Ethan's first Homework Assignment

He drew his family and helped cut and glue the pictures on.

Thursday at Kirkby Methodist

Thursday mornings we try our best to go to Kirkby Lonsdale as their toddler group is just fantastic. This week, they were talking about body parts. fingers. As well, they brought in baby chicks. Ethan was so excited to see it that he followed the teacher around until she showed him. Then as she lowered her hands down, rather than stroke it. Ethan grabbed the baby chick's head in his hand. WOOPS! Hahahaahahaahaha! I'm not sure if he realized if it was real or not but as a friend pointed out to me, he thought it was too cute to pass up and maybe wanted it for himself? Then we sang some songs and played instruments to songs. Then the kids had snacks and us mommies had great cake and coffee/tea. They had a craft going on which linked both themes as it was a pencil crayon outline of a baby chick and the kids finger painted the outline and sprinkled glitter. He did a good job of finger painting (With help from mommy) , smeared a bit of paint on his shirt and tee before I caught him and we washed our hands and left the glitter sprinkling to me as he ran off to play. Another highlight was when Ethan found the dress up high heeled shoes. Purple with a shiny bow and put both of them on and walked around in them for 5 minutes. (Boy was I bummed to find out I had left the camera in the car!) We got home and had a good lunch and it was off to Heather's house in Ingleton to get Adam's hair cut and Ethan's tidied up. Ethan fell asleep just as we pulled into the driveway but was a great sport even putting his head down and sitting still. Heather said that I had done a pretty good job! It just needed some touching up. What a compliment! Afterwards, it was back home for a good nap and when Ethan woke it was dinner, a bit of a play a bath and back to bed. Great day!

Friday: Ethan's growing up!

Well, I dropped Ethan off at Preschool at 9am and he rushed in with monkey in one hand and blanket in the other. While I was talking to the teachers, he made for the outside fenced area and played with the other children. I was totally just forgotton. So I asked one of the teachers "Should I just go?" and she said "Sure, if you like." so I left. No goodbyes, no tears." I arrived home feeling a bit lost as I had a whole 2 and half hrs free. So checked email and set to tidying up the house. By 11:25am, the house was on its way to looking cleaner and tidier. Then, I was off to pick him up. As I entered the classroom, all the kids were outside playing. Once outside, I searched for Ethan's face but didn't see him. Walking in further, he was sat at the picnic table, to the side of the climbing frame. He seemed fine, just taking things in. Blanket on the ground Then he caught sight of me a burst into tears. I'd be lying if my heart didn't break for him. After a few cuddles, and a chat, he got excited and told me what he did "See saw" , "house" and what he ate for snack. "appo" "one" He was happy as could be and cheerful as he always is on the way to the car and back home. We had macaroni and cheese and hotdogs for lunch . MMM (I actually found a similar version of Kraft dinner in England! Amazing!!! Then he had a jump on his trampoline, we put nuts in the bird feeder and now we are going with daddy on a walk to mail a letter and hopefully see some fish, ducks and pheasants.

Had a good walk and came back for a nap.

Then he helped me make oaty choco chip cookies- flour was on his face, shirt, pants, floor, the counter top and the chair he was standing on but they were yummy.

Then we went for BBQ dinner at Mama and Papa Zee's - good food and soo much fun. Ethan got waterguns... Mwahahahaah! He loves it up there! Great weather today by the way considering it was pouring sheets of rain on Tuesday and hailing!!! Hailing! In June!!!

Wednesday: Starting Burton Under 5's

Ethan had his first day at preschool today. He loved it but needs to learn to sit patiently during roll call , story and snacktime. All of this will come in time. This Friday will be his first time without me from 9-11:30am. I'm actually looking forward to the time for myself or for household chores. I'm more worried for the carers as Ethan has a tendency to have tantrums sometimes but that could be just for my benefit. Ethan has been bursting with new phrases and he is constantly asking me "Are you?" His way of saying "What is it?" Maybe he means "What are you?" Other Ethan speak includes: - Adam: "Can I Kick it? Ethan: Yes you can! (As in the famous pop song by a A Tribe Called Quest) - If Adam, Ethan or I have an ow-ee, then Ethan will say "Kiss" then go "Mwah" and say "All better now" He also does this when he purposely hits me. Then hits me again straight afterwards. For some reason, he won't say sorry. - While driving through the countryside, often we are assailed by what Adam calls a "Fresh smell." Ya the fresh smell of cow/sheep poop which fertilizes the fields. In anycase, Ethan has picked up from me "Peee yu.. Cow poo poo!" but what was really great was that this afternoon, he added "Cow poo, change nappy cow." I tried to explain that cows don't wear nappies but he kept asking me to change the cow's nappy. Hilarious! - In the morning, he'll come into our room, and yell "Mommy WAKE UP!" or "Daddy WAKE UP" and "Go downstairs please." Then there are times, when I sleep beside him in his room and he gets out of his sleeping bag and sits on me and jumps up and down until I have to wake up. Funny and cruel at the same time.

Twinkle Twinkle... my little star!

This video says it all.

Ethan's new trampoline

Once again, thanks to Freecycle, Ethan has a great trampoline to join his sandpit and slide. All Freecycle! People are amazing to offer things up for free.

Wednesday, we went into Kendal and went to pick up the trampoline. It has a small hole in it which is easily patched up with some duct tape. He loves it to pieces!

His outfit ofcourse is chosen by himself and the dinosaur shorts are have been a must everyday since Mama Zee bought it for him. It had a Tshirt to go with it but Ethan prefers to live in these dinosaur shorts 24/7. It's quite cute and the shorts compliment his dinosaur wellies (rain boots)

First Real Hair Cut by Mommy

Well, i've been noticing both Adam and Ethan's hair have been getting a little scruffy and as Adam will not let me take scissors to his head, he encouraged me to give a go at cutting Ethan's hair. So after a few minutes of wathing haircutting videos on the internet, Ethan was put in his high chair, Go Diego Go video playing on the laptop and then it began. His hair was wetted down and it was a snip snip here and a snip snip there. He was an excellent client, even letting me trim over his ears with a little bit of head lean to the side as if to say, be careful mom. Soon it was over and no clippers used as the last time I did that in Taiwan, Ethan had to get all of his head shaved... We stripped Ethan out of his clothing and t-shirt and Adam gave him a quick rinse in the tub. For the obvious reason of safety there are no pictures or video while I was cutting his hair. Not bad for a first time.

Sure it's not perfect but there isn't hair over his ears and it's shorter and thinned out. Yay! The 4th photo is due to Ethan sleeping funny so his hair is mussed. Not my haircut! This morning, he woke up with a bit of hair, above his forehead, flipping upwards to the sky - Adam said it was most likely he slept funny on it but I think it may be the direction I cut the hair on that side of his head. (I think too much- it really is fine. )