Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Costume making

What a perfect day! Every Wednesday Brendan finishes school at noon and recently we've been leaving Tadhg with his babysitter for the afternoon so that we can have a special me-and-mama-only afternoon. Plans for today started on Monday when Brendan asked for help to become Robin Hood right at a time when I was trying to do a hundred things at once. On Tuesday he drew "a picture" of Robin Hood and we talked about what he would need. So after school today we had a quick lunch and then headed up to the room with all the crafty bits and pieces and put together a costume.
He loved choosing the fabric, measuring his waist, trying it on and looking in the mirror. He played with his wooden sewing machine as I sewed and "helped" by unravelling some thread as I hand sewed.
It was so much fun!
We made a quiver from an old poster tube. He drew around that himself- I'm flabbergasted by how his skills are developing. He has started drawing people and naming "things" he draws rather than just abstract scribbling and shapes.

Then we went outside to find sticks for a bow and arrow. He practiced for about an hour and was doing well until he fell off the tricycle while trying to shoot while riding. The "special afternoon" still tires out my wee boy- he can still have a two hour nap some days!
So the tears have dried up and he's now sitting on the sofa watching robin hood and holding onto his bow and arrow. He has just told me "mama, if you pay taxes you have to go to jail." I tried to clarify the misunderstanding but he insists that I must not pay taxes or I WILL go to jail.
Ha- he now says it's okay, I can pay taxes if I want to because he will rescue me from jail.
We really don't watch much TV and are quite picky but I still wonder about what this stuff does to their heads:)

And one final picture. Here's Fireman Brendan out for a walk the other day. He stopped at EVERY manhole cover to check if anyone was trapped and needed rescued.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Musical birthday

The Birthday Boy
4 years old


The 4 cake
Made by mummy with love

Cupcakes for school

The table ready for a birthday supper

Sorry Brendan, missed you off the side there :)

Bonne Anniversaire Brendan
Uncle Phil played his guitar a couple of times each day and we all broke out the percussion and joined in in our own way. Brendan is especially interested in music. We recently put a CD player in his room and are working on expanding his collection of "proper" music so he can listen whenever he likes. Favourites at the moment include Great Big Sea, Jack Johnson and Ziggy Marley and we still regularly listen to/watch Michael Franti and Spearhead and Elizabeth Mitchell on you tube (must get an Elizabeth Mitchell album ordered soon!)
We're hoping to get on Skype with Phil a lot more often from now on. It's just so lovely to see the boys listen intently and really enjoy the music, just as I did when I was young (and still do!)

Another smiley if out of focus Brendan.

Running around in the train station


We went on the train to Brussels to have a look around on Saturday. We wandered along the little streets around the Grande Place, bought chocolate in the touristy shops and had a yummy lunch- the standard Belgian moules frites (or mussels and fries) for Caitlin and I.



Phil doing his morning dance exercises to reggae.

It was lovely having Caitlin and Phil to stay. The boys are missing them! Great to be able to share our home with family and hope they can come lots of times over the next couple of years. Thanks guys, love you xx