Basket + Carrot = Chocolate!

IMG_5479.JPGIt was Ben’s second Easter this year.  Ben was only a few weeks old last year so Easter was very quiet.  But this year Ben knew something was cooking!!!  We talked about easter, read easter stories, decorated a basket and filled it with nesting.  Ben left a carrot out for the Easter Bunny.  He was more interested in carrying the carrot around with him than leaving it for the bunny but he eventually let go!  He was amazed in the morning that the basket had chocolate eggs in it and even more amazed that he got to eat a small one before breakfast!!!

Oh No! What are we going to do?

postman pat.jpgBen loves Postman Pat.  He jumps up and down with excitment as I load the DVD.  While watching the DVD ‘Postman Pat – Go Kart Race’ Ben said his first complete sentence, not just a phrase.  Postman Pat is always saving the day one way or the other after a disaster in the Village.  One of the characters in the story was trying to find a solution to a disaster when they flung their hands to their cheeks and said ‘Oh NO!  What are we going to do?’  Ben turned to me flung his hands to his cheeks and said ‘Oh NO!  What are we going to do?’.   It was just adorable!!!

Books, Magazines, Novels and Papers

IMG_5440.JPGBen loves ABC Kids and for those who know him this is hardly anything new.  He loves to join in when the bee comes on the screen and the children say A, B, C.   As a teacher I was never a huge fan of kids watching TV.  Well…… as a parent I need it for survival but I have to admit I have felt guilty at times turning it on.  I do make sure he is not watching rubbish!  He loves loves loves ‘Postman Pat’!!!!  I was excited to see and hear Ben make some links between what he had watched on TV and the books we read.   I was reading away to him the other night when he pointed to the text and said ‘A, B, C’.  I was very excited and a tiny bit of the guilt disappeared.   I am constantly amazed at the links Ben is making.  It must be the Early Childhood Teacher in me. 

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His favorite books at the moment are On the Go by Jan Jugran, Noisy Noisy Vroom by Ronnie Randel and Bob the Builder – Push and Pop Up Book.   All of these are new books he received for his birthday – thanks!!  Ben also enjoys exploring other types of print – our novels, junk mail,  and the local paper.  He is particularly found of Daddy’s motorbike magazines.

On the go.jpg   Noisy Noisy Vroom.jpg   bob_the_builder_push_and_pop_up_book_large.jpg

Uncle Al and Baby Hugo

Al and Hugo visited recently whilst Claire was off doing very important bridesmaid stuff. Little Hugo just chilled the whole time, he is a very relaxed baby (at least when we see him anyway). Benjamin was intrigued and progressively they became more interactive. I think it was great for them both (being cousins and all). Later on we gave Hugo the little red guitar. He held it quite naturally. Perhaps he will be a little rock star in the future.

Al and Hugo chillin'.

Al and Hugo visited recently whilst Claire was off doing very important bridesmaid stuff.

Little Hugo just chilled the whole time, he is a very relaxed baby (at least when we see him anyway).

Benjamin was intrigued and progressively they became more

Hugo, Guitar Hero.  He knew instinctively how to hold it.

interactive.  I think it was great for them both (being cousins and all).

Later on we gave Hugo the little red guitar.  He held it quite naturally.

Perhaps he will be a little rock star in the future.

Swimmin’ Next Door

We have great neighbours. The Durringtons are very generous, and we have been lucky enough to swim in their pool from time to time. Since Ben has been doing swimming lessons, he has become quite comfortable in the water and especially likes have other kids around him.

No problems there as the Durrington kids are a great bunch and they love to play with Ben. Here you can see all three of them all around and even under Ben and I.

Charlotte was very proud to demonstrate how the “SubSkate” worked while Finlay tested his underwater skills and Ryan hid in the background using his new Ninja stealth skills.

We all had a great time.

We have great neighbours.  The Durringtons are very generous, and we have been lucky enough to swim in their pool from time to time.  Since Ben has been doing swimming lessons, he has become quite comfortable in the water and especially likes having other kids around him.

No problems there as the Durrington kids are a great bunch and they love to play with Ben.  Here you can see all three of them all around and even under Ben and I.

Charlotte was very proud to demonstrate how the “SubSkate” worked while Finlay tested his underwater skills and Ryan hid in the background using his new Ninja stealth skills.

We all had a great time.

Swimming with the kids next door.  We all had a great time. Swimming with the kids next door.  We all had a great time.

Swimming with the kids next door.  We all had a great time.

The Abyss No More

Over the past year or so our spare room has been accumulating stuff. Not junk, but stuff we had not found a spot for, or were too lazy to put in. Well it got to the point that we could barely open the door let alone have a visitor sleep in the bed. We were calling it The Abyss.

Over the past year or so our spare room has been accumulating stuff. Not junk, but stuff we had not found a spot for, or were too lazy to put away. Most of it was excess clothes (too small) and toys (too young) that Benjamin has outgrown.  Well it got to the point that we could barely open the door let alone have a visitor sleep in the bed.

We were calling it The Abyss.
Our spare bedroom after much inattention.  It\'s amazing how you can ignore a mess by closing the door. Our spare bedroom after much inattention.  It\'s amazing how you can ignore a mess by closing the door.
We recently decided it was time to sort it out (actually Belinda mainly decided, as I find it amazingly easy to ignore mess by closing doors).
The Abyss is no more. Yay !

Ta Da !, can you believe this is the same room only two days later. Ta Da !, can you believe this is the same room only two days later.

We will try to keep it this way (at least for a while).