The F word

Julian: Today you made a mistake. You used a bad word.
Rachelle: Did I? (Thinking hard: I usually say "Schweppes" or "fruit" when something unexpected and bad happens. Oops, I did, on this rare occasion, use another "sh" word.)
Julian: Yes, you used the f-word.
Rachelle: I absolutely did not! I did not use that word! I used a "sh" word.
Julian: Oh, right.
Rachelle: Do you know what the f-word is?
Julian: Yes.
Rachelle: Can you tell me what it is?
Julian: Yes. Fishpaste.

Holiday play

Now that the holidays are drawing to a close, Julian is getting antsy and waiting for school to resume. He said that "I feel mysterious about grade 1," and added that he's a little nervous about it "because of all the writing I have to do." I know he's keen to see his friends, many of which he's seen over the holidays - including Ethan and Charlie, whom we saw while we were away. In fact, he had a sleepover at Ethan's house, and that was exciting. (Although not a first - he had his first sleepover at Rafi's house a year ago.)

Over the holidays, he endeavoured to try new tastes, and thus I watched him re-try tiny sprigs of broccoli and other restaurant offerings. He ate a lot, but it appears he's storing it in his earlobes; there's no evidence of it on his lanky body.

It's wonderful to watch him and Zoe create games together, like when they built a cubby out of blankets and cushions last week. I've also watched him mature as I've been able to take him to adult outings. At a friend's party, last week, a group of guys got up and performed instruments and sang songs. Julian sat, enthralled, the entire time, despite a bit of jetlag and coming off a plane an hour before. He went up to the lead singer after and said, "I really loved your music." He also told the drummer some specific things that he had (correctly) observed about his performance and use of instruments. One party-goer pronounced my children as "delightful," and I had to agree.

On holidays, Julian made friends with a range of kids, quite a few who were a year or two older than him. He easily holds his own with them, and likes meeting new people. Today, we taught each other how to play Uno, and I was beaten (easily) by Julian. Next game: Cluedo, Jr. I just bought it!

Laughing with Nanna

 

 

 

 

On our holidays, my mother took a tumble and remained rather inert for most of the time away. Still, that didn't stop her from keeping Julian (and Zoe) amused in one spot, often reading to them or inventing a story. And, she's always good for a laugh. Moments before this photo was taken, I watched as two small hotel guests - a 6 year old boy and his younger brother - joined my mother and Julian for a story. She's quite the pied piper!

Nanna Minnie tells a story

What do you do when there's a buffet breakfast to be had and your children won't sit still? Other parents were bringing out their mini DVDs at the table, but I had a better weapon: Nanna Minnie! She told a long tale about something - who knows what now? - but she is able to improvise when Julian gives her commands, such as "now include a dragon" or "make the knight start fighting!" She's excellent that way.

Holidays

Even though our holiday is rained out, we're doing some resting, relaxing and theme world visiting!

We got to catch up with the kids' grandparents - on both sides - and we all had shabbat dinner together, too. On the rainy days, we visited Seaworld, Movieworld and Ripley's Believe it Or Not! museum. (See Julian in the "jail" in Ripley's.) Ripley's was full of some interesting sights (a replica of the tallest man in the world, a Chinese emperor who had four eyes (or at least, four irises and pupils) and a man with three legs. But there was also the grotesque: at one point I could see a replica of a dead body, killed in some gruesome fashion, spread-eagled on an instrument of torture. I'm not sure what it was, but I quickly ushered the kids past it, saying, "Oh, that's just an old fashioned scarecrow...TIME TO GO!"