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da farm
Okay.. it's 4:26am. I can't sleep. Whenever my parents fly I always go in and out of sleep. Not really with worry, but I don't know - a gentle unease. Gotta love the internet and online flight tracking - whatever did we do 'back in the day?'
So - the bag is packed. For the last two hours I was awake last night I actually had to stop myself going in and just putting things here and there into the bag. I'll either be absolutely perfect or woefully underpacked! I keep telling myself that there are stores there and hey, if I've forgotten it - we'll just buy it. Nice consumerish attitiude there.
Blah de blah. We're off at 7:30 and I have to getup officially in an hour, so I suppose I best try and go back to sleep.
Courtesy of my mother - it's like me dancing in the nude. enjoy and happy friday.
ooooh
Today, my village, is my LAST DAY OF WORK FOR A WHOLE FLIPPIN' WEEK! Can you hear my overly organised work brain going into overdrive? Or is that sound totally drowned out by the clatter of my slacker holiday brain going into last minute packing panic?
We haven't packed a thing and I don't blame us one bit. Our respective work weeks have been difficult. Tonight will be fun, getting it all together - trying not to overpack - and gleefully eating our leftover chinese food while running around making sure we're taking everything we think we'll want/need.
The forecast for our destination? Uh, one solid week of rain. So that means wellies, cagouls and umbrellas. Oh but it might be warm and sunny because English weather is freaky, so that means capris, tee shirts and crocs. But wait, maybe autumn will finally be upon us, so that would mean jeans and fleeces. See - it's not an easy task.
So there you go. I'll post from the road and there should be good times galore to report. This is our first biiiig family holiday, inclusive of both sets of grandparents, so lots of people possibly doing many different things.
Alright - back to work. There are many things to be done before I skip/run/flee outta here at 5.
Mary Catherine has her first mufti day on Friday. Not being naturally British, I had to go and look up the meaning of Mufti. Actually, having said that - Andrew's British and he'd never heard of it either. I think it's because he didn't go to private school.
Mufti is getting to wear your own clothes for a small fee instead of your uniform, usually in aid of a nominated charity. MC has to pay a pound in aid of the school's Old Girl network.
Very exciting! Now I just have to work with Miss Picky on what she'll wear...
ah - the weekend
We went to our First Big Girl School Friend's birthday party on Saturday. My goodness. They had a disco, two entertainers and a party organiser who was worth her weight in gold. That woman catered, served and cleaned. Heck, she even did the most excellent party bags (complete with a princess coin purse and small My Little Pony for each girl). It was exhausting, but MC had a great time. The food was amazing - platters piled high of choc chip muffins, pink sugar wafers, chicken nuggets, pizza strips, chocolate swiss roll, jaffa cakes, iced gems, crisps, heart shaped butter and jam sandwiches and with a nod towards healthy eating, a tiny section of about 20 cucumber slices. One of the dads said that it must be like the buffet in heaven. I agreed.
By 4:30 we were all exhausted. We've just been invited to two more for next weekend. We'll miss the Saturday one, but will go to the one on Sunday. Makes me completely panic about MC's birthday party,which we - well, I - have decided will be on the 2nd of December.
I have lots of ideas, but Andrew wants it to be special and we're not quite agreed on a theme. So we'll see. I currently have a call into the ice rink coming near us in November - thinking that an ice skating party might be nice. But I'm not sure if that's a bit much for almost 4 year-olds. Their parents would have to skate too and might not be really into it. What do you think?
Another idea is an almost sleepover or a tea party. I'm going to call a party planner today just to get a good laugh over how much they'd charge. I'm hoping they might, at least, give me a few good ideas. Feel free to give me yours!
Update - I spoke to the General Manager of the Ice Rink and he's willing to work with us (the almighty £ speaks!) on a birthday party. He's said that they do skates for tiny feet and if there are babies they can even be taken onto the ice in their strollers! What do you think, my village?
where is my site
Well - in case you were wondering where in the world my site had gone... well, I have no idea. But how freaky it felt not to have my website! Oooh - I am so cyber!
conversations with my daughter...
While at Bluewater (shopping mall)
MC: I want to go to my FAVOURITE shop!
Me: Okay, which one is that?
MC: The Bra shop
Me: Oh? Um.. why the bra shop?
MC: Because it's got bras and lots of boobies!
thursday
Firstly, if you have a Pro Flickr accout, head to Moo and get your free pack of 10 Moo Cards. I just ordered mine and can't wait to see what they look like.
On another note - it's been a tiring week. It seems we've finally cracked the after school unhappiness. Mary Catherine told me yesterday, 'Mummy, I didn't cry because I didn't miss you!' I think that's a good thing.
Andrew and I are having problems getting used to the new routine and while I am patient and know that we'll get used to the little quirks and niggles, Andrew is having a much harder time. It doesn't do him any favours to get to the new parking lot only to find it full and our 'plan B' isn't as robust as it should be. I'm sure we'll get there in the end, but it's been trying on our relationship.
One more week to go before our holiday in Cornwall. I'm totally stoked and need a break. Work's been fine, but I feel glum some days.
Anyway - almost Friday and the weekend looms large...
Fast forks for Slow food.
Good news - Mary Catherine didn't cry yesterday at afterschool. It's a big deal and I'm hoping the turn of a page. I have a meeting of the Parents Association (think PTA) this morning. All very exciting.
Hey - I am in love with a clothing company. Howies. i got their new catalogue yesterday (the new Cath Kidston one is out, by the way - major drool factor there, feel free to ask me what I'd like for my birthday, Christmas, Valentine's day...). The Howies catalogue makes me want to be a better person - pretty weird thing to think about a clothing store, huh?
They're all eco-friendly and I just dig everything they have to say. I love that their catalogue is completely biodegradeable and has really interesting articles to read about loving life and being yourself. There was a good piece about plastic cutlery and how horrible for the environment it truly is. No more plastic forks for me. I'd rather eat with my hands than feel guilty about something stuck in a landfill for 499 years, 23 hours and 50 minutes more than it took me to use it to eat a meal.
I read one thing that's really stuck with me. 'If you never stand for something, you'll fall for anything'. Think about it.
cake
A few people asked me to post a picture of the cake Mary Catherine took to nursery for her last day. It's the fabulous Marks and Spencer Catapillar cake. Basically, it's a swiss roll with chocolate ganache filling covered with a hard chocolate icing on top. They use a big white chocolate face stuck on one end and use Smarties/MandM's on its back.
It's a great cake and, as I've said before, used to mark any major event in Mary Catherine's life! If anyone makes one, can you send me a pic?
Ah - it's Monday. Mary Catherine is still less than thrilled about the after school club and even after a relatively good day on Friday - well.. she's not keen, to say the least. Today I've promised to pick her up early and I'm going to suggest that they have an older girl be her buddy. I think we'll get there in the end (well, we pretty much have to as the money doesn't earn itself) but it's still upsetting for me to see her so tearful about it. Mommy guilt - It's been a long time since I've had any.
chasing birds
We've had a pretty laid back Saturday thus far... we went to Mary Catherine's swimming lesson and then to the Wharf for coffee, per usual. Andrew had a hair appointment so Mary Catherine and I went to the book store and read until he was finished. Then we went to Jubilee Park and ran around on the grass and wrestled before finishing off with a good game of 'chase the pigeon'.
We went to lunch and are now home. Mary Catherine is instructing us in a fascinating game of 'Fairy and Fairy Godmother' in which she's dressed up in her 'dainty glass slippers' two Hawaiian leis, a pair of binoculars, fairy wings and a tiara, which she is alternating with a sun hat. Andrew and I are trying to play along, but are a bit clueless. Mary Catherine, on the other hand, knows exactly what's going on..
Oh, the Fairy is now putting on her wellies and wading through the puddles in our hallway. What an imagination!
Uh oh
Mary Catherine does not like the after school club at her new school. When school is out at 3, the after school children go to the dining room to have a snack. Apparently Mary Catherine starts to cry as they're heading into the dining room. Today they said they almost called me as she was crying for me so hard and for so long that they were concerned.
So - now I have to figure out a way to get through this. I think it might be because her nursery friends mostly leave (here comes the Mommy guilt for having to leave her there) and she's mixed in with older girls. Tomorrow, she's going to sit with the woman who runs the program and she'll get a sticker if she doesn't cry. Then they're going to watch the clock together. I really hope it works.
Fortunately, it's Friday tomorrow so she'll get a break from the whole routine (and hey, so will we) during the weekend.
Whew
Yesterday I had my first experience of picking Mary Catherine up from her new school. As we were leaving, I asked her about her day and she said it was good and then she said, 'there were some nasty bits that I won't tell you about because you'll cry.' !! I pressed a bit further and she wouldn't budge. This morning she told Andrew that she was going to tell him something that might make him cry and finally proceeded to tell us the 'nasty bits' from yesterday.
Apparently they were playing on the playground and a bee was buzzing around MC's face (her lips, she said) and the other children laughed at her. Doesn't sound too nasty to me - but she said it made her cry. It dawned on me that now she's outside her comfort zone, in a new school and routine that people might not always find her as perfect and wonderful as we do. And for as much as I think she'll be Miss Popularity, I imagine there will be many more 'nasty' moments of self-doubt based on the actions and words of other children.
Suddenly, parenting seems to be so much more than just keeping her safe and out of harm's way. It's about shaping her as a person. Freaky.
Anyway - later in the car she said, 'Mom, I really love my new school'. Which made me very happy. I had to resist the urge to say how glad I was that she liked it because it's a private school, and private schools aren't cheap and blah. blah. blah. Instead I just told her that I was very glad she liked it. It's been a big change - but a worthwhile one, I'm pretty sure. The new routine is not coming easily to Andrew and I...
mmm meat
Yesterday we fancied a bit of brunch - as one does. So we fired up the trusty computer and did a bit of research on 'London's best Sunday brunch' (gosh bless Google). We ended up at Smith of Smithfields and my, oh, my was it fantastic. It's in a converted warehouse and one of those places with big pluffy leather sofas to flop on while you wait for your table. Loads of newspapers and magazines and, if I were a drinker, a seemingly perfect place to nurse a hangover.
Andrew had a full english and Mary Catherine had sausages and scrambled eggs. I stuck to the pancakes but will SO order the bacon butty next time because it looked incredible passing us by on its way to another table. We all had huge waffles with strawberries and big lumps of whipped cream. Heaven on a plate.
The Dunnes give it 5 out of 5 stars for atmosphere, delicious food and being child friendly yet hip and trendy.
First day of school
Well, we made it through the first day at big girl school. She was okay until we made the move to leave and then she was not a happy girl at all. Fortunately, she settled shortly after we left. From what she's told me and what I've read in her 'Parent Teacher Communication Book' she had a good day. I'm just sort of glad that the first day is over, if that makes sense. Now we can settle into our new routine and find our groove with that.
I've been on a management course for the last two days - so feel all analysed out and quite tired. I'm hoping for a nice, relaxing weekend. Many thanks to everyone who sent well wishes for MC's first day adventure!
Gotta get the cake
Hey look - it's me ... a picture I've just taken on my new phone. I've ditched my mobile and Blackberry and gone with a Pocket PC that's phone, Blackberry, kitchen sink - all in one. It's nice. I look really dorky using it, but not as silly as I looked taking a picture of myself in the office. Note headset - sexy, non?
I'm off now to go and buy Mary Catherine's cake for her last day at school tomorrow.. I am so glad that Andrew has to do the walking away from the place that has been so important, helping us raise Mary Catherine for the last three and a bit years. I'd be in pieces.
Anyway - off I go to fetch the Marks and Spencer catapillar cake that my child is obsessed with. Any special occassion is best marked with a giant chocolate catapillar swiss roll with with Smarties/MM's on top.
Hula Boola
Ah - Tuesday. I've been having this problem with my neck.. so I called the medical centre here at work. They can see me on Monday - great, I may need traction by then. Oh well.
So we've started Mary Catherine's final week at her nursery school. I don't envy Andrew who will be there for her final few moments before that chapter of our lives ends. I am excited for the next bit and our upcoming adventures in private school - but slightly sad that the people she's come to know and love over the last three years will no longer be in our daily lives. I guess that's just how things go.
Sunday I ironed in all the name tapes in her uniforms and her first day outfit is hanging on the closet handle all ready to go. Her PE bag is packed with her gym shorts, shirt, spare skirt and plimsols.. her new yellow book satchel is out as well. A drawer in her dresser has now become her uniform drawer and five new pairs of knee socks are there ready and waiting.. it's all very exiting!
Thursday funny
I know you're not supposed to make fun of your children... last night when we got in, Mary Catherine headed for the bathroom, per usual. Andrew and I were lounging on our bed, waiting for the yell that we've come to know and love which signals that One's backside is ready for wiping. After a minute of no noise, I called out to Mary Catherine and when I got no response, I jumped up and ran into the loo.
Madame was asleep on the toilet.
Andrew lifted and I wiped and then we put her in bed. She, of course because life is not that easy, woke up and still does not believe us that she was snoozing on the throne.
The nursery she currently attends is closing. Thankfully it worked out well for us, as Mary Catherine starts 'big girl school' this month (can you believe it's September already?). They had a big party at the nursery yesterday and Mary Catherine got to see a few of her friends who had already left. They had a costume competition (she went as a Hula girl - not a naughty schoolgirl, thankfully), loads of junk food and a children's entertainer called Stripey Wipey.
As Mary Catherine and I lay in my bed last night, she was so sleepy but wanted to tell me all about Stripey. So we snuggled down and she recalled all the details from his performance. She told me that he had an 'actual, real rabbit' and all the children were invited to pet it. When I asked her if she pet the rabbit, she replied, 'No, I don't touch dirty animals from weird homes!' and then proceeded to giggle while moving on to the next bit of Mr Stripey's big gig.
One week from today she starts her new school. There's lots to do this weekend like getting her gym bag ready and name tapes ironed into her uniforms. I think we're all excited, but vaguely nervous about this new chapter in our lives.
Enjoy your Friday...
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