Interesting car ride today!

This morning Emma wanted to wear this blue dress that she loves. Knowing it would be 35 degrees out, I told her I didn't think it was a good idea as she would be too hot. She insisted and I decided it wasn't a battle I wanted to take on. After daycare when I was driving her home, the little poppet says "mummy, I should have not worn this dress, I was too hot. I'm sorry I wasn't a good listener." Yes folks, you read it here. My 4-year-old apologised for not listening to me. It might be the last time I hear those words (as well as the first) but they were spoken and I couldn't wait to document them!

Maddie had a rough car ride home. She was super tired and so cranky. At one point she said "mummy, stop bothering me. Everyone is bothering me. I want you to just go away. You are not my mummy and daddy is not my daddy and I don't want anyone to talk to me anymore." Geez Mads, tell us how you really feel! A mere 3 seconds after this lovely exchange the poor thing was sound asleep!

Smashed potatoes

Emma told me today that for lunch she had "smashed" potatoes but she didn't really like them! So cute! We went to the girls' kinder orientation yesterday. We got to go to 4 different rooms and experience some activities similar to what they will be doing in the Fall (yikes, still cannot believe my baby girls will be in school in just over 3 months)! They were so, so excited. Beyond excited. Emma ran in without hesitating and Maddie wanted mummy to go with her because "I'm a little bit shy of the teacher" as she put it. She kept looking for me when all the kids were sitting on the carpet. Hopefully the first day will go smoothly. Both of them answered a question (correctly) during the Read-Aloud and Emma was so excited about one of the books that she practically lept onto the teacher's lap! They got to cut and paste, make shapes out of playdough and practise their letters with magnets. They each got a goody bag full of fun things that can help them learn over the summer. They are bending over backwards trying to prove that they are big girls, and are doing a great job!

"That looks like dad"

We were walking in the mall the other day and Maddie says "that looks like dad." The man she was referring to looked nothing like John so I said "why does he look like dad?" and she said "because he has sharp hair, just like dad." She meant a buzz cut (or bald). So cute!

A Rite of Passage for little girls!

The other morning the girls came in just after 6. Since I don't technically need to get out of bed until 7 on weekday mornings, I told them it's too early and they can either cuddle in bed with me quietly, or go and play. They chose to go and play. I did not fall back asleep but I was resting peacefully and could hear their voices and giggles in the distance. At 7 I get up and start walking to the end of the hall as I know they are in the computer nook. I look on the ground and see a tuff of brown hair. My heart stops and I pick it up and realize it's Barbie hair. Phew. I get to the end of the hall and see two VERY guilty faces with something behind their back and a whole lotta human hair on the chair. I say "oh no, what did you do" and Emma says "we did a haircut." I said "on human hair or on barbie hair" and she says "two of them." I didn't need to ask as it was obvious from the gap on the right side of her head and her uneven bangs, that she did, indeed cut her own hair. When I showed her in the mirror what she had done she said "I want my long bangs back" and I said "well, that's what happens when you cut hair." Gotta love natural consequences. Makes my job sooooo easy! When I told John he said "did you put her in time out?" I proceeded to laugh and said "John, cutting your own hair is a rite of passage for girls everywhere. Find me a girl who hasn't done this and I will put her in time out!" lol So far, he hasn't found one! We still can't figure out if Maddie's hair was cut. Hers is wavier and hard to tell. She pled the fifth when I asked her (went mute, couldn't get her to admit anything)! Smart kid!

Kinder registration, stickers, colouring and AWWWW!

I went to the girls' kindergarten orientation yesterday at their school. I have a great feeling about it. The principal and teachers all seemed very warm and genuine. They have a big focus on teaching through the arts (drama, dance, visual arts) and a lot of hands-on activities and not so much pencil and paper deskwork. We officially decided to put the girls in different classes. I really think it's best at this point and we can always re-evaluate after JK. I asked the girls if they want to be in the same class or if they want different classes and different teachers and they both picked different, so that made it even easier! But they are very different and Emma can be very bossy (which will serve her well in a lot of ways) and Maddie needs to shone on her own with her own friends. I can't wait for them to start as they are so excited, but at the same time they are growing much too quickly! I can barely pick Emma up anymore : (

Maddie got her third sticker and was able to go to the store. She picked out a Hello Kitty tin with gummy candies and she shared them with Kristina and Emma. She was SOOOOOO excited (for those not in the know, Maddie is the only kid at daycare who has not earned enough stickers to end up with a walk to the store! lol She is so stubborn. But she finally got it and was beaming when she told me. So maybe she will be more into the earning reward through good behaviour system!

When we got home from daycare the girls were colouring at the table while I was on the computer. Emma turns to Maddie and says "what wonderful colouring Maddie." Maddie responded with "thanks Emma. You need to colour in the lines!" Gotta love the honesty!

Tonight John and Emma went to pick up dinner. Maddie wanted to go too and John was putting her in the van when she said to him "no dad, I will stay home. I don't want mummy to be alone. I just want to cuddle with her so she isn't by herself." AWWWWWWW! So sweet!

The girls are growing up!

Over the last couple of days I have really started to notice the girls are growing up. Sometimes they will do something and they seem almost mature! Yesterday Emma asked if it's her turn to get out of the car first (Mon/Wed/Fri it's Emma's turn to be first, make dvd or book choices, be the helper etc and Maddie's days are Tues/Thurs/Sat). I told her no, it was Maddie's turn because it's Tuesday. Usually this would create a big whine/fuss/exaggerated sigh etc but instead she said "ok mama, my turn is tomorrow." I looked at her my mouth gaping open and said "thanks for being so mature about it Emma." She then asked me what mature was and I said "when you do things that are responsible like being a good listener." Since then, I have noticed that both her and Maddie are being helpful, good listeners, playing well together! It's been great!

A friend of mine who was deciding whether or not to have a baby used to ask me a ton of questions. We would have these great discussions that would go on for ages as she tried to decide what to do (for the last few years in fact). She once asked me "what if there is something wrong with them (as in physically or mentally) or what if they do bad things and are really bratty with temper tantrums, or are so high energy and break things" etc etc and my answer, after some reflection was "it won't matter" and she said "why?" and I said "because when you have children, you love them unconditionally and everything else falls into place." I'm happy to say that my friend is currently expecting her first child! I guess I convinced her! ha ha!

Maddie on the Mend and Emma writes her name!

Maddie was much better today. Seems whatever it was has passed (I still think it's a dairy allergy or intolerance). She keeps asking why she threw up and wonders if the bug in her tummy has gone home! lol When Emma was sick I told her she had a tummy bug and she thought it was literally a bug running around in her tummy and wanted it to get out and go away! I had a tough time explaining I meant virus, not crawl-around bug! Ha! Maddie asked why she needed a bucket by her bed (so you don't throw up on any more sheets my dear)! She hopes the throw up doesn't come back!

Emma has been going through this emotional blackmail phase, as I like to call it. When I leave to go running she hugs me and says "you can't go running because I want to hug you forever!" Or if she wants something and I say no she will say "if you say no than I am not your daughter and you are not my mummy!" Harsh! The other day she wanted vegetable soup and we were all out of it (and I was cooking something else, I don't cook more than one meal) and she said "then I will never eat anything again!" I tend to just smile when she says these things (or maybe more of a smirk) because I know it would be disastrous if I give in, so I never do. I think she has picked up on this now for the most part! lol

Today Emma wrote out her name in chalk on the sidewalk. Julie says she is super ready for kindergarten. Maddie has a harder time, but her name is longer and a capital M is hard too. She gets frustrated but Julie and I both remind her that her letters are great and it just takes practise. She draws amazing circles! Maddie is better at circles than I am!

Mother's Day 2010

Not the day I expected but such is life. My day started early, at 2:30 a.m when Maddie came in because she had thrown up. She proceeded to throw up all night, and had diarrhea. At 4 John brought her downstairs and I got a couple hours of sleep before getting up to run 11 km (training for a race in 3 weeks). John was going to take them for breakfast thus giving me some time alone, but that didn't happen due to M's illness. So I got home and John took a nap. I proceeded to do 5 loads of laundry as Maddie had soiled all of her bedsheets and clothes. I took both girls to swimming lessons (Maddie was much better this morning) and she napped again in the afternoon on the couch. Emma was very off tonight so I am assuming she will come down with it too, if it is indeed a virus. Oddly enough, Maddie had cow's milk last night, which we don't drink. Same with Emma when she threw up in London. I am becoming more and more convinced that the girls are lactose-intolerant. I will be more strict about dairy and see how things progress.

The girls made me beautiful cards and I got a great one from John as well. They gave me a gorgeous crystal bracelet that was made by a woman battling breast cancer. I also got some pink roses. I am exhausted now and heading to bed (it's only 8 pm)! lol

From the mouths of babes!

Every night I tell the kids a bedtime story. I make these up and some days they can get quite elaborate and the girls get a big kick out of them. Last week we were driving Auntie Julie up to the church and Emma asked if she could tell her one of my bedtime stories. I said of course and so she started. This story, in a nutshell, is about an abominable snowman who wants to eat children but Maddie and Emma convince him he should eat veggies (I try but it turns into cake) instead. So Emma is telling the story. Halfway through I turn to Julie and say "wow, she is really good, she is telling it word for word the way I say it." No sooner do I say that when she gets to the part about what the abominable snowman eats, and instead of saying he eats cake Emma says "and he eats daddy's stinky peanut and mummy's stinky vagina." Yep, the giant hole to swallow me up could not have come soon enough. Thank goodness Julie has a sense of humour and she was laughing so hard tears were streaming down her face the entire car ride. I said "on my children's lives that is NOT part of the story!" She believed me and Emma was giggling in the back as if she had planned the whole thing. Cheeky monkey!

How to Train a Dragon

Took the girls to this movie today. It was in 3D and a cute movie (John liked it more than Princess and the Frog)! They were really into the glasses but Maddie kept taking them off. Every once in awhile Emma would stick her hand out and you could see she was trying to touch the image to see if it was right in front of her.

Yesterday was Wonderland and the girls had a blast. They are like night and day when it comes to rides. Emma will go on anything and everything and Maddie prefers the swans! On the way back we drove past a hospital and Emma said "mum, I never met that building before!" Ha ha! So cute!