Something cute I don't want to forget

I'm clearing off my phone at the moment because when I want to download books, it keeps telling me I have no space.

Anyway, I found a few gems from Dec....

These photos were from when we were on holiday in the Drakensberg.



A few days into our stay there, a new family moved in next door with two adorable boys. My kids were 5.5 at the time, their oldest was 5 and their youngest was 3 and a bit.

Adorable kids.

Kendra having tea with C2

Connor playing with C1

D walking 3 of the kids down to Movie Night :) (they were all back after less than an hour!)

One morning I vaguely heard some talking and then nothing for quite a while. This is not normal for my kids (the talking escalates) so eventually I tiptoed downstairs to check on them and found this:

Connor's empty bed...

Kendra's empty bed...

the sliding door standing open...

No kids anywhere.

I woke D and made him go find them. They were off playing somewhere with the kids from next door. Within sight of "the mom and dad". This is how Kendra referred to the parents...

I didn't freak (aren't you proud?) but when they all came back, I did tell them that while I appreciate them not waking us too early (we had that issue for the first few days), they still needed to come and whisper to either of us to tell us their plans and ask for permission.

Still, all that time they spent with the boys next door was extremely cute!

Would you have freaked out?

PS Apparently the boys knocked at the window to K's bedroom, and she said, "SHHH, you're going to wake my parents. I'll open for you!" (I hope this is not a sign of things to come!)

PPS Do you want to hear about Mother's Day?

You're being rude!

So I want to quickly talk about something that's driving me nuts.

The kids have picked up this phrase, "you're being rude" and they throw it out with wild abandon when:

1. we say the word "no"
2. we tell them they can't do something
3. we tell them they can't wear something 
4. we raise our voices

(in other words, for normal methods of dealing with kids)

For example:

Me: Kendra, you can't wear those shoes to the gym (flimsy, slippery, really just pretty things but no good for actual running and climbing, etc.)
Kendra: Mummy! You're being so rude!

D: Connor, we have to fit on your school clothes before you put on your pyjamas.
Connor: NO DADDY! You're so rude.

Somehow this doesn't bother D as much as it does me, but it drives me UP THE WALL.

And then I get "rude" because I will raise my voice.

I tell them "rude" does not equal no or something you don't want to hear. In that case, the whole world is "rude", right?

Do your kids do this?
Suggestions?

PS I'm this close to saying if they say that phrase when it's unfounded, I will take a star off their star charts.

PPS Some blurry pics of the kids when I let them sleep in the same bed one night. The hour of giggles before they got separated was worth it to me :)

Thanks to Mandy, I now know where to find the monochrome setting on my Canon!

Phone conversations with Connor

 

I phoned home this afternoon and miracle of miracles, Connor actually deigned to speak to me.

(he doesn't normally like to be "interrupted" because like me, he's always busy with something)

But he came to the phone which was such a big treat for me.

After the hellos....

C: Mummy, did you have a nice afternoon?

M: Why yes, Connor, I actually did have a good afternoon.

PRECIOUS!!!

  
Then later in the conversation...

C: (Nanny) M put the ham next to the roll, not on the roll

M: Okay boy, you must tell her how you like it. She doesn’t know.

C: Okay Mummy, Bye

M: WAIT Connor, I’m still talking!
C: Yes?

M: Bye, Connor, I love you

C: I love you, too, Mummy – bye!

And he was off.

If you work outside the home, do you speak to your kids during the day?
Do they like to speak on the phone?

Let's talk about five-year-olds

I was saying to some friends the other day how perfectly lovely I'm finding my five-year-olds at the moment.

Also, how do I have kids that are 5?!



I actually want to spend all my free time with them (except for the sacred rest time on the weekend) because they're clever and spunky and full of interesting questions. They're affirming and lovable, and I feel like I get as much love back as I give which is just wonderful.

I get told how I cook DELICIOUS meals (for really simple things) and that I make the best pancakes (okay, I do!) and the nicest pasta, etc.

They come back for more hugs and kisses and "I love you so, SO much" even in front of the other kids at school. I don't see other mothers getting as much love as I do ;) probably because I'm too busy hugging and kissing back.

(if we could just get them listening on a consistent basis, life would be completely rosy :))

 

I still haven't finished reading Your Five-Year-Old: Sunny and Serene - matter of fact, I'm only about 10% through. But I'm sure the book says what I'm experiencing.

Anyway, enough chit-chat - you want to see more photos of their "photo day" at school?

Here we go!

I told them to do their serious model faces :)

then they get silly again!

What are your favourite things about 5?
Which is your favourite age?

D says 18 - 21 months; I said "anything after that first year" (and I'm not even joking!)

PS I'm 3 months into this year and I have 4 - 5 things done (out of 24) on my Lovely Things list.