Dear Sailor

It was a good day at work and by that I mean it was productive and I feel like I accomplished something.

Rhymetime this morning was busy, again. Yay. I am averaging around 26 children to the Tuesday session. Today there were quite a few new faces, including a brand new baby (9 days old). Quite a few of the regulars are having bubs, when they arrive I feel very lucky to be able greet these new faces and welcome them to Rhymetime (awake, or asleep, lol).

I had three mums tell me I looked 22yrs old. Two of them were gobsmacked when they overheard me discussing my kidlets with another parent (or two, I love talking about my kids). One had gone so far as to suggest I go and become a Kindy Teacher and so we were talking about my qualifications (because she was impressed with the session and wanted to know what experience I had) and I mentioned that I considered my own children to be valuable experience, and when she asked me how many/how old they were she nearly dropped off her seat. It is quite amusing to see people's reactions, and I have now had so many people say the same thing about my age that I really must accept that I look 9 years younger than I am! Nice!

Must be my chubby cheeks.

When it was suggested I become a Teacher I said 'no thanks'. I have had the same thing said to me before, many times in fact, but I realised that one of the things I enjoy most about this job is that I deal with ages 0 - 17 years, I am not restricted to one age group. Also, I see the kids for an hour or two a day, whereas Teachers spend 6 hours per day with the same kids, every day for 40 weeks or so of the year. I think I would get bored as a Teacher.

Something that I believe my regular parents have appreciated is that I have made an effort to remember their child's name. Of course, sometimes I forget, especially if they have been away for a while, but if they come for two or three weeks in a row I usually remember. I like being able to say 'Hello ...." when I see them in the shopping centre, or when they arrive at Rhymetime or whatever session they come to. However, the parents names are a whole other story. Sometimes I remember, often I don't even ask, and so I know them by their children - 'Hi Tiffany's mum', 'excuse me, Christina's nanna' lol.

Continuing on from my enjoyable morning, I assisted in the rearranging of our Branch library this afternoon, which was very physically tiring. So tiring that I went to bed at 8pm when Matt and Will did, slept for two hours, and then have gotten up again to finish housework and have computer time. I told Scott I was going to bed and he seemed concerned, but I just explained that it had been a tough day for my poor old body (so of course that got the response 'you're not old, mum'). I set the kitchen alarm for him so he would know when to go to bed (because if I didn't he would still be down here playing the computer). If I leave him to it he is very good about doing what he is told, not sure why it has to be any different to when I am standing over him telling him to go to bed (for the tenth time), but it is.

so there you go, that's the day done.

Matthew now says his name. His favourite game is bumping balloons around in the air or playing catch and throw with them.

Kindy routine - when we arrive in the morning I sign Matt in, then he comes and helps me put his stuff away. By this, I mean I put his bag in his cubby and he takes his nappies (or his 'bum' as he calls them) and I help him put them in his nappy cubby. Then he sits on the little toilet in the change room, with his pants still on. But he says 'wee' and points to the toilet and I encourage him to sit on it, I figure it is good practice. After that we always go and wash and dry our hands because he has 'been' to the toilet. He likes this best and would happily stand with his hands under the running water for a while, but I encourage him back out in to the play area and get him settled so I can go.

Matt occasionally sits on his potty at home. On Sunday night he had a bare bum (had gotten out of the bath and was doing his usual nuddy run) and he said 'wee' so I got the potty and sat him on it and after a couple of goes (on, off, on, off, on) he did a wee. Then he ran off before I could cheer, lol. Tonight he brought his nappy to me to put on, so I got his potty and suggested he sit on it first, which he did (on, off, on, off, etc), but he didn't produce anything. It is all good. I am not going to pressure him, especially since it is still cold and the kindy and I have already discussed starting the intensive work in September (which is only a week away!).

Scott and Will got your emails, Scott has replied, not sure about Will. They are both excited about the trip to Queensland.

your wife

Dear Sailor

I swear Matt has found new words overnight. It is like he turned two and a switch flicked. He will generally repeat a word after you say it, might not remember it next time, but they learn by repetition anyway. Like tonight, he held up a pea, babbled something at me and I said 'pea'. He said 'pea' and ate it!

When he sees a ball he says 'ball,kick', he calls his nappies 'bum', he said 'Awick' (warwick), and 'Bye, manda' when the babysitter (Amanda) left the other day. He can now say 'Wiggle'. When he sees the Olympic swimmers he laughs and says 'bath!'

He says 'bike' when he sees a motorbike or pushbike, he still says 'car' for trucks and utes, and 'bus' for planes and buses.

I can tell him to put his dinner plate on the table and he does it without spilling.

He knows that when the oven light is on that it is hot and he will point to it and say 'hot'.

He can say 'not nice' and 'notty' (naughty). He understands 1, 2, 3, and that 3 could mean trouble for him, lol. He can sort of count up to ten (with someone helping).

He loves to play chasies, when he wants you to he will run a little, kind of looking over his shoulder, and say 'RAH', that is your cue to chase him (slowly but noisily so it sounds like you are really chasing, and you have to say 'RAH' too).

He is fearless.

He likes swings and slides and climbing. When he sees a see-saw he sings 'see-saw, see-saw'.

Pretty amazing isn't he.

your wife

Dear Hubby

The boys played great games of soccer on Saturday, with both teams winning. Will had his final game and Scott now goes on to the Grand Finals, YAY!
Will trying hard

Scott waiting to go on

We had Matt's birthdya yesterday, he was very impressed with his pressies, particularly the one 'you' gave him.

New words - kick, arwick (warwick), mine, who's this. He is counting a bit, I say 'one', he says 'two', I say 'three', he says 'four' and 'bive'.

Your wife

Dear Hubby

Sorry for my slackness in writing. I have been looking after myself, and that has meant going to bed by 10pm, so I haven't had time to write.

I got pretty crook after I had the tooth out and I am back on antibiotics...oh, hang on, I have to go have my night dose....ok, back again, yeah, so I am on antibiotics and feeling much improved. The gap isn't obvious unless I am laughing like a hyena.

LOL
I think you can see what I had for breakfast!

Anyway, the gap is a bit distracting and I find that I notice the teeth around it more. Weird.

Matt now says 'POT!!!!' very loudly and firmly when he wants you to STOP! LOL!!!! It sounds so funny.

Will played soccer on the weekend, they lost 1-0, Scott had a bye. It was a busy weekend, but I can't remember what we did!

night
your wife

Evening Sailor

There was an almighty storm this afternoon. It hit around 2.30pm and lasted for a couple of hours. At one stage I was standing in the supermarket opposite Matt's daycare when we (other customers and I) heard an massive bang and it felt like the floor rocked for a second. A light fitting came loose from the ceiling and was hanging by some wires. Apparently lightning struck an antennae on the roof of the building.

Feeling a little sorry for myself today. I went to the dentist today to discuss the tooth that has been giving me gripe for some time and he decided it needed to come out. I was actually very happy about this as it keeps getting infected and painful. So out it came! I now have a molar sized gap in my mouth. No pain as yet, even though the anaesthetic has worn off. I have stocked up on painkillers just in case. It did bleed an awful lot though, it has really only settled down in the last half hour, 5 hours after I had it out. I don't know how vampires can do it, you know, drink blood, it tastes pretty gross to me and it has made me feel nauseous.

I haven't been able to eat anything, firstly because of the blood, and secondly because I am not supposed to eat anything hard or hot, so that kind of limits things tonight. I have just had a cold Milo sucked through a straw, my first substance in 6 hours. I was starving! Bring on breakfast!

Hope I will feel fine tomorrow as I have to be cheery for Rhymetime.

Boys are all good, as usual. Will was going to email you with a question about the PSP (how much does one cost), not sure if he actually got round to it though. Can you email and tell him (he specifically wants to know from you).

nighty night
your wife

Dear Hubby

Well, tonight was supposed to be Parent/Teacher night, but for me it did not happen. It was a drop in set-up, from 5pm to 7pm. Well that was my first grrrr, because I don't finish work till 5pm, by the time I collect all the kids it is usually 5.45, and they are starving and refuse to be temporarily sated with a drink of water and a mini bag of popcorn. No...must have dinner NOW! Which is why you find me cooking almost as soon as I set foot in the door.

Anyway, so the time it was on was a bit iffy for me, and this was exacerbated by my sudden desire to rearrange the children's area, organising that event for this Tuesday night, before coming to the horrifying realisation that I had double booked myself and wasn't prepared to let go of either.

*sigh*

SO I raced out of work, picked the kids up in record time, made it to the school by 5.45pm, to find a loooong queue of parents. Our precious angels were already squabbling (perfect description), I was stressed because I was on a tight time schedule, and frustrated at the ridiculousness of having to wait in line with a toddler when, if they had set up a booking system, I could have had my set 5 or 10 minutes, been in and out and been done with it. Not helped by the fact that they picked venues that were practically inaccessible for Matt's stroller, and no way was I letting him loose! I looked at the queue, I looked at the kids, I looked at my watch, and I turned and walked out. Got back to work to find the job half done already (yay Jennifer!!), finished it off in record time and was home by 7pm.

I am annoyed that I didn't get to talk to Scott's teachers, I really wanted some feedback from them that extended beyond the sameness they write in his report. I had a discussion with him about his report...

Me: So what's going on in your classes that you are distracted and talking?
Scott: I just wanna talk to my mates. But Tim keeps talking and mucking around and I get in trouble cos I tell him to shut up
Me: hmmmm (disbelieving it is all Tim's fault).
Scott...plus I'm bored
Me: what, are you stupid? (this got a laugh from Scott, which is what I meant to happen). Is that why your classes are no good.
Scott: no, they just are (seriously, this is like me saying 'just because' when they ask me why I said no). Even English is (which he is good at and his teacher apparently thinks very highly of him).

*sigh*

What do I do? I told him his behaviour is his responsibility and he needs to make the choice to get his work done and muck around outside the classroom (the usual good mummy routine). I find him hard to relate to where school is concerned because I enjoyed it (mostly).

On another, completely unrelated note....

I am excited! The washing machine works again! It was a ten minute job for the repairman, there was a hair band (shame on me) jamming things up. I have nearly gotten the weeks worth of washing done, yay for me!

cheers
your wife

Dear Sailor

Weekends, for me, are usually about recovering from the week before and re-energising for the week ahead. But I am not. Energised, I mean.

I worked Saturday morning and then for some wild reason I had volunteered to work Saturday afternoon as well, so I had a couple of hours break at home in the middle, part of which I spent watching Scott's soccer game, and then back to work until 8pm. I sat in front of my computer for 3 hours, not good. My eyes and butt were so sore by the time I left.

Working Saturday meant that the housework was saved for Sunday. yay. Being sans washing machine I had this brilliant idea that I would take the clothes to a self-service laundry. No-one told me they would be closed on a Sunday. Damn. I spent some time this afternoon hand washing uniforms so that we would all have something to wear for the next couple of days. I never thought I would find myself hand washing again, I haven't had to do it for a looong time, lol. My knuckles are a little raw.

My productiveness - I baked cookies and made sausage rolls, washed, went shopping, danced to the Wiggles and Hooley Dooleys with Matt, checked the worm farm (going well) and the veges (also going well), vacuumed (again! it is a daily de ja vu, lol).

Kids are good. Scott had TIm and Riku over last night, so they were noisy till the small hours of the morning. I really don't know where they find the energy. Will is fine. Matt is his usual gorgeous self.

Warwick visited today, on his motorbike!!! He got his bike on Wednesday, the same day he did his rider training, and got his license on Friday. He seems very confident.

your wife