Grace the fashionista

My not-so-little Grace entered a beautiful stage the day she turned 4, and is still in it. I adore this age, and everything about her is just lovely! She's polite, friendly, thoughtful and just a joy to be around! I'm still in denial that next year I'll be waving her good bye as she enters her schooling journey. How the heck did that happen?

She asked me the other day if we could have a little chat, then proceeded to tell me off for all the cutsie nicknames I had been using on her. She stated very clearly that she disliked being called Missy Moo, Miss Muffet or Missy and I was not to call her that ever again and she wouldn't answer to it anyway. I was a little taken aback, these are names that I've affecitonately called her for the last 4 years. I asked her what she would like to be called, and she replied "Grace, Gracie or Princess". Righty-o. I can't call you Miss Muffett, but Princess is completely acceptable? What am I raising?

The biggest battles that Grace and I have are over clothes. Should this be happening already? At 4? Surely it's in the teenage years that we are meant to argue over what she does and doesn't wear. She has a wardrobe full of beautiful clothes, but she will only wear a small and select range of it. She chooses style over comfort, which I find just bizarre. Who in their right mind skips over the comfy pair of trackies in favour of the denim skirt? She approves of tights, but only if matched perfectly with a longer top as well as the right shoes and accessories. I have no hope in buying clothes for her anymore, unless she comes along to approve the purchase. Her taste is not predictable, there are things that I think she would love but she can't stand and visa versa. I bought a pair of shoes for her, pretty ones with sparkles and flowers, but she wont wear them. She loves jewels, sticking these on things doesn't automatically make it pass the grade though.

She's not fussy with where her clothes come from though, her absolute favourite piece of clothing is a pair of rhinestone studded jeans that Nanny picked up in an opshop. She's worn them constantly over the last year, and just last week we discovered 2 little holes wearing there way through the knee. I gave her the option of patching them up or cutting them off as shorts, and she agreed to the shorts. However, when she asked Grandma to do it for her, she insisted that she not hem it evenly - she wants the frayed bits on the bottom. I have a pair that is frayed, so I'm guessing that's where she gets that fro,. Poor Grandma was horrified to think that's how Grace wanted them though!

We battle every morning about what she is going to wear that day. She always wants to be dressed in her best clothes, but sometimes it's just not appropriate to be so dressed up for Pre-school. We have come to a compromise, and she has to choose the night before what she is wearing and there are to be NO mind changes. She's also not allowed to wear her very best clothes to school. I really don't' need to be so strict on that, as she is the cleanest child and NEVER gets any scrap of dirt, paint of food on her clothes.

Her fashion consciousness is moving over to hairstyles now too. There is a child care student that helps out at her preschool and Grace has taken a shine to her. She's a pretty girl with long blonde hair and I'm guessing she is about 18. She often does her hair in a messy bun, pinning it all back with a gazillin bobby pins. I found Grace in the bathroom the other day, shoving random bits of her hair back with bobby pins. I helped her finish it off, and she was so excited and pleased to have her hair styled like Lana's.

I'm still quite baffled how my daughter becomes so obsessed and aware of how she looks. I certainly don't, so unless it's a rebellious thing against my complete lack of care - I've no idea where she gets it from. It is lovely though, and obviously something that she really enjoys and gets happiness from so I'm trying really hard to stifle her interest, it's just so damn frustrating sometimes!!!

I was talking to her the other night just before bed. We were chatting about school and she mentioned about going to the toilet there. For some reason she was telling me about the kids that needed help and those that didn't. I asked if she needed help, and she said no. She still asks me to wipe her bum after a poo, so I asked if she needed help for this at school. Secretly hoping that she'd mastered it at school and therefore I could get out of the duties at home. She looked at me horrified, and said that she doesn't poo at school and would never, ever do it there. She had no concrete reason why she never would, but she was adamant that it is something she'll only do in our toilet. Seems both of my kids have this funny little phobia, and they've both been like that even before they were toilet trained. Xav rarely poos anywhere else, and holds it in for a few days when we go away.

Grace is obsessed with craft, drawing and writing at the moment. At any time she wants to be practising her writing or building something out of the craft box. She'll easily pass 3 hours sitting at the table in a flurry of beads, cardboard, glitter and stickers. Of course her fashion obsession carries over to this, and she loves making clothes for all her dolls and teddies. Wendy found a roll of green and pink chux cloths, which are just perfect for her to use as material for the designs. She's also been learning how to sew with Grandma, and they are making miniature skirts for her dolls.

She's a beautiful little girl, who is just growing and blooming more and more everyday.

Phew! First one down!

Well I've just crossed one of my University milestones and sat my very first exam. I've had 2 quizzes already and a reference portfolio, and although they are all assessable, it's the exams that are scary! It was a tough exam too, Anatomy, which has a really high failure rate. Eeeekkkk!!!!

I've put in the work though, so I'm expecting to at least pass. I'd love to say I'm aiming for D's or even HD's, but really I'm not prepared to put that sort of pressure on myself at the moment. I'll find out in about 2 weeks how I went, which will also give me an idea about how well I'll have to do in the next anatomy exam. They break Anatomy up halfway and then have an exam, otherwise if it was left to the end of the semester it would be such a huge and comprehensive exam and a high chance that everything at the start would be forgotten. So what we were examined on today will not be re-examined, just all the new content that we learn from now on. SO MUCH TO LEARN!!!!

I've got a very busy few weeks coming up. There is another exam next Saturday for Psychosocial, an essay due in 2 weeks, a group presentation in 2 weeks and then another exam in 2 weeks. I just can't believe how quick the time is flying and how suddenly the assessments are due. I'm probably about half way through my essay, and I've promised myself that tomorrow I'll dedicate to getting that nearly finished. I need all next week to cram for my next exam, as I've dedicated most of my study time to anatomy, to the detriment of the other 3.

Apart from the stress of all the assessments, I'm still really enjoying studying. It's great getting the mind active and learning new and interesting things. It's just finding the right balance that is tough, and something that I'm working on.

The kids are great. Loving spending the time with Grandma. Xav has 2 days by himself just with Wendy, and they love getting out and about together. Wendy took him along on Tuesday to get her blood tests done, which I thought was very brave of her, but she said he is a perfect child with her and she loves all the comments she gets about how well behaved he is. She says she is constantly stopped when she has the kids and told how well mannered they both are, which she loves. She had the kids today whilst I had my exam and Duane played in the Club Championship for golf, and even braved taking them on a bus trip! Granted, it was only a 5 minute trip to the shops, but still a courageous move! The kids loved it and have made Grandma promise that there will be more bus adventures. They have a bus/train trip planned for next Thursday, where they are heading to Westfield and Duane will pick everyone up at the end.

My already low housework standards have had to take another slip down the ladder. This past week has been frantic and there are a long list of household chores that we will all need to catch up on tomorrow. The washing machine has even had to go quicker to keep up, and it's been mainly used on express wash, just to get everything done in the limited available time. Duane is spending most afternoons taking the kids to the park and wearing them out, only doing "boy cleans" around the house, so plenty to catch up on.

Last weeks camping trip was beautiful and relaxing. It was timed perfectly too, exactly when we needed to regroup and spend some quality time together. The Il's came along too, so baby sitters a-plenty when I needed to study. I did get a little bit done, but didn't stress too much about concentrating on it too much cause I really needed some time with the kids.

It's another busy week coming up, best get back to it.

Easter 2010

It's the end of an extra lovely extended long weekend and it has been so lovely to spend every day with my gorgeous little family.

Friday was a lazy day at home, getting some work done around the house and just enjoying being at home together. Friday night Grandma and Poppy came up for our annual Good Friday dinner of salad, baked potatoes and yummy Tasmanian Salmon. Yum.

Saturday Grace went to Hi-5, Duane went to golf and Xav & I got to spend some much needed time together. He was a perfect little shopping buddy, something that we haven't been able to do together for ages. As he was being such a wonderful little companion, I bought him his favourite yoghurt drink - which he then declared to the check-out chick was his "beer" Jeepers!

Saturday night was a bbq around at the Dews, which was a lot of fun. The kids ran around looking for hidden chocolate whilst the parents got to sit around and chat - perfect! The kids also had a go at painting hard boiled eggs, which was our third go at decorating eggs this week, so my kids knew exactly what to do.

Sunday morning, after the build up all week, was finally here!! Grace was out of bed nice and bright at 6am, but Xav decided that instead of getting up early (like he has all week!) he'd have a nice luxurious lay in until 7am. Grace was eager to get out and see the Easter Garden, so we sent her on her way. She was amazed to see the grass all fully grown, and covered in all little flowers from her outside fairy garden. There was also lots of little animals frolicking in the grass and 2 special little needle-felted eggs in the pumpkin cave. Grace was mesmerised and amazed, it took her a good five minuted before she even realised there was a chocolate Easter bunny over the back!!

The garden is something that I wanted to do to build the anticipation of Easter. I really remember the lead up to events (Christmas, Easter, B'days etc) and how exciting that was. The not being able to sleep the night before, finally falling asleep and then waking bright and early. The kids and I dusted off a silver platter that Duane had won in some gold comp, and loaded it up with soil. Grace cut a branch off one of our trees from the front yard and stripped it back to look like a miniature tree. We made a little lake out of an old Tupperware container and then filled in the gaps with sand and rocks. The kids then planted the wheat grass that we had soaked overnight and then the bare garden was placed at the front door, ready to receive lots of sunshine and water so it would grow. Each day the kids watered the garden. The first few days there wasn't much happening, but by the 3rd day there was a definite carpet of green grass coming through. It was about 10cm tall by Easter Sunday, and looked so beautiful with little droplets of water beading one the ends of each blade.

~~The beginnings of the Easter Garden~~

~~The grass starts to sprout~~

~~After a few days, the grass starts to grow~~
(My wet-felted pumpkin over the back)

~~Easter morning and everything is in full bloom!~~

She wiled away the time until Xav woke, playing with the animals in the garden. Xav came running out at full speed at about 7, asking in his "outside!" voice "Has Easter Bunny been yet?" Grace showed him around the garden and pointed out his chocolate bunny, which made him very happy. I don't even think Grace knew what chocolate was at Xav's age, he hasn't had it much either, but he certainly knew that he would be getting some come Easter! Grandma and Poppy came up and handed out some more chocolate to the kids, a lindt bunny each and also a novelty rain gauge for each of them.

We had a lovely decadent breakfast of wholemeal pancakes, piled high with bananas and drizzled with melted chocolate. Easter, the only day of the year where eating chocolate for breakfast is encouraged!!! After breakfast, the kids headed out the front to see if Easter bunny had left anything else. The scoured around and found 6 little hollow eggs and a sleeping bag each. The sleeping bag was from Nanny and Great Grandma, but Easter Bunny had dropped it off on their behalf. The sleeping bags were a huge hit, and the rest of the morning was spent playing caterpillars on the lounge room floor.

After devouring some more chocolate (it was open slather for the 1 day only!) the kids and Duane crashed on the lounge room floor, curled up in the sleeping bags and watching Mary Poppins. I spent the time trawling through research databases trying to get the last few articles I need for my essay.

Dinner was a beautiful feast of garlic cream prawns on a bed of coconut rice. Absolutely divine, but oh, so fattening - like we needed any more of that after all the cocoa goodness that was consumed today!

Today we had a cake smash photo shoot for a little girl in our Mothers group who is turning 1 soon. She was so delicate and tentative about the cake to start with, but soon got into the swing of it and I swear she actually consumed half of the cake! I've had a quick look at the pics and there are some cute ones, so now I just have to set some time aside to go through them all.

This afternoon/tonight we headed down to Curumbin to the Pirate park that we visited last weekend for a play and picnic. The girls all got to go for a nice stroll, and Grace was delighted that she was allowed to come along! Normally she is complaining about 5 minutes in that her legs are hurting, but she braved the 20 minute walk without the slightest whinge. The kids all had a blast racing around the park and then having dipping their toes in the shallow water.

Wednesday we are heading off camping, so hopefully there will be lots of rest time - sprinkled with study!

Woohoo! Holidays.......Kinda.

Before I started Uni, I scoured the timetable searching for the mid-semester break so that we could have a camping trip. I booked us in for 4 nights down at Lennox Heads (again!) and was really looking forward to a relaxing week of switching my mind off and just enjoying the kids.

And then once I started Uni, I realised that this mid-semester break, is actually a break before my triple-whammy of mid-semested Exams. Eeek. First off I stressed that I would be loosing precious study time, but now I'm going to embrace the break and spend lots of relaxing time beside the lake learning all about Epiphysis and Epiglottisis. I also have an essay that I'm frantically trying to get done before we go, even though it's not due till 30th April - I want the first draft finished and then I can leisurly spend my time tidying it up.

Duane has taken the next week off too, so apart from my study time, we are going to be having some much needed family time. 2 days in, and I'm already loving the lazy mornings and not having to rush everyone out the door by 8am!

I got the result from my first assessment this week and I surprised myself with a HD! It was for a reference portfolio, so although fiddly it was rather easy. Saying that though, most other people I spoke to got between 62-88, so I was a little excited by my result. It only accounts for 10% off my over all grade for that subject, but every little bit helps.

I also got some good news about the Anatomy quiz that shook me up last week. I haven't got the result back yet, but the Lecturer advised us that our Lab group was actually given the wrong quiz - a harder one than we should have got!!!! There is about 300 students and there are 22 in my lab, so ours will only be marked out of 7 questions instead of the 10 that everyone else's will be. Those 3 questions should have been multiple choice, but somehow the multiple choice option was left off. The lecturer was very upset that it happened, and had to report to the Dean of the Uni that there was a problem as it would affect our overall grade. I now that I got at least 5 right, so hopefully now that it is out of 7 I'll get a better grade!

The kids have been great. It seems every time I blink, Grace has matured a little bit more. She's quiet shy now though and finds it really hard to talk to adults, until she warms up. The teachers at school say how quiet she is, but she apparently plays really well with the kids and talks well with them. I'm sure by the time she gets to prep next year (Where did THAT time go!) she'll gain a bit more confidence.

She went along to the Hi-5 concert today with Chelsea and Malia. She was excited about going, even though she hasn't watched hi-5 for about 2 years. She still remembers Nanny taking her to the concert just after she turned 2 though. When she got back today, she said she enjoyed it but there was a bit too many people there. I think the thought of getting dressed up to go out was more appealing to her, as she spent last night and this morning choosing her outfit and swapping it around until it was perfect!

Xav is just being Xav. He's had a big growth spurt over the last few weeks and has grown a few extra centimetres. I only noticed cause before he was stretching to get his tippy toes on the ground when he was riding his balance bike, where now he can do it flat footed. He's a skinny little thing though, you can see every single rib bone on him! He's been a little sick this week, but seems to be over whatever it is now. He just had a clear runny nose and was quiet warm for a few days, so I thought that he must have been coming down with something. He just spent a few quiet days at home with Grandma when I was at school, and seemed to shake whatever it was off quite easily. We are still having daily battles about his specific need for certain things. He is so particular about what bowls/plates he wants to use, and has to have the whole bottom covered in food. I gave him apple the other day that was cut up and didn't cover the bottom of the bowl, and he stood his ground and wouldn't eat it until I had put more in. I've tried standing my ground against him, but it's really not worth the battle and he does eat it all so maybe he's just a really good judge of how much he needs to eat! He's battling with Independence and wanting to do everything himself, but not having all the skills just yet. He's a stubborn little boy though and only asks for help if he has tried his hardest first. Just makes things hard when I'm running to a tight schedule and need to hurry him up. We had an instance this week where after 3 warnings he wasn't dressed in time, so was put in the car in his Pj's. He wasn't really happy with that, so hopefully the lesson has been learnt.

Easter bunny comes tonight and both kids are very excited about his visit. We had a BBQ around at the Dews tonight which was lovely, all the kids had fun going on an egg hunt and also painting hard boiled eggs. They ran around in the back yard playing chasey and hide & seek, it's so lovely to see them all play together and listening to their giggles and laughs. Malia declared that Grace was her friend but she didn't like Xav, and Xav glued himself to Emily's side for the whole afternoon. The kids and I had made little Easter cups for all the kids and we had filled them with straw and some chocolates that we made today.

I wanted to do something special for Easter and to do something that would build the anticipation of the day coming. We made a small inside garden and planted some wheat grass and timed it so it would be in full sprout on Easter Sunday. It's going beautifully and the blades of grass are already about 6 cm's tall, so will be perfect for the morning where I'll cover the garden in small flowers and other little things I've made for the kids. I'll put some pics of that on tomorrow, as well as the Easter egg hunt we have planned!

Anyway, that's my big update. I'm tired and no doubt it'll be an early morning as apart from the kids excitement, we are having Wendy and Trevor around for a yummy pancake breakfast. tomorrow