My iPad

Posted on | January 6, 2012 | 3 Comments

Says the 2.5-yrs-old.

We just got done eating breakfast this morning when Jovie said, “Mommy, please get my iPad.”

No, I haven’t lost my mind and gave the toddler an iPad BUT as far as she knows, the iPad is hers. She loves that thing and operates it like a pro. She’ll do her ABC, puzzles, shapes (she knows what a trapezoid is), audio books, numbers and movies (Peppa Pig and Ice Age) on it. She’ll play Emma’s games too — she knows which one she’s capable of playing and which is too hard for her. She’ll draw, colour, etc. on the iPad.

Before, I’d read the news while I drink my tea/coffee. Now, I sit next to the toddler WITH the iPad and help her learn while I read the news on my phone or something on the Kindle (which I am soon to loose too because the oldest is begging for it).

Do you have an iPad an a Pinterest account? If yes, do you know you can pin in iPad Safari? If not, follow my tutorial.

Laters!

M’s Day

Posted on | January 4, 2012 | 3 Comments

Maybe 2012 will be another great year for Emma. I hope so!! But, whether it will be or not, the first week of 2012 has been surprisingly wonderful to her!

We went to ballet today. First day back since the break. We got there a tad bit late but they haven’t started. I thought maybe they were doing a little chit-chat about what the term has to offer these little girls in pink leotard.

There were clapping. I did hear that. But I figured it was just excitement over a new (fun) dance they’ll be learning.

Ballet ended and the door opened to let us parents in. M was there, not hiding behind the radiator as usual, and said, “Mommy, I got a gold.” Me, all smiles (and most likely with a blank look), said, “That’s nice, Emma. What’s a gold for?” And Emma said, “For my ballet exam, I got gold, a distinction!!” Finally it clicked and (with most likely a shocked look) with excitement I congratulated her and told her how proud I was.

As we were leaving, after I spoke to the teaching assistant about purchasing M’s character skirt, the assistant asked the main teacher if she was going to tell me. So I smiled, thinking that she was going to officially tell me that Emma got a distinction, and while she did do what I thought she was going to do she also said, “and I want to also tell you that Emma got the highest score.” To that I answered, “Oh, that’s great! So the highest for her class?” And the teacher said, “No, for the school. She got the highest score amongst all the girls who took the exam.” So there was M and I, both in shock, since Emma wasn’t informed of this little bit of detail. We thanked her teacher and off to the car.

After we got in, here was M:

(SHRIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I got the highest grade in ballet!!! I got an 87!! (SHRIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEKKKK!!!!)

I had to laugh. That came out from a little girl who never acted competitive or wants to be above and beyond everybody else (although my good friend said, many times, that M is competitive). It’s great that she did so well because M never got the highest of anything, at least when it comes to scoring/exams. It’s a memorable experience, especially since it’s not one we expect (merit was Emma’s goal).

Next stop, gymnastics exam. THAT I’m not so confident in. She just learned her routine yesterday and the exam is next month (where ballet she prepared months before the exam date). Plus, she’s only been in gymnastics, properly trained, since August, and one needs to be realistic. As much as that girl has improved (she’s about an American level 3 now), gymnastics exam will be a tad bit more challenging for her compared to the other girls.

Ok, that’s what I want to share today.

Hope you enjoy the scrapbook page too. The photo’s old but I just did the page using November’11 Scarlet Lime kit. PRETTY paper!!!

Me Time

Posted on | January 2, 2012 | No Comments

I am writing a tiny bit of this post in advance. I hope that this post gets published because if not then well… I never got my me time.

BUT, since you all ARE reading this, today I got to go shopping on my own without kids OR husband. I love the guy but you ladies know what it’s like to shop with the man, right? So yes, that’s why I wanted to get some me time {::SMILES}.

I wasn’t sure if today would be possible since we’ve all been sick, in turns, since after Christmas. Jovie threw up first and after washing two blankets, and more to go, I got the bug. Then when we thought all’s clear, M threw up new year’s eve right before our friends were scheduled to come. Then hubby got it and well, we think the bug went home with our friends too. Damn bummer on that part!!

Hubby did feel better and I got to go out! I was soooooooo happy that I literally did a very bad version of the ‘Grand Jete‘ from my back door to the car. It was sooooooooo relaxing going out alone. I was so relaxed that I was completely fine standing in a full bus (the Cambridge park and ride bus has never been full each time us girls go), I happily waited for the cashier to finish up with all her customers and I smiled when the waitress lost my order – longer time to sit back and relax. I was fine, fine, fine!

I didn’t shop for myself. I was content with just having time to myself. But I did have lunch and tea ALL BY MY SELF! And oh, I could read AND have everything symmetrical (see, it’s not just a scrapbook/card making thing, everything needs to be in some order if I can have it my way).

Who knows when my next outing will be, maybe after Easter when Jovie goes to preschool, but for now, I will just remember this one.

Before I go, let me share a picture from Christmas day. One of Jovie’s most favourite gift. And if you’re outside the UK, you probably will not understand the whole Peppa Pig deal — I swear there are subliminal messages in each clip. EVERY child Jovie’s age LOVES LOVES LOVES Peppa!!! Subliminal I tell you!!!

Happy 2012!!

Posted on | January 1, 2012 | 1 Comment

Hi all!! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and I wish you a great 2012!

It’s been quite hectic here, thus the lack of activity on this blog of mine, and I hope that things will settle down a bit after school starts back up again.

As a family 2011 was good to us. It was extremely good to Emma. Her biggest accomplishment was to get rid her fear of water and is now in level three swimming. Compare to other kids, she’s progressing slowly, but for a kid who used to scream and yell (as if we were torturing her) when water gets on her face she’s doing awesome. Her next biggest accomplishment is to, on her own, want to participate in different extracurricular activities, stick to it and do well – actually quite well. We’re proud of her gymnastics development and amazingly her ballet. I just never thought she’d even like it. So VERY proud of our oldest and we hope 2012 will be as good if not better!

In 2012 we, I, hope to do the following: Potty train Jovie, walk Jovie to her first day of preschool (sniff, sniff), work or simple use my brain in a more productive way while Jovie’s at school, move to a period house (I want a thatch house but hubby refused and so the next thing is just an old old old ooooooold house), travel some more, figure out ways to overcome some of my bad behaviours, and use my time better by spending less time on my electronics.

Nothing huge but still very important.

Have a great all and I plan on being here regularly again {::SMILES}.

Above project created using goodies from December’s Scarlet Lime scrapbook kit and mix media goodness from the store.