Snap: Ah Sunny Spain!

Arrived safely to gorgeous temperatures (and, I fear, loads of presents to the spoilt granddaughter)! Sunburn, here I come!

Snap: Basic Maths

"How many sweeties do you get?!" I ask Tara when I pick her up from nursery.
It's mother-and-daughter code and, in plain English, reads: "How many wee-wees and poopies did you do on the toilet?"
One wee-wee earns one sweetie and a poopie is worth three, and today Tara confidently and correctly declares, "Five!" She's right, too - you can do the maths, which roughly equals one half load of washing less to do at home. That alone is worth five sweeties indeed!

To say that Tara has sweet tooth would be somewhat of an understatement. I don't even know when and where she picked the word up from, or how come she knows about the readily accessible existence of sweets, but somehow she does. And my, does she love the stuff. Take this conversation, which we had the other day just after she opened her eyes and declared "Morgen-time!" (2years, 8 months).
Tara: "For my breakfast I want sweeties, ice-cream and sugar!"
Me: "Surely you would also like something HEALTHY, like muesli perhaps?"
Tara: "No, I don't like de muesli. I only like de sugar."
One good-morning wee-wee later, she rightfully claimed a sweetie for a starter to her breakfast (toast with jam - lick jam off, leave bread).

17/5/09:
Potty training went well and was completed very swiftly. After a bit of dabbling and playing with the idea of potties, and the occasional sitting session on the loo, nursery decided it was time to get serious and send her in "without nappies and with loads of changes of clothes".
So we did. Week one was a bit wet, but each day brought a steady incline in our success rate (0-1-2-3-4). The greatest accident happened at home when she sat on the loo, high up like a queen, tried to lean forward with her ellbows on her knees and, with flourish, fell right off onto her face. Not too bad, is it, and it certainly didn't generate any extra washing.
At nursery, I was told, she quite enjoyed the extra one-to-one time with her carers, along with little conversations and the praise and entertainment they provided. She had them dance little dances of success, and sing her songs: "Sing me Mamma Mia!"
My favourite piece of dialogue? Over the first proper poo at home: "Mummy, you are very pleased, are you? And daddy is very pleased too. And I am very pleased too!"
Well, I am very pleased!
That week was followed by a two week break as we went to Spain and didn't have a washing machine when we came back. Two lazy weeks, although she did demand to be taken to the loo at some point, and cried once when I told her she couldn't go cause someone else was in the bathroom.
The next week, following the purchase of a washing machine, back at nursery in 'underpants' - accident free, all week. Potty training complete. Very pleased mum, and very pleased dad, and a very well stocked, and frequently consulted sweetie jar in the kitchen.

Sometimes we fight over whose turn it is going first. "It's me turn first, then it's your turn," Tara habitually solves the dilemma. But she makes up for it. "Well done, mummy, a wee-wee!" she likes to praise me. I don't get praised that often, so I got to accept my compliments as they come, don't I.
She's one sweet sweetie, my little big chicken girl.

Snap: English Easter Bunnies Carry Huge Eggs!

Easter and chicken pox fall on the same weekend and the one is as fun as the other is a tearful itchy hell.

Snap: Step by Step...

Get OUT!!!

Get uo, get dressed, get down the stairs and GET OUT for good!!!

Two hours and nine minutes left in the old house. I am counting down not only because there is still lots to do but mostly becuase I can't wait to hand back the keys to the place and start over is a twice-as-big and five-times-as-lovely new home!
Tara is excited too and is at the moment busy entertaining Tante Claudia in the mess that will be her new room, and I am probably not for off if I assume they are playing at hiding on boats (mattresses) from "crocodowels" and "malutas" (evil women/witches) while occasionally digging out yet anoher puzzle or playmobile character. Bless Tante Claudia - this move would have been a desaster without her!
Tara is also looking foward to her new bed that we are hoping to pick up tonight! "I'm a bigger girl now I'm going to sleep in my new bed! Mummy, I'm going to miss you..." Then, tomorrow, a trip to I.kea London and some electrics from the stores... a fridge would be helpful, and then we'll be disconnected for a while. You remember the mess with British Telecom the last time we moved? I do.

See you all back online in 3 weeks or so, we'll be busy nesting and come back a new family!

Snap: We're In!

New house, master bedroom.