A new 'do'

I finally got a chance to get my hair cut today. It has been nearly six months since my last trim, so my hair was very messy at the ends. It meant that I unfortunately had to say goodbye to about 2.5 inches off the length. I am very pleased with the cut, but knowing that it never looks the same as it does after you leave the hairdresser I thought I would immortalise the style with a rather vain and self-indulgent photo on my blog. What do you think?

Bear Hug

The Podlings and I had a toy's tea party today and I invited two of my special teddies (i.e., ones that the children aren't allowed and are kept out of their reach). One of these is Wordsworth, my Harrod's bear, which Lily has been admiring from a distance for some time. As soon as Wordsworth joined the party, she put her arm around his shoulder and sat cuddled up to him for much of our little game, obviously a girl very much in love! I was surprised how well she took it when I put him back on top of the cupboard. She is obviously resigned to the fact that he is Mummy's bear and is only allowed out on special occasions. I can see Wordsworth receiving many tea party invitations over the years. I hope it won't go to his head!

A new fairy tale?

As I was clearing up the lunch things in the dining room today I was watching Tom playing with his cars in the family room. I overheard him begin a new game with:

"Once upon a time there was a great boy named Tom..."

Modesty obviously not being a characteristic trait of the under-fours! I'd love to know how the story panned out, but unfortunately he then started talking too quietly for me to hear. I expect it was an epic tale of adventure, daring do and "I going back to my car" (the most common phrase I overhear when he is playing cars).

The cup that cheers

Seeing as Tom is now over three years old, I decided it was high time I introduced him to a Big Boy Cup. At lunchtime today, I gave Tom a cup of water alongside his normal trainer cup and left him to it. I did the same at tea time, at which point Lily cottoned on to the change in proceedings and threatened to throw a wobbly unless she had a Big Girl Cup of her very own. With great trepidation, I placed a half full cup of water in front of her, fully expecting one or both of us to get completely drenched in the next few seconds. She picked up the cup, said "Fank oo Mummy" ('Thank you mummy) and took a drink like she had used nothing but tea cups all her life. She put the cup back neatly on her table without spilling a drop and proceeded, throughout the meal, to take regular, spill-free drinks from it. To say I was astonished is an understatement. She has, I am afraid to say, considerably more skill with the cup than Tom, who spilt the entire contents of his cup at lunchtime, and dribbled a fair amount of it at tea time. Still, they have to learn and I expect a fair bit of mess as we go along. There will be a spotless, tidy house in my future and I know I will miss the sticky fingers and cheeky smiles. Childhood is so fleeting, I can handle a few spilt drinks!

An old favourite

"The very hungry caterpillar" by Eric Carle was one of my favourite books when I was little. We gave Lily a copy of it for Christmas and I was hoping the Podlings would warm to the story of the little caterpillar with the big appetite. I am thrilled that they both seem to love it, as evidenced by the fact that I have read it to one or both of the Podlings about seven times this evening! Tom has recently learned the days of the week and enjoys any excuse to count, both of which he can practice with this book. Lily enjoys sticking her chubby little fingers in the holes made by the caterpillar as he munches his way through the week. It is a lovely little book and deserves its place as a children's classic. I'm 30 and I still enjoy reading it!

A little weekend project

I've succumbed to the cold that seems to be doing the rounds at the moment, so I didn't have the energy for my usual domestic pursuits this weekend. My wonderful husband took charge of the children in the mornings so I could sleep in late. I spent my evenings engaged in a little sewing project which gave me the excuse to sit down and rest without feeling like I was wasting time! I had a pair of jeans I was throwing away, so I cut off the pockets to make little bags for the Podlings. This weekend I made a little bag with a car motif for Tom. It is entirely hand sewn and I drew the car freehand on some red felt. It is made from things I already had in my crafting supplies and I got a great deal of pleasure out of making it. I hope Tom likes it and I think the red car is guaranteed to at least spark his interest! I won't be giving it to him until I have had a chance to make a little bag for Lily too. I plan to make a more girly bag for her from the other pocket, again only using supplies I have on hand.

A close-up of the bag

Wishing you...