. I like him so much that I Just want to give him a big kiss!' </span>
So I told her what she needed to hear - Kissing boys makes you turn into a boy.
So that should be the end of that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-19977833724798272352014-10-14T15:37:00.002-07:002015-01-26T03:17:33.333-08:00Hello thunder cloud - we meet again! <br />
<div class="PadderBetweenControlandBody" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those of you who have read my recent
face book posts will be familiar with the Thunder Cloud situation at Grace’s
school. And given that Grace has a strong personality, it might not surprise
you that we’ve had another run in with said thunder cloud. Now Grace is a good
girl and while I think she is pretty special she does have her moments that can
test the adults in her life, but like everybody she is learning that there are consequences
for bad behaviour. And at school the typical punishment for naughtiness seems
to result in a stint of being ‘put on thunder cloud’. Now I don’t know what
this thunder cloud is or what it involves but according to Grace it is the
absolute worst so you can imagine the mood she was in the other day when she
was for the second time, placed on said cloud. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I picked her up at home-time, she stormed out of the class room and threw her book bag and coat at my feet
then stomped up the path towards the school gate. After stooping to collect her
things, I hurried up the path after her. Don’t be fooled by her little legs.
They can move pretty fast so I was a little out of puff when I finally caught
up to her. Choosing my words carefully, I asked whether she had had a good day.
She didn’t answer. Walking hand in hand, we crossed the road in silence. I asked
her again how her day had been if something bad had happened. This did the
trick – ‘I had a yucky horrible thundery day! My teacher put me on the thunder
cloud and now I’m really, really cross with her!’ After some questioning, I discovered that Grace and her teacher had fallen out over who's job it was to lead the class...</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">'She told me that I have to be quiet when it's her time to talk but she talks all of the time! When is it going to be my turn ? And why do we all have to do what she says? It's not fair! I wanted my friends to play 'Numberjacks' with me but she said we all had to practise writing our names on our white boards! It's just silly. I know how to write my name'...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh dear! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Needless to say, the rest of the walk home involved much discussion about how she should behave during class time and why it's important to listen to and follow her teacher. Let's hope we don't have any more run ins with any more stormy weather. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-86730546856590422092013-11-21T12:34:00.002-08:002015-01-26T03:17:55.922-08:00Because Elephants have wrinkles...Tonight Grace stood and watched me as I covered my face in a thick night moisturiser...<br />
<br />
'Mummy, are you putting cream on because your face is sore?'<br />
'No my face is fine. I'm just putting on cream to stop me from getting any wrinkles'.<br />
Screwing her face up she asked 'But what happens if you put wrinke cream on your face when you don't have any wrinkles?'<br />
Hearing this question made my heart skip a quick beat. Was this a compliment? from Grace??? Feeling quite pleased with how sweet Grace can be, I thought I'd fish for another compliment or two... 'Nothing happens. You just keep your skin happy. Why? Don't I have any wrinkles?'<br />
This would have been the ideal point for her to say no. But instead I copped the very cruel 'Yes. You do. There is lots of them!'... <br />
She then began a very exhaustive list of how much my face wrinkles up when I laugh, smile, look cross, yawn, talk, brush my teeth, breathe.<br />
<br />
She then started to sing. A very beautiful but cruel rendition of 'Elephants have wrinkles, wrinkles, wrinkles, Elephants have wrinkles, wrinkles everywhere!'Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-2746736510785406142013-11-20T12:41:00.003-08:002015-01-26T03:19:27.161-08:00Maybe she could be my Aunt Jean..<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Things for our family have been pretty hectic lately
hence the lack of any posts in the last month or so but here is a lovely moment
that Grace and I shared last month. Before the end of day light savings and whilst it was
still reasonably light at 5:30pm: </div>
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Because things were so busy Grace
and I were having to snatch whatever moments we could just to spend a little
mummy-daughter time together. One evening, Neil dropped Grace off at my work so
that we could share the walk home together. Our walk started off with her
chirping about her day with her Nana and Owen and then it somehow carried off
into a moving performance of a bear hunt. At some point between swishing and
swashing through the tall, tall grass and finding the bear in a pretend dark
cave Grace stopped the game, turned to me and whispered 'Mummy, please don't be
sad anymore'. I was taken aback. </div>
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This year my parents separated. And in the past few
months I’ve become painfully aware that the familiarity of 'Home' back in
Melbourne no longer exists and I had been feeling down about it. You don’t realise
just how busy and short life is until you blink one day and realise three years
has passed. And the recent death of a very dear great Aunt back in September had
made me pretty miserable but I thought I’d done a pretty good job of hiding
those feelings from Grace. It turns out intuitively, my little girl knows me
better than anybody else. So much so that not even a make believe game couldn’t
disguise how I had really been feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
continued on ‘You know mummy if it would make you feel better, I could be your
great Aunt. But not today because I’m wearing jeans and she probably liked wearing
skirts…'</div>
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<![endif]--><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-86379760025600614402013-10-13T04:42:00.002-07:002015-01-26T04:08:48.956-08:00The good little witch<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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On Saturday morning Grace was performing with her preschool
class at the day dare centre's Halloween themed charity fundraising/open day.
All the kids were going in costume and in true me fashion, I'd been so busy
that I'd forgotten to make Grace a costume. Bad Mum! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so there we were, Friday night, racing down to Hobby
Craft to get a few bits and bobs to make her a costume. On the way down to the
shops, I thought I'd ask Grace what she wanted to dress up as. Clapping her
hands gleefully she commanded 'I'm going to be a pretty mermaid with legs like
Ariel. Make me a tail mummy!'<br />
Unfortunately for Grace her determination to be a mermaid was no match for my
determination for her to pick an easier costume to make. I’d already had a look
on line at and decided that a no-sew tulle skirt would make a great addition to
a witches costume. So we argued the whole journey to the shops. And as
usual, my arguments with Grace are about 90% ridiculousness versus 10% sense…<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>'Sorry Grace but I
don't think mermaids come out at Halloween. What if you be a scary witch
instead?'<br />
Shaking her head, she said ‘But I’m not really a nasty old witch. So I’m just
going to have to be a mermaid instead mummy’.<br />
Raising my eyebrows and smirking at the irony in her statement, I wasn’t ready
to give in yet. ‘Well Halloween is about being tricky and causing mischief. I
don’t think Ariel is naughty or sneaky. So I don’t think you should be a
mermaid this time’. <br />
Looking horrified that I would even think to suggest that a mermaid would be
anything but divine, she folded her arms angrily and shouted ‘No Mummy!
Mermaids are beautiful and good. And I’m a lovely little girl so that is what I
want to be!’ </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not quite put in my place, I battled on. ‘Well you’re
already beautiful and good. But Halloween gives you a chance to pretend to be
naughty. Wouldn’t you like to be a naughty witch? Besides all your friends will
probably be dressed up as monsters. I don’t think a mermaid would really be
happy in at a monster party. So wouldn’t you rather be a witch?’ </div>
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Determined to be a mermaid she shook her head and appealed
to my compassionate side. ‘No Mummy. I’m going to be a beautiful mermaid and be
very nice to everybody. If was a nasty witch, I’d have to be mean and nasty.
And then people would be sad and not have any fun. So I absolutely have to be a
nice mermaid. Okay Mummy?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I decided to get ridiculous and reason with her bizarre
logic. ‘Yes but you don’t have to be an evil witch. You could just be a little
bit cheeky and then people would still have fun. Besides, you have to sing and
dance. How are you going to dance with fins?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She kept her feet together and sat in her car seat flapping
her feet like a fish. ‘Like this. It’s easy. You do it too. Come on Mummy.
Let’s be mermaids together’.</div>
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I tried another tactic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>‘Well I’m driving so I can’t be a mermaid but you can pretend for now.
And then when we get to the shop we can pretend that you’re Ariel after she
loses her voice and that way you can have legs so can wear a pretty skirt and
be a witch, just for this weekend’.</div>
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She was still sat there staring out the window and flapping
her non-existent tail when I heard her say in a very faint voice ‘But I like
talking’.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then all was quiet in the back until I heard some very quiet giggling. After a bit the
giggling turned into a very sarcastic sounding laugh. Peering at her through
the rear-view mirror, I asked her what she was doing. ‘I’m practicing my cackle
for when I’m a witch. But I don’t sound very good’. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Going with flattery, I told her she sounded like a fantastic
witch and suggested that she carry on practicing her cackle. It was quiet in
the back again before she announced ‘Well I’ve been trying to turn you into a frog
for a long time but you’re still a mummy so I’m just not very good at being a
witch. So you’re going to have to just make me a mermaid costume Mummy’. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Almost ready to give in, I tried one last time to get her to
give up on being a mermaid, ‘What if I let your pick the material and you
choose a pretty pink and you can even help me make the skirt…'.</div>
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Turning her head to look me square in the eye she demanded 'Tell me
more about this skirt!'...WIN! </div>
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</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLP_KnVJXpcLELFCo2R1rEYFZkCrIcg8G-ZN4aIUOBjQOaaQ4PsyxUs0es_-7LufWLga78OsGVXjsq0f6M5lOfiqYxXAjjHjW5pYoFxOzVbMELKVBIh6RV6deOzGIcTdFjSuBgxiiVl0o/s1600/oie_13132325tHO438Ht.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLP_KnVJXpcLELFCo2R1rEYFZkCrIcg8G-ZN4aIUOBjQOaaQ4PsyxUs0es_-7LufWLga78OsGVXjsq0f6M5lOfiqYxXAjjHjW5pYoFxOzVbMELKVBIh6RV6deOzGIcTdFjSuBgxiiVl0o/s640/oie_13132325tHO438Ht.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9bxnxKbpiTRmfplBspc5ja0gOrA8em4AtHfKxKqDfQTg36uP1cxRyX62bay26SDhjWjrww5xrRY0f0VTcrt_9RkkzeLKBVyl5IIXo66yzczYkm2UQPmvuLwPG-TaVZqvgDttijK40SA/s1600/oie_13133353lttvonQ1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9bxnxKbpiTRmfplBspc5ja0gOrA8em4AtHfKxKqDfQTg36uP1cxRyX62bay26SDhjWjrww5xrRY0f0VTcrt_9RkkzeLKBVyl5IIXo66yzczYkm2UQPmvuLwPG-TaVZqvgDttijK40SA/s640/oie_13133353lttvonQ1.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
With very little encouragement, she ended up choosing a pink Tulle and a black cobweb patterned fabric. By some miracle she also managed to channel her inner witch and get lippy with the poor sales assistant in Hobby Craft. 'Mummy is my fabric ready? Tell the lady to hurry up. Why hasn't she finished cutting it yet?' Then back at home, with Neils very reluctant help, the project only took a few hours to complete. We reckon she made a fantastic witch, even if she did insist that I call her the 'Pink Princess Witch'. What do you reckon?<br />
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Inspiration for the skirt came from http://www.simplyrealmoms.com/posts/adorable-diy-no-sew-tutu/</span></i></div>
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<![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-36866555097262266162013-10-07T15:00:00.000-07:002015-01-26T04:08:48.929-08:00Spider nests and peanut butter sandwiches for the foxes....<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><i>With my return to work I've been a little strapped for
time but Grace has kept up with her usual hilarious self and so I have plenty
of anecdotes to share so brace yourselves for a lengthy post. In fact, it might
be best to grab a cuppa since this post might be quite a read! </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tonight Grace played a magic trick on me and I use the
word ‘magic’ very, very loosely. <br />
Holding a deck of cards out to me, she asked me to pick a card. So I did. She
giggled as she stuffed the card I had picked behind the radiator. And then she
held the deck of cards out to me again. 'Pick another one mummy!'. <br />
Curious to see where this trick was headed, I happily obliged. Again she
giggled away to herself as she stuffed the second card behind the radiator. And
the game went on much the same as this. I picked card after card and every
single one ended up stuffed behind the radiator. We must have gotten about half
way through the deck before impatient curiosity got the better of me. 'What is
so magical about all the cards hiding behind the radiator Grace?'<br />
Shrugging she answered 'Nothing'. <br />
'Then where is the trick?'<br />
She shook her head and sighed. 'I don't know. Maybe It's hiding behind the
radiator with all the cards. You should probably go and pick them up'...<br />
Lovely. The best magic trick of my life, for sure. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Last night while getting ready for bed, Grace kept at me
with a constant barrage of questions about animals and what they eat. Trying to
avoid the nasty topic of animals eating their prey, I chose to make up a ridiculous
fib instead. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'What do cows eat?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Grass'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Good girl Mummy. Do you know what elephants eat?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Peanuts'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Yes. And now tell me what monkeys eat?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Bananas'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'And how about sheep?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Grass'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'And what about dogs? Go on Mummy. Tell me what they
eat?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Kibble and bones?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Yes. And now tell me, what do ducks eat?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Bugs and bread?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But then she changed the game. 'And what eats ducks
Mummy?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Less than prepared for this type of question, I decided
fibbing was the best and easiest answer. 'Nobody eats ducks'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Why not?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Because ducks are lovely. I like ducks, so nobody eats
them'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was obvious that I was lying. Standing with both hands
on her hips and tapping one foot she demanded that I tell the truth. 'Tell me!
What eats ducks?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Caving under the pressure, I admitted that sometimes
foxes do - but only when their incredibly hungry if there aren't any peanut
butter sandwiches about. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I expected her to be upset about the poor ducks. But it
appeared that she was more concerned about the poor foxes that don't have
enough sandwiches.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Why did they run out of sandwiches Mummy? Were they
greedy and did they eat them all? Perhaps we should make lots of sandwiches and
hide them in the woods for the foxes so that they don't have to eat the ducks.
Because I think peanut butter probably tastes nicer then a duck does'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It's always easy to nod and agree then hope that she
forgets these crazy plans. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She carried on with her questions. 'So come on Mummy.
What do goats eat?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Straw'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Dubiously, she laughed and tapped me on my head. 'Don't
be ridiculous Mummy. You don't eat straw. You drink your milk with a straw. Sometimes
you're so silly Mummy'…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Last weekend Grace & I went on a mother-daughter
date. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We chose to be adventurous and decided to get a bus into
town to see a film at the cinema. After much debate, we decided to watch
Monsters University. This was Grace's second trip to the cinemas and given the
first time was last January, I had taken a little time to explain that people
were very quiet in the cinemas. But perhaps I should have tried to explain a
few other things as no sooner had we sat down, did Grace begin to fire
questions at me. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Why is it so dark? I don't like the dark. Ask them
to put the lights on. No Mummy. I can see the screen fine with the lights on.
Tell them now!'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Is this Harry Potter? Well I want to watch Harry
Potter'. Turning to the older boy in the seat beside her she said 'Do you want
to watch Harry Potter too?'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Can we watch Dora? Tell them to change the channel to
Cbeebies. I want to watch Numberjacks'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She made it through a good while but twenty minutes
before the end of the film, she was adamant that she had had enough. 'Let's go
Mummy. No I don't want to see the end. You can bring me back at Christmas
time'....</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The other night a spider smuggled inside, hiding in the
clean washing. <br />
I'd taken the basket into Graces room to put her clothes away when I saw it try
to make a break for it. Without even thinking I gave it it a good wack with my
shoe but then I had to get some tissue to clean the mess. Feeling slightly
guilty with the 'blood' of a spider on my hands, the guilt was magnified when I
head a little voice exclaim 'Mummy! What did you do?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Busted! I had no idea how long she had been standing
there but I wasn't about to admit to being a cold blooded bug murderer. So I
lied. 'Nothing. Just..'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She cut me off before I had time to invent a good story.
'Is that a spider mummy?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Yes. But he is sleeping'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'And what are you doing with him in the tissue?' </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I tried to sound innocent and reasonable, 'Putting him
outside'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Why?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I struggled to find an acceptable answer 'Erm so that he
could be with all his friends?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then I guiltily rabbited on 'He will probably like
the garden better than your bedroom anyway'...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Shaking her head she said 'No. I don't think so'. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I thought the game was up. But she went on...'I think he
was looking for a nice warm nest. So maybe we should find somewhere inside for
him'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This took me by surprise. I never expected Grace to
become an advocate of spider rights. Especially not given the completely
irrational and very inconvenient fear of flies and other bugs she sometimes
has. Not wanting to admit that a spider nest in my house sounded about as
appealing as watching a never-ending marathon of The Teletubbies, I tried to
offer up alternative suggestions to building a spider’s nest but she wasn't
having any of it. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'No Mummy. We must build a spider nest. I'm not going to bed
until we do'…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so there we were, just leaving inconspicuous bundles
of odd socks around her room for the spiders to find. Except for dead Fred, he
was safely flushed away. And when she finally fell fast asleep, I was in her
room like a flash getting rid of every spider nest so as to make sure none of Fred’s
mates even concidered it! </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><i><span style="color: #351c75;"> I'm still got a bit more to catch up on so expect some more tomorrow night... </span></i></span></div>
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<![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-66120299882733316772013-09-25T13:44:00.003-07:002015-01-26T04:08:48.945-08:00Do fish have bums? After being away for work since Sunday, I was keen to snuggle & watch a film with Grace.<br />
<br />
I expected her to demand any of the usual favorites; The Rascals, The Land Before Time, Alice in Wonderland or Winnie the Pooh. But instead she chose the girly Disney classic 'The Little Mermaid'. We had watched most of the other films on repeat for such a long time that I'd forgotten about the million and one questions that Grace would harress me with through this new film... <br />
<br />
'Why does Ariel live in a clam? Does she have a bed in there? I'd like to live in a clam. I'd have a pink, blue, green, yellow and white one and it would be nice. And you could visit but it would be to small for you to fit so you would need your own house'.<br />
<br />
'Where are Ariels' friends? No mummy! Sebastion and Flounder aren't her real friends. Little girls don't have crab or fish friends'.<br />
<br />
'Is Ariel a fish? She is a bit like a lady and a bit like a fish. But she doesn't have a bum. Do other fish have bums? How do they go to the toilet? I don't think there are any toilets in the sea. Sebastion is all right. I think he has a bum. Do crabs have bums?'....<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-76523494229076970632013-09-21T04:37:00.002-07:002015-01-26T04:08:48.951-08:00No baby spinach for our garden...<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After playing in the garden, Grace came inside to give me
a cuddle. Her breath smelt suspiciously like plant-like;<br />
<br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
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'Grace, have you been eating anything?’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Yeah'</div>
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'Have you been eating plants from the garden?'</div>
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'Will baby spinach grow into adult spinaches?’<o:p></o:p></div>
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‘Probably not’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Why not?’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Um… Because the farmers probably pick them out of the
ground before they grow too big’<br />
'Tell me the
truth, is it because I keep eating them?’<o:p></o:p></div>
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‘Is that what you were eating outside?’<o:p></o:p></div>
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'I think baby spinach is for babies. And I'm not a baby so I'm not eating it ever again'.</div>
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'Were you eating spinach in the garden?'</div>
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'Or maybe baby spinach isn't a baby or for babies to eat. Maybe it's just a plant'.</div>
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'So you were eating spinach in the garden? Because there is no spinach in our garden'.</div>
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'Yes there is. There is baby spinach. I saw some'.</div>
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'When did you see some?'</div>
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'When I was eating it?'</div>
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'Can you show me what you were eating?'</div>
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'No. It's all gone now. I ate it all up'.</div>
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'I think it's best that we don't eat the plants in our garden. They aren't meant for eating'.</div>
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'So will I not have to eat salad any more?'</div>
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'You'll still have to eat salad just not the plants in the garden, okay?'</div>
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'But I like our spinach in the garden'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'I don't think you ate spinach Grace'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'I did. It's not going to be an adult now'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Is that why you ate it?'</div>
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'Yeah'....</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-30222300160601669042013-09-20T13:28:00.001-07:002015-01-26T04:08:48.900-08:00Today's little gems #3<br />
Neil had cut the top off of a kiwifruit for Grace and given her a spoon to eat it with.<br />
Holding up the kiwifruit, Grace exclaimed 'I've got a scrambled egg'.<br />
Correcting her, Neil said 'Noooo, that's a kiwifruit'.<br />
'Yes. But it looks a bit like a boiled egg daddy. So I've got a kiwi-egg'...<br />
<br />
After being silent for some time, Grace said 'Gooseberries'. <br />
'Gooseberries?' Neil and I asked.<br />
'Yes. Gooseberries make you freezing'.<br />
'Do you mean Goosebumps Grace?'<br />
'Yes. If you go to bed with out the covers on and you wake up freezing. Then you get gooseberries'....<br />
<br />
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Grace was playing around with her toy stethoscope & toy
thermometer, innocently skipping around the lounge room and then Neil thought
it would be a wise idea to suggest that Grace ‘fix’ me. </div>
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Excitedly Grace
exclaimed 'Oh yeah. Gosh Yeah. I'm coming to check your stomach Mummy'</div>
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'Why?'</div>
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'Because, you're feeling poorly'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sighing, I lifted my shirt and sat back on the sofa so
that she could place the stethoscope against my belly button. 'So, Doctor. What
is wrong with me today?' I asked. </div>
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'Shhh' she whispered. 'I can hear the baby'.</div>
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‘And for the billionth time! There is no baby'</div>
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'Yes there is. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'No there isn't'.</div>
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Nodding, she whispered 'There is and her name is Lily'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Yeah? What is Lily doing then?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Oh, She is crawling about in there. But it's time that
she went to bed now. Say goodnight Lily'.</div>
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'But there is no baby Grace'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tutting and shushing me, she snapped 'I said say
Goodnight to Lily'.</div>
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'Goodnight Lily'...</div>
<br />
Neil and I were both sitting on the couch watching Grace play. She had lined up her doll's potty and the doll's bath and was playing a very methodical game that involved sitting on the potty and then standing in the bath. The potty itself is probably the size of a tiny a rockmelon and the bath isn't that much bigger. I let a few minutes pass, then as she was standing with both feet in the bath, I asked her what she was doing. Looking at me as thought as I was thick she said 'I'm putting myself in the bath. Silly Mummy'...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-33649344606587860012013-09-17T13:58:00.001-07:002015-01-26T04:08:48.917-08:00Today's little gems #2While having her bath, Grace bought up the subject of seahorses.<br />
'What a silly name. They don't even look like horses. I think they look like dinasoars so I'm going to call them Sea-soars'.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-22645557029896138742013-09-16T13:42:00.000-07:002015-01-26T04:08:48.890-08:00Today's little Gems #1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Among the many gems that Grace uttered today;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her response to Owen pulling my hair was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Let me check your brain to see if it’s
okay’. Running her fingers along my scalp she said ‘You know mummy. I can’t
really see your brain. I can’t find it under all of your hair’.<br />
<br />
When being asked to drink a glass of water, I tried to coax her into drinking
the whole glass by explaining that everybody drinks water to keep healthy. I
even showed her my cup of tea and told her I was drinking a big drink to keep
healthy. ‘Yes’ she shouted. ‘But you gave me a big drink and I only need a
little drink because I’m a little kid!’. <br />
‘Drink the whole cup and you can have an episode of Numberjacks’… blackmail.
Works 90% of the time. <br />
<br />
While driving Nanna to the dentist, Grace said she was hungry and asked if we
could go to the sweetshop. Trying my best to keep to my new no sugar rule, I
told her no. <br />
‘Yes, I want sweets please’.<br />
‘No Grace. Not this week’.<br />
Dragging out the ‘eeze’ in ‘Please’, she pleaded and pleaded. <br />
‘No. You can have some fruit or something healthy when we get home’.<br />
‘But sweets ARE a type of fruit’… since when? Nice try kiddo! </div>
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<![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-3322757769470737792013-09-16T13:06:00.001-07:002015-01-26T04:08:48.911-08:00Enough room for two...While laying in bed this morning I told Grace that I was
getting up to go for a wee. In the blink of an eye she was up and racing along
the hallway to the bathroom. I heard the lid slam down and her try to suppress
her high pitched giggle. Giving it a second or two, I lazily rolled out of bed
and stepped into the hallway. The door to the bathroom was wide open and there was
Grace. Toilet lid down and sitting fully clothed on the toilet swinging her
legs laughing at me. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
‘Do you actually need a wee Grace? Because mummy does’<br />
Shaking her head at me, Grace just giggled.<br />
‘Okay then you have to move because I need a wee’.<br />
Shaking her head again, Grace said ‘But I’m on the toilet. It’s my turn’.<br />
‘Yes, but you’re not even using it’. Grace just giggled at me. <br />
‘Seriously Grace. I do need to use the toilet so you’re going to have to move’.<br />
Giggling she slid over a few inches then patted the empty toilet lid space next
to her. ‘Okay. You can fit here too’.<br />
‘What?’<br />
‘There is enough room for two. Come on mummy’.<br />
‘No. I’m not sharing a toilet with you’.<br />
‘But I thought you said you needed a wee’.<br />
‘Yes but you’re not supposed to share the toilet. It’s a one person at a time
kind of thing’.<br />
‘Is that because your bum is big?’<br />
‘What why does everything with you come back to my bum or belly being big? Get
off that toilet’.<br />
‘No. It’s my turn. You’re just going to have to wait till I’m finished’.<br />
‘But you’re not even using it’.<br />
‘It’s still my turn’.<br />
‘Fine’ I yelled. As<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stomped down the
hallway back to bed. As soon as I settled back under the covers, I heard the
toilet flush and Grace running down the hall way. <br />
‘I’m finished mummy!’…. </div>
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<![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817633630651865616.post-60189930507788198292013-09-15T15:12:00.002-07:002015-01-26T04:08:48.939-08:00Lucky I'm not stuck in a hole... <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tonight I sobbed and argued my way through a very
emotionally taxing ‘keep or get rid of’ wardrobe ritual.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Given the
bizarre attachment that I have to <strike>every article of clothing</strike> basically
everything that I own, it is always a hard task to manage sensibly. Much of
what I have hasn't, for the past two and a half years, even seen the light of
day. I'm the kind of girl who will be sitting surrounded by piles and piles of
clothing declaring that I have nothing to wear yet when it comes time to clearing
any of it out, I suddenly can't part with a thing. Not even a plain ill-fitting
cami. I can't do it. I know, I know. I am ridiculous. I’m a hoarder. Don't be
surprised if you see me on an episode of Britain’s Worst Hoarders one day. But
they say that the first step is admitting that you have a problem. So, there
I've said it. I have a problem. And for the longest of times that problem has
been bursting out of my wardrobe.<br />
<br />
And so with Grace sitting on my bed, ready to
counsel and support me through every hard decision I got to sorting. I hadn't
imagined Grace, my girl that loves clothes could be so ruthless. But she was pitiless,
merciless and brutal. A ‘takes no prisoners’ type of girl. But that was just
the type of person I needed around during such a mission.<br />
<br /></div>
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The first thing I pulled out of the wardrobe was a
black dress that I’d bought two summers before I had Grace. Its bubble hem
& low cut front are definite reasons to never be seen in it in public ever
again. But yet, it’s evaded every wardrobe clear out since 2008 & I’d even
loved it enough to pack it in to the suitcase when I moved to the UK. <br />
‘What is that mummy?’<br />
‘It’s called a little black dress. They say every lady should own one’<br />
‘Then why have you got three?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
maybe you need to throw two of them away’<br />
Holding up all three, I asked her which one I should keep. She looked at the
dresses with an air of disdain before announcing ‘I don’t like any of them.
They aren’t very pretty. They don’t have any pretty flowers or pictures. You
need to throw them all away mummy’. And so into the sad ‘get rid’ pile they
went as did two floral dresses and two corporate looking numbers, leaving me
with a gaping hole in my <strike>heart</strike> wardrobe.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I then hauled out an assortment of jeans and trousers that
had been hogging the floor space for the past few years. After asking Grace
which I should keep and which should be donated, she eyed me with a certain
level of condescension and then announced ‘But I don’t like wearing trousers
and you always make me wear trousers’.<br />
‘That is because most of the time it is cold’<br />
‘Yes but I like wearing skirts with tights’<br />
‘I think that in winter it’s probably too cold for those as well’<br />
‘Well maybe we should move to Spain where it is sunny all the time. Then we
could live in a big house with a pool and I could wear dresses and skirts
everyday’…<br />
‘We’re not moving to Spain and any way, how do you know what the weather in
Spain is like?’<br />
‘Nanna told me. I bet Nanna would move to Spain with me and she would let me
wear dresses all the time too’…Sigh. The trousers were easily discarded but I made the executive decision to
squirrel the jeans away in the hope that they will one day fit my post-pregnancy body.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Thankfully Grace was a lot more helpful in clearing out the many tops that I’ve
acquired over the years. ‘Don’t keep that one mummy. I don’t like yellow and
it’s not very nice to look at...Blue stripes are probably for boys. Is that a man’s shirt mummy?...I like that Tinkerbelle t-shirt. Can I wear it?...Does that one need to be washed in the washing machine mummy...Why has that got brown flowers on it? Do you like brown mummy? It’s a bit like
poo, isn't it?...I’ve never seen you wear that one before. Is it because you don’t really like
it? I don’t like it mummy'...<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She wasn’t any nicer when it came to clearing out my
jumpers. I have an old white Chambers Sweat Company Royal Rowing Club jumper
that used to belong to my dad. My mum nicked it off of him than I nicked it
from her. I’m not sure how old it is but it probably predates my life span. In
its heyday it was probably quite a cool jumper but it’s seen a lot of life and
it’s pretty threadbare, fairly yellowed and slightly stained. It reminds me of
home. I’d never been seen with it on in public but even still I love it.
Unfortunately for me Grace doesn’t. <br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘I think you need to throw that jumper
away<br />
‘No I’m going to keep this one, I like it’. <br />
Cocking her head to the side and with one eyebrow raised, she asked me ‘Why?’
Her Brummie accent really dragging out the 'y' in the word, making her question
sound fairly supercilious. <br />
‘Because it used to be my dad’s and then it was my mums so I like it. It even
says Chambers on it, which is my dad’s last name. Isn’t that cool?’<br />
‘No. I think you should give it back to your dad’.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since moving to the UK, I’ve built up quite a
collection of coats, seven in total. During my pregnancy with Owen my belly
grew so big that only the most hated of coats would fit me until I gave up and
started nicking Neil’s coat. Then after Owen was born, the summer months
provided us with some pretty good weather so there hasn’t been much need for me
to wear any of my coats aside from a pretty average looking grey type that
lives on the easily accessible coat hook under the stairs. <br />
‘I’ve never seen you wear those coats before mummy’<br />
‘Yes you have. I used to wear them all the time Grace’<br />
‘I didn’t ever see them before. Is it because they don’t fit you?<br />
‘No they still fit me’. <br />
Grace eyed me up and down and then said ‘Maybe’.<br />
‘Yes. They do’.<br />
Screwing up her face she replied ‘I don’t think so’. And then she was silent
for a while. <br />
Slightly offended, I turned my back to Grace and kept on with the sorting,
discarding all of the scarves in favour of just one black scarf.<br />
<br />
I thought
Grace had finished her verbal assault on my fashion sense and body but then she
pulled out the big guns; ‘Mummy, is it time for the baby to come out yet?’<br />
‘What baby?’<br />
‘The baby in your tummy’<br />
‘That baby was Owen and he came out months ago’.<br />
‘Are you sure you haven’t made another one?'</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Defensively, I stood facing her with both hands on my hips
'Yes. I'm sure. There is no baby!’<br />
'Then why is your belly so big and round? I think there must be a baby in
there'. She carried on 'Or did you eat too much honey like Winnie?
Winnie ate too much honey and got stuck in Rabbits hole. So they didn't let him
eat anything, so that he could stop being so fat and get out of the hole'. <br />
'Well I got this tummy from having you and Owen so it's not such a bad thing'.<br />
Sighing miserably, I suggested that she go and see what her father was doing. But I heard her mumbling as she pitter-pattered down the hallway 'It's lucky
that mummy isn't stuck in a hole'...</div>
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<![endif]--><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155428880898817180noreply@blogger.com0Tamworth, Staffordshire, UK52.633584 -1.691031999999950152.556478999999996 -1.85239349999995 52.710689 -1.5296704999999502