A fishy tale

Ember was eating her dinner tonight when she suddenly said:

Em: Mama, is the big big fish under our path?
Me: Um, what?
Em: Is the big big fish under our trees and our path?

She's had a wee cold and her voice was croaky, so I couldn't quite hear what she was saying.

Me: Sorry hun, I can't quite hear you.  Is the big fish where?
Em: Under our trees and our path? And under our sky?
Me: Is the big big fish under our trees and our path?
Em: Yes!
Me: I don't know what you mean Ember.  What big fish?
Em: In the Maui book.

Finally it clicked.  One of Ember's favourite books is "Te Ika a Maui - The Fish of Maui".  It's a Maori legend about a demi-god, Maui, who fishes up the North Island of New Zealand using his grandfather's magic jawbone. (Trust me, it all makes sense)  If you look at the shape of New Zealand, the North Island looks a bit like a stingray, and the South Island looks a bit like a canoe (waka).  Hence the legend. Ever since we first read that story, Ember has been fascinated by the fact that we live on the back of a giant fish. 

Of course, it's been about three months since we last read that book, and it was completely out of the blue, so hopefully Mama can be forgiven her slowness!

So that's where she gets it...

Simon has been earning son-in-law brownie points recently helping Mum and John with their deck and fence requirements at their new house. Today I headed straight round there after work as John was making "thank you pizzas" for dinner. Si had popped home for a shower and I rang him to ask him to bring up my Cheezly (dairy-free "cheese") to put on my pizza.

He was walking back up to Mum's with Tabasco, our dog, when he passed the retirement home at the top of the hill. There was a rather doddery looking Elderly Gentleman outside, so Simon said:

Si: Good evening.
EG: What a lovely morning.
Si: Cheezly! (suddenly remembering my request)
EG: Oh, I meant lovely dog!

The Monty Python crew would be proud...

No herald angels...

Another addition to Ember's dictionary:

Em:  Mama, do you know what 'hark' means?
Me: You tell me.
Em: It means, you're having really really really big fun, and then a parade comes next Tuesday!

Somewhere over the Rainbow

We went to Waingaro pools today and afterwards when we were getting changed, Ember looked at both our swimsuits (we call them 'togs' in New Zealand) and said:

Em: I like your togs Mama.  I like them better than my togs because yours have stripes on and almost like a rainbow.  (long pause) I wish I had rainbow togs, so that I could have a happy future...

I guess I should buy her some, if that's all it takes!

Inventive expletives

Ember's latest expressions of frustration or annoyance are "Oh, bilge-water!" or occasionally "Oh sugar-water!"  I have no idea where she has gotten these from as when I ask her "Where did you hear that?" she says "Nowhere, I just said it!"  Given that bilge water is not common four-year-old vocabulary, I don't believe her! But I haven't heard it on any of her DVDs myself, and I know it's not from any of her stories.

Anyway, I quite like it and it's certainly better than the alternatives (!), but if anyone knows where these expressions might be from, I'd love to know.

Caring and sharing

I have a decent commute to work each day (45 minutes), and three days a week Ember joins me in order to  go to her preschool, which is just opposite my office.  We drive into the sun both ways, and at particular times of the year this does make for some pretty spectacular sun-strike in some parts of the journey, like this morning...

Em: Mama, can I borrow one of your sunglasses?
Me: No sweetie, I need them.
Em: But I need to block my eyes or the sun will get in them! You have to share!
Me: I need them to drive Ember, I can't see without them.
Em: But that's not fair!  I make you all kinds of necklaces and nice things and you have to share your things or it's not kind!
Me: We'll have to get you some more of your own to keep in the car.
Em: But the sun is trying to get in my eyes now!
Me: Close your eyes then.
Em: No, that's not a good idea. You give me your sunglasses and you can close your eyes.
Me: I'm driving; if I close my eyes we'll crash!  I tell you what, I'll see if I can get you some today and then you can wear them on the way home.

(longish pause)

Em: (muttering loudly to herself) It's not fair Mama, you have to share your things.  I always share my things with you and make you nice things and you have to share your things. It's not good if you don't share.

Needless to say, her willingness to share is often directly related to her desire for someone else to share with her!  Although she is pretty good at sharing for her age - better than Mummy, apparently!