So today Spilly and I got to watch Beauty and the Beast for the first time. It was very exciting and required a lot of clutching of each other.
When it got to the scariest parts, Spills put her fingers in her ears.
"It's okay," I said to her. "You don't have to be scared."
"I'm not scared. I'm - I'm annoyed at this part. That's why my fingers are in my ears."
"Oh," I said, and decided it was wisest not to pursue the matter further.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Music and Atoms
Spilly and her Dad had a talk about atoms yesterday. She was amazed to think that all things are made up of tiny particles that we can't see. She also couldn't quite believe it was true.
"Is water made of atoms?"
"Yes."
"Is the table made of atoms?"
"Yes."
"I know one thing that isn't made of atoms."
"What's that?" her Daddy asked.
"Music. "
"Is water made of atoms?"
"Yes."
"Is the table made of atoms?"
"Yes."
"I know one thing that isn't made of atoms."
"What's that?" her Daddy asked.
"Music. "
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Lovin' the Spills in her Various Forms
I said to Spilly, "You know what I feel like when I'm driving home at night?"
"What?"
"I get a little bit happier, and then a little bit happier."
"Why?"
"Because I'm coming home to see you."
"And what do you say when you get in the driveway?"
"I say, 'Oh boy, I'm going to see her in a minute!'"
"And what do you say when you get to the door?"
"I say, 'Oh, I'm even more excited, because she's going to be on the other side of this door?'"
"And what do you say when you see me?"
"I say, 'YAHOO!'"
She thought for awhile. "But what if I was a cricket in an egg?"
"Um," I said. "Well, I'd love you in your little egg, and I'd say, 'Oh, I hope this cricket comes out to visit soon.'"
"And what would you say if I hatched out of my egg, but I couldn't talk yet. I could just go like this." Spills mouthed 'peep peep' without making a sound.
"I would say, 'Hello, little cricket! I will teach you to talk. It's very easy. Just do this.'"
Then followed a truly silly session of Peep School, as Spilly-the-cricket tried to learn how to do it properly.
"What if I was a teenager cricket?"
"I'd say, 'Hello, little teenager cricket! I love you!'"
The Teenager Cricket launched herself at me off a step-stool and shouted, "I love you too! PEEP PEEP!"
Fortunately I caught her.
"What?"
"I get a little bit happier, and then a little bit happier."
"Why?"
"Because I'm coming home to see you."
"And what do you say when you get in the driveway?"
"I say, 'Oh boy, I'm going to see her in a minute!'"
"And what do you say when you get to the door?"
"I say, 'Oh, I'm even more excited, because she's going to be on the other side of this door?'"
"And what do you say when you see me?"
"I say, 'YAHOO!'"
She thought for awhile. "But what if I was a cricket in an egg?"
"Um," I said. "Well, I'd love you in your little egg, and I'd say, 'Oh, I hope this cricket comes out to visit soon.'"
"And what would you say if I hatched out of my egg, but I couldn't talk yet. I could just go like this." Spills mouthed 'peep peep' without making a sound.
"I would say, 'Hello, little cricket! I will teach you to talk. It's very easy. Just do this.'"
Then followed a truly silly session of Peep School, as Spilly-the-cricket tried to learn how to do it properly.
"What if I was a teenager cricket?"
"I'd say, 'Hello, little teenager cricket! I love you!'"
The Teenager Cricket launched herself at me off a step-stool and shouted, "I love you too! PEEP PEEP!"
Fortunately I caught her.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Important Information
Spilly said to me this morning, "I know Sanjaya's first name."
I said, "Oh. Well, you know, though, I think his first name is Sanjaya."
"No, it's not."
"Really? What is it then?"
She leaned forward and whispered, "Mister."
I said, "Oh. Well, you know, though, I think his first name is Sanjaya."
"No, it's not."
"Really? What is it then?"
She leaned forward and whispered, "Mister."
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Sanjaya Entertains the Patients
So we've just returned from a weekend with the grandparents. While we were there, Spilly and her Grandpa went off on a pilgrimage around the neighbourhood. They generally take the same route each time, and it usually culminates in a good romp behind the hospital, where there are ramps and squares and green spaces (not so green at the moment).
On this particular visit to the hospital grounds, Spilly decided one of the squares was a stage. In a voice loud enough to cheer up (or frighten) the patients within, she announced, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce....Sanjaya Malakar!!"
She then ran to the centre of the stage and began to sing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" with complex choreography.
When they got home, Grandpa dug out his DVD of "Standing in the Shadow of Motown." Together they watched Chaka Khan and Montel Jordan singing the same song.
Perhaps when Grandpa comes to our house next, we'll dig out our video of the Mighty S singing it. Grandpa and Spills can duke it out over which version's better.
On this particular visit to the hospital grounds, Spilly decided one of the squares was a stage. In a voice loud enough to cheer up (or frighten) the patients within, she announced, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce....Sanjaya Malakar!!"
She then ran to the centre of the stage and began to sing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" with complex choreography.
When they got home, Grandpa dug out his DVD of "Standing in the Shadow of Motown." Together they watched Chaka Khan and Montel Jordan singing the same song.
Perhaps when Grandpa comes to our house next, we'll dig out our video of the Mighty S singing it. Grandpa and Spills can duke it out over which version's better.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Packing Again
Well, we're off to the grandparents for a couple of days, for Easter weekend. Seems like we just unpacked and washed everything!!
Spilly is insisting on taking some hand-me-down nightgowns (or goonies, as Grandma calls them) with her to show her grandparents that she is now big enough to wear them. They used to belong to her cousins. They've been hanging in the closet forever, and I've always thought of them as being about twice as long as Spills. Now she fits them perfectly. Sigh. She's delighted.
I said to her, "We've let you grow this much, but it has to stop now, because you have to stay as my little baby."
"Mommy, I am not a baby! I'm a little girl!"
"I know, but that's as far as it goes."
"Mommy, when I eat supper, I grow."
"No more supper for you then," I said.
Her mouth dropped open. "But if I don't eat supper, my eyes will dry out, and I might get some kind of an infection like pink-eye."
Spilly is insisting on taking some hand-me-down nightgowns (or goonies, as Grandma calls them) with her to show her grandparents that she is now big enough to wear them. They used to belong to her cousins. They've been hanging in the closet forever, and I've always thought of them as being about twice as long as Spills. Now she fits them perfectly. Sigh. She's delighted.
I said to her, "We've let you grow this much, but it has to stop now, because you have to stay as my little baby."
"Mommy, I am not a baby! I'm a little girl!"
"I know, but that's as far as it goes."
"Mommy, when I eat supper, I grow."
"No more supper for you then," I said.
Her mouth dropped open. "But if I don't eat supper, my eyes will dry out, and I might get some kind of an infection like pink-eye."
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Exercising with Spills
So, I have just begun my post-Portuguese penance (all those sardines are still swimming around my tum). I put on an exercise DVD this evening, and foolishly asked Spilly if she'd like to join in.
She started well, gamely doing the walking and side-stepping and knee-raises beside me.
"Am I doing it right, Mommy?"
"You're doing great!" I said, trying not to walk on top of her.
"But I should take off my socks."
"Sure."
Once she had taken them off, she walked some more. Until: "I think I'm going to take my shirt off now."
"Why do you need to take your shirt off?"
"So I can just have my undershirt like those ladies."
It was true that the ladies all looked like they were wearing their undershirts.
"Well...all right," I said. Then a minute later, when the shirt was stuck half-on and half-off her head, I had to undo the button at the back, while still trying to march to the beat and swing my arms around.
Once properly attired, she did the steps for a moment longer. Then she noticed her yellow balloon (mine, actually, from my birthday a few weeks ago). She marched over, grabbed it, and began throwing it at me. She found this fun until, after the ninetieth time of telling her to stop, I got frustrated.
This led to her sobbing, "I'm going to go and live at Robbie's house!"
"Okay, see you," I said, still trying to do my kicks to the beat.
She sat on the stairs after that, muttering things. Then, she returned. More specifically, she sulked her way across the room in front of the TV screen, and threw herself into the armchair. And hurt her hand. And was comforted. And discovered the pillows.
"Mommy, I'm going to put the pillows under your feet so it will be soft for you."
"No," I said, doing double side-steps. "I don't want pillows under my feet."
"I'm going to do it!"
"No thank you."
"Why not?"
"Because I would lose my balance on them and fall down, and it would hurt."
"You wouldn't," she said. "See?" And she stepped on one of the pillows, lost her balance, and fell down.
After that, she began concentrating on my arms, which she felt were doing the wrong things. She began rearranging them for me. Then she got behind me and did the moves in the most obtrusive place possible. Following which, she tried to attach the yellow balloon to the TV so I couldn't see the screen.
....All of which, I realize, was a not-so-subtle reminder that my kid, who is just coming off a week of non-stop Mommy, is starved for a bit of parental interaction and willing to risk parental fury to get it.
Fortunately, the DVD finally ended, and we played "Mom's going to pop the balloon, so you'd better run."
This exercise thing is going to be an uphill battle.
She started well, gamely doing the walking and side-stepping and knee-raises beside me.
"Am I doing it right, Mommy?"
"You're doing great!" I said, trying not to walk on top of her.
"But I should take off my socks."
"Sure."
Once she had taken them off, she walked some more. Until: "I think I'm going to take my shirt off now."
"Why do you need to take your shirt off?"
"So I can just have my undershirt like those ladies."
It was true that the ladies all looked like they were wearing their undershirts.
"Well...all right," I said. Then a minute later, when the shirt was stuck half-on and half-off her head, I had to undo the button at the back, while still trying to march to the beat and swing my arms around.
Once properly attired, she did the steps for a moment longer. Then she noticed her yellow balloon (mine, actually, from my birthday a few weeks ago). She marched over, grabbed it, and began throwing it at me. She found this fun until, after the ninetieth time of telling her to stop, I got frustrated.
This led to her sobbing, "I'm going to go and live at Robbie's house!"
"Okay, see you," I said, still trying to do my kicks to the beat.
She sat on the stairs after that, muttering things. Then, she returned. More specifically, she sulked her way across the room in front of the TV screen, and threw herself into the armchair. And hurt her hand. And was comforted. And discovered the pillows.
"Mommy, I'm going to put the pillows under your feet so it will be soft for you."
"No," I said, doing double side-steps. "I don't want pillows under my feet."
"I'm going to do it!"
"No thank you."
"Why not?"
"Because I would lose my balance on them and fall down, and it would hurt."
"You wouldn't," she said. "See?" And she stepped on one of the pillows, lost her balance, and fell down.
After that, she began concentrating on my arms, which she felt were doing the wrong things. She began rearranging them for me. Then she got behind me and did the moves in the most obtrusive place possible. Following which, she tried to attach the yellow balloon to the TV so I couldn't see the screen.
....All of which, I realize, was a not-so-subtle reminder that my kid, who is just coming off a week of non-stop Mommy, is starved for a bit of parental interaction and willing to risk parental fury to get it.
Fortunately, the DVD finally ended, and we played "Mom's going to pop the balloon, so you'd better run."
This exercise thing is going to be an uphill battle.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig
Well! We flew through the worst snow storm of all time, but made it to Europe, had a fabulous week, and lived to tell the tale! We are all jet-lagged at the moment. It's amazing, though, the amount of teaching you can do while your internal clock is entirely screwed up.
Spills made friends from all over, discovered the world's tiniest but most immaculately tiled cat door with the words "Casa Gato" on it, performed Sanjaya songs for a whole pile of bemused senior citizens, was proposed to by a retired British school teacher at the top of a mountain, walked the ramparts of her first real castle (in princess regalia), was knocked over by the Atlantic ocean, ate a lot of glorious Portuguese frozen goodies, made friends with every stray animal (and there were plenty), tried octopus, visited the site of Henry the Navigator's school, bartered with a street seller from Africa ("Make me your best offer, my dear!"), attended a real ancient Roman spa, and consumed a lot of yummy custard tarts.
Her marriage proposal took place at the end of a highly memorable lunch, during which she and the retired teacher in question (James) were in complete cahoots with each other, giggling away together shamelessly while their respective luncheon parties looked on and rolled their eyes. James was highly piqued when she turned him down with the explanation that she was going to marry Robbie.
James: "But does this Robbie fellow have any money?"
Spilly: [with energy] OH, YEAH!!!
James: But I haven't told you about my house in Manchester. Did you know it has fifteen rooms? And did you know my library has over ten thousand books in it? And did you know that I have three cars? Except that the Rolls is in the shop at the moment.
Spills: N-O spells NO.
James: Can he tell you jokes like I can? Does he know the name of every fish? Because I do. I know because the fish tell it to me. I go right up to the edge of the aquarium like this, and I put my face close, and I say, "What's your name?" And do you know what they all say?
Spills: [in a hushed tone] What?
James: They all say, "Bob."
Nothing he tried could sway her, but he did give us his card and ask that we come to stay with him in England. And then he slipped her a 5 Euro bill, as if to seal the deal. Amazing the doors that a Spills can open.
As for Mommy and Daddy, we had an excellent time sampling the cuisine of the region. I am a definite fan of sardine paste, olives, cheese, and chewy Portuguese bread. I also like vino branco, and can order white coffee with the best of them.
Spills made friends from all over, discovered the world's tiniest but most immaculately tiled cat door with the words "Casa Gato" on it, performed Sanjaya songs for a whole pile of bemused senior citizens, was proposed to by a retired British school teacher at the top of a mountain, walked the ramparts of her first real castle (in princess regalia), was knocked over by the Atlantic ocean, ate a lot of glorious Portuguese frozen goodies, made friends with every stray animal (and there were plenty), tried octopus, visited the site of Henry the Navigator's school, bartered with a street seller from Africa ("Make me your best offer, my dear!"), attended a real ancient Roman spa, and consumed a lot of yummy custard tarts.
Her marriage proposal took place at the end of a highly memorable lunch, during which she and the retired teacher in question (James) were in complete cahoots with each other, giggling away together shamelessly while their respective luncheon parties looked on and rolled their eyes. James was highly piqued when she turned him down with the explanation that she was going to marry Robbie.
James: "But does this Robbie fellow have any money?"
Spilly: [with energy] OH, YEAH!!!
James: But I haven't told you about my house in Manchester. Did you know it has fifteen rooms? And did you know my library has over ten thousand books in it? And did you know that I have three cars? Except that the Rolls is in the shop at the moment.
Spills: N-O spells NO.
James: Can he tell you jokes like I can? Does he know the name of every fish? Because I do. I know because the fish tell it to me. I go right up to the edge of the aquarium like this, and I put my face close, and I say, "What's your name?" And do you know what they all say?
Spills: [in a hushed tone] What?
James: They all say, "Bob."
Nothing he tried could sway her, but he did give us his card and ask that we come to stay with him in England. And then he slipped her a 5 Euro bill, as if to seal the deal. Amazing the doors that a Spills can open.
As for Mommy and Daddy, we had an excellent time sampling the cuisine of the region. I am a definite fan of sardine paste, olives, cheese, and chewy Portuguese bread. I also like vino branco, and can order white coffee with the best of them.
Friday, March 7, 2008
The Snow Maker
Yep, another winter storm is headed our way. A weatherman called it "The Snow Maker" today. Up to 40 centimetres, potentially. Which would ordinarily delight me, as I could sit cozily inside my house with my family, drink hot chocolate, and say things like, "Wow, look at that snow! It's really coming down out there! Sure glad we're inside!"
Except that we are supposed to be flying to Portugal tomorrow. And we are certain to be delayed. The Weather Network is providing helpful tips to parents stranded at the airport with young children. That's a bad sign.
Spills' spirits refuse to be dampened, though. She has not stopped talking since she got up this morning. And we're not sure exactly when she got up. I was in the kitchen quietly humming "Twist and Shout" while making my lunch, quite sure she was fast asleep.
Me: Well, shake it up baby now
Unseen Echo on the Landing: [Very softly] Shake it up baby
Me: [surprised, but flexible] Twist and shout
Echo: [Gaining momentum] Twist and shout
Me: Come on come on come on come on baby now
Echo: [with gusto, dancing into view down the stairs resplendent in her red flannels] Come on baby, come on and WORK IT ON OUT! WORK IT ON OUT! WORK IT ON OU-OU-OU-OUT!!!!!!
....You get the idea. Man, it's going to be a long night tomorrow.
Except that we are supposed to be flying to Portugal tomorrow. And we are certain to be delayed. The Weather Network is providing helpful tips to parents stranded at the airport with young children. That's a bad sign.
Spills' spirits refuse to be dampened, though. She has not stopped talking since she got up this morning. And we're not sure exactly when she got up. I was in the kitchen quietly humming "Twist and Shout" while making my lunch, quite sure she was fast asleep.
Me: Well, shake it up baby now
Unseen Echo on the Landing: [Very softly] Shake it up baby
Me: [surprised, but flexible] Twist and shout
Echo: [Gaining momentum] Twist and shout
Me: Come on come on come on come on baby now
Echo: [with gusto, dancing into view down the stairs resplendent in her red flannels] Come on baby, come on and WORK IT ON OUT! WORK IT ON OUT! WORK IT ON OU-OU-OU-OUT!!!!!!
....You get the idea. Man, it's going to be a long night tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Snowbound
Yet another freezing rain onslaught last night, coupled with mountains of snow (the snow on each side of the driveway is again taller than me--taller than hubby as well, actually). The good news was, the buses for our schools were cancelled. I decided to take a "family responsibility day" and stayed home with a delighted Spills.
We didn't make custard. We did make corn chowder from scratch, and had it for lunch. Spilly is getting better and better at measuring things out and pouring them. She has also discovered that she does not like raw potato.
We practised writing things. We took a ballet class led by me (no mean feat, considering I don't know the first thing about ballet). We watched Finding Nemo for the first time and talked a lot about the death of Nemo's mother.
At lunch, while being Sanjaya, Spilly treated me to an extended musical lecture about the solar system, sung from beginning to end in an American Idol style. Never has the solar system sounded so hip and current. I kept a solemn face throughout, even when it morphed in the last few minutes into the song "Hollywood." Technically Hollywood is in the solar system so I guess it fit the song.
The highlight of the day by far was the marathon reading session, broken into palatable chunks. We dug out one of the original Raggedy Ann stories by Johnny Gruelle (I think that's his name), first published in 1918. It took a few hours to get through the whole thing, especially when you factor in questions and commentary from Spills. It was delightful sitting together on the couch with the fire roaring, and the snowstorm roaring, and having a small person nestled in close. And when we had finally finished, we went and found Spilly's own Raggedy Ann and Andy, handmade for her by her Grandma (complete with the embroidered "I Love You" on the heart) and presented to me at my baby shower.
Spills held them with some awe and asked softly, "Do you think that toys really come to life when kids are sleeping?"
"I have never been quick enough to catch them," I said. "But I keep trying."
"I keep trying too."
We didn't make custard. We did make corn chowder from scratch, and had it for lunch. Spilly is getting better and better at measuring things out and pouring them. She has also discovered that she does not like raw potato.
We practised writing things. We took a ballet class led by me (no mean feat, considering I don't know the first thing about ballet). We watched Finding Nemo for the first time and talked a lot about the death of Nemo's mother.
At lunch, while being Sanjaya, Spilly treated me to an extended musical lecture about the solar system, sung from beginning to end in an American Idol style. Never has the solar system sounded so hip and current. I kept a solemn face throughout, even when it morphed in the last few minutes into the song "Hollywood." Technically Hollywood is in the solar system so I guess it fit the song.
The highlight of the day by far was the marathon reading session, broken into palatable chunks. We dug out one of the original Raggedy Ann stories by Johnny Gruelle (I think that's his name), first published in 1918. It took a few hours to get through the whole thing, especially when you factor in questions and commentary from Spills. It was delightful sitting together on the couch with the fire roaring, and the snowstorm roaring, and having a small person nestled in close. And when we had finally finished, we went and found Spilly's own Raggedy Ann and Andy, handmade for her by her Grandma (complete with the embroidered "I Love You" on the heart) and presented to me at my baby shower.
Spills held them with some awe and asked softly, "Do you think that toys really come to life when kids are sleeping?"
"I have never been quick enough to catch them," I said. "But I keep trying."
"I keep trying too."
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Another Storm Rolling In
Fingers are crossed for another snow day tomorrow around here. Looks promising - lots of freezing rain and up to 25 cm of snow forecast.
If buses are cancelled tomorrow, Spills has planned the day's agenda for us. Apparently she and I are going to make custard. And she is going to perform selections from The Little Mermaid for me. Then I guess we'll eat the custard.
Only a few days until we leave for Portugal! Can't wait!!
If buses are cancelled tomorrow, Spills has planned the day's agenda for us. Apparently she and I are going to make custard. And she is going to perform selections from The Little Mermaid for me. Then I guess we'll eat the custard.
Only a few days until we leave for Portugal! Can't wait!!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Sunday Funday
Things that happened today:
1. I was woken by a voice saying, "Mommy, I am going to give you a beard." Then I heard the sound of scotch tape, and sure enough, someone was taping a beard on my mouth. The beard was actually a Magic Bag. It didn't stay on when I sat up.
2. We went skating at our favourite little arena, and for the first time Spilly skated without her trainer-thingy. This was mostly because Simon had just skated without his for the first time, and we were all making an excited fuss. The spirit of competition is alive and well in Spillsville.
3. We saw a deer run right across the highway in front of us. Luckily it narrowly missed several cars. It then jumped unbelievably high over a fence and vanished into the woods on the other side.
4. Spilly held a "Martin Luther King ceremony" in her bedroom this afternoon. We weren't allowed in until it was ready. There was a sign taped on the door that read, "CULOSD." When she finally let us in, every toy she had was marshalled in neat rows on the floor. Monty and Ribbon were both wearing hair accessories. She said a few solemn words. Then she asked that we take pictures.
5. Spilly cracked the eggs for the custard this evening, and they went into the bowl.
6. After her Daddy had carefully removed several outgrown items of clothing from Spilly's drawers, and put them in the discard pile, Spilly came upon them and was highly distressed. We later discovered them all back in the drawers. When asked about this, she explained she had done it for Donna. When asked who Donna was, she said, "My daughter, of course." Apparently Donna is going to wear Spilly's old underwear. I pointed out that it's customary not to share underwear, but Spills told me she was going to put it into the freezer until Donna used it, and it would be FINE.
7. Spilly informed me that Monty and Ribbon are husband and wife, but used to be brother and sister.
8. Daddy and Spilly had a difference of opinion about putting stickers on walls. Daddy finally said, "Now, who owns this house, anyway?"
"I do," Spilly said.
Daddy explained that in fact she didn't own the house; she just lived here.
A few minutes later, Spills came stamping down the stairs with twenty dollars given to her by her grandmother. She gave it to Daddy.
"NOW I OWN THE HOUSE."
1. I was woken by a voice saying, "Mommy, I am going to give you a beard." Then I heard the sound of scotch tape, and sure enough, someone was taping a beard on my mouth. The beard was actually a Magic Bag. It didn't stay on when I sat up.
2. We went skating at our favourite little arena, and for the first time Spilly skated without her trainer-thingy. This was mostly because Simon had just skated without his for the first time, and we were all making an excited fuss. The spirit of competition is alive and well in Spillsville.
3. We saw a deer run right across the highway in front of us. Luckily it narrowly missed several cars. It then jumped unbelievably high over a fence and vanished into the woods on the other side.
4. Spilly held a "Martin Luther King ceremony" in her bedroom this afternoon. We weren't allowed in until it was ready. There was a sign taped on the door that read, "CULOSD." When she finally let us in, every toy she had was marshalled in neat rows on the floor. Monty and Ribbon were both wearing hair accessories. She said a few solemn words. Then she asked that we take pictures.
5. Spilly cracked the eggs for the custard this evening, and they went into the bowl.
6. After her Daddy had carefully removed several outgrown items of clothing from Spilly's drawers, and put them in the discard pile, Spilly came upon them and was highly distressed. We later discovered them all back in the drawers. When asked about this, she explained she had done it for Donna. When asked who Donna was, she said, "My daughter, of course." Apparently Donna is going to wear Spilly's old underwear. I pointed out that it's customary not to share underwear, but Spills told me she was going to put it into the freezer until Donna used it, and it would be FINE.
7. Spilly informed me that Monty and Ribbon are husband and wife, but used to be brother and sister.
8. Daddy and Spilly had a difference of opinion about putting stickers on walls. Daddy finally said, "Now, who owns this house, anyway?"
"I do," Spilly said.
Daddy explained that in fact she didn't own the house; she just lived here.
A few minutes later, Spills came stamping down the stairs with twenty dollars given to her by her grandmother. She gave it to Daddy.
"NOW I OWN THE HOUSE."
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Busy Day
Saturdays are supposed to be lazy days. This one started offensively early, though, when Spills climbed into our bed and said, "I'm going to make your hair look like a boy." (This consisted of scraping every strand of my hair behind the back of my head, so I looked like I was wearing the world's tightest bun. Attractive. Kind of painful.)
Once she had us up -- it didn't take as long as you'd think -- we wolfed down breakfast, started cleaning frantically, then threw on clothes and headed out to buy something that might resemble a decent lunch for my parents and brother, who would be arriving late morning. My brother, who lives in B.C., is here this week for a conference. We hardly ever see him, so having him for lunch today was a big deal.
Spilly knows him best as the guy who was here when she fell down the stairs. He didn't mean for it to happen, and he certainly didn't initiate it. She was about a year old. Nobody knew she could climb stairs, and nobody was watching at that particular split-second. (Bad us.)
No sooner was he in the door today, then she said severely, "Uncle David, do you remember when I fell down the stairs?"
"Yes, I do," he said.
"And what did you say?" This is Spills' favourite question at the moment.
"I said, 'Oh no, she's fallen down the stairs.'"
"And what did I say?"
"You said, 'Waaaaahhhhh.'"
We had a wonderful visit, all too short, policed by Spills. And after everyone was gone, we began the Fashion Show. We are off to Portugal (the Algarve) very soon for a one-week holiday, and Spills has been growing a surprising amount since the last time she wore shorts. So we tried everything on, discarding most of what we'd hoped would fit.
Then, we piled into the car and headed to the shopping mall to see what we could find for her. Much angst later, she has several suitable items, and I have new capri pants. Whee!
And this trip will come not a moment too soon. Yet another storm watch is in effect for our area. And here I was thinking that we'd gone almost a week without one, and wondering if someone was asleep at the controls. Apparently not.
Once she had us up -- it didn't take as long as you'd think -- we wolfed down breakfast, started cleaning frantically, then threw on clothes and headed out to buy something that might resemble a decent lunch for my parents and brother, who would be arriving late morning. My brother, who lives in B.C., is here this week for a conference. We hardly ever see him, so having him for lunch today was a big deal.
Spilly knows him best as the guy who was here when she fell down the stairs. He didn't mean for it to happen, and he certainly didn't initiate it. She was about a year old. Nobody knew she could climb stairs, and nobody was watching at that particular split-second. (Bad us.)
No sooner was he in the door today, then she said severely, "Uncle David, do you remember when I fell down the stairs?"
"Yes, I do," he said.
"And what did you say?" This is Spills' favourite question at the moment.
"I said, 'Oh no, she's fallen down the stairs.'"
"And what did I say?"
"You said, 'Waaaaahhhhh.'"
We had a wonderful visit, all too short, policed by Spills. And after everyone was gone, we began the Fashion Show. We are off to Portugal (the Algarve) very soon for a one-week holiday, and Spills has been growing a surprising amount since the last time she wore shorts. So we tried everything on, discarding most of what we'd hoped would fit.
Then, we piled into the car and headed to the shopping mall to see what we could find for her. Much angst later, she has several suitable items, and I have new capri pants. Whee!
And this trip will come not a moment too soon. Yet another storm watch is in effect for our area. And here I was thinking that we'd gone almost a week without one, and wondering if someone was asleep at the controls. Apparently not.
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