I am not a big Simpsons fan. I mean it is ok but I seldom giggle out loud when watching it.
My husband on the other hand is a huge fan. He alternates alter egos between Homer and Bart. He's a little bit of both.
And much to much shock and horror both of my children love it.
We have had many adult conversations about the age inappropriateness of the Itchy and Scratchy show not to mention the slacker values (which may be why it is so near and dear to my husband).
Abigail loves Dora The Explorer but she gets bored. Who wouldn't?
Sebastian loves Power Rangers but I find it makes him a bit hyper active. Who wouldn't?
But for a 30 minutes every evening Marc sits down with Sebastian and Abigail nestled in the crooks of his arms to watch the entire program. I sit in the kitchen blogging away listening the belly laughter emanating from the living room. From all of them.
I don't get it. It doesn't matter. It's their quality time!
Saturday, 27 October 2007
Friday, 26 October 2007
Makeup
The other day I was upstairs getting ready for work. Abigail announced she was going to get ready for work too. I wasn't entirely sure what this entailed but was too absorbed in my own schedule to stop and interrogate. She disappeared off downstairs to her bedroom.
She returned 10 minutes later with this face. She proclaimed she had done her own makeup.
The makeup was a gift from some good friends last year. At first I was horrified. I am adamantly against the eroticism of young children and refuse to buy my little girl clothes that make her look like a hussy: mid-drift tops, etc. My own mother refused to let me wear makeup until I was 16 and I was convinced this was a good decision.
When Abigail saw the makeup kit she was overjoyed. It included lip gloss, nail polish, blush, and eye shadow. I thought she could wear this around the house. what harm could it do?
One day the family went out shopping. Abigail carried one of her many handbags. As we were getting out of the car I realised she had secreted a lip stick in her handbag and deftly applied it on the drive to the shops. We went into the shops with Abigail wearing bright pink lipstick smeared all over the vicinity of her lips.
She returned 10 minutes later with this face. She proclaimed she had done her own makeup.
The makeup was a gift from some good friends last year. At first I was horrified. I am adamantly against the eroticism of young children and refuse to buy my little girl clothes that make her look like a hussy: mid-drift tops, etc. My own mother refused to let me wear makeup until I was 16 and I was convinced this was a good decision.
When Abigail saw the makeup kit she was overjoyed. It included lip gloss, nail polish, blush, and eye shadow. I thought she could wear this around the house. what harm could it do?
One day the family went out shopping. Abigail carried one of her many handbags. As we were getting out of the car I realised she had secreted a lip stick in her handbag and deftly applied it on the drive to the shops. We went into the shops with Abigail wearing bright pink lipstick smeared all over the vicinity of her lips.
When Abigail appeared with her full face on as displayed in the photograph we were going to out to lunch with some friends and we didn't have time to clean off her face. So I just let it go. We got loads of people telling her how beautiful she looked. Fuel for the fire....
I say pick your battles. And she thought she looked beautiful. So do I!
Hi Ho Hi Ho
It's off to Denver we go!
The Rockies are down but not out. They lost Game 2 in Boston 2-1 and are down two games to nil in the best of 7 series. I've stayed up all night watching the game and it was a nail bitter. Lots of missed opportunities and stranded runners.
But their record at home is amazing and I wish I was going to be there.
I'm off to bed for a couple hours sleep before the children get up and I hope I can stay awake through the day tomorrow. See you Saturday night (Sunday morning my time)!
The Rockies are down but not out. They lost Game 2 in Boston 2-1 and are down two games to nil in the best of 7 series. I've stayed up all night watching the game and it was a nail bitter. Lots of missed opportunities and stranded runners.
But their record at home is amazing and I wish I was going to be there.
I'm off to bed for a couple hours sleep before the children get up and I hope I can stay awake through the day tomorrow. See you Saturday night (Sunday morning my time)!
Thursday, 25 October 2007
Out Played
The Rockies lost the first game of the World Series 13 -1 to the Red Sox. The winning streak is over.
Quite frankly, they were out pitched, out hit, and out played.
Josh Becket pitched a great game and the bats were hot. The Rockies had to go deep into the bullpen just to finish the game.
The Rockies had 8 days of rest and I can't help but think that it affected their rhythm.
Tonight is Game 2. I hope the Rockies heat up.
Quite frankly, they were out pitched, out hit, and out played.
Josh Becket pitched a great game and the bats were hot. The Rockies had to go deep into the bullpen just to finish the game.
The Rockies had 8 days of rest and I can't help but think that it affected their rhythm.
Tonight is Game 2. I hope the Rockies heat up.
Snow
I love snow. Lots of snow. I'm from Colorado. What do you expect? Blizzards excite me! The sound of the outdoors changes dramatically when it is covered in snow.
Only once in the 11 years I've been living in the UK has there been enough snow on the ground to make a snowman. And I was in Colorado.
Marc & I were pregnant with Sebastian and I had taken him home to meet my family and enjoy the Christmas festivities at the Grandmother's house. We had a light dusting of snow on Christmas Eve so technically it was a white Christmas but by Colorado standards it hardly qualified.
When we flew over London on our trip back and looked down the ground was blanketed in white. There were even piles of snow on the sides of roads where the snow had been cleared. It melted in a few days. We missed the fun entirely.
A few years later when Abigail was a few months old we returned to Colorado for Easter. We took Marc's mum with us. We all had the flu and were sick for much of the celebrations early in the week. But it snowed. Every morning we woke up to masses of snow despite the fact that it was April. The grandchildren built a snowman in the front garden at my Grandmother's home. I've got a picture of it somewhere! The snow would melt by the end of the day and new snow would fall overnight. It was glorious!
It snowed in Denver on Sunday night. It didn't here in Old Windsor. It will be the same story throughout the winter. I wish it would snow here instead of all that dreary rain of winter!
I loved snow days when I was in school. I love seeing children all bundled up in snow suits. I love their little red drippy noses. I love going sledding. I envy my sister's children who have a steep hill in their back garden and can go sledding any time there is snow!
We don't own snow suits. Haven't got the need. We've got some very nice big coats courtesy of Grandma (my mother in Colorado). My children love wearing them. They think they are arctic explorers when they put them on.
Bring on the Snow!
Only once in the 11 years I've been living in the UK has there been enough snow on the ground to make a snowman. And I was in Colorado.
Marc & I were pregnant with Sebastian and I had taken him home to meet my family and enjoy the Christmas festivities at the Grandmother's house. We had a light dusting of snow on Christmas Eve so technically it was a white Christmas but by Colorado standards it hardly qualified.
When we flew over London on our trip back and looked down the ground was blanketed in white. There were even piles of snow on the sides of roads where the snow had been cleared. It melted in a few days. We missed the fun entirely.
A few years later when Abigail was a few months old we returned to Colorado for Easter. We took Marc's mum with us. We all had the flu and were sick for much of the celebrations early in the week. But it snowed. Every morning we woke up to masses of snow despite the fact that it was April. The grandchildren built a snowman in the front garden at my Grandmother's home. I've got a picture of it somewhere! The snow would melt by the end of the day and new snow would fall overnight. It was glorious!
It snowed in Denver on Sunday night. It didn't here in Old Windsor. It will be the same story throughout the winter. I wish it would snow here instead of all that dreary rain of winter!
I loved snow days when I was in school. I love seeing children all bundled up in snow suits. I love their little red drippy noses. I love going sledding. I envy my sister's children who have a steep hill in their back garden and can go sledding any time there is snow!
We don't own snow suits. Haven't got the need. We've got some very nice big coats courtesy of Grandma (my mother in Colorado). My children love wearing them. They think they are arctic explorers when they put them on.
Bring on the Snow!
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Big Night
Tonight (actually tomorrow morning 1 am GMT) is the start of the World Series.
The Colorado Rockies play the Boston Red Sox.
I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. I can't remember ever being so excited about a World Series.
And the game is to be broadcast live here in the UK. My plan is to get a few hours sleep before the start of the game, get up to watch the game and catch a few hours sleep before I go to work in the morning. I will have to repeat that performance tomorrow night as well. I will be shattered by Friday. Glad I have the day off.
My hope is that I can stay up tonight. I failed when the Rockies played in the NLC Series. I get very sleepy around 11 pm and that's it. I can't keep my eyes open. I hope I don't let my team down.
Go Rockies! Rock the World!
The Colorado Rockies play the Boston Red Sox.
I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. I can't remember ever being so excited about a World Series.
And the game is to be broadcast live here in the UK. My plan is to get a few hours sleep before the start of the game, get up to watch the game and catch a few hours sleep before I go to work in the morning. I will have to repeat that performance tomorrow night as well. I will be shattered by Friday. Glad I have the day off.
My hope is that I can stay up tonight. I failed when the Rockies played in the NLC Series. I get very sleepy around 11 pm and that's it. I can't keep my eyes open. I hope I don't let my team down.
Go Rockies! Rock the World!
Half Term
This week is half term. The children are off school until 31 October. It's like someone just added another ball to my juggling act.
I'm lucky to have a child minder who keeps an open slot for Sebastian during the school breaks and since she has Abigail in the afternoons it is not much trouble to also have her in the mornings.
I'm not entirely sure what parents do when they don't have a childminder. And after Abigail starts school full time next year, I'm not sure what we'll do. I'll cross that bridge then.
But I do want to spend some time with the children when they are not in school. Isn't that what half term is all about?
So now I find myself trying to juggle. Again!
I'm lucky to have a child minder who keeps an open slot for Sebastian during the school breaks and since she has Abigail in the afternoons it is not much trouble to also have her in the mornings.
I'm not entirely sure what parents do when they don't have a childminder. And after Abigail starts school full time next year, I'm not sure what we'll do. I'll cross that bridge then.
But I do want to spend some time with the children when they are not in school. Isn't that what half term is all about?
So now I find myself trying to juggle. Again!
Tuesday, 23 October 2007
Jostling for Position
Our home has two computers: 1 that the children use and 1 for the grownups. Or rather, grownup - ME!
At work I barely have time to pee. And I don't believe in using my work time to check my personal emails or write blog posts. And Facebook is blocked. So I try to use my time at home to use the computer. Either first thing in the morning or last thing at night. that's sometimes why you get 2 posts from me on any given day.
But now that my husband is a bio-diesel god and has quite a popular blog himself as well as a Facebook addiction rivalling my own, we are finding ourselves in constant competition for computer time in the evenings.
Now my argument is he's got more spare time during the day and a host of computers in his office to use for his purposes. I, on the other hand, do not.
Therefore, I reason, my request for computer time should take precedence over his. He insists that possession is 9/10 of the law and he makes sure he sits down before I do. Since I go to work first thing in the morning and I have to take a shower and get ready, I find him crowding the screen when I come downstairs and the children are eating their breakfast. Since I prepare the evening meal, I find him blogging away whilst I am making dinner. Since I read the children their bedtime stories I am the last downstairs in the evening and I invariably find him camped out in front of the computer.
I've tried coming up with a schedule to fairly distribute the available computer time. He laughs at the plan claiming it unfairly benefits my schedule. I just don't understand what is wrong with him blogging between the hours of midnight and 3 am.
What this means is that I get more blogging done on the weekend than during the week. This is a bit of a problem since most of my readers check the blog during the week and I see a sharp decline on the weekends.
I think I'll try to write a bunch of posts on the weekend and plan on posting them during the week. Of course, this only works when the post is not time sensitive and with most things in the electronic world of the web, time is of the essence.
I could write less. One reader complained that I posted too often but more readers expressed concern when I skipped 2 days in a row. My mother even rang worried something horrible had happened to me.
I'll try to stick to the at least once a day. And I'll use that stick to beat my husband off the computer! But if I skip a day, I blame him.
At work I barely have time to pee. And I don't believe in using my work time to check my personal emails or write blog posts. And Facebook is blocked. So I try to use my time at home to use the computer. Either first thing in the morning or last thing at night. that's sometimes why you get 2 posts from me on any given day.
But now that my husband is a bio-diesel god and has quite a popular blog himself as well as a Facebook addiction rivalling my own, we are finding ourselves in constant competition for computer time in the evenings.
Now my argument is he's got more spare time during the day and a host of computers in his office to use for his purposes. I, on the other hand, do not.
Therefore, I reason, my request for computer time should take precedence over his. He insists that possession is 9/10 of the law and he makes sure he sits down before I do. Since I go to work first thing in the morning and I have to take a shower and get ready, I find him crowding the screen when I come downstairs and the children are eating their breakfast. Since I prepare the evening meal, I find him blogging away whilst I am making dinner. Since I read the children their bedtime stories I am the last downstairs in the evening and I invariably find him camped out in front of the computer.
I've tried coming up with a schedule to fairly distribute the available computer time. He laughs at the plan claiming it unfairly benefits my schedule. I just don't understand what is wrong with him blogging between the hours of midnight and 3 am.
What this means is that I get more blogging done on the weekend than during the week. This is a bit of a problem since most of my readers check the blog during the week and I see a sharp decline on the weekends.
I think I'll try to write a bunch of posts on the weekend and plan on posting them during the week. Of course, this only works when the post is not time sensitive and with most things in the electronic world of the web, time is of the essence.
I could write less. One reader complained that I posted too often but more readers expressed concern when I skipped 2 days in a row. My mother even rang worried something horrible had happened to me.
I'll try to stick to the at least once a day. And I'll use that stick to beat my husband off the computer! But if I skip a day, I blame him.
Monday, 22 October 2007
Red Sox vs Rockies
My loyalties are going to be tested after the Red Sox hammered the Cleveland Indians last night and won Game 7 11-2.
The way I'm looking at this is that I can't lose! No matter who wins I will be happy.
However, I have been thinking about this long and hard and I must confess now that I am faced with the decision, I am going to have to root for the Colorado Rockies.
This team has never ever before made it to the World Series. The Sox won the series in 2004 and have been to the World Series 11 times in their long historical career.
And on Sunday night it snowed in Denver! The Rockies had to move their practice inside. Snow in Denver in October is common. Let's face it the place is 5,280 feet above sea level. But we are prepared for that. There is a ground warming system under Coors field which warms the field to 60 degrees F so any snow melts off rather quickly. And the ground crew used grow blankets which cover the grass a keeps it from freezing. There's also a drainage system which sucks the excess moisture off the field and makes it semi-dry. So weather won't be an excuse.
Game 1 is 24 October at Fenway Park. The Rockies won't be scared. When they played the Sox in June they won 2 of 3 games at Fenway!
Go Rockies!
(Go Red Sox!)
The way I'm looking at this is that I can't lose! No matter who wins I will be happy.
However, I have been thinking about this long and hard and I must confess now that I am faced with the decision, I am going to have to root for the Colorado Rockies.
This team has never ever before made it to the World Series. The Sox won the series in 2004 and have been to the World Series 11 times in their long historical career.
And on Sunday night it snowed in Denver! The Rockies had to move their practice inside. Snow in Denver in October is common. Let's face it the place is 5,280 feet above sea level. But we are prepared for that. There is a ground warming system under Coors field which warms the field to 60 degrees F so any snow melts off rather quickly. And the ground crew used grow blankets which cover the grass a keeps it from freezing. There's also a drainage system which sucks the excess moisture off the field and makes it semi-dry. So weather won't be an excuse.
Game 1 is 24 October at Fenway Park. The Rockies won't be scared. When they played the Sox in June they won 2 of 3 games at Fenway!
Go Rockies!
(Go Red Sox!)
Sunday, 21 October 2007
American League
I am hoping for a Red Sox win over the Cleveland Indians.
OK, well, not that much.
I am a huge Red Sox fan. I hate the Cleveland Indians only slightly less than the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees. So I really want the Sox to win a trip to the World Series. That contest is currently tied at 3 with the final game being played at an absurd hour for anyone living in GMT.
But IF the Cleveland Indians were to win, it would make my allegiance to the Colorado Rockies performance very pure. If, on the other hand, the Sox were to win and Colorado played against them in the World Series, I would be torn.
My friends and family keep asking me who I'm going to root for if in fact both teams make it through. Having been a Sox fan for a very long time, I've decided to cross that bridge when I get there.
Go Red Sox!
OK, well, not that much.
I am a huge Red Sox fan. I hate the Cleveland Indians only slightly less than the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees. So I really want the Sox to win a trip to the World Series. That contest is currently tied at 3 with the final game being played at an absurd hour for anyone living in GMT.
But IF the Cleveland Indians were to win, it would make my allegiance to the Colorado Rockies performance very pure. If, on the other hand, the Sox were to win and Colorado played against them in the World Series, I would be torn.
My friends and family keep asking me who I'm going to root for if in fact both teams make it through. Having been a Sox fan for a very long time, I've decided to cross that bridge when I get there.
Go Red Sox!
Return of the Impetigo
Abigail's infection returned with a vengeance last week. After yet another trip to the doctor we now have an "even stronger" antibacterial cream which we are smearing on her 3 times day.
I am now getting very paranoid particularly when the doctor announced that this looked like a very resistant strain. It brought to mind the warnings from the other side of the Atlantic in the last week.
She looks like they are starting to get better but that's what we thought the last time! If we don't see marked improvement in the next 24 hours we are going back to the doctor and requesting a specialist!
I am now getting very paranoid particularly when the doctor announced that this looked like a very resistant strain. It brought to mind the warnings from the other side of the Atlantic in the last week.
She looks like they are starting to get better but that's what we thought the last time! If we don't see marked improvement in the next 24 hours we are going back to the doctor and requesting a specialist!
England Rugby
Last night the country stood still for a few hours whilst England played against South Africa for the title of World Rugby Champions in Paris, France. It was not meant to be.
All I can say is at least they didn't embarrass themselves. South Africa beat England in the very first game of the tournament 36-0. Most everyone feared a similar fate. That was not meant to be either.
England played with all their hearts. They made some foolish mistakes and they had a try which was taken away from them. Bad luck. I'd like to say it's part of the game but with instant replay it was clear that it was a try. But for the rest of the game England pushed and passed and kicked with all the strength they could muster.
In the end, England played respectably but lost 6 to 15. They lost to the best team and South Africa deserved the win.
PS I've never seen so much blood in a sporting event! One SA player had to forced off the field to go get his eyelid stitched up before he was allowed to return to the game for the final minutes. The white jersey's of the England players were soaked in the red of their own and their opponents blood. Not sure I like this game......
All I can say is at least they didn't embarrass themselves. South Africa beat England in the very first game of the tournament 36-0. Most everyone feared a similar fate. That was not meant to be either.
England played with all their hearts. They made some foolish mistakes and they had a try which was taken away from them. Bad luck. I'd like to say it's part of the game but with instant replay it was clear that it was a try. But for the rest of the game England pushed and passed and kicked with all the strength they could muster.
In the end, England played respectably but lost 6 to 15. They lost to the best team and South Africa deserved the win.
PS I've never seen so much blood in a sporting event! One SA player had to forced off the field to go get his eyelid stitched up before he was allowed to return to the game for the final minutes. The white jersey's of the England players were soaked in the red of their own and their opponents blood. Not sure I like this game......
Saturday, 20 October 2007
Nursery Harvest Festival
As the parent of 2 children at St George's, I realise I quickly fall into step with the rhythms of the school year.September carries the rush of getting acquainted with the new schedules and new teachers. We learn that swimming is on Wednesday instead of Tuesdays, Games will be on Monday, gym on Friday and spelling quizzes will be held every Friday. Everything has to have a name tag sewn on and bed times are rigidly enforced to avoid the morning time crunch of breakfast, getting dressed and joining all the other parents in traffic queues whilst dropping off.
October carries the realisation that we are nearly halfway through the first term and we need to book our Christmas party or we will miss out on the best on offer. And we know that the time for the Harvest Festival is drawing near.
For Nursery parents, this is a time of incredible anxiety. You are never quite sure how your child will react when faced with standing in front of a hundred or so parents and being asked to perform.
I was particularly concerned with Abigail. Hopefully, you have read in my previous post that Sebastian's first performance was done holding the hand of the Pre-Prep Head the entire time. I don't think
he opened his mouth to sing a single line. He just stared out at the mass of people with pure fear written all over his wee little pudgy toddler face.Abigail was a bit of an unknown. She has proven to me time and time again this school year that she is full of surprises.
At home Abigail is bossy. She never tidies up her toys. She never listens. She whinges and whines when she doesn't get her way. She is bossy and winds Sebastian up until he loses his temper with her.
I warned the Nursery teachers before she started and apologised for my shortcomings as a parent. I was hoping they could do better than I had done.
Earlier this week Marc and I went to Abigail's teacher conference. I thought she was telling us about all the other children. But no, she was referring to Abigail.
Apparently she is kind and compassionate to her classmates. She is helpful to her teachers and always does as she is asked. She listens to stories intently and willingly participates in all activities. She volunteers to help around the classroom.
And apparently she can count, recognise her colours and even knows all of her shapes. She'll even tell them how old she is. she refuses to do any of this at home. She pretends to not know how to count and flat out denies having any recognition of colours (except for pink). If you ask her old she is, she will reply either 2 or 4 but never the correct answer of 3.
The teacher told us she was having us on. How reassuring.......
Sometimes Abigail can be a bit shy around strangers. When she is first introduced she hides behind me until she gains confidence which can take several hours and usually we've long since gone when she decides to warm up. She refused to speak to her godfather, Simon, all afternoon a few weeks ago. During the drive home she announced she loved Simon.
Abigail loves to perform around the home. She's got numerous microphones and is always putting on shows for us and the neighbours and some close friends. But knowing that the Harvest Festival was going to put her in front of all those people I was convinced she would stand with her back towards them and refuse to participate.
Boy, was I wrong!
Year 1, Reception and Nursery performed together and the wee little Nursery children were seated at the front. The school had reserved the front seats for the Nursery parents and when Abigail marched in I was delighted to find she was standing nearly in front of me.
She was brilliant. She sat quietly when she needed to sit quietly. She stood when she needed to stand. She sang songs when it was her turn. She even played an instrument. Well, she knocked together her two rhythmic sticks almost in time with the music occasionally with a bit of extra flourish adding in a few more beats just to keep the party going.
She smiled throughout and really seemed to be enjoying herself. I'm not sure she even noticed all the other people. She seemed happy just to be performing for her mummy and daddy.
I was happy to see just her perform. She could have been a show of one. She's a natural. I'm sure every other parent in the room felt the same way.
And that's the first of many Harvest Festivals!
Friday, 19 October 2007
Year 2 Harvest Festival
This morning we awoke to the cold of our first freeze of the season. The grass was covered in frost. Ice on the windscreens had to be cleared before the drive to school through the thick steam of fog rising from the river. It was simply beautiful.
Today was Sebastian's last and Abigail's first Pre-Prep Harvest Festival.
When the children graduate from Year 1 and move up to Year 2 they are reminded that they are now at the top of their class. They are the leaders of the Pre-Prep. They set the example for the younger children. This is a big responsibility. And today we saw how much they deserve this responsibility.
All the children have worked very hard to get to this day. Papers with lines, songs, and poems have been hung on refrigerators doors for weeks. As parents we have learned the bits for our children but are entirely unaware of how it all fits together. And then there are those surprises when you watch your child performing something you have never seen or heard before.
Their hard work paid off and they performed beautifully.
To the delight of all their parents, some children recited poetry they had written themselves. They sang several songs including one charming tune in French. They recited harvest prayers that again they had written themselves. They seemed to grasp the concepts of the celebration: they are fortunate and there are others who are not so. They gave thanks and prayed for those in need.
The teachers and their helpers have done an amazing job of preparing the children for this day. And in only 6 weeks!
All the parents were very proud of the children and their performance. They were all so confident. They spoke clearly and loudly. They sang like little angels. No one muffed their lines. No one got stage fright.
I have always found the Harvest Festival to be very emotional. I remember Sebastian's very first one. He was only 3 years and 4 months old. I was so tiny that even the smallest size school uniform was too big for him. He couldn't step up the risers without assistance. He stood through the whole performance on the corner firmly grasping the hand of Miss Griffin, the Head of the Pre-Prep. I'm not sure if he was scared and just needed her reassurance or if he was just so fond of her he couldn't bear to be apart from her. I reckon it was a wee bit of both.
Today I watched Sebastian perform. He wasn't scared. He stood amongst his peers. He sang confidently and spoke with authority. I couldn't stop smiling. I was so proud of him. We were all so proud of all of them. And in the end I shed a few tears. They are growing up so fast.
We are so lucky. And I am grateful.
Today was Sebastian's last and Abigail's first Pre-Prep Harvest Festival.
When the children graduate from Year 1 and move up to Year 2 they are reminded that they are now at the top of their class. They are the leaders of the Pre-Prep. They set the example for the younger children. This is a big responsibility. And today we saw how much they deserve this responsibility.
All the children have worked very hard to get to this day. Papers with lines, songs, and poems have been hung on refrigerators doors for weeks. As parents we have learned the bits for our children but are entirely unaware of how it all fits together. And then there are those surprises when you watch your child performing something you have never seen or heard before.
Their hard work paid off and they performed beautifully.
To the delight of all their parents, some children recited poetry they had written themselves. They sang several songs including one charming tune in French. They recited harvest prayers that again they had written themselves. They seemed to grasp the concepts of the celebration: they are fortunate and there are others who are not so. They gave thanks and prayed for those in need.
The teachers and their helpers have done an amazing job of preparing the children for this day. And in only 6 weeks!
All the parents were very proud of the children and their performance. They were all so confident. They spoke clearly and loudly. They sang like little angels. No one muffed their lines. No one got stage fright.
I have always found the Harvest Festival to be very emotional. I remember Sebastian's very first one. He was only 3 years and 4 months old. I was so tiny that even the smallest size school uniform was too big for him. He couldn't step up the risers without assistance. He stood through the whole performance on the corner firmly grasping the hand of Miss Griffin, the Head of the Pre-Prep. I'm not sure if he was scared and just needed her reassurance or if he was just so fond of her he couldn't bear to be apart from her. I reckon it was a wee bit of both.
Today I watched Sebastian perform. He wasn't scared. He stood amongst his peers. He sang confidently and spoke with authority. I couldn't stop smiling. I was so proud of him. We were all so proud of all of them. And in the end I shed a few tears. They are growing up so fast.
We are so lucky. And I am grateful.
Thursday, 18 October 2007
Love in a Box
At this time of year my children are preparing for their Harvest Festival at school.
I've told you before how much I love autumn. One of the reasons I love autumn is it is harvest time. We celebrate our fortunes and pray that we have harvested enough to feed us throughout the cold barren winter. Well, at least that is the idea. Nowadays we just import what we don't have and many people I know don't give a second thought to buying out of season fruits and vegetables. Very few people I know can or freeze their summer garden produce. Very few people I know even have summer gardens.
And this summer our garden was a complete catastrophe. How lucky I am to have the option of a supermarket.
One of the traditions at St George's School is to participate in the Love in a Box Program. The idea is the you collect items for a girl and a boy within selected age ranges and fill a bx with goodies and useful stuff.
So in goes toothbrushes, toothpaste, face cloths, scarves, hair brushes, combs. and then in go fun stuff like cuddly toys and modelling clay, and coloured pencils and notebooks. Of course, we also include chocolates and sweets. the best part is when I ask the children to go to their toy boxes and pick out their favourite toys to give away.
I'm amazed at their generosity. Maybe I shouldn't be. My children are fortunate to have a lot. They have so much they will probably hardly notice or miss what they have given away. But in that moment, they have chosen something that is special to them and given it to someone else far less fortunate than them.
How lucky I am to have them!
I've told you before how much I love autumn. One of the reasons I love autumn is it is harvest time. We celebrate our fortunes and pray that we have harvested enough to feed us throughout the cold barren winter. Well, at least that is the idea. Nowadays we just import what we don't have and many people I know don't give a second thought to buying out of season fruits and vegetables. Very few people I know can or freeze their summer garden produce. Very few people I know even have summer gardens.
And this summer our garden was a complete catastrophe. How lucky I am to have the option of a supermarket.
One of the traditions at St George's School is to participate in the Love in a Box Program. The idea is the you collect items for a girl and a boy within selected age ranges and fill a bx with goodies and useful stuff.
So in goes toothbrushes, toothpaste, face cloths, scarves, hair brushes, combs. and then in go fun stuff like cuddly toys and modelling clay, and coloured pencils and notebooks. Of course, we also include chocolates and sweets. the best part is when I ask the children to go to their toy boxes and pick out their favourite toys to give away.
I'm amazed at their generosity. Maybe I shouldn't be. My children are fortunate to have a lot. They have so much they will probably hardly notice or miss what they have given away. But in that moment, they have chosen something that is special to them and given it to someone else far less fortunate than them.
How lucky I am to have them!
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Choices
I read numerous blogs written by mums: stay at home mums, working mums, funny mums and frustrated mums.
It makes me fell less alone. It reminds me that we're all dealing with similar struggles. It reminds me that we all make compromises. It reminds me that someone always has it worse off than me. It reminds me that some are luckier than me. It never fails to make me laugh. Out loud. Belly rolling. It reminds me that we all love our children.
I blogged about my struggle to balance career and work. I just want to make one thing clear: I want to work. I like working. I would go absolutely insane if I didn't work.
I'm happy for everyone out there who have other arrangements as long as they are happy with those arrangements. But I don't want you thinking for one single minute that I've had this choice made for me due to financial circumstances or otherwise. I weighed up the options. I played out the scenarios. I made my choice.
I know some stay at home mums who are regretting their decision to take a break in their careers cause it ain't something you get back easily. Even my 1 year off for Abigail's first year nearly ended my career with my current company. And the 6 months I took off to have Sebastian lost me my job despite protection from the law.
No, I work because I enjoy my career. Because working makes me a better person which in turn makes me a better mother.
My children are happy. They are confident. They are socially successful.
My working hasn't done them a dang bit of harm.
I know numerous women who have made the same choice. They feel judged by stay at home mums. They feel judged by men whose wives stay at home.
Stop! We each do what works for us.
It makes me fell less alone. It reminds me that we're all dealing with similar struggles. It reminds me that we all make compromises. It reminds me that someone always has it worse off than me. It reminds me that some are luckier than me. It never fails to make me laugh. Out loud. Belly rolling. It reminds me that we all love our children.
I blogged about my struggle to balance career and work. I just want to make one thing clear: I want to work. I like working. I would go absolutely insane if I didn't work.
I'm happy for everyone out there who have other arrangements as long as they are happy with those arrangements. But I don't want you thinking for one single minute that I've had this choice made for me due to financial circumstances or otherwise. I weighed up the options. I played out the scenarios. I made my choice.
I know some stay at home mums who are regretting their decision to take a break in their careers cause it ain't something you get back easily. Even my 1 year off for Abigail's first year nearly ended my career with my current company. And the 6 months I took off to have Sebastian lost me my job despite protection from the law.
No, I work because I enjoy my career. Because working makes me a better person which in turn makes me a better mother.
My children are happy. They are confident. They are socially successful.
My working hasn't done them a dang bit of harm.
I know numerous women who have made the same choice. They feel judged by stay at home mums. They feel judged by men whose wives stay at home.
Stop! We each do what works for us.
And to all of you stay at home dads working to undo the gender stereotypes of generations:
National League Champions
At 6:43 am this morning the call came in.
The Colorado Rockies are the National League Champions.
They swept the series with 4 straight wins. They have won 21 of their last 22 games.
Bring on the World Series!
You have no idea how much I wish I was in Denver at this very moment!!!!!!
The Colorado Rockies are the National League Champions.
They swept the series with 4 straight wins. They have won 21 of their last 22 games.
Bring on the World Series!
You have no idea how much I wish I was in Denver at this very moment!!!!!!
Monday, 15 October 2007
3 Down, 1 to Go
Last night my phone rang at 4:41 am. I have found that typically when the phone rings at that hour it is never good news.
However, I have a family who struggles with the whole concept of time zones so this is not always the case.
My sister, knowing that I would be unlikely to stay awake until the wee hours of the morning, had rang to tell me that the Colorado Rockies had won the third game in a best of seven contest for the National League Champion title and a trip to the World Series. The weak and feeble Arizona D'Backs have not managed to win a single game!
Tonight is the 4th game. A win will seal the deal and the Colorado Rockies will be headed to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. I have given them permission to ring at that insane hour once again if the news is good.
Man, am I praying for a wake up call!
However, I have a family who struggles with the whole concept of time zones so this is not always the case.
My sister, knowing that I would be unlikely to stay awake until the wee hours of the morning, had rang to tell me that the Colorado Rockies had won the third game in a best of seven contest for the National League Champion title and a trip to the World Series. The weak and feeble Arizona D'Backs have not managed to win a single game!
Tonight is the 4th game. A win will seal the deal and the Colorado Rockies will be headed to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. I have given them permission to ring at that insane hour once again if the news is good.
Man, am I praying for a wake up call!
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